New iPhones expected to launch on September 16, with 'iPhone 6SE' branding

There's been no end of leaks and rumors about Apple's next iPhones, but the broad consensus surrounding all of the details that have emerged in recent weeks is that the new handsets will offer only minor improvements compared with the current iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, which launched last September.

Of course, one major change expected with the new devices is the removal of the dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack. Many have already reacted angrily to that prospect, although others have welcomed rumors that the new handsets will finally be water-resistant.

Whatever Apple has in store, it won't be too much longer until the company makes its official announcements and releases the new smartphones. Indeed, according to serial leakster Evan Blass (better known as @evleaks), they'll go on sale on September 16:

As Evan points out, that date refers specifically to their availability in stores. And as 9to5Mac notes, that means we're likely to see an official announcement sometime in the first week of that month.

A further report claims to have revealed the branding for the new handsets. Citing supply chain sources in China, German site Apfelpage reports that the devices will be branded as 'iPhone 6SE'.

There is some logic to that. Apple has established a 'tick-tock' release cycle for its iPhones, launching a major new model every two years, with less radical upgrades offered in its 's' handset releases between them. But if - as appears to be the case - its next iPhones will offer only minor changes compared with the current models, the jump to 'iPhone 7' branding would make little sense, especially as that would then leave next year's major handset upgrades branded as an incremental 'iPhone 7s' release.

iPhone 6SE branding would also bring the new devices in line with the 4-inch iPhone SE that was released earlier this year.

Apple is also expected to announce a new version of its Watch at the same event in September - and given that the company's Watch shipments collapsed by 55% year-over-year according to IDC, that launch can't come soon enough.

Source: 9to5Mac