Mumbai: With only a couple of days left for Apple’s spring event, fresh rumours regarding the company’s upcoming 4-inch device suggested that it will not sport a design completely similar to the iPhone 6.
A report on 9to5Mac suggested that some of their sources have clearly indicated that the new handset, to be launched at the March 21 event, will be “almost identical” to the previous iPhone 5S.
(Read: Apple sets March 21 event, to launch iPhone SE, 9.7-inch iPad Pro)
Contrary to leaks that surfaced earlier, the iPhone SE’s design will not be as curvy as the latest models and will sport a boxier look like the 2013 “5S” model.
On the design-front, the report said that the new iPhone will come with same old round volume buttons, power key on top, and the rear will sport a combination of metal and glass. The only disparity reported earlier was the handset’s slightly curvy front edges.
(Read: Apple to name new 4-inch device iPhone 'SE': report)
In the past there has been mixed reports about the new look of the device’s edges, however, sources have revealed that the change will be imperceptible. Moreover, the iPhone SE’s edges are expected to be less shiny in contrast to the 5S.
On the hardware-front, the new device is expected to feature an updated A9 processor, M9 chipset for always-on “Hey Siri’ support, an NFC chip for Apple Pay, and minor upgrades to cellular and WiFi hardware.
One thing that would keep Apple fans on the edge of their seats is the speculation regarding the upgraded 12MP camera present on the iPhone 6S. The device will also support 4K video recording just like the smaller iPad Pro.
However, there are only mixed rumours about the ‘Live Photos’ feature and nothing can be said in that regard before the launch.
In terms of storage, previous reports indicated that the SE will come in 16Gb and 64Gb versions, which is a similar to the iPhone 5s’ offering.
Apple might just include 128GB option, considering the demand for more storage. On the other hand, they might just not, as the device is supposed to be an attempt to gain a stronghold on the mid-ranged premium class segment and offering high storage capacity will significantly increase the price.
In addition, the new smartphone will be available in all previous colour options with the inclusion of Rose Gold, exclusive only to iPhone 6 and higher models. The base version might be priced somewhere close to Rs 30,000 ($450) and it will vary as per storage options.
The device is a heavily upgraded version with many of the iPhone 6s’s internal hardware capabilities but not so much in terms of design. Maybe that is one reason why the company internally addressed the device as “iPhone 5SE” but changed it to avoid confusion.
