iPad Air 3, iPhone 5se Specs, Release date Rumors: Apple Launching New iPad Air, Smaller iPhone Model, Apple Watch Bands on March 18

By Jomar Endriga
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An Apple logo is seen at the Apple store in Munich, Germany, January 27, 2016. (REUTERS|Michaela Rehle) REUTERS|Michaela Rehle

Apple's heavily rumored new iPhone 5se and the successor to company's 2014 slate, the iPad Air 3, are reportedly going to be unveiled at an upcoming press event on March 15. According to various reports, both devices will go on sale in the tech giant's online and physical retail stores a few days after the press event on Friday, March 18.

Speculation involving Apple's plan of holding a special media event in mid-March have already been surfacing in tech rumor mills for a while. However, this is the first time Apple fans have encountered information about an alleged release date for the new products.

While the company is set to introduce both devices on the said date, it is not expected to offer consumers the option to pre-order them. According to 9to5Mac, the absence of pre-orders and the trend of releasing devices shortly after being unveiled is a new strategy. In contrast, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro was made available over two months after being unveiled. New models of the iPhone have likewise gone on sale about week or two after being launched with a pre-order period in place.

When it comes to the devices' actual specifications, Apple has yet to share anything official but previous reports have indicated that the upcoming iPad Air 3 will come with its own version of the company's proprietary A9 processor coupled with 4GB RAM.

The tablet is also expected to adopt several features from the bigger iPad Pro. For instance, it will work with the new Apple Pencil accessory, sport four speakers and come with a Smart Connector. Its rear camera is also said to include an LED flash, which, if accurate, will be the first time that Apple integrates a flash on an iPad model.

Meanwhile, the new 4-inch iPhone 5se will reportedly come in a size similar to 2013's iPhone 5s, but will contain specs that are updated and up to par with later models. The smaller iPhone is predicted to pack an A9 processor and M9 motion co-processor under the hood.

It is expected to include an NFC chip to support Apple Pay as well as a similar front & rear camera combination system found on the iPhone 6. On the software department, the iPhone 5se is said to have an always-on Siri activation and support for Live Photos, a feature found in the current generation iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

Aside from the iPad Air 3 and iPhone 5se, the March 15 event is also seen as the venue for the launch the company's new Apple Watch Sport Bands. The lineup will include new Sports Band colors, a Space Black Milanese Loop spotted last month on the Czech version of the Apple Store website, and NATO-style nylon bands.

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