Apple Inc planning to introduce its next iPhone and iPad models on March 15, and aims to start selling the devices that same week, technology blog 9to5Mac reported, citing sources.

Apple, which will introduce a new 4-inch iPhone, dubbed the “iPhone 5se”, and a new iPad Air at a launch event, is unlikely to take pre-orders for the new devices, the blog reported.

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“Apple is currently planning to introduce a new 4-inch iPhone dubbed the “iPhone 5se” and a new iPad Air at an event on Tuesday, March 15th, then put the products up for sale online and in retail stores as early as Friday, March 18th, according to sources,” journalist Mark Gurman wrote in the article.

“Apple is unlikely to offer pre-orders for the new devices, according to sources who cautioned that the plans could still change.”

The technology giant has hit a trough in iPhone demand. The 0.4 per cent rise in shipments in the fiscal first quarter was the slowest-ever increase in iPhone sales since the phone was launched in 2007.

The new 4-inch iPhone 5se is designed to spur iPhone hardware upgrades for customer seeking faster devices without upgrading to the far larger iPhone 6s and 6s Plus screen sizes.

Apple could not be immediately reached for comment.

– with AAP