Apple's 4-inch new iPhone might have top A9 chip

Apple's rumored, upcoming 4-inch smartphone might be small compared to today's flagship behemoths, but it won't lack power — at least according to a new rumor.

9to5Mac reports that the phone, which may or may not be called iPhone 5SE, will have Apple's powerful A9 processor and M9 coprocessor — the same one used in the company's current flagship, the iPhone 6S.

See also: This could be our first look at Apple's new 4-inch iPhone

The report also claims the new phone, which will replace the iPhone 5S (still in Apple's lineup), will come in 16GB/64GB memory capacities.

Previous rumors indicated that the device would have A8/M8 chips from Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus phones. Other specs include a metal design, similar to that of the iPhone 6/6S and an 8-megapixel back camera, but no 3D Touch.

If the latest report is correct, Apple will show the new phone mid-March.

As far as Apple rumors go, this one is pretty wonky. Some of the bits and pieces don't really go together — for example, it doesn't make much sense for Apple to sell short a device with a new processor by using a three-generation-old name. (Remember, after iPhone 5S came the iPhone 6, and then the iPhone 6S, with the iPhone 7 likely coming this summer.) As it always goes with Apple's upcoming phones, we'll only know the whole story when the company officially launches the device.