Apple Gets Smaller But Retains Horsepower With 9.7-Inch iPad Pro, iPhone SE
Apple announced the availability of two new devices; the iPhone SE and a 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
iPhone SE
The iPhone SE is essentially a 4-inch clone of the iPhone 6s, and it features the same A9 processor introduced in the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. The iPhone SE has the same graphics performance as the 6s and 6s Plus with an embedded M9 coprocessor. Basically, Apple decided to make its most powerful iPhone yet even smaller.
| Device | iPhone SE |
|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A9 (with M9 Coprocessor) |
| Storage Options | 16 GB, 64 GB |
| Cameras | 12 MP iSight (Rear Facing), 5 MP Facetime (Front Facing) |
| Pricing | $399 (16 GB), $499 (64 GB) |
The 12 MP rear-facing camera can capture 4K videos, which can be edited right on the device (similar to the iPhone 6s). The front-facing 5 MP camera features a Retina Flash, which momentarily brightens the screen to improve picture quality in low light.
Starting at $399, Apple heralds the new iPhone SE as the lowest introductory price for an iPhone in the company’s history.
9.7-Inch iPad Pro
Apple also introduced a tinier version of its iPad Pro, now offering a 9.7-inch version of the productivity tablet. It features a new True Tone display, which uses four-channel sensors to dynamically adjust the white balance of the display to match the ambient light around you.
| Device | 9.7-Inch iPad Pro |
|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A9X (With |
| Display | 9.7-inch Oxide TFT 2048 x 1536 True Tone Display |
| Storage Options | 32 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Cameras | 12 MP iSight (Rear Facing), 5 MP Facetime (Front Facing) |
| Connectivity | 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Optional LTE |
| Pricing | $599 (32 GB, Wi-Fi Only)$749 (128 GB, Wi-Fi Only)$899 (256 GB, Wi-Fi Only) |
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro also features an A9X processor. Apple claims that the 12 GPU cores in the embedded M9 motion coprocessor makes the device more powerful than an Xbox 360. The new display is smaller, but with a resolution of 2048x1536, it keeps the same pixel-per-inch rating as the 12.3-inch iPad Pro (264 ppi). For the first time ever, the company is offering a 256 GB variant (the 12.3-inch iPad Pro also gains this storage option), and Apple also has LTE versions of the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
The cameras on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro are also better than its predecessor, offering a 12 MP iSight rear-facing camera and a 5 MP Facetime (front-facing) camera (compared to the 12.3-inch iPad Pro's 8 MP and 1.2 MP cameras, respectively). The new 9.7-inch iPad Pro also weighs less than a pound (0.96 lbs to be precise).
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Both the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and the iPhone SE will be available for order on March 24 and will begin shipping on March 31. The iPad Pro and iPhone SE both come in space gray, silver, gold or rose gold.
Derek Forrest is an Associate Contributing Writer for Tom’s Hardware and Tom’s IT Pro. Follow Derek Forrest on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook, Google+, RSS, Twitter and YouTube.
Derek Forrest was a contributing freelance writer for Tom's Hardware. He covered hardware news and reviews, focusing on gaming desktops and laptops.
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d_kuhn Cool... now I've got a path to upgrading my iPhone 5. I was thinking that Apple had given up on those of us who want smaller devices, glad to learn I was wrong. Not sure about those color options though.Reply -
hitman400 ReplyFor the price of a laptop? DOn't think so....
Razer Blade sells for $2,500 and its a laptop.
Specificity..is...key :)...
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ohim Apple still plays dirty with marketing .. 16 GB - 64 GB ... because having a 32 GB phone at this time is out of this world and why would anybody buy then the more expensive 64 ? Dirty play all the time.Reply -
chuckydb Those two devices should have had higher screen resolution.Reply
The iphone should have been at the very least 720p. Low end phones have better screen than that now. This isn't 2010 anymore.
As for the tablet, I would have like the same resolution as the bigger pro ipad. That would have been nice. -
hitman400 ReplyFor the price of a laptop? DOn't think so....
Razer Blade sells for $2,500 and its a laptop.
Specificity..is...key :)...
Dam, I guess I offended you enough to give me a downvote. Meanwhile, "specificity" posts on imgur get hundreds of upvotes :)
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XM Keeper "makes the device more powerful than an Xbox 360."Reply
Wow. Did you come up with that, or did Apple say that?
Either way, it's stupid. -
mrmez ReplyApple still plays dirty with marketing .. 16 GB - 64 GB ... because having a 32 GB phone at this time is out of this world and why would anybody buy then the more expensive 64 ? Dirty play all the time.
Ehhhh... how is that dirty?
They advertise a capacity, and you get to use that capacity, unlike Microsoft.
Buy a 32Gb Surface RT, only to find 15Gb of space available.
Or go the 64 and get 37.
THAT is dirty.