Apple press event coming week of March 21 with new iPad & new 4-inch 'iPhone SE,' said to lack 3D Touch - reports

Echoing a claim highlighted by AppleInsider on Friday, Apple is not planning to hold the event on March 15 as was once rumored, according to sources for Re/code and BuzzFeed News. The latter site indicated that Apple is planning to hold the event on the 21st itself, and that it will be a small-scale presentation, likely at the company's Town Hall within its Cupertino headquarters.

Korean site UnderKG earlier suggested that the event will take place on March 22.

BuzzFeed's sources said that in addition to the new iPhone and iPad models, the company will be showing off extra Apple Watch bands. As expected, the new 4-inch iPhone will allegedly have a faster processor than the iPhone 5s, plus support for Apple Pay.

The site didn't reveal any new details on the new iPad, but referred to rumors that Apple's next 9.7-inch iPad will fall under the "iPad Pro" line, sharing features of its bigger sibling including an A9X processor, quad speaker ports, a Smart Connector, Apple Pencil support, and even a matching Smart Keyboard cover.

Images shared by French site NowhereElse compare a display panel said to be for the new 4-inch iPhone with one from an iPhone 6s, and purportedly show the absence of 3D Touch sensors. Leaving the technology out could be one way of keeping prices low and distinguishing the "SE" from the flagship iPhone 6s.