Iphone SE is the latest name for new Iphone and it's Two worst Features

Here we go again. The new 4-inch iPhone is just called iPhone SE.

I just wrote about how the iPhone 5SE is not that of a weird name considering past use of the SE moniker and the retro design. 9to5Mac, the source of most iPhone 5SE rumors, now says that they hear that Apple is dropping the "5" from the iPhone 5SE name.

The new 4-inch iPhone will just be called iPhone SE. An "iPhone Special Edition" makes sense, considering there was a Macintosh SE back in the 80s. 

The rumors say that the iPhone SE will look like an iPhone 5, but powered by the technology found in the iPhone 6S. The iPhone SE is said to run on latest A9 CPU and the M9 Chip.

Other features of the iPhone SE include Apple Pay, iPhone 6 quality camera, always-on Siri and Live Photos. Color options are supposed to include bright pink. This new iPhone is offering a state-of-the-art iPhone experience, but in a small package with an expected lower price than the iPhone 6S.

The iPhone SE would replace the iPhone 5S, that Apple is still selling. The price of the iPhone SE would be same as for the iPhone 5S says 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman. Without contract the iPhone SE's price would be $450.

Apple is expected to reveal the iPhone SE either on March 15 or March 22. There are conflicting rumors on when the Apple March 2016 media event will take place. Update 02/28: Apple is now said to host the iPhone SE Media Event on March 21.

iPhone SE Photos Confirm Two Worst Features

As I already discussed in detail, Apple AAPL +0.13% is getting a lot right with the upcoming 4-inch ‘iPhone SE’. But now new photos of a phone which combines the power of an iPhone 6S with the portability of an iPhone 5S, have confirmed two disappointing omissions…  

 The first photos of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7 – has shown off production line photos of the iPhone SE which confirm it will:

1. Use the old design of the iPhone 5S, rather than shrink the iPhone 6S
2. Not include 3D Touch, Apple’s much hyped pressure sensitive screen technology

But do these moves make sense? Personally I’d say yes, even if I disagree with them.

Why I disagree is I believe the iPhone range is more compelling with ‘small, medium and large’ identical handsets than two flagships, a hot rod iPhone 5S and a two year old iPhone 5S. In addition long term adoption of 3D Touch by developers will suffer if Apple launches new handsets without the technology.

On the flipside, I do understand Apple’s decisions. I suspect the company would prefer to split the iPhone range into two sets of two phones: the premium iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus and a cheaper range comprised of the visually similar iPhone SE and iPhone 5S which lets it continue to profit from older designs for several years.

There are likely technological reasons as well. Fitting 3D Touch into the smaller 4-inch form factor of the iPhone SE was likely a step too far (at least for now) given the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus had reduced battery capacities just to accommodate it. Meanwhile a 3D Touch capable iPhone SE would eat into profit margins and destroy a key reason to upsell customers to the 6S and 6S Plus.

After all, Apple would like the iPhone SE to be a big success but not at the expense of its premium models.

As such I suspect the iPhone SE will be both more (in terms of performance) and less (in terms of design and functionality) than we expected from Apple’s new 4-inch 2016 iPhone. It should satisfy customers determined to ‘stay small’ and upsell them from the iPhone 5S while not cannibalising sales of the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus.

In a smartphone form factor (bizarrely) uncontested by Apple’s rivals, that should prove more than enough to give Apple another monster hit. And yes, it will keep the headphone jack, unlike the iPhone 7.