iPhone SE 3: Apple’s first event of 2022 to be on March 8

It is expected to unveil new iPhone SE, a redesigned iPad Air and a Mac with the company’s own chip

The iPhone through the ages: Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduces the iPhone to the world in San Francisco, California, on January 9, 2007. It had a 3.5-inch screen and 2MP camera. Reuters

The iPhone 3G was launched in 2008 with a faster 3G connection. It also added location services. Reuters

The iPhone 3GS was released on June 19, 2009. It was twice as fast as its previous version. AFP

The iPhone 4 was released on June 24, 2010. It featured FaceTime for the first occasion as well as a retina screen. Reuters

A later release, this time on October 14, 2011, the iPhone 4S had a new dual-core processor. Reuters

Apple CEO Tim Cook takes to the stage following the reveal of the iPhone 5 in San Francisco, California, on September 12, 2012. This was the first 4-inch screen and the phone was faster and slimmer. Reuters

The iPhone 5C arrived on September 20, 2013 and was less expensive and very similar to the iPhone 5 except it came with colourful casing. Getty Images

The iPhone 5s came at the same time as the 5C and introduced touch ID and a motion data processor as health and fitness apps started to come to the fore. Getty Images

The iPhone 6 marked another double launch when unveiled on September 9, 2014. The 6 had a 4.7-inch screen, faster processor and improved camera. AFP

The iPhone 6 Plus had a 5.5-inch screen and was $100 more expensive. Reuters

The iPhone 6s came on September 25, 2015 with 3D touch and a camera that could shoot 4K video. EPA

The iPhone 6s Plus is displayed at Tokyo's flagship store on September 25, 2015. Both new phones came in a new colour - rose gold. AFP

Unveiled on March 21, 2016, the iPhone SE had the same design as the iPhone 5 and saw a return to the 4-inch screen which was preferred by some users. It was more affordable and hence lacked features such as Touch ID. AFP

The iPhone 7 announced on September 7, 2016, said somewhat controversially goodbye to the audio jack. Reuters

The iPhone 7 Plus had a dual camera added. AFP

The iPhone 8 was released on September 22, 2017 and had a new glass and aluminium design, retina HD screen. Reuters

A customer gets his hands on an iPhone 8 Plus on launch day in Tokyo on September 22, 2017. The launches also saw speakers that were 25% louder and the most powerful and smartest chip in a smartphone (according to Apple). AFP

The iPhone X marked a decade of iPhones on September 12, 2017. It's main changes were an edge-to-edge super retina screen. Touch ID was removed with Face ID introduced. Reuters

The iPhone XS was released on September 21, 2018 and had a Super Retina OLED screen with improved scratch and water resistance. Face ID was faster. Reuters

The iPhone XS Max had the largest iPhone screen to date at 6.5 inches. It could handle 3 million pixels. Reuters

The iPhone XR was slightly cheaper than the XS and came with a 6.1-inch screen. AFP

A customer looks at the iPhone 11 at an Apple store in Dubai Mall on September 20, 2019. EPA

A man tries out the iPhone 11 Pro in Cupertino, California, on September 10, 2019. AFP

Midnight Green was introduced for the iPhone 11 Pro Max, while there was also a new three-camera system. Reuters

Arriving on April 15, 2020, the iPhone SE was for budget-minded customers and was pretty much a replica of the iPhone 8. Its 4.7-inch screen felt rather on the small side compared to the big screens of its big brothers. Apple Inc. / AFP

The iPhone 12 on October 13, 2020 introduced a new processor and a screen that offered four times better protection if dropped. Apple / AFP

The iPhone 12 mini offered a 5.4-inch screen. Getty Images

Mr Cook showcases the iPhone 12 Pro during an event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on October 13, 2020. This upgrade saw a faster chip, 5G speed, a "camera system that’s killer in low light. A LiDAR Scanner for more realistic AR. And two great sizes to choose from — including our largest display ever". Apple / EPA

The iPhone 12 Pro Max was categorised as a 'legacy phone'. Reuters

The new iPhone 13 was unveiled on September 14, 2021. It has a smart data mode which helps battery life, more 5G bands and antenna lines that use material made from recycled plastic water bottles. AFP

Apple CEO Tim Cook showcasing the third generation iPhone SE featuring 5G and the A15 Bionic chip on March 8, 2022. EPA

The Apple iPhone 14, 14 Plus, Pro Max and the Apple iPhone 14 Pro were unveiled during an event on September 7, 2022. It didn’t raise its US prices during one of the worst years for inflation in decades. The biggest addition was emergency calling after a car crash. Bloomberg

Apple announced that it will hold its first event of the year on Tuesday, March 8, at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California.

Owing to the pandemic, the event will be online only, the company said on Wednesday.

“Peek performance. March 8th. See you there,” Greg Joswiak, its senior vice president of marketing, said on Twitter.

Apple launched its newest iPhone 13 series, Apple Watch 7 and new iPads in September. It did not disclose which products it would release on Tuesday.

But the company is rumoured to be unveiling the next-generation version of one of its cheapest smartphones, iPhone SE, as well as a redesigned iPad Air and a Mac with Apple’s own silicon chip.

The new phone will be the first major update to the iPhone SE model in two years. It is expected to come with 5G network capabilities, and an improved processor and cameras.

The company is expected to hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June, at which it typically announces software updates for the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch.

How to watch Apple’s event

Apple’s event will start at 10pm UAE time on Tuesday. Viewers can tune in at apple.com

It will also be streamed on YouTube and through the Apple TV application for the iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Apple’s new waterfront store at The Galleria Al Maryah Island, in Abu Dhabi. Photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The store sells colourful accessories to match its many devices

A customer browses the displays

A wide variety of products is sold at the new store

A wide variety of products is sold at the new store

Apple’s new store at Galleria on Al Maryah Island.

A wide range of products for sale at the new Apple store on Al Maryah Island.

Apple’s new waterfront store at The Galleria Al Maryah Island

The exterior of the new Apple store at The Galleria Al Maryah Island

Despite supply chain challenges, Apple posted record quarterly sales and net profit in the holiday quarter that ended on December 25.

Net profit rose by 20 per cent on last year's figure, to about $35 billion. It was up by about 68 per cent from the preceding quarter.

Revenue rose 11.2 per cent a year to more than $123.9bn during the quarter, exceeding analysts’ estimates of $118.6bn.