Apple iPhone 5se Release Date: ‘Cheapest iPhone’ Expected In March
It seems like the Apple iPhone 5se release date is already in the horizon with recent news suggesting that the smartphone has already entered production. For those who are wondering, the highly-talked about 4-inch Apple iPhone is allegedly going to be dubbed as iPhone 5se, in which the “se” stands for “special edition,” according to Phone Arena’s report.
Moreover, Forbes reported the high possibility for Apple iPhone 5se release date to be slated for March 2016. The post also noted the possibility that it will hit the shelves around the same time as the arrival of another major market contender, Samsung’s latest flagship device, the Galaxy S7.
The release date news for Apple iPhone 5se is further supported by the rumor mill churning out details that the Cupertino-based tech firm will hold a keynote presentation mid-March. Though there are no firm details emerging yet regarding a specific keynote schedule, Phone Arena noted that it might happen most likely around the week of March 14.
Looking back at Apple’s keynote history, the iPhone maker hosted “Spring Forward” on March 9 of last year, announcing details about its first-ever wearable device called the Apple Watch. For this year, folks from Phone Arena are hoping that the Apple keynote will also unveil interesting tech products. In addition to the iPhone 5se release, several reports are also suggesting that Apple fans might witness the grand reveal for Apple Watch 2 and iPad Air 3.
Aside from the release date hype for the Apple iPhone 5se, rumors are also rife that the iOS handset device will have a cheaper price tag compared to Apple’s iPhone 6S, as reported on BGR, citing Japanese website Nikkei. By setting a lower price for the iPhone 5se, the iOS smartphone maker aims to grow the number of its user base.
However, the post also cited that even though the iPhone 5se will be available for a lower rate, it is still not the “affordable new iPhone” tech fans are waiting for. BGR’s post read:
“9to5Mac’strustworthy Mark Gurman said the device would simply replace the iPhone 5s in Apple’s lineup. That means that yes, the iPhone 5se will be the cheapest iPhone the company will sell this year, but that doesn’t necessarily make it cheap.”
Phone Arena specifically noted that the iPhone 5se’s price might be set at $449.
In terms of visual appearance, it is reported that the iPhone 5se will have a similar design language as that of the iPhone 6 and 6S. However, it will be based on the dimensions of the iPhone 5/5s, Phone Arena shared.
For the uninitiated, below is a Youtube video from Ken Dai comparing the design of iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s:
When it comes to specs, the Apple iPhone 5se is reportedly going to be equipped with a new A9 chipset paired with M9 motion co-processor. The upcoming smartphone might also have an 8MP primary camera located on the rear part of the phone. Meanwhile, the front-facing selfie shooter will have 1.2MP lens sensor.
According to Apple Insider, the iPhone 5se might feature a 4-inch Retina display that is highly similar to the panel used on iPhone 5s. Unlike the latest iPhone models, tech experts are not anticipating the 5se smartphone to have the pressure sensitive technology called the 3D Touch.
Other Apple iPhone 5se features include Apple Pay support, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, VoLTE and Bluetooth 4. When it comes to memory capacity, Apple is most likely to produce 16GB and 64Gb variants for the iPhone 5se. The iPhone 5se might also arrive in Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold and Gold colors.
Tech fans are expected to take all these details with a grain of salt until Apple releases its official statement regarding the iPhone 5se.
[Photo by Stephen Lam/ Getty Images]
