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Other 6S or SE still worth it?

T

taxi_driver

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 26, 2017
129
24
I've been on my iPhone 6 since launch and its recently started to show its age - cracked screen, still running 10.3.3.

Having a hard time deciding on either one of these for around ~300-350. The newer models aren't really screaming at me as far as they've come. My phone works mostly fine just wanting a slight bump in performance and change instead of just repairing the screen. I'm also leery of updating to iOS 11 out of fear it'll run like crap on 1gb RAM.

Would buying either one today still make sense ? I have seen new prepaid iPhone SE's for 150 which I'd imagine could be unlocked by an indie shop spending another 50-100, total $250.
 
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taxi_driver said:
I've been on my iPhone 6 since launch and its recently started to show its age - cracked screen, still running 10.3.3.

Having a hard time deciding on either one of these for around ~300-350. The newer models aren't really screaming at me as far as they've come. My phone works mostly fine just wanting a slight bump in performance and change instead of just repairing the screen. I'm also leery of updating to iOS 11 out of fear it'll run like crap on 1gb RAM.

Would buying either one today still make sense ? I have seen new prepaid iPhone SE's for 150 which I'd imagine could be unlocked by an indie shop spending another 50-100, total $250.
Click to expand...

Both are very similar iPhones. It's really about the form factor. I prefer the 6s, but I also like that it has 3D Touch as well.
 
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It's a good phone. I bought two of them in the past six months BUT there are times where I thought the screen was too small. My carrier is T-Mobile so the carrier name takes up a lot of space at the top. If some apps placed an icon at the top, there would be alack of space up there so certain things would stop displaying such as the battery %. Now that iOS 11 has gone back to using the signal bars instead of the horizontal dots, there is more room across the top and it does help in displaying icons a bit better in the status bar.

I also bought a second higher capacity SE with the intent that I would use it with my Apple watches. I did for a week or two and then I started realize the phone wasn't keeping track of floors climbed or elevation when I would go out and walk. Then I remembered the SE was lacking the barometer to be able to track these things.

I bought that second SE less then two months ago and yesterday, I bought a brand new S7+ to replace my SE to use with my Apple watches since T-Mobile still had the red 256GB model at a nice price. I'll be much happier using this phone as my daily now instead of the SE. I'll be keeping both of my SEs though because they're still great phones.

I still have a 6S+ and a 6S. If I were going to choose between the 6S and the SE, I would go 6S any day. I'm a phone addict though and last week alone, I showed up at work using a 6S+, Note 8, S8+ and a SE on different days and my coworkers are confused.

My 6+ is still on 9 something or other but that's because it's Jailbroken as is my 6S so I can't use either phone with my Apple Watches. Anyways, just thought I would list some of my annoyances with the SE and why I am not using it as my daily.
 
My SE 64gb with 11.1.2 is a year and a half old, and I'm fine with it for a few more years . But if I was buying new, I'd wait a few months to see if an SE2 or something in its size and price range comes out before the middle of 2018.
 
Worth it under $200 and don't upgrade to 11 yet until Apple optimizes. Both can last a year or two easily. Which one depends on your screen size needs and pocket space
 
I'm with T-Mobile so I'd be buying an unlocked one from Swappa outright or getting a new prepaid SE 32gb for $150 + $50-100 cost for unlocking. I'm used to having 64gb on my 6; might be able to get a used SE in that size.

The screen size isn't a huge drop off for me as I considered a Sony X/XZ1 Compact
 
conifer said:
Worth it under $200 and don't upgrade to 11 yet until Apple optimizes. Both can last a year or two easily. Which one depends on your screen size needs and pocket space
Click to expand...
I had an SE and it ran absolutely flawlessly on iOS11, so please explain the issues you have first had experience of, not just read on the internet and are copying to make it sound like you have any clue at all.
 
taxi_driver said:
I'm with T-Mobile so I'd be buying an unlocked one from Swappa outright or getting a new prepaid SE 32gb for $150 + $50-100 cost for unlocking. I'm used to having 64gb on my 6; might be able to get a used SE in that size.

The screen size isn't a huge drop off for me as I considered a Sony X/XZ1 Compact
Click to expand...

If you get a lower size than your 6, be careful if you are restoring backup from iTunes as it won't have enough room. You might be able to delete items before you backup your 6 to get it down to the right size for the new phone.
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Gryzor said:
I had an SE and it ran absolutely flawlessly on iOS11, so please explain the issues you have first had experience of, not just read on the internet and are copying to make it sound like you have any clue at all.
Click to expand...
Excuse me, you are on the internet so why we should we believe your one account? Especially as you are so uncivil. Until Apple makes it possible to downgrade, better to be safe. Its easy to see on this forum when the multiple positive accounts outweigh the negative.
 
conifer said:
Excuse me, you are on the internet so why we should we believe your one account? Especially as you are so uncivil. Until Apple makes it possible to downgrade, better to be safe. Its easy to see on this forum when the multiple positive accounts outweigh the negative.
Click to expand...

Well, this makes two of us. I've had no problems with iOS 11 on both my SE and my iPad 2017.
 
taxi_driver said:
I've been on my iPhone 6 since launch and its recently started to show its age - cracked screen, still running 10.3.3.

Having a hard time deciding on either one of these for around ~300-350. The newer models aren't really screaming at me as far as they've come. My phone works mostly fine just wanting a slight bump in performance and change instead of just repairing the screen. I'm also leery of updating to iOS 11 out of fear it'll run like crap on 1gb RAM.

Would buying either one today still make sense ? I have seen new prepaid iPhone SE's for 150 which I'd imagine could be unlocked by an indie shop spending another 50-100, total $250.
Click to expand...


Depends how long you to intend to keep the phone for.

Both of these models will be supported by Apple, in terms of iOS updates, for at least the next two years.

So the choice really boils down to which screen and body size you prefer.
 
I'll cough out my experience. What I like about 3D Touch is only opening multiple photos or website links in safari app. I think that's what I normally use it for. I do try and 3D touch some apps but I notice I haven't been doing much of that lately as much as what some may claim [WHICH IS OKAY]. Headphone jack scenario, not bothered. I will never use both at once at all. Unless I'm travelling that is but I found myself not listening to much music now so the port's free for charging always if I need that power.

That being said if you really need 3D touch, you're better off springing for the iPhone 7/7+ at least instead of the 6S/6S+ [unless u really want a cheaper phone or that headphone jack]. I'd consider the water resistance a huge win of the iPhone 7/7+ or 8/8+ over the iPhone 6s/6s+ imo.

The iPhone SE will rock the A9 chip by a milestone due to the tiny ass screen. But I don't think it'll be nice on the 6s/6s+... some people complained 6S battery drops way too quick for what it is. The iPhone SE is the powerful budget phone apple has ever made. Hope they dump an A10 in it at least for an iterative upgrade and possibly that 2nd gen TouchID, it would sell me off quickly to get one.

the above statement is coming from someone who has quickly adapted to iPhone X's new gizmos and shizzles.
 
Gryzor said:
I had an SE and it ran absolutely flawlessly on iOS11, so please explain the issues you have first had experience of, not just read on the internet and are copying to make it sound like you have any clue at all.
Click to expand...

i gotta second that . As an owner of iPhone SE who upgraded to iOS 11, I've had nothing but significantly worse battery life. I'm talking about 9 hours of usage being cut down to 3 hours. I also suggest not updating to iOS 11 until the issues have been resolved, which at this rate will probably be around August 2018. Hell might as well wait for iOS 12 for sure. I think a lot of apps are not optimized for iOS 11 causing it to eat battery life. L

SE is still worth it, but rumors say that a new SE 2 will come out next year. I'd wait for it. I love my SE coz it's a beast of a phone in what people think is an iPhone 5. I tell people it's an iPhone 5s when they ask jokingly.

The 6s is also a great phone, slightly better than SE, but at the time I didn't want to spend an extra couple hundred on it.
 
Yep, they are both still worth it. You can get a 64GB iPhone 6S (Excellent Condition) on eBay for $299 now a days.

I'd get a 6S over an SE, though. The SE screen is too warm for me. It's almost like night mode is on 24/7.
 
UnifiedMelody said:
I'll cough out my experience. What I like about 3D Touch is only opening multiple photos or website links in safari app. I think that's what I normally use it for. I do try and 3D touch some apps but I notice I haven't been doing much of that lately as much as what some may claim [WHICH IS OKAY]. Headphone jack scenario, not bothered. I will never use both at once at all. Unless I'm travelling that is but I found myself not listening to much music now so the port's free for charging always if I need that power.

That being said if you really need 3D touch, you're better off springing for the iPhone 7/7+ at least instead of the 6S/6S+ [unless u really want a cheaper phone or that headphone jack]. I'd consider the water resistance a huge win of the iPhone 7/7+ or 8/8+ over the iPhone 6s/6s+ imo.

The iPhone SE will rock the A9 chip by a milestone due to the tiny ass screen. But I don't think it'll be nice on the 6s/6s+... some people complained 6S battery drops way too quick for what it is. The iPhone SE is the powerful budget phone apple has ever made. Hope they dump an A10 in it at least for an iterative upgrade and possibly that 2nd gen TouchID, it would sell me off quickly to get one.

the above statement is coming from someone who has quickly adapted to iPhone X's new gizmos and shizzles.
Click to expand...

jetlagged said:
i gotta second that . As an owner of iPhone SE who upgraded to iOS 11, I've had nothing but significantly worse battery life. I'm talking about 9 hours of usage being cut down to 3 hours. I also suggest not updating to iOS 11 until the issues have been resolved, which at this rate will probably be around August 2018. Hell might as well wait for iOS 12 for sure. I think a lot of apps are not optimized for iOS 11 causing it to eat battery life. L

SE is still worth it, but rumors say that a new SE 2 will come out next year. I'd wait for it. I love my SE coz it's a beast of a phone in what people think is an iPhone 5. I tell people it's an iPhone 5s when they ask jokingly.

The 6s is also a great phone, slightly better than SE, but at the time I didn't want to spend an extra couple hundred on it.
Click to expand...

I change phones every 3 years, so I'd imagine this next one to last at least 2 given what I'd be spending.

The omission of a headphone jack is enough for me to stick with a 6S/SE or I'd be looking into Androids, haven't since most of them are huge. 3D touch is something I haven't had so I won't necessarily miss it on the SE. None of the design or performance jumps on the 7/8/X are worth the cost of admission for what I use my phone for.

I'm a bit worried about sluggish performance with future updates; can we be optimistic that it'll get better than worse? or is that naive to expect?
 
Legionnaire said:
I would like to know what people do that the SE cannot do?
Click to expand...
I mentioned above that it's missing the barometer so certain things won't track if you use the SE with an Apple watch. There's also no 3D touch and probably a few other things that I'm forgetting about.
 
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