Apple sets March 21 event, to launch iPhone SE, 9.7-inch iPad Pro

Mumbai: Apple has sent out invites for March 21 for the much-awaited event, which will be held at its Cupertino, California headquarters at 10 am PDT (11 pm IST). The tech giant is expected to launch the 4-inch iPhone SE, a 9.7-inch iPad Pro, an iPad Air and possibly an upgraded MacBook.

Along with that, Apple may also launch some new Watch bands and a software upgrade.

The new iPhone will feature upgraded internals, software, and hardware features including the ‘Live Photos’ feature on the Apple iPhone 6 and 6s models.

According to sources, the iPhone SE (where SE is speculated to stand for ‘special edition’) will be similar to the 5s in terms of design, but will sport curved glass visible on the iPhone 6 and 6s variants.

In terms of camera, the SE will borrow an 8MP primary camera and a 1.2MP front snapper from the iPhone 6. However, it will support larger panoramas and auto-focus for video recording.

Moreover, it will have a barometer for tracking elevation in the health app, an NFC chip for Apple Pay, and upgraded chips from the iPhone 6 variant.

The most noticeable addition will be the ‘Live Photos’ feature that can be found on the iPhone 6s. The iPhone SE will be available in silver, space grey, gold, and Rose Gold colour options.

The new iPhone will not only serve as an upgraded model, but will also pave way for the company to discontinue the older 4-inch models. The new handset will also take up the price point of the older iPhone 5s.