The rumours are getting stronger about Apple unveiling a new entry-level iPhone this month to attract a wider range of customers who can’t afford the current iPhone models.
The device – reportedly called the iPhone 5SE – is said to have a four-inch screen with an updated metal design that includes the Touch ID fingerprint reader.
Apple is said to be planning a launch event for the iPhone 5SE for March 21.
According to reports, the iPhone 5SE will have an 8-megapixel camera and will have support for Live Photos but will not have the 3D Touch Display that was introduced with the iPhone 6S.
Under the hood it will apparently have the same A9 processor as the current iPhone 6S with memory options at 16GB and 64GB capacities.
If you want 128GB storage, you’ll have to go for the more expensive iPhone 6S.
It will probably be the same size as the iPhone 5S but with the updated design and additional features – which is why it is likely to be called iPhone 5SE.
No word yet on the colours the rumoured iPhone 5SE may be available in but there is a good chance it will be the same as the iPhone 6S – silver, gold, space gray and rose gold.
The reasoning behind a product like the rumoured iPhone 5SE is to create a more affordable device for the huge number of customers in the super mid range.
For these users, the current range of iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus – which start at $A1,079 and $A1,229 respectively – are out of their price range and their only option would be to buy another brand of smartphone.
With the iPhone 5SE – which is expected to be priced at around $US550 (that’s about $A780) – it would be available to a massive number of customers at this level.
Apple is currently the number two smartphone manufacturer behind Samsung.
Samsung, unlike Apple, has a range of smartphones from the entry level and mid range all the way up to their premium devices.
The other products we could see at the rumoured March 21 event apart from the iPhone 5SE is a new 9.7-inch iPad Air and new Apple Watch bands.
The latest iPad is likely to inherit the iPad Pro’s feature that allows users to write and draw on the screen with the Apple Pencil.