Apple unveiled a smaller iPhone and iPad Pro today (March 21) from its corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California. Quartz’s Alice Truong covered the event on the ground, and we liveblogged the event below. Here are the big takeaways:
- Apple unveiled a smaller iPhone SE with a 4-inch display. The SE is essentially an iPhone 6S—matching it in graphic and computing power—in the body of an iPhone 5/5S. It will be available in space gray, silver, gold, and rose gold. The iPhone SE begins at $399—the lowest price for a new iPhone at launch—for the 16GB model. The 64GB version will be available for $499. Preorders begin March 24 and will ship March 31.
- Apple added a 9.7-inch model to its iPad Pro line. It’s essentially the same robust tablet as its larger counterpart, featuring an A9X chip that balances power and efficiency. It’s also compatible with the Apple Pencil and smart keyboard. The smaller version, however, features a two-tone display that uses light sensors to adapt and match the color of the screen to the user’s environment. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro comes in silver, space gray, gold, and rose gold, and starts at $599 for the 32GB WiFi version. The 128GB WiFi version is $749, and a 256Gb WiFi version costs $899. It will be available for preorder March 24 and ship March 31.
- Building off its ResearchKit, Apple is adding a new open-source framework called CareKit that helps patients manage their conditions with their mobile devices. Patients can also use CareKit to communicate with their doctors or family members about their health. It will be available in April.
- Updates to tvOS, the Apple TV’s operating system, include folders for apps, dictation (which also works for inputting usernames and passwords), iCloud photo library, and live photos. The new version will be available today.
- Apple also debuted new watch bands and cut the price of the Apple Watch by $50, to $299.