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My plan now is to return the 16 Pro and get a SE 3
Just don't... Keep the 16 Pro for a week or two. It''s the standard these days, you will get used to it.
The 6.7-6.9 form factor and weight are extremely uncomfortable to hold, use and put in a pocket but the 6.1-6.3 are just fine.
 
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Get a MagSafe pop socket. As a dad who doesn’t care about opinions or image (also I’m not sure if it’s even considered uncool, but whatever, I don’t care) - I literally wouldn’t want to live without it. It genuinely makes one handed use a million times more pleasant.

The plain back ones are pretty inconspicuous and being MagSafe it’s really convenient to remove if you don’t feel like it or want to switch cases etc

Also it’s way easier to get it next day on Amazon - try it out and return both if your still not sold - as opposed to changing phones
 
I was a staunch 4.7" user with the 6, 6s, and 8. Never cared for the plus models. Said I'd never like Face ID. Those phones achilles heel was always the crap battery life though.

That was until I was asked to set up a family member's new XS Max, who was upgrading because they wanted a larger screen due to poor eye sight.

I had the phone to myself for a day, and I quickly got used to the size and Face ID. Couple days later I bought my own XS Max (mid product cycle too), then a 12 Pro max and a 15 Pro max which I currently use.

If you have small hands and like a small phone, I suggest you look for a deal on a 13 mini, and hope it lasts for a few more years with software support.
 
I’m just stating my experience and sadness that this device just doesn’t replace my 8 with ease and sufficiency.
I hear you. Here's my iPhone 1. Imagine this design with all modern components including the A18 with a 48 megapixel camera. Could they even be able to pull that off? What made this phone's size acceptable in 2007 that it's too small in 2024? Moreover, how'd I get by all those years on that sized screen? (I wasn't complaining it was too small)

 
Yeah the 6.1 inch iPhones are too big (for me). I’ll be using my 13 Mini for a very long time.

Not interested in phones I can’t use one handed. I’ve had an iPhone 11 at work for years and I still hate it.

If you can find a good used iPhone 13 mini, I would highly recommend it.

People make comments on how my phone is ‘tiny’, which makes me laugh - the screen in the 6,6S,7 and 8 plus models were only 0.1 inch larger and nobody ever said they were tiny.
 
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I’m sorry it’s not working out for you. I have smaller hands and the PM is large for my hands, but I did get adjusted to it. When I first moved to the large model it took me a couple of weeks but after that it all became second nature and now moving from 15 PM to 16 PM wasn’t difficult at all. As far as using it one handed, something’s I can do one handed and some I cannot but overall that isn’t a huge deal to me. If you try and get used to the bigger phone and can’t or if you just decide you hate it and don’t want to give it time that’s okay too, hopefully you’ll find something that works for you.
 
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Oh, IDK. I was a big touch ID fan and complained about face ID before I got my XR. After about a week that touch ID muscle memory was gone and I realized I never wanted to go back. Face ID is a killer ap, IMO.

Using any of the older Touch ID iPhones for so many years creates muscle memory in a sense. The home button is very hard to give up once you’ve become so accustomed to it.
I’ve never liked the Face ID iPhones. Any of them.
 
I’ve been putting off upgrading forever. I was always seduced by the mini but my 8 has been so incredibly flawless. Hats off to Apple. You did well. Such incredibly reliable hardware and software.

This post is not meant as a flame throwing attack. I’m just stating my experience and sadness that this device just doesn’t replace my 8 with ease and sufficiency.

My father has the newest SE and I’ve flirted with going there. Then the articles about an impending SE 4 got my juices warm.

I always stopped in the Apple stores the past year and held the 15 and wow what a gorgeous device.
But my 8 is so perfect, why leave? Security. iOS. EOL.
All Correct.

Last week I thought now was the time to get in the game with a modern iPhone. The upgraded camera and features were worth the $ so I justified it.

So I have had the 16 Pro for less than 24 hours and I’m already Googling how to return and go back to an old iPhone with big red.

I have small hands. The effort to hold the pro and navigate one handed is just too cumbersome. I tried it without the beater case I bought and it’s still just too big.

The Dynamic Island and notch is still an eyesore for me. The lack of Bluetooth status and alarm status hurts. Sure, down swipe and get the status. But I loved the ability to see it at all times.

My small hands make it too difficult to navigate apps. Even when texting the inability to click the emoji chooser is just too difficult.

FID is fine. Even though I believe our photos will be compromised by it at some point. The single greatest pieces of data nefarious sources want is IP, location and our facial imagery. All the big chain retail stores are taking our pics and selling them. Conspiracy? Nope.

I don’t know how Apple thinks the world population can use such large phones. I don’t know how women with tiny hands can use a max comfortably, but that is not something I need to worry about. Everyone has their preferences and perceived user experience. I am envious of people that can use these one handed.

For some reason, karma police slapped the cuffs on me as I type this as my 8 seems bricked. Not powering on and doesn’t appear to be charging. I’ll take it to the mall and have them reseat the battery.

My plan now is to return the 16 Pro and get a SE 3 and then hope for the SE 4.

I am a one handed iPhone user. It’s just the way I use it. Hats off to those with big hands and are not bothered by these big iPhones. God I wish I could.

It’s an amazing testament to Apple that they made this 8 that performed so perfectly for 7 years and still works so well.

I’ll miss this beautiful 16 pro screen. I’ll miss not having the latest and greatest but it’s too much of a downgrade for me.
The 8 is my GOAT.
I hope the SE4 is my new GOAT.
I’ll be heartbroken if the SE4 is just a AI generated rumor.

I am amazed at how flawlessly my data transferred over. Imagine doing that with Windows. Incredible that all my settings, MP3 song library, passwords and apps perfectly migrated in 1.5 hours. The only hiccup was carrier contact was needed to help with activation. Took 10 minute call to big red. Thanks Megan.

My 8 took amazing pics the other day. How much better can it be?
9e10761e8b27cb69e5b1932feda40f1b.jpg
As Sheldon Cooper says: I told you thusly.

No invention in apple these days, and I say this as an apple shareholder.

Apple needs to reinvent itself BUT not to reinvent “the wheel”.
 
Sounds like OP just needs some time to adjust. Of course you're going to have hard feeling right off the bat. Everyone who gets used to the iPhone X form factor coming from a 6/7/8 can't imagine going back after a few months. This will likely be the case with you. But, I agree the 16 Pro is noticeably large. It's a tad bit noticeably larger than the previous gen and I'm personally very glad I didn't go with the Max.

If you absolutely cannot stand it after some time then you're in luck because all the older phones are available at a discount.
 
I have normal hands and I’m just used to big phones, cause I had Galaxy Note (the very first one), Nexus 6P, Galaxy Note8, so I’m pretty comfortable with Pro Max. But I primarily chose it because of 120Hz and biggest battery in iPhone lineup, not because of the screen size.

But I always wonder how my wife with her tiny hands is handling Pro Max. I think she was doing magic tricks on the streets before we met (I don’t have any other explanation), and she is very agile by nature.
 
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I too have small hands, and am still managing to hold a 12 pro max since it was released.

I am very tempted to buy an air when it comes out next year, as it sounds much easier to use. But I use my cameras a lot as my primary camera & I buy a lot of apps and casual games.

I still may be forced to go with a 17 pro max, unless Apple lifts the hardware embargo on non pro models.
 
Just go as long as you can with the smallest used iPhone you can find that’s current enough to do what you need to do, and consider wearing a cellular Apple Watch to leave your giant iPhone at home. This is what I’m doing now, along with posting on forums and emailing Apple about how I won’t buy a new iPhone again until a reasonably sized option is made available.
 
I just came home from a visit to an Apple store. I held all the different iPhone 16 models, and felt a noticeable difference between 16 Pro and regular 16. So if you are having trouble with the Pro, then maybe try the regular 16. It'll still be a big adjustment coming from an 8, but might be just a bit easier to adjust to.
 
I find all phones bigger than the original 4” SE too big for secure convenient one-handed use—ie. able to reach entire screen with thumb while gripping the phone. Nowadays when people say they use their phone one-handed, they mean while balancing it on their fingers which is precarious or impossible in some situations, or by using an accessory which adds bulk and/or hassle.
The sad reality for people who prefer secure one-handed use or as little bulk in their pockets as possible, and who don’t care about having a large screen phone, is that options are going from bad to worse. If rumors are true, very soon the smallest phone you can buy from Apple will be over 6”.
 
Since you've already accepted Big Brother is watching...Bigger screen & higher quality photos too. I just put a brand new battery in my 3 year old 13 Mini & hopefully 3 years from now Apple will have adopted a flip iPhone.
1726967236484.png
 
You may not be aware, but Face ID doesn't take photos of your face. It projects a grid of infrared dots on your face and computes the face's 3D shape from that. Of course, face shape is still sensitive biometric information, and you'll have to trust Apple that it doesn't leave your device, the same as for the Touch ID fingerprints.

That's the main reason I don't like FaceID, also that it sends any kind of ray to my face and so also in my eyes.
I use TouchID and just hope it stays on the phone. At least it don't takes photos of my face.

Other thing: it's easier to hold it at your face by a stranger (thief or whatever) than getting your fingerprint.


Can always buy a 2nd hand SE 3rd Generation.

That's what I did with some iPhones and iPads. Found a nice website where they are even kind of refurbished and with warranty up to 42 months including this 80% battery thing.
You can choose from many configurations and always pay a little more for a brand new battery, what they don't even recommend. They look always like new even if it's in the cheapest condition.
And they are up to 40% cheaper than new. I could only compare the SE3, what was the only thing that is still sold new and it was even half the price than Apple took in April.
A charger and cable is always included, but I think not original Apple and also the original box is missing.
 
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I feel this bc I have an 8 and love how compact it is. i always use my iPad more than any device so I never felt I needed a mini mini iPad lol. That being said, I take a lot of photos and I suspect the 16 will be better than a new SE. I can wait a while. Not sure I’ll get a pro, tho.
 
I'm a guy with average guy hands, and I keep trying to use this 13PM and can't do it without one hand holding it. ...which also puts it at risk of being dropped when I only actually have one hand free to operate it. I like most things about it (except for the idiotic hassle to carry an adapter dongle around to plug the audio into anything), but it's just too dang big. If you're smaller than me, I don't know how you'd do it. My 8 sits here running perfectly fast.
 
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I’ve been putting off upgrading forever. I was always seduced by the mini but my 8 has been so incredibly flawless. Hats off to Apple. You did well. Such incredibly reliable hardware and software.

This post is not meant as a flame throwing attack. I’m just stating my experience and sadness that this device just doesn’t replace my 8 with ease and sufficiency.

My father has the newest SE and I’ve flirted with going there. Then the articles about an impending SE 4 got my juices warm.

I always stopped in the Apple stores the past year and held the 15 and wow what a gorgeous device.
But my 8 is so perfect, why leave? Security. iOS. EOL.
All Correct.

Last week I thought now was the time to get in the game with a modern iPhone. The upgraded camera and features were worth the $ so I justified it.

So I have had the 16 Pro for less than 24 hours and I’m already Googling how to return and go back to an old iPhone with big red.

I have small hands. The effort to hold the pro and navigate one handed is just too cumbersome. I tried it without the beater case I bought and it’s still just too big.

The Dynamic Island and notch is still an eyesore for me. The lack of Bluetooth status and alarm status hurts. Sure, down swipe and get the status. But I loved the ability to see it at all times.

My small hands make it too difficult to navigate apps. Even when texting the inability to click the emoji chooser is just too difficult.

FID is fine. Even though I believe our photos will be compromised by it at some point. The single greatest pieces of data nefarious sources want is IP, location and our facial imagery. All the big chain retail stores are taking our pics and selling them. Conspiracy? Nope.

I don’t know how Apple thinks the world population can use such large phones. I don’t know how women with tiny hands can use a max comfortably, but that is not something I need to worry about. Everyone has their preferences and perceived user experience. I am envious of people that can use these one handed.

For some reason, karma police slapped the cuffs on me as I type this as my 8 seems bricked. Not powering on and doesn’t appear to be charging. I’ll take it to the mall and have them reseat the battery.

My plan now is to return the 16 Pro and get a SE 3 and then hope for the SE 4.

I am a one handed iPhone user. It’s just the way I use it. Hats off to those with big hands and are not bothered by these big iPhones. God I wish I could.

It’s an amazing testament to Apple that they made this 8 that performed so perfectly for 7 years and still works so well.

I’ll miss this beautiful 16 pro screen. I’ll miss not having the latest and greatest but it’s too much of a downgrade for me.
The 8 is my GOAT.
I hope the SE4 is my new GOAT.
I’ll be heartbroken if the SE4 is just a AI generated rumor.

I am amazed at how flawlessly my data transferred over. Imagine doing that with Windows. Incredible that all my settings, MP3 song library, passwords and apps perfectly migrated in 1.5 hours. The only hiccup was carrier contact was needed to help with activation. Took 10 minute call to big red. Thanks Megan.

My 8 took amazing pics the other day. How much better can it be?
9e10761e8b27cb69e5b1932feda40f1b.jpg
 
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