Apple is expected to unveil a new iPhone, named the iPhone SE, at a special event tomorrow morning NZ time.
The new phone will be smaller than the last two generations, the iPhone 6 and 6s and their "Plus" companions, being targeted at those who want the modern features of the latest iPhones but at a cheaper price point, or want a smaller screen size.
Here's what you need to know:
Size and appearance
In 2014, Apple significantly upgraded the screen size of its iPhones, introducing the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. The iPhone SE, by comparison, is expected to have the same dimensions as the previous iPhone 5 and 5s models, which had a 4-inch screen, a power button on the top rather than the side, and a slightly boxier shape.
Rumours suggest the iPhone SE will be almost identical in appearance to the iPhone 5s, although it may come in new colours including the popular rose gold that was introduced with the 6s last year, as well as some slight curves that make it distinguishable from the 5s.
Specs and features
Most of the changes in the iPhone SE are likely to be under the hood, bringing the phone up to date. It is reported to include the same 12-megapixel camera that the iPhone 6s boasts as well as 4K video recording, an upgraded A9 processor to make it speedier and able to respond to Siri at all times, and support for Apple Pay.
As for memory, it would be a surprise if Apple deviated from the 16GB entry level memory that current iPhones come with, although higher prices for more capacity will be available. It is not expected to include the 3D Touch feature of the iPhone 6s but could incorporate live photos.
Price and release date
Pricing is a mystery until Apple reveals it, but it could take the current pricing of the iPhone 5s, which starts at $799 in New Zealand. The 5s meanwhile, could be discontinued or sold at a yet-lower price.
Apple tends to make its phones available for pre-order the Friday after they are unveiled, with them going on sale a week after. However, since the SE is more of an upgraded entry-level iPhone, rather than a glittering new high-end model, the release may be more muted, with the phone going on sale shortly after the event.
No big stir
The company's latest product announcement doesn't seem to be stirring much passion, however.
Apple could use a shot in the arm. iPhone sales are levelling off, after surging last year to record levels that made Apple the world's biggest company by stock market value. And many are wondering if CEO Steve Cook can come up with another big hit.
And the very next day, Apple is set to square off in court against the FBI over its demand that the company help it unlock a mass shooter's encrypted iPhone. While that dispute has drawn heated rhetoric, most Apple watchers say it's unlikely to play a major role at Monday's product launch.
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"There's been a lot less noise" around the event, compared with similar gatherings in the past, said Gartner tech analyst Brian Blau. Even so, he cautioned against ruling out any surprises. "Apple is such a secretive company. They do keep things under wraps as long as possible."
Analysts and tech blogs say Apple also may unveil a new model of the iPad Pro, which the company introduced last year with several features " like a detachable keyboard and stylus " designed for business users.
A four-inch iPhone isn't likely to see the kind of blockbuster demand that Apple enjoyed with its large-screen iPhone 6 and 6S models, according to several financial analysts, but it could help Apple boost overall sales and draw some additional users into the market for Apple's online services, including Apple Music, Apple Pay and the highly profitable mobile App Store.
"We think the numbers will be modest," said RBC Capital Markets analyst Amit Daryanani. So does Steven Milunovich of UBS, who believes Apple could sell 12 million of the new phones this year. By comparison, Milunovich estimates Apple has sold 265 million of the larger iPhone 6 models over the last two years.
Much of that surge came from Apple's 2014 move to offer a bigger, 4.7-inch screen with the iPhone 6 and an even-larger 5.5-inch screen with the 6 Plus. Last year's iPhone 6S and 6S Plus also had those larger screens, but otherwise weren't dramatically different.
Still, some analysts say the new phone could help Apple as it struggles to match last year's sales. While shoppers bought a record 74.8 million iPhones in the final three months of 2015, Apple has signaled demand in the current three-month period will fall short of the 61 million iPhones sold in the January-March quarter last year.
Even with new features, analysts say the 4-inch iPhone should sell at a lower price than the larger models, which list at $549 or more. That means it may appeal to some shoppers, especially in overseas markets, who want a premium phone at lower cost. It may also draw interest from owners of older iPhone 5 models who find the larger models are unwieldy to hold.
That could be enough to give Apple a boost through the spring and summer months, when iPhone sales historically have slowed, Daryanani said in a recent report. Many analysts expect Apple will release a more dramatically revamped new iPhone 7 in the fall.
The proliferation of iPhone and iPad models may seem contrary to Apple's traditional focus " espoused by late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs " on producing fewer products while making them superior to competitors' offerings. By contrast, Samsung is known for selling a multitude of phones and tablets at various sizes and prices.
But Gartner's Blau, among others, noted that Apple has gradually expanded its family of devices in recent years to reach more categories of consumers, which also helps the company sell more online goods and services.
"Tim Cook has said he thinks there's a lot of life left in the iPhone product line, despite the media and investor community pressuring Apple over the potential decline in premium iPhone sales," Blau said. "I think it's exactly these types of things that he has in mind."
