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5 things to know about the rumoured iPhone 5 variant

The rumour mill has been abuzz with speculations surrounding the yet to be announced Apple iPhone 5 variant. Following the iPhone 5 were the iPhone 5s and 5c, but the major improvements came in the form of the recently released iPhone 6s and 6s Plus which saw the tech giant draw away from its vow of not going phablet with its phones.

The anticipated iPhone 5 variant, therefore, in all likelihood is going to be a cross between the newest upgrades while maintaining a smaller display size. Here are the things known so far about the purported device:

1. Name

The iPhone 5 variant was initially speculated to be called an iPhone 6c - akin to the iPhone 5c - albeit not in a plastic casing. However, subsequent rumours hinted at a 'iPhone 5se' name - 'se' standing for Special Edition or iPhone 5s Enhanced. Now, latest speculations indicate that Apple might be dropping the numeric from the name and call the new device simply as the 'iPhone se'.

2. Design

The rumoured device is said to retain the exterior of the iPhone 5s but with a glass atop that curves slightly at the edges similar to the iPhone 6s. The dimensions are expected to be 123.8 mm x 58.6 mm x 7.6 mm. The purported device is said to have a smaller display size of 4 inches - a deviation from Apple's current fascination with larger screen smartphones. Given the belief that the new phone will come with similar design specs as its predecessor, it is likely that the rear camera will be slightly protruding from the phone's rear.

3. Specs

It is speculated that the new iPhone will house the latest A9 chip coupled with either 1 GB or 2 GB of RAM. As Apple intends to bring the newest features to this small-screened device, expected features include a Touch ID, Apple Pay support, and a metal casing. The iPhone 5 variant will come in a metal casing but is unlikely to come with 3D Touch technology that comes layered in the new iPhone 6 and 6s and reduces the number of taps required to execute a function.

It will come powered by a 1,624 mAh or 1,642 mAh battery, which will be a slight improvement over the iPhone 5s that comes with a 1,570 mAh battery.

The newer iPhone is likely to come in two storage choices of 16 and 64 GB; a likely disappointment for those seeking a bumper 128 GB which was introduced with the newer phones.

4. Camera

Earlier speculations hinted at an 8 megapixel camera configuration, however, latest reports suggest that the phone is likely to come with a 12 megapixel rear camera and support Live Photos - another feature to be retained from the newer phones. The camera will further encompass improved autofocusing feature and better noise reduction. Other than that, it will further support 4K video recording at 30 FPS. Also, as the new 4-inch iPhone will not come with 3D Touch, the Live Photos will be played back using a long press like on older iOS devices.

5. Price and other details

The iPhone 5s variant is expected to be available in the same colour choices of Silver, Gold, and Space Gray, along with the newest Rose Gold. Entry models are expected to cost between $400 to $500.

Although there has not been any official information about the product event, it is expected that Apple will unveil its new smartphone along with a new iPad Air, iPad Pro, and new Apple Watch bands on March 21.

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