It looks like Apple's 4-inch iPhone isn't getting 3D Touch
According to new reports, the iPhone 7 won’t be the next Apple phone. Instead, that honour will go to the iPhone SE or 5se, a four-inch smartphone with all the technology of Apple’s most recent handsets – but without the extra size. We expect the smaller iPhone to sit at the very bottom of the iPhone range, but we're still not sure if it'll be called the iPhone 5se or just the iPhone SE. Apart from its screen size, we don't know much about the 4inch iPhone - but new leaks are helping us get a better picture of it. Here are all the rumours, analysed and in one place.
Leak suggests no 3D Touch
We expected the iPhone SE to feature almost all of the technology of the current iPhone 6s, but it looks like it won’t get 3D Touch. New photos obtained by the notable leak site Nowhereelse.fr appear to show the screen assembly for the new 4-inch smartphone, and it doesn’t appear to come with 3D Touch functionality.
How likely is it? Nowhereelse.fr says the pictures come from a consistently accurate source, and it’s also easy to see why Apple won’t include 3D Touch on the iPhone 5se or SE. Apple’s 4 inch phone will sit at the bottom of the range, and that means Apple needs to differentiate it from its flagship iPhone 6s model. The best way to do that is to omit a sophisticated - but not essential - feature like 3D Touch.
Release date
While we’ve all been preoccupied with the iPhone 7, the iPhone SE has gone largely unnoticed – and it looks like it could be here much sooner than Apple’s flagship phone. According to 9to5mac, the iPhone SE could be announced at an Apple event on 15 March, alongside a brand new iPad Air 3. Apple tends to take around a fortnight to get its new projects into shops, meaning we could see the new iPhone SE in shops by April.
How likely is it? 9to5mac is a very credible source, but it’s pretty surprising to see just how fast Apple is moving with the iPhone 5se.
Design
We still don’t know that much about the iPhone SE’s design, but we’re pretty sure it’ll feature a four-inch screen. Why? Because Apple wants to appeal to customers who prefer a smaller screen – but want to upgrade to something more contemporary than an iPhone 5. If the Apple iPhone SE is released, Apple will sell smartphones with 4in, 4.7in and 5.5in screens.
Reports also point to the iPhone SE sharing more than just a screen size with the iPhone 5. According to 9to5mac, the SE will borrow its looks from from the iPhone 5, so we should expect chamfered edges and a more angular design than the rounded iPhone 6. However, the iPhone SE should be available in silver, “Space Gray”, gold and “Rose Gold” – just like Apple’s current flagship.
How likely is it? Not very. With Jonathan Ive at the helm, Apple has been converging the design of everything from the iPhone to the MacBook, so it’s surprising to hear the iPhone SE won’t share design cues with the iPhone 6. As for rumours about finishes? Apple is slowly introducing the same finishes on its laptops, smart watches and more, meaning it’s somewhat more likely.
Specs
The iPhone SE will offer all the best parts of an iPhone 6, but without a larger screen. That means the iPhone SE should use a 8MP camera just like the iPhone 6 and should be powered by an Apple A9 processor.
Features
Just like the iPhone 6s, we think the Apple iPhone SE will have all the latest iPhone features. That means we’re expecting Live Photos, Apple Pay and Touch ID – although it’s possible Apple could leave the latter for its flagship handsets.
Pricing
A 16GB iPhone 6s costs £459, while an iPhone 6s Plus with the same memory will set you back £539. Apple wants the iPhone SE to be both small and affordable, meaning it’s likely the new iPhone SE will slot in around the £350 mark, where it’ll face competition from cheaper Android phones.
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