Home Gaming Apple announces new iPhone SE, iPad Pro 9.7-inch

Apple announces new iPhone SE, iPad Pro 9.7-inch

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Apple reveal new iPhone SE and iPad Pro

Although its become less and less of a surprise and more of a “going through the motions” affair, Apple still managed to impress at their “Loop you in” showcase yesterday evening. The event, which lines up with the Spring timeframe of announces the company has now become regular with, was heavily hyped up in anticipation for a new Apple Watch, as well as the possibility of a new iPhone and iPad. Only two of those came to fruition, but with significant changes.

Firstly, Apple is in fact taking a step back and creating a smaller, thicker iPhone. Dubbed the iPhone SE, Apple admitted that some of their customers simply loved the smaller handset of old. And instead of forcing them to adapt, the company is introducing the SE line as a new option. Packing the same power as the iPhone 6S, the iPhone SE comes in a similar form factor to probably my favourite iPhone yet, the iPhone 5s. It also comes with a new 12 megapixel rear camera and greatly improved front facing one, giving you the 6S in a body that doesn’t feel like a slippery bar of soap sometimes.

iPhone SE

The other big announcement was a little more expected, but nonetheless just as exciting to see. Following on from the success of the massive iPad Pro from last year, Apple revealed the next core entry into their iPad range as the…well iPad Pro. Except in 9’’.7 inches this time. The smaller iPad packs all the same power as the almost laptop-like iPad Pro, was well as support for the Apple Pencil. The A9X processor will keep the iPad Pro powerful enough for the foreseeable future, with a new 256GB giving you tons of room for 4K video and drawings.

iPad Pro 9.7 inches

It also comes with the better 12 megapixel camera present on the iPhone SE, as well as a new front facing camera. Because people still take photos with an iPad for some reason. It’s out at the end of the month in select regions.

The rest of the event was dedicated to smaller news such as the release of iOS 9.3, a $50 price reduction on the Apple Watch and the reveal of some new straps. Apple’s bigger event is traditionally in September, so expect a new iPhone, Macbooks and possibly Apple Watch 2 later this year.

Last Updated: March 22, 2016

23 Comments

  1. Gavin Mannion

    March 22, 2016 at 07:44

    I love my Apple devices and I still think they are leagues ahead of the Android options… but nothing that was announced yesterday impressed me.. I may even not upgrade this year and just wait as my iPhone 6 does everything I want.

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      March 22, 2016 at 07:52

      I only ever upgrade when my contract comes up for upgrade. I have the 3,4,5 and now the 6. I don’t have big hands so constantly have to hold the phone in the middle to reach the top of the 6’s screen which is really annoying.

      Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        March 22, 2016 at 08:00

        yeahmy contracts up for renewal this year… but thinking maybe just drop the monthly bill instead of signing for another 2 years

        Reply

        • miaau

          March 22, 2016 at 09:04

          I always get a phone (like my top of the range LG I got in July last year) that does not add to my monthly bill. I.e. I pay now what I would have paid just getting a sim.

          Ask your provider. You may not get the latest Iphone, but the only two phones I would have had to pay in on were the iPhone 6 and the Samsung Galaxy 6. So I did not take them. Why pay more?

          Reply

          • Gavin Mannion

            March 22, 2016 at 09:31

            The phone is subsidised by the contract.. you can organise cheaper contracts with no phone to save the monthly bill

          • miaau

            March 22, 2016 at 09:42

            (my bill is reduced, i.e. no phone component I can see, pay the same as Sim Only price on the provider website) Yeah, I know. But I looked into this. If I take, for example, a R499 sim deal for free minutes and data and stuff, they are happy to let me pay R499 a month (look at a single multi-page brochure, they list both in same pamphlet, saw it again last week). But they then have, on special, for the same price and the same data, minutes and other stuff, a top range phone for the same price. That is what I mean. I will not pay a cent over the price they would normally charge for the same services, but I want a phone built in.

            ALSO, this may be a thing that my provider does for me, based on call volumes and long history. I know they structure deals with phone extra, then free minutes and stuff. But for the last six years, each time I speak to them, I get the deal I want, not the one they advertise.

          • miaau

            March 22, 2016 at 09:44

            the above said, I cannot get the very latest Apple stuff.

          • Gavin Mannion

            March 22, 2016 at 12:26

            Well I rarely, if ever, use more than 60 minutes of voice per month and I use Afrihost for my data.So if I changed it all to Afrihost it’ll be R199 a month and I’m done.. not bad

          • Admiral Chief in New York

            March 22, 2016 at 12:49

            I’m on R210pm for 300mins, 300sms, 600mb data, and my S4 is still good so I’m not paying for a phone.

            And no friggen way am I paying more

    • Admiral Chief in New York

      March 22, 2016 at 08:18

      Most Android devices are total crap, but there are a few that totally outshines and outperforms the iDevices

      Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        March 22, 2016 at 08:30

        true.. but iOS has all the best apps and that’s all I care about in the end.

        Everything of importance hits iOS first.

        Reply

        • miaau

          March 22, 2016 at 09:02

          I like my Windows Phone (not using it, cause work needs Android now), because of the clever os.

          BUT the app store is weak and poor. And I find, other than a few apps, I hardly use any. News, WhatsApp, E-book reader, telephone. Camera. I am happy, but the phone must be silky smooth and fast.

          As with Windows Phone, IOS has always been fast and responsive with less RAM and Slower CPU’s (cause both companies know the hardware they write for). As Techie I like that. Efficiency.

          Reply

        • Admiral Chief in New York

          March 22, 2016 at 09:48

          And that is what I hate about it, overpriced exclusivity.

          Granted, Play Store has a bunch of crap as well.

          At least both are better than the horrible Windows Store

          Reply

          • Gavin Mannion

            March 22, 2016 at 12:23

            well it’s no more expensive than the Samsung really

          • Admiral Chief in New York

            March 22, 2016 at 12:41

            Little bit more expensive for a lot less phone tbh.

            But I get where you are coming from for the store etc, it is fairly decent. I just don’t like paying more for less

    • Francois Knoetze

      March 22, 2016 at 10:55

      Wasn’t expecting anything big from last night. Waiting on the WWDC and September event(the more exciting one of the batch). Still dead happy with my iPhone 6. It is such a great phone. The 7 with the dual camera will be a winner in my books though.

      Reply

  2. Jonah Cash

    March 22, 2016 at 07:50

    Thank goodness they have stopped this ever evolving bigger cellphone craze! I hate my iPhone 6’s size and loved the size of the 5. So if they give me that size again I will just get that and miss the newer versions.

    Reply

    • HouwGobz

      March 22, 2016 at 08:41

      How about phones that don’t require two hands just to answer them right? RIGHT?

      Reply

      • miaau

        March 22, 2016 at 09:00

        Yes, true. I wonder if there is some new visionary at Apple that understands that now?

        Reply

      • Fox1 - Retro

        March 22, 2016 at 09:16

        A 5″ Android phone can be used one handed. Just shrink the keyboard.

        Reply

    • Francois Knoetze

      March 22, 2016 at 10:51

      odd…peronally the 6’s size is quite good(better than the 5 for me) and still work for my micro hands. the 6 plus however is just ridiculous. Its like the thing people have with big wallets(where I am the reverse) small wallet, enough for cards and never hold cash.

      Reply

  3. Pariah

    March 22, 2016 at 08:04

    My iPad 3 still does everything I need it to. Why Apple, why?

    Reply

    • Mossel

      March 22, 2016 at 10:24

      So does mine! Except I don’t have it anymore, it’s somewhere in Africa.

      Reply

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