Apple unveils new, smaller iPhone, other new products

Alex Hanson

Apple is moving forward with a new iPhone unveiled Monday — although a smaller version instead of the usual larger screen.

Dubbed the iPhone SE, Apple describes it as “the most powerful 4-inch phone ever.” Typically, Apple has decided to make its phones longer, but the new SE resembles an old iPhone 4. 

Orders for the new device will start Thursday and will start at $399 or $17 per month without a service contract.

The other big announcement was a smaller iPad Pro, starting at $599 for a 32GB device and $749 for the 128GB version. A 256GB version is also new and starts at $899.

The new iPad has a 9.7-inch display, and Apple says the display is superior to the normal iPad. It also has an increased contrast ratio, is 40 percent less reflective than the iPad Air 2 and is also 25 percent brighter.

Apple also announced the iOS 9.3, which will start being pushed to phones immediately, new bands for the Apple Watch, which will also start at a lower price of $300 and Siri dictation for new Apple TV devices.

Apple CEO Tim Cook also touched briefly on the ongoing battle with law enforcement over encryption with an iPhone owned by the San Bernardino terror suspects. Cook thanked Apple supporters for their “outpouring of support.”