RIP: Apple Has Discontinued The iPhone 5s

Today has been a big one for Apple and the millions upon millions of fans and potential customers that watch its product releases with ever-increasing lust. Today’s big announcements include a new, smaller 9.7-inch iPad Pro and some Apple Watch bands, but perhaps the biggest of them all was the first new 4-inch iPhone to be announced since the iPhone 5s. The iPhone SE is now a real thing, and it goes up for pre-order on Thursday. While that’s great news for fans of 4-inch iPhones, it’s not so great for the iPhone 5s. Because it’s dead.

As may perhaps be expected given the announcement of Apple’s $399 iPhone SE with its iPhone 6s-like features and specs, the old iPhone 5s no-longer has a place in Apple’s ever growing smartphone lineup. But fear not, because that’s not bad news for anyone who enjoyed its unique, highly polished design aesthetic like I did. Thankfully, the iPhone SE is all but identical to the iconic iPhone 5s we all know and love.

iPhone-5s-5c.png

On the even more positive side, of course, it’s great to see Apple continue to keep the 4-inch form factor alive following its move to 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch monsters with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus a couple of years ago, and while the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s did live on, their ageing specifications and limited capabilities when compared to the latest and greatest that Apple had to offer left them appearing tired when placed beside their bigger brothers.

The introduction of the iPhone SE, with its iPhone 6s innards like 4K video recording, faster processor, more RAM, Live Photos, Apple Pay and more means anyone wanting to buy a small iOS-powered smartphone can do just that without having to compromise on features or performance. The new smartphone becomes available for pre-order on March 24 and hits the shelves on the 31st of the same month, with the 16GB unlocked variant going for $399 and the 64GB variant, for $499.

It’s just a shame it won’t be called the iPhone 5s. Sleep well brother, you’ve earned it.

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