iPad Air 3 and iPhone 5se to Be Available on March 18 Following March 15 Introduction

ipadairiphone5sApple is planning to begin selling the upcoming iPad Air 3 and the 4-inch iPhone 5se starting on March 18, reports 9to5Mac. The two devices will be offered in stores and online starting on Friday following their introduction at an event to be held on Tuesday, March 15.

Apple is not expected to accept pre-orders for the two devices, and the short period between announcement and launch suggests Apple expects supplies of the iPad Air 3 and iPhone 5se to be plentiful. It is unusual for Apple to offer an iPhone directly after an announcement, but this is the first time the company has launched a standalone non-flagship device.

Launching the new iPhone and iPad models so soon after introduction and not offering pre-orders would be a new strategy for Apple. Apple typically releases new iPhone models one or two weeks following the introduction events and an online pre-order period.

Rumors have suggested the iPhone 5se will be similar in appearance to the iPhone 5s, but with the curved cover glass used in the iPhone 6s. It is also expected to include an upgraded A9 processor and an 8-megapixel camera similar to the camera used in the iPhone 6.

The iPad Air 3 is rumored to take on design elements from the iPad Pro, offering a four-speaker layout and a Smart Connector that would work with iPad Air accessories. Size wise, it is expected to be nearly identical to the iPad Air 2, and i may also include a rear-facing flash.

Apple's March event is also expected to see the debut of new bands for the Apple Watch, including a Black Milanese Loop that was spotted on the Czech Republic Apple Store website in January. Software currently in testing, including iOS 9.3, watchOS 2.2, OS X 10.11.4, and tvOS 9.2 could be unveiled shortly after the event.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
streaming black friday 2025

Black Friday Streaming Deals Include Big Savings on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, and More

Monday November 24, 2025 8:03 am PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
General Apps Messages Redux

Singapore Orders Changes to iMessage by December

Tuesday November 25, 2025 6:39 am PST by
Singapore has ordered Apple to block or filter messages on iMessage that impersonate government agencies, requiring the company to implement new anti-spoofing protections by December as part of efforts to curb rising online scams, the Straits Times reports. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that it had issued an Implementation Directive to Apple under the Online Criminal Harms...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red Green

The 30+ Best Black Friday Apple Deals on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 6:46 am PST by
Black Friday is finally here, and as always this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red

Apple Black Friday Deals Available Now on AirPods, iPads, Accessories, and More

Friday November 21, 2025 8:48 am PST by
We're only a few days away from Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...

Top Rated Comments

X38 Avatar
128 months ago
Definitely wanting to update my 5S, but last year's leftovers aren't going to cut it. There had better be a 4" version of the iPhone 7 this fall, or I'm holding out for another year. Get it through your thick head Tim, there's plenty of people who want a flagship phone that isn't phablet sized.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Krevnik Avatar
128 months ago
"Who needs a stylus? Yuck!" - Steve Jobs, 2007
“I’m not convinced people want to watch movies on a tiny little screen. To paraphrase Bill Clinton, ‘It’s the music, stupid, it’s the music!’ Music’s been around for a long time, will continue to be, it’s huge.” - Steve Jobs, 2003

And then the 5th Gen in 2005 had video.

"It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore." - Steve Jobs, 2008

And then we see iBooks in 2009.

"There are no plans to make a tablet. It turns out people want keyboards…. We look at the tablet, and we think it is going to fail." - Steve Jobs, 2003

Again, 2009 with the iPad.

"Given that all tablet users will already have a smartphone in their pockets, giving up precious display area to fit a tablet in our pockets is clearly the wrong tradeoff. The seven-inch tablets are tweeners, too big to compete with a smartphone and too small to compete with an iPad." - Steve Jobs, 2010

And then the iPad Mini in 2012.

Never treat Jobs' words as gospel. Especially in the 2000s and later, he seemed perfectly willing to change his tune if there was a reason compelling enough to do so. Those of us clamoring for the Pencil on the Air are doing so for the precise reason that fingers suck as writing input devices. And the iPad's size makes it ideal for many for writing input, and all the existing styluses on the market for writing input are compromises at best. The demand has been there for quite a while.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
longofest Avatar
128 months ago
Personally, more looking forward to new 15" Skylake MacBook Pros.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bensisko Avatar
128 months ago
It is astounding how Apple acknowledges the rapid decline of iPad sales but then refuses to include features that would give Air and Air 2 owners reason to upgrade. But on the positive note for me I'll get to keep that $600 in my pocket.
You're being a little hasty - wait for Apple to officially announce the product before condemning them.
[doublepost=1455310338][/doublepost]
The pencil is the dumbest product Apple has released in recent memory. It's an overpriced and glorified stylus which Steve Jobs would never have approved of.

Products like the pencil have started to turn Apple into a complete joke.
Clearly, based on the replies here hoping for Pencil support on the Air 3, you're wrong.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NT1440 Avatar
128 months ago
If the new Air supports the Pencil, sold.

If it doesn't, I'm not really sure what I'm going to do.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HVDynamo Avatar
128 months ago
"Who needs a stylus? Yuck!" - Steve Jobs, 2007
That doesn't mean he couldn't change his mind. But nevermind that Steve's whole point was using the stylus as a main input method sucked. Your finger is still the main input. The stylus is for when you need more detailed input for drawing or writing and whatnot. It is absolutely not stupid. The point here is, don't buy one if you don't want one. It isn't required to use the iPad, it's an add-on. Back when Steve made that comment, every touchscreen device had and required a stylus to even use it. His point still stands.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)