iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3 to Use A9 and A9X Processors - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3 to Use A9 and A9X Processors

ipadairiphone5sIn a profile of Johny Srouji, Apple's SVP of Hardware Technologies who oversees Apple's chip development, Bloomberg quietly confirmed some key processor details about Apple's upcoming devices, the iPhone 5se and the iPad Air 3.

Both products will use Apple's latest chip technologies, with the iPhone 5se adopting the A9 processor from the iPhone 6s and the iPad Air 3 adopting the A9X processor first used in the iPad Pro.

Early iPhone 5se rumors were offered conflicting information on the processor that would be used, with some pointing towards the A9 and others pointing towards the previous-generation A8. Later rumors have solidified around the A9, and now we've got confirmation from a reliable source.

For the iPad Air 3, while the A9X seemed like a logical choice for the tablet, there was no prior rumor suggesting it was indeed the chip Apple would be using, so Bloomberg's concrete information about the chip is worth highlighting.

Bloomberg's piece also further confirms Apple's planned March event, which is rumored to be taking place mid-month, on March 15. Further rumors have suggested the two devices will be released online and in retail stores just days after their unveiling, on March 18.

In March, Apple intends to announce an updated iPad and smaller-screen iPhone featuring the latest A9x and A9 chips, according to a person familiar with the plans, who wasn't authorized to comment publicly

The iPhone 5se is Apple's 4-inch iPhone, which will be sold alongside its larger-screened flagship devices. iPhone 5se rumors suggest it will look like a cross between an iPhone 5s and an iPhone 6s, using the iPhone 5s body with the curved display glass of the newer device.

As for the iPad Air 3, it's expected to take several design cues from the iPad Pro. It is rumored to include four speakers, two at the top and two at the bottom, along with a possible Smart Connector for accessories and a rear LED flash, the first to be implemented in an iPad.

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

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 Adds Two New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday March 24, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps. To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later....
Apple Business hero

Apple Unveils 'Apple Business' All-in-One Platform

Tuesday March 24, 2026 8:53 am PDT by
Apple today announced Apple Business, a new all-in-one platform that unifies device management, productivity tools, and customer outreach features. The service is designed to be a consolidated replacement for several of Apple's existing business-focused offerings, including Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Business Connect. It provides organizations with a single...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Tuesday March 24, 2026 12:31 pm PDT by
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods 4. The firmware has a version number of 8B39, up from 8B34 on the AirPods Pro 3, 8B28 on the AirPods Pro 2, and 8B21 on the AirPods 4. There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but Apple has a support document with limited notes. Most updates are limited to bug fixes and performance...

Top Rated Comments

thisisnotmyname Avatar
132 months ago
four inch screen fans are going to love this news.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
132 months ago
It'll be interesting to see whether iPad Air 3 will take any other cues from the Pro *cough* Apple Pencil *Cough*.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yaxomoxay Avatar
132 months ago
There are about to be a whole lot of happy MacRumors readers!
"MacRumors readers" and "happy" do not belong in the same sentence.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spaceballl Avatar
132 months ago
This is great news... Let's hope they give us a 128GB option!
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheRealTVGuy Avatar
132 months ago
There are about to be a whole lot of happy MacRumors readers!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
132 months ago
Great! Now put 2GB RAM inside that iphone and just call it "mini" and I'm in.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)