Filip Brož Apple in March introduced the vintage iPhone SE and the first headlines said it was the fastest four-inch phone on the market ever. One can agree with this statement without any doubts, because the new iPhone is really fast, and its predecessor, the iPhone 5S, feels like a snail next to it. But what about the SE model in terms of its inclusion in the complete range of iPhones?
We also focused on how the latest iPhone performs in comparison to the others during our testing, when we alternated the SE with the iPhone 6S Plus and the iPhone 5S, its successor.
However, he did not look like a follower when he reached me. The box brought practically nothing new, that is, in terms of content, so I practically went back three years and unboxed the iPhone 5S. The only difference is in the sandblasted aluminum and the pleasant matte finish, otherwise nothing really differs. You can still feel the stainless steel logo.
Bloated guts
On the first day, on the other hand, I was literally shocked by its speed. I experienced a similar feeling as when you drive an ordinary Škoda Octavia all your life and suddenly you get the same car, but with the RS designation. Everything looks the same at first glance, but there's a hell of a difference in speed. Logically, you don't want to get out of the car. The guts of the iPhone SE received proper chiptuning. Running inside is a 64-bit dual-core A9 processor, including an M9 motion coprocessor. In terms of hardware, inside the new iPhone we will find the same technologies as in the iPhone 6S.
Apple also boasted a 5-megapixel camera in promotional shots that takes just as stunning pictures as its older counterparts. There really is a difference between the shots from the iPhone 12S, but not as significant as one might expect. You can't tell the difference on a small display, usually you have to see the details only on a larger display. There, the difference between the cameras of the two four-inch iPhones (8 vs. XNUMX megapixels) becomes apparent.
However, the iPhone SE falters quite a bit in night photos and in reduced visibility. The images are all dirty and look similar to iPhone 5S. In this regard, Apple still has a lot to work on even with larger phones. In addition, there is 4K video in the SE model, which is a rather pleasant novelty, but the problem with the lack of space quickly arises. Apple sells the new phone only in 16GB and 64GB variants, and especially the first one has been insufficient for several years.
Many users may also be attracted to the presence of Live Photos, "moving pictures", which Apple heavily promoted with last year's iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. However, it comes with one big difference on the iPhone SE. While on large iPhones the photo moves by pressing harder on the 3D Touch display, there is no such thing on the iPhone SE.
Apple decided not to put its "breakthrough" technology, which debuted in the iPhone 6S, into a smaller phone. Live Photos are thus activated by long pressing the display (to which 3D Touch is more or less an alternative), but the omission of the pressure sensitive display is a rather surprising move.
If we assume that Apple wants to continue promoting this method of control, then it should probably have included 3D Touch in the iPhone SE along with the latest internals, but on the other hand, the fact is that many users will not miss it. Many are switching from older models, however, Apple is unnecessarily delaying the new feature a bit.
Big or small - that's what it's all about
After the introduction of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 2014, Apple fans were divided into two camps - those still faithful to four inches and those who jumped on the trend of larger displays and fell in love with the "six" models. However, I myself remained on the edge, as I combine the iPhone 6S Plus with the company's iPhone 5S on a daily basis. Switching between small and large displays is not a problem for me, and each is suitable for something different.
A four-inch phone is much more comfortable for calling and generally for working on the go. When taking the iPhone SE into my daily routine, I didn't have to get used to anything (back), on the contrary, after a while it felt like I didn't even have a new phone in my pocket. If I didn't have the gold version, I wouldn't even know I was holding a different phone.
The deciding point in the dilemma of whether to bet on a four-inch phone or roughly one-half to one-and-a-half inches larger is how you work, what your workflow is. When I have the iPhone 6S Plus, I usually carry it in my bag and do as much business as possible from the Watch. Again, the iPhone SE fit in every pocket, so it was always available, so I always had it in my hand.
Of course, some also carry large iPhones in their pockets, but handling them is not always so easy. So it's mainly about priorities and habits (for example, whether you have a Watch) and not just that the iPhone SE is for small hands because it's small. Girls and women may be more likely to appeal to a smaller phone (even Apple released its new phone exclusively in the hands of the fairer sex), but the iPhone SE should appeal to everyone, especially those who have not yet wanted to give up four inches.
A bit of everything
A big argument for the iPhone SE is the old-new design, which has been with us since 2012 and which has gained enormous popularity since then. Many have preferred the angular shape to the more rounded six iPhones, and replacing the iPhone 5S with the iPhone SE is a very simple and logical step. However, if you do not desire something new.
This is the other side of the matter, for which many criticize Apple. Namely for the fact that in 2016 he actually introduced an outdated product, which he only improved internally. After all, the engineers did a similar job when assembling the iPhone SE as the dog and the cat in the well-known fairy tale where they mixed the cake, with the only important difference that Apple knew very well what and how they were mixing. However, the engineers took everything they had in stock, be it newer or older components, and created a phone that is nothing more than by logical addition to the offer.
Only the following months will show whether Apple's bet on recycling a proven concept will be correct. It is positive, and very positive, in this sense at least that this is not just another product from the Californian giant that wants to make as much money as possible. It is almost certain that Apple had to retreat from its traditionally high margin, because the iPhone SE is, after many years, a new Apple phone at a very affordable price (starting at 12 crowns). Even with that, he can appeal to many.
If I were the sole owner of an iPhone 5S, then I wouldn't hesitate to buy the SE for a long time. After all, the 5S is already slowly getting old, and the speed and overall responsiveness of the iPhone SE is truly astounding in many ways. It copes with demanding games such as Assassin's Creed Identity, Modern Combat 5, BioShock or GTA: San Andreas with absolute ease, I couldn't tell the difference against the iPhone 6S Plus.
In addition to the otherwise large display, I only noticed the difference after a few minutes of playing, when the iPhone SE started to really heat up. Demanding applications can "heat up" even larger iPhones, but the smaller body of the SE model heats up much faster, even during less demanding activity. It may be a detail, but it reduces the comfort a bit.
While you may not notice the hot phone often when using it, what you register every time you pick up the iPhone SE is Touch ID. Inexplicably (although Apple simply does such things), the second-generation sensor is missing, so Touch ID is unfortunately not as fast as on the iPhone 6S, where it works really fast. Similarly, Apple didn't improve the front FaceTime camera for no reason, it only has 1,2 megapixels. The new display backlight won't improve it much.
But to point out the positive, it's the battery life. With the arrival of larger iPhones, we had to accept that they practically have no chance of lasting more than a day, sometimes not even that, but this is not the case with the iPhone SE. On the one hand, it has an eighty-two milliampere hour larger battery than the iPhone 5S, and above all, due to the smaller display, it does not need as much juice. That's why you can easily manage two days with it under average load, which can again be counted as one of the important factors when choosing a new phone.
Large displays are addictive
But in the end, we will always come back to one thing: do you want a big phone or not? By big phone, we naturally mean the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. If you have already succumbed to these models in recent years, returning to four inches will certainly not be easy. Larger displays are simply highly addictive, which you will recognize especially when you pick up a smaller phone after a while. And maybe you want to write something. You will find it difficult to type on a suddenly very sensitive keyboard.
Again, it's a matter of habit, but the iPhone SE will definitely appeal more to those who still stuck to the older "five esk" in particular. For those, the SE will mean significant acceleration and a step in a familiar direction, including compatibility with older accessories. However, for those who have already gotten used to the iPhone 6S or 6S Plus, the four-inch novelty often does not bring anything that interesting. On the contrary (at least from their point of view) it can be a slow-moving thing that lacks several key technological innovations.
The iPhone SE will surely find its supporters. After all, it is ultimately the most powerful four-inch phone on the market, but only time will tell whether Apple will be able to break through, or rather return the trend of smaller phones and inspire the competition. From the point of view of technological progress and moving the smartphone somewhere further, this is nothing more than an addition to the existing offer, we will have to wait for real innovations until autumn.
I switched to the iPhone SE as soon as I went to order in the Czech Republic. I have an iPhone 3G, 5 behind me. The main attraction for me is the size, price, design and promised battery life. The battery life of the SE compared to the 5ce is absolutely uncompromising. I charge after 2,5 to 3 days. I use the phone the same as before, blue tooth permanently on, wi-fi, email sync etc etc... it's the bomb. I had a new original battery put in for the 5th at an authorized service center, and my daughter's phone will last a day at most. Performance There's no point in evaluating it, it's somewhere else entirely, but that's again after two or three iOS upgrades... I've already experienced it twice.
Camera, great, shooting in full HD 240FPS is suitable.
I am very glad that apple took this step. The only thing I probably missed was buying the 16GB version, it made sense to pay extra for 64GB.
Thank you, I'm thinking about getting one, and this just confirmed that 64GB is not stupid :-)
The iPhone SE doesn't have "almost a thousand milliamp-hours more battery than the iPhone 5S." That would only be endurance, sir.
Thank you The bug crept in and everything is now fixed.
I'm quite fascinated by the automatic spouting of the "16GB version has been insufficient for several years" mantra…. I have two 16GB 5S in my close family, both are used very intensively, but due to the nature of use (primarily mail, web, etc.) there is more than enough space for this version as well. Sure, 4K video won't matter, but not everyone cares.
Yes, the iP5s is also borderline from the point of view of the 16Gb variant - then came models with 12 megapixels, with 4K video, and already the 16Gb variant (11,8 or how much free for the user) becomes insufficient even for a short vacation (photo = 7 mega, 4k video 1 gig, regardless of a few gigs of music for trips without internet, etc.)
If someone buys such a phone only for calls, sms and mail, some website, then it is sufficient, but not for full use of everything that new models offer.
I don't want to criticize this opinion, I consider 16GB to be too much. But I can't figure out why you should take photos with a mobile phone on vacation. Yes, lots of people do, but I don't get it. I really want to bring back nice photos from my vacation... And I can't take them with my phone. Shooting 4k with a mobile phone is a breeze. For that, I have several "super-fast cards" of 32GB each and a 1,5-inch sensor, which is still the minimum. The mobile did not even produce high-quality HD. And for some fun content on the plane, I'll take an iPad anyway... Or an external flash in the lightning connector, which is much better filled with data than a phone.
I must do a lot of sports on vacation...
Yes, I will never get photos from the iPhone like Nikon or Cannon, but the quality is already very, very good, and the mobility is unrivaled. I don't make 4k videos, but slow mode is good
The iPhone uses compression and one 12MpIx photo is about 2MB.
Just to add to that, 3D Touch... I don't understand why this functionality can't be the same on icons on the desktop as Apple's Life Photos, even on models that don't have 3D Touch. Simply pressing the icon for a longer time would expand the appropriate menu of functions. Shaking the icons to move them would only happen after a longer time delay or would be activated completely differently. It's just another function only for the "selected" model with it... but even the latest 4-inch model doesn't have 3D Touch, so Apple didn't understand it a bit...
There is a tweak for it in Cydia for iPhone without 3D touch, it works exactly as you describe.
I'm in doubt. I planned to upgrade my phone, now I'm hesitating whether to go from 5S to 5SE or 6S. Who has 6S, 1) how unpleasant is the raised cocka? 2) how to control the 6S with one hand? My hands are normal, no paws, no titers, on "back to" in the upper level I can do it on 5S, I definitely can't do it on 6S. 3) Are the worse photos in bad light even compared to the 6S? Shouldn't it be identical?
I have an iPhone 6
1) I don't know about it at all, I have a light cover that eliminates it.
2) without any problems, by lightly tapping the main button, the screen will come down to reach. Very good.
3) I don't know what I'm photographing is OK
You can control it in one hand. There are two requirements - you can't reach from one side to the other, and if you do, you have to hold it in a rather unstable way.
But still, the big display is nice.
1) I carry my phone in a case, but the design of the 5se is nicer
2) double-tapping the home button solves it well
3) photos are good on both mobile phones
of…
taking 6s for sports is a bummer, I mind more than 5s in my front pants pocket,
and I think that I would go to 5se... The only thing that prevents me is that the display of 5se seems a bit "faded" to me - significantly worse compared to 6s, but maybe it's just my feeling.
I have an iP5S and the iP6 seemed to fit better in my jeans... I have a bumper from Spigen, the 6 was bare and yet I didn't feel it. Although probably OT, my 5s works and I see no reason to upgrade. I'm secretly hoping for an iP7 with a 5ky body….
I have an iP6, but the observations will probably be the same:
1. I carry my mobile without a case and it doesn't bother me at all
2, I have a small hand and I have to say, very bad. Just yesterday I wanted to take a look at Safari while I was out walking for something. In one hand, a carriage with a child, so I had to control the mobile phone with one hand and horror. I don't mind the size as much as the feeling of the phone falling out of my hand. I don't know if it's the rounded edges or the fact that the phone is very narrow, but the iP doesn't hold at all securely.
And what about the 6S battery please? After three years, the 5S lasts me about a day with almost no use and half a day for normal use.
The rounded edges and the thinness of the device really bother me with the 6. I keep feeling like my phone is going to fall out of my hand. That's why I use a 5S with a bumper and it's perfect for me. In a year, it will be SE's turn. Are accessories compatible with the 5S - cases, thermal camera, cradle, etc.?
Yes, it is compatible. All tempered glass, packaging, chargers, headphones... Everything fits from the 5ka and 5Ska as well as the SE.
I'm a fan of smaller mobile phones, but the iPhone SE, to put it mildly, did not please me. In fact, Apple indicated to them that those who want a smaller iPhone have to be satisfied with the design from 2012 and last year's guts. So when I go to a bigger phone, I'll probably try the competition right away. Apple is not what it used to be.
It seems to me that the low price is somewhat neglected. A lot of people talk about "old parts, outdated design...", but I think it's an innovative, unusual and excellent idea to combine the best of the older models + the most important of the newer ones - and give it all at a low price to attract people who don't want a big phone, they don't want a phone that's even a few years old, and at the same time they don't want to pay over 20 for a new one. I have had an iPhone 2 for 3-5 years and the new SE is the perfect way forward for me.
I don't really understand the comment like "those who want a smaller iPhone have to settle for the design from 2012". What's wrong about it? How is it not new? New does not always mean better, and for me the SE design is almost perfect. Definitely better than 6s (and I don't just mean the size of the pad). It's like Apple has to come up with a new design and what works and is good to shut down? By the way, I'd rather have a deeper phone and more durability. Regarding the size... Of course, the perfection mentioned above is not 4,5% (that's why it's almost) and I think it would be possible to increase the display and keep the size, even if the ratio changes a little (however, it's about whether you can reach the whole surface with your thumb). It would be enough to move the home button higher between the sheet with applications, or show applications around the button. The place around the home button would be cleaned. The display could have a total of XNUMX″ and the size preserved. But Steve is no longer alive, so I have no one to advise :))). Joke. ...It's a shame that Apple prefers to follow the path of Asian gold plating, when it's mainly important that it shines, be as thin as possible and completely disgusting (cocks and similar atrocities have come out) ;-). PS: yes, and please don't use those artificial sprays for protection. You admire a design that a lot of people have puzzled over, and then you wrap it in $XNUMX PVC crap. That's hypocrisy.