Apple iPhone 5se, iPad Air 3 Will Go on Sale March 18th; Pre-order Not Availabe

By Staff Writer | Feb 13, 2016 05:34 AM EST

Apple will be having an event on March 15 highlighting some of its newest products like the iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3. These two devices are expected to go on sale by March 18; however, there will be no pre-order period for both devices.

iDigitalTimes reported that Apple will not be accepting pre-orders of iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3 and will release these handsets instead, three days after the company's event on March 15. This is an unusual move for Apple since the Cupertino-based company typically launches a new iPhone model two to three weeks after its initial announcement to allow a pre-order period.

Nevertheless, the report did include a disclaimer with the release date information, stating that Apple's plans are subject to change. But if the decision of the company would stay the same, the iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3 will be available for purchase in retail locations and online store the same Friday after the March event.

As for the devices specs and features, Phone Arena stated on its article that the iPhone 5se will be a cheaper smartphone that will still have many of the features seen on the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple 6s Plus. This upcoming iPhone is expected to offer the powerful A9 SoC and the M9 motion co-processor. It will be armed with an 8MP rear-facing snapper and a front-facing 1.2MP shooter for selfies and FaceTime. 

The iPhone 5se will also come with always-on Siri, and an NFC chip to support Apple Pay to expand the use of its mobile payment service. The iPhone 5se will have Live Photos; however, without a 3D Touch display, it will most likely require a long-press to activate. This device will be accessible in Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, and Space Gray varieties of colors.

For the iPad Air 3, Macworld said that this 9.7-inch tablet is expected to have four speakers to bring the tablet's audio quality up to iPad Pro's level. It is also believed to be armed with a Smart Connector for accessories like a Smart Keyboard. Apple Inc. would also add a rear camera flash to this tablet. However, users should not expect the tablet to have the 3D Touch technology. Nonetheless, it will be armored with a pressure-sensitive display from the iPhone 6s.

Aside from the iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3, Apple Inc. is also expected to introduce a refresh version of the Apple Watch during the March 15 event. This smart watch is expected to have FaceTime compatibility and new Sport band colors.

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