As expected, Apple has released a new 4″ iPhone SE and 9.7″ iPad Pro today at their March 21 event. The devices offer hardware improvements compared to prior models available at the same screen size, and should be compelling offerings to individuals seeking a 4″ iPhone or 9.7″ iPad.
Additionally, Apple has unveiled a few new Apple Watch band styles, and a plethora of software updates to nearly their entire hardware lineup, including iOS 9.3 for iPhone and iPad, OS X 10.11.4 for Mac, watchOS 2.2 for Apple Watch, and tvOS 9.2 for Apple TV.
The iPhone SE
The iPhone SE has a 4″ display and looks just like the iPhone 5 or iPhone 5S from the exterior. The internal components of the iPhone SE is where the device differentiates from other 4″ devices, where it is essentially an iPhone 6s but in an iPhone 5 body.
The main feature specs of iPhone SE are as follows:
- 4″ Retina display
- 64 bit A9 CPU
- M9 Motion coprocessor
- Hey Siri support
- 12 MP iSight Camera
- Live Photos support
- 4k Video
- Apple Pay
The iPhone SE is available in 16GB and 64GB sizes, for $399 and $499 respectively.
Users interested in getting an iPhone SE can preorder on March 24, and will be available in stores on March 31.
The 9.7″ iPad Pro
The iPad Pro with 9.7″ display is the latest iPad offering from Apple. It’s a full featured device that fits between the iPad Air and iPad Pro 12″ in the product lineup. Features of the 9.7″ iPad Pro include:
- 64 bit A9X CPU
- Hey Siri support
- 9.7″ wide color Retina display, with True Tone technology (adjusts on screen color temperature to match ambient lighting)
- Improved speakers
- Smart Connector with support for optional keyboard case, and optional Apple Pencil
- 12 MP iSight camera
- 4K Video recording abilities
The iPad Pro 9.7″ starts at $599 for 32GB, $749 for 128GB, and there is a 256GB option for $899.
Users interested in buying the iPad Pro 9.7″ can preorder on March 24, and it will ship and be in stores on March 31.
Apple Watch Bands, Software Updates
Apple also released several new Apple Watch bands today, including a new nylon band style, which you can view on Apple.com.
The Apple Watch also received a minor price cut today of $50 off most models, making the device start at $299 for the 38mm model, and $349 for the 42mm model.
Perhaps most relevant to the majority of iPhone, iPad, and Mac users however were the releases of new software updates today. OS X 10.11.4 is available for Mac, and iOS 9.3 is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Additionally, tvOS 9.2 and WatchOS 2.2 are available for Apple TV and Apple Watch, respectively.