Apple Preparing 4-Inch iPhone 5se With Curved Edges

Yesterday, a video supposedly showcasing Apple’s upcoming 4-inch handset based on the iPhone 6s design went viral and raised people’s expectations that a flagship small screen variant was in production. However, reliable sources close to 9to5Mac strongly deny the leak, and suggest Apple is simply updating the iPhone 5s, which was first released in late 2013. As a result, the new model, rumoured to be marketed as the iPhone 5se will still include a headphone jack and retain the main features of the iPhone 5s. Here is a complete rundown of the new additions according to a wide range of credible sources:

• The chamfered, shiny edges have been replaced with curved glass like on the iPhone 6 and 6s lines
• The same 8 megapixel rear camera and 1.2 megapixel front camera systems from the iPhone 6
• Support for larger panoramas and autofocus for video recording
• Barometer for tracking elevation in the Health app
• An NFC chip for Apple Pay
• The A8 and M8 chips from the iPhone 6
• Bluetooth 4.2, VoLTE, and 802.11ac WiFi chips from the iPhone 6s
• Live Photos from the iPhone 6s
• Same Silver, Space Gray, Gold, & Rose Gold color options as the 6s line

In theory, the iPhone 5se should replace the iPhone 5s and retail at an identical price point. Early indications suggest the latest unit will arrive on the shelves in either March or April. It’s interesting to see Apple update the iPhone 5s considering its ageing specification. Furthermore, the recent trend to opt for larger displays isn’t for everyone and can be a major inconvenience. That’s why it’s important to offer choice, and the iPhone 5se might just provide users the operating system they want in a smaller form factor. As always, there’s going to be speculation about Apple’s future plans, and all the information about the leak yesterday suggests the video is fake.