Mid March is the new Christmas, at least for Apple fans, it seems.
A new report from prolific Apple rumor distributor Mark Gurman at 9to5 Mac says Apple will hold its next event on March 15. The company will reportedly unveil a new 4-inch iPhone to replace the aging iPhone 5S as well as an updated iPad Air. The Apple Watch is also rumored to get some incremental updates.
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If the report is true, this would mark the second year in a row Apple has held a March event. Last year the company unveiled the new ultra-thin MacBook at a March event, which also served as the official launch announcement of the Apple Watch.
This time Apple is rumored to be unveiling the iPhone 5SE, a new 4-inch iPhone designed more in line with the current iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. Once rumored to be called the iPhone 6C, the phone is said to have the Apple A9 chip (the same processor in the 6S/6S Plus), support for Live Photos and Apple Pay, and a revamped chassis with curved sides, similar to the 6/6S phones. It may or may not support 3D Touch, one of the signature features of the 6S and 6S Plus.
The iPad Air 3, according to rumors, will be a relatively straightforward upgrade to the iPad Air 2. The 9.7-inch tablet will supposedly include some features of the iPad Pro, including the Smart Connector -- the set of magnetic ports that allow some accessories (like Apple's Smart Keyboard) to connect directly with the tablet without using the Lightning port.
The Apple Watch will not get a formal new model, Gurman previously reported, but it will get a new set of bands. A software upgrade is also reportedly on deck.
Like all rumors, it's good to look at all this with some skepticism, but Gurman's record with Apple rumors is very good. Various other reports have lent credence to some of the reports.
A representative for Apple declined to comment on the report.
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