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First iPhone SE Cases Start Appearing With Conflicting Designs

Thursday March 3, 2016 7:06 am PST by Eric Slivka

Last week, we saw some conflicting designs for what the upcoming 4-inch iPhone 5se or SE might look like, based on information obtained from case manufacturers. With less than three weeks to go before the device's introduction, we're now seeing the first actual "iPhone SE" cases surface online, although it's clear these companies have yet to nail down just what the phone will look like.

iphone_5se_case_1

iPhone 5se/SE case with iPhone 5s-like design including power button on top
As revealed in images obtained by MacRumors, distributors offering "iPhone 5se" cases for bulk purchase are carrying cases of both rumored designs, which include one very similar to the iPhone 5 or 5s design with the power button on the top and another more like the iPhone 6 design with rounded edges and the power button on the side.

iphone_5se_case_2

iPhone 5se/SE case with iPhone 6-like design including power button on side
Early case leaks have historically been fairly accurate indicators of new iPhone designs, though there have been a few notable exceptions. With two distinct case designs still floating around this close to the iPhone SE's launch, it's clear there is still confusion over just what Apple intends to release.

Yesterday, we published our own take on one way to reconcile the conflicting rumors, combining a curved-edge front glass panel that has been a consistent feature of iPhone 5se/SE rumors with a metal chassis that has a bit of the iPhone 5s design aesthetic including glass antenna windows at the top and bottom of the device's back.

Top Rated Comments

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smacrumon

45 months ago

Protruding camera, terribly obvious antenna lines, no 3d touch will mean no upgrade from my 4s, a time when good clean design principles actually mattered to Apple. I will wait another two more years or change brand.

Customers collectively pay Apple billions of $ to make decisions about products that exceed design standards in every way across many criteria. It's not acceptable for Apple to continue to release products that are unresolved and feature compromises such as that seen in the iPhone 6/6s.

Rating: 16 Votes

yaxomoxay

45 months ago

Protruding camera, terribly obvious antenna lines, no 3d touch will mean no upgrade from my 4s, a time when good design principles actually mattered. I will wait another two more years, or change brand.

I jumped from 5s to 6S+. Best decision of my (iPhone) life. I thought that I would've never loved it, now I can't live without it.

Rating: 15 Votes

ValO

45 months ago

There are lots of people like this.
They don' t even like the design of the 5/s.
" back in de old days".......

I think the 4s was great for its time, I loved the design. But when I got hold of the stealth black iPhone 5, I never looked back.
The 4s looks dated now, really...
Try something new, you could grow to like it...

Rating: 9 Votes

iZac

45 months ago

Either Apple have been baiting leakers with incorrect/varied specs, or they're releasing two 4" phones - a 6s mini and a new 'budget' 5 series.

Rating: 6 Votes

OneBagTravel

45 months ago

This is news? A case? Not the phone itself... but a CASE?

The case sheds some light on the form factor of the physical phone.

Rating: 6 Votes

Michael Scrip

45 months ago

My personal preference is to carry a smaller device.

I use an iPad mini for more in depth work which isn't much larger than 6s+.

Isn't much larger?

Ummmm...

Rating: 5 Votes

subjonas

45 months ago

I jumped from 5s to 6S+. Best decision of my (iPhone) life. I thought that I would've never loved it, now I can't live without it.

I went from 4s to 5s to 6s Plus. Here are my thoughts: 4/4s had the best size, 5/5s had the best look/feel, 6/6s Plus has the most power/features (obviously). And after about 3 months with the 6s Plus, I've decided it's a great device, and 3D Touch is useful, but I'm just a small phone type of guy--there's no more denying it. I'm selling this thing and going back to my 5s which still runs great. I'll be keeping my eye on this iPhone SE however. And I really hope they don't move the power button to the side.

Rating: 4 Votes

bpeeps

45 months ago

LOOLLLL 4S has antenna breaks as well. And the industrial exoskeleton, that the glass sticks out from on the front and rear.

The antenna breaks on the 4S aluminum edge don't really compare to the 5S glass antenna windows that section the back of the phone into three quarters. The 4S is a much cleaner look than the 5S and personally, has been the best looking iPhone to date.

Rating: 4 Votes

jayducharme

45 months ago

I'm amazed that companies take such a risk developing accessories for Apple products that might not even exist. I assume their profit margins on their released products are high enough to offset their R&D costs for the versions that turn out to be wrong.

Rating: 3 Votes

bpeeps

45 months ago

They may have looked better, but the antennas sucked compared to the new design. I had to send 6 iPhone 4's back because of anttena signal drops in an area where all other phones were getting full bars.

And you would drop the functionality of iOS because of two bands that are probably hidden under a case? Just curious.

That user was talking about the 4S, which has redesigned antennas from the 4.
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This is news? A case? Not the phone itself... but a CASE?

You're a 6502A member which means you've been here long enough to not be a casual reader. MacRumors has always reported on case designs before the release of a new phone because they do give some clue as to what the phone could possibly look like. It happens every year.

Rating: 2 Votes

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