Hands-On With iPhone SE, 9.7" iPad Pro, and New Apple Watch Bands - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Hands-On With iPhone SE, 9.7" iPad Pro, and New Apple Watch Bands

Following today's Apple event that saw the 4-inch iPhone SE, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and new Apple Watch bands and pricing announced, members of the press have been invited for hands-on time with the new products.

iPhone-SE-hands-on-1
The new iPhone SE looks almost identical to the iPhone 5s, beyond the switch to matte-chamfered edges and a color-matched stainless steel Apple logo on the rear.

The new 4-inch smartphone retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, despite rumors that Apple will switch to an all-in-one Lightning connector on the iPhone 7 due later this year.

iPhone-SE-matte

A closer look at the iPhone SE's new matte-chamfered edges (Image: The Verge)

iPhone SE is available in the same four colors offered across most of Apple's newer product lineups: Gold, Silver, Space Gray, and Rose Gold.


16GB and 64GB models can be purchased for $399 and $499 respectively. The 16GB model is also free when subsidized with a two-year carrier contract. Financing plans are available from $17 per month.

The new iPad Pro also looks virtually identical to its larger 12.9-inch sibling, with the only noticeable difference being the tablet's smaller 9.7-inch screen akin to iPad Air.

ipad-pro-12-vs-9-side-by-side

A side-by-side comparison of the new 9.7" iPad Pro (right) and 12.9" iPad Pro (left) (Image: The Verge)

The smaller iPad Pro has adopted many of the same pro-level features, including an Oxide TFT display, Smart Connector, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard support, and the same positioning of other ports and buttons.

The new 9.7-inch iPad Pro comes in four colors: Silver, Gold, Space Gray and Rose Gold. Pricing starts at $599 for 32GB of storage with Wi-Fi only, while 128GB and a new 256GB option will be available for $749 and $899 respectively. Pre-orders begin March 24 and shipments to customers will start March 31.


Meanwhile, new Apple Watch bands and finishes were announced at today's event. Apple introduced new Woven Nylon bands in a variety of colors, a Space Black Milanese Loop, and new colors for the Leather Loop, Modern Buckle, and Sport bands.

Apple-Watch-new-bands-March-2016

New woven nylon, leather, and sport Apple Watch bands (Image: The Verge)

Apple Watch now starts at $299, and the new bands can be ordered from Apple's website starting today for $49 and up. Orders placed today currently have estimated shipping times of late March for most new bands.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch 11, iPad Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

apple watch series 11 pink

Apple Starts Selling Refurbished Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3

Friday June 5, 2026 2:14 pm PDT by
Apple is now selling refurbished versions of the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3 at discounted prices. This is the first time the Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3 have been available through Apple's online refurbished store since the devices launched last September. Refurbished pricing on the 46mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $369, down from $429, while ...
Apple Watch Series 9 Pink Aluminum Feature

watchOS 27 Drops Support for Apple Watch Series 8, Ultra 1, SE 2, and Older

Monday June 8, 2026 11:37 am PDT by
Apple today confirmed that watchOS 27 will not support the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra (first generation), or Apple Watch SE (second generation), effectively drawing a line at devices equipped with the S9 or S10 chip. The only Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 27 are the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and SE 3. The cuts are the biggest...
Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 Mistakenly Left Off watchOS 27 Compatibility List

Monday June 8, 2026 4:17 pm PDT by
Apple today confirmed that the Apple Watch Series 9 is compatible with watchOS 27, after the device was mistakenly omitted from the software's official compatibility page. Apple updated its website immediately following its WWDC 2026 keynote, and the watchOS 27 page listed a shorter compatibility list than many users expected: the Apple Watch SE 3, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, and Ultra 3. ...

Top Rated Comments

hspace Avatar
134 months ago
Who came up with the "brilliant" idea of a camera bump on the iPad - the device that you are more likely to use on a flat surface than any other device!?!?!? Dumb beyond belief.

They are basically forcing you to get a case for it.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nviz22 Avatar
134 months ago
Anyone find it stupid how Apple makes a great looking SE device w/ no protruding camera, yet the 6S/6S Plus have a protruding camera?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
134 months ago
I want to know what impact the protruding camera has on stability when on a flat surface.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iThingsGurl Avatar
134 months ago
Those edges... Still look so elegant

MacRumors content image
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
134 months ago
Anyone else sick of having the useless iPad shoved down our throat? Where are the new laptops? People are on 2 or 3 year old ones now.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
134 months ago
Download that App that tells us the RAM!
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)