iPhone SE: Upgrades, design changes, 5G, and more

Apple CEO Tim Cook took some time to kick off today’s ‘Let us loop you in’ press event with comments on the FBI/encryption controversy, but the company also offered the usual milestones and stats throughout the event. 

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Following Apple’s special event today, the company has updated its online store to include several new accessories including new iPhone case options. The Apple-branded iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus leather and silicone cases now come in a variety of new color options. Also available are new iPhone SE cases fit for the new 4-inch iPhone, which Apple says will also fit the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s which has the same design.

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Following the official unveiling of Apple’s new 4-inch iPhone SE today, we now have details on pricing and availability for the device.

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The “iPhone SE” is now official as Apple today unveiled the device on stage at its ‘Let us loop you in’ press event in Cupertino.

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It’s March 21st, the day of Apple’s March 2016 media event. As we’ve been reporting over the past several months, Apple is set to debut a new 4-inch smartphone called the iPhone SE, a 9.7-inch version of the iPad Pro, and new Apple Watch bands. You can read our extensive roundup to see all of our expectations. It is still to be seen if Apple CEO Tim Cook takes the stage to discuss the Apple/FBI case, which goes to court tomorrow morning. In this News Hub, we will be live blogging all of the major announcements and highlighting all of our site-wide coverage of the event. The event begins at 10 AM Pacific Time/1 PM Eastern Time, but we’ll be updating this post with the latest details before the event as well.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter for instant updates and read on for the latest in our News Hub:

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With Apple’s iPhone SE press event scheduled for this upcoming Monday, March 21st, it’s no surprise that our reports surrounding what to expect at the event make up most of our top stories this week.

We detailed new info about the much anticipated 4-inch iPhone SE’s design and camera specs, pricing for a 9.7-inch iPad Pro to be unveiled at the event, and also gave you the rundown on the new Apple Watch models that Apple is planning to show off.

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In January, we reported that Apple would be launching a new 4-inch iPhone in March with a design “nearly identical” to that of the iPhone 5s from 2013. Since then, several rumors and teases from various case makers have teased that the new 4-inch iPhone may have a design that looks a bit closer to the iPhone 6 in both shape and look. Checks with additional sources indicate that the iPhone SE, to be launched at Apple’s March 21st event next week, will look “almost exactly the same” as the iPhone 5s…

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After months of rumors and speculation, Apple will officially hold its March event this coming Monday, the 21st. We’ve shared our comprehensive run down of everything that will be announced at the event, and we already know that Zac will be “upgrading” to the iPhone SE. We’re curious, though, what are you most excited to see at Apple’s “Let us loop you in” press event next week?

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Apple’s March 21st event is just five days away and we have a comprehensive rundown on what to expect including details on the new 4-inch iPhone SE. As I’ve previously written about and discussed on 9to5Mac’s Happy Hour podcast, rumors of a smaller iPhone with modern specs sound mighty compelling to me for multiple reasons.

But the iPhone SE isn’t a 4-inch iPhone 7 (or a 4-inch iPhone 6s for that matter) which does dilute the appeal a bit for me. Based on what we currently know, however, I’m likely going to switch from the iPhone 6s Plus to the iPhone SE — at least for a while — but I’m drawing my line in the sand now on what the new 4-inch iPhone would need to have for me to really consider it.

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This week Zac and Benjamin discuss Apple’s upcoming event, more thoughts on the iPhone SE, as well as some juicy iPhone 7 rumors you don’t want to miss out on. The Happy Hour podcast is available for download on iTunes and through our dedicated RSS feed. Big thanks to Harry’s this episode.

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The Apple and FBI controversy just barely makes it into our top stories again this week, but it’s overshadowed by Apple’s announcement of its upcoming March 21 iPhone SE event, a new OS X ransomware detected in the wild, the release of iOS 9.3 beta 6, and leaks related to the much anticipated iPhone 7.

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If Apple’s most recent hardware events were about going bigger (larger iPhones, a jumbo iPad, and a new Apple TV), Apple’s March 21st event is about going smaller. Apple yesterday officially sent invites to its much-anticipated event to be held at its Cupertino campus with the tagline “Let us loop you in.” The event, which was originally internally scheduled for a week earlier, will focus on Apple’s new 4-inch iPhone SE, a smaller, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and new Apple Watch bands. The company will likely also reveal the final versions of iOS 9.3, tvOS 9.2, watchOS 2.2, OS X 10.11.4, and an iTunes update. We’ve reported nearly the entirety of what’s expected to come at the event, so read on for a full roundup of everything we’re likely to see. (Updated March 18th with the latest information):

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Will Apple stick to business as usual later this month at its press event for the new iPhone SE, Apple Watch, and Mac updates? Or will it use the very public stage to also address the ongoing FBI/San Bernardino/encryption controversy?

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Apple is expected to announce and release the oft-rumored 4-inch iPhone SE later this month, and ahead of that launch, supply of the company’s current 4-inch device is running low. Verizon, Best Buy, Walmart, AT&T, and Target all list limited or no availability or the iPhone 5s online, while we’ve also heard that supply at T-Mobile retail stores is running low. Also, there are already a handful of cases for the iPhone SE available on Amazon.

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While the Apple vs FBI controversy was the top Apple story from last week, the case takes back seat this week to news surrounding Apple’s upcoming March 21st iPhone and iPad event. But Apple and the FBI stories still come in right behind in this week’s top stories, followed by news of Apple’s latest iOS 9.3 beta release, plans for Siri on the Mac this fall, and the more on the upgraded camera system rumored for iPhone 7.

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Well-sourced Re/code is indicating that Apple’s media event and keynote announcement for spring will be held in the week of March 21st. In an independent report by Buzzfeed, John Paczkowski reports that the event will take place on March 21st itself and will be a ‘smaller scale event’, suggesting it will take place in Cupertino on Apple’s campus. The reason for the event’s delay, given Apple initially planned for a March 15th event, is also unclear. Too much executive time spent with the FBI? Maybe!

Korean media site underkg.co.kr suggested the delayed date earlier in the week, although the report was generally ignored given the unknown provenance. In contrast, Re/code has a far better track record with Apple reporting.

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Earlier this week we shared drawings of Apple’s upcoming 4-inch device and reported that Apple plans to call the device the iPhone SE. Now, French site NowhereElse has shared images that claim to show the front display portion of the upcoming device. We’ve long reported that the iPhone SE won’t feature support for 3D Touch, and these images corroborate that.

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In a research note for investors, KGI Securities has posted some interesting claims about the new 4 inch ‘iPhone SE’ coming from Apple in March, as reported by 9to5Mac. The iPhone SE is expected to be very similar to the iPhone 5s in appearance with slightly curved edges, but feature the latest processor internals, an A9 chip just like the iPhone 6s as well as Apple Pay and Live Photos.

KGI claims the phone will also feature a 12 megapixel camera, matching the latest iPhones in megapixels. KGI also believes the new 4 inch iPhone to sell between $400-$500 range. This would be a significantly cheaper phone than the current lineup: the year-old iPhone 6 starts at $549 …

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The Apple vs FBI encryption clash continues to ramp up, with the Department of Justice filing a motion today to force Apple to comply with the FBI’s request and make custom iPhone firmware that would let the FBI brute-force into an iPhone related to the San Bernardino attacks, via CNBC.

Although tech giants are generally taking Apple’s side on the matter, with the iPhone backdoor seen as a ‘dangerous precedent’, this is the first time the DoJ has entered the conversation and it is clearly not on Apple’s side.

Via the New York Times, the Justice Department claimed Apple’s refusal to cooperate was driven by marketing concerns and its public branding.

It said that Apple’s refusal to help unlock the phone for the F.B.I. “appears to be based on its concern for its business model and public brand marketing strategy,” rather than a legal rationale.

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