iPhone SE (2016) Any other iPhone SE people still out there in the shadows?

[turbineseaplane]

With such a flood of iPhone 11/Pro threads, I’m curious how many of you are still out there, like me, rocking the SE.

I’m basically on an SE until it no longer physically functions, barring the release of some type of iPhone 11/XR Mini (hopefully) some day.

The whole lineup is big, bigger and huge now and it’s so frustrating.

I know anecdotally in my social circles, I’m not alone in wanting something a bit smaller than the current normal Pro/XS size. I really wish Apple wouldn’t leave us all in the cold. It’s shocking to see all the size variety in the iPad lineup vs what they offer for phones, especially given that the phone is the device that goes in pockets, pouches, etc and has so much variety in usage patterns, styles, desires, needs, etc.

 

[now i see it]

It's unlikely that there's lots of iPhone 5/5S/5C/SE users that frequent this forum. Obviously there's some, but I suspect that of the millions out there currently in use, their owners haven't even heard of Mac Rumors.

 

[se95dah]

You’re definitely not alone. My wife will hold on to her beloved SE until it dies. Fortunately after over 3 years of use it’s still going strong and performs brilliantly on iOS 12. Haven’t dared to jump to 13 yet. I don’t expect Apple to make another device this size but I hope I’m wrong.

 

[MrAperture]

The SE is good if you don’t need to use your phone for multimedia consumption and if you can stand the tiny screen for reading webpages quickly. The bezels are huge and tiresome though. I may have to retire mine soon.

 

[turbineseaplane]

You’re definitely not alone. My wife will hold on to her beloved SE until it dies. Fortunately after over 3 years of use it’s still going strong and performs brilliantly on iOS 12. Haven’t dared to jump to 13 yet. I don’t expect Apple to make another device this size but I hope I’m wrong.

I’ve seen a few reports of SE people on Twitter who are on iOS 13 and they say it runs really great on the SE, so that’s positive at least.

I personally plan to say on iOS 12 for a while as I’m jailbroken and very happy. No need to upset the apple cart here.
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The SE is good if you don’t need to use your phone for multimedia consumption and if you can stand the tiny screen for reading webpages quickly.

Just to add on to that, it’s so perfect for those of us who need to make calls, send messages, snap a photo from time to time, hail a ride, etc — just much more minimal needs for our iPhone.

I have my Cellular iPad with me all the time for travel and heavy usage and love love love to have a tiny iPhone for when I’m going minimal to sporting events, exercising, etc.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

YES! Just been watching iTunes films on my Fiance's SE. It's been brilliant. 3 years old now and no slow downs on the road from iOS9 to 10 to 11 to 12. I'm still impressed by its camera.
The only thing for me that I don't like is that it feels too thin and light for me - a bit fragile.
I still think that it ha a very decent screen even in 2019 - watching iTunes Spiderman - Into the Spider Verse on it looks pretty outstanding and super smooth.
AND, she gets 3 days of use before it needs charging!
It's a very chic & classy design and I've lost count how many times that I see elegant ladies with them whenever I am in Paris visiting my friends! Now those iPhone Plus models on the other hand look so horribly dated now - they are pretty obese!

 

[mainelyme]

Went from XS Max to SE a little while ago and still very happy with it. Swipe typing in iOS 13 is excellent on the SE, and it almost feels like my battery life is better since updating. Also, and this might sound ridiculous, but I feel like I'm able to be more active with the SE versus a larger phone. I feel less weighed down, literally and figuratively, since it actually does weigh a lot less and takes up less pocket space, repairs are cheap and easy ($60 and 15 minutes for screen replacement at a local place) so I don't feel like I need to baby the thing, and it's not so darn addicting. I love the design of the phone–flat sides and a chin and forehead that are easy to hold, the ability to set it down on an edge for timed photos, no camera bump that keeps getting uglier. It's perfect. I wish Apple would just put a new processor in the exact same case, but maybe it wouldn't even make a difference.

 

[DevinNj]

Went from XS Max to SE a little while ago and still very happy with it. Swipe typing in iOS 13 is excellent on the SE, and it almost feels like my battery life is better since updating. Also, and this might sound ridiculous, but I feel like I'm able to be more active with the SE versus a larger phone. I feel less weighed down, literally and figuratively, since it actually does weigh a lot less and takes up less pocket space, repairs are cheap and easy ($60 and 15 minutes for screen replacement at a local place) so I don't feel like I need to baby the thing, and it's not so darn addicting. I love the design of the phone–flat sides and a chin and forehead that are easy to hold, the ability to set it down on an edge for timed photos, no camera bump that keeps getting uglier. It's perfect. I wish Apple would just put a new processor in the exact same case, but maybe it wouldn't even make a difference.

Max to an SE, wow that's a big difference. I was the opposite, I used to love my SE until I used my first plus sized phone and then I was hooked. LOL. Yes the SE is a GREAT phone I agree and it has definitely aged very well!

 

[anthonymoody]

Went from XS Max to SE a little while ago and still very happy with it. Swipe typing in iOS 13 is excellent on the SE, and it almost feels like my battery life is better since updating. Also, and this might sound ridiculous, but I feel like I'm able to be more active with the SE versus a larger phone. I feel less weighed down, literally and figuratively, since it actually does weigh a lot less and takes up less pocket space, repairs are cheap and easy ($60 and 15 minutes for screen replacement at a local place) so I don't feel like I need to baby the thing, and it's not so darn addicting. I love the design of the phone–flat sides and a chin and forehead that are easy to hold, the ability to set it down on an edge for timed photos, no camera bump that keeps getting uglier. It's perfect. I wish Apple would just put a new processor in the exact same case, but maybe it wouldn't even make a difference.

I hadn't ever pondered the activeness aspect. I could see that though - if I had an SE I would definitely use my phone much less. I've been able to use Screen Time to become more aware of my usage habits, as well as trim them down. But I could see how an SE would pare it waaaaay down.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I'm still rocking the SE, using 10.3.3, since I refuse to give up a few games. I'll probably take my wife's old X when she gets an 11 for Christmas (shhh), just because app support is dropping down to Windows Phone levels. I can't even open outlook anymore, without getting told to update my OS.

I'd love an SE2 though, with the same form factor and upgraded internals. I'd be all over that like a pig in mud.
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[blairh]

5.4” iPhone coming next year.

 

[Expos of 1969]

My SE is two years old and is going great on iOS 13. I have taken thousands of photos with it, read newspapers daily, email, and listen to Spotify and Apple Music via bluetooth and sometimes wired headphones. It fits easily into shirt pockets, pants pockets and shorts pockets (without causing them to almost fall down which one poster with a new iPhone 11 related yesterday).

Not sure what I will do when it stops functioning or is made too slow by future iOS updates. I hold out some hope there will be a new "smallish" iPhone released in 2020 based on rumours I have read and from what I have heard from a friend's son who works at Apple HQ.

 

[turbineseaplane]

5.4” iPhone coming next year.

What I'm worried about is these reports that the physical size will basically just be "an iPhone 8 with less bezel" (to make the larger screen).

What so many of us love about our SE is the small physical size.

I just don't see the point of trying to address the SE market with something that's a rebadged iPhone 8. If any of us wanted that physical size (we don't), we could have it right now for cheap (iP7 or iP8).
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It's interesting to me how many people comment about the typing difficulty on iPhone SE's.

I honestly barely type on it.

I'm usually always just using voice dictation or using Siri in the car through CarPlay anyhow.

 

[mainelyme]

It's interesting to me how many people comment about the typing difficulty on iPhone SE's.

I honestly barely type on it.

I'm usually always just using voice dictation or using Siri in the car through CarPlay anyhow.

In landscape mode, the SE’s keyboard is 3.5” wide, in between that of a Max/Plus phone and the iPad Mini in portrait. It feels like holding an NES controller. While I realize you can only see a couple lines of text that way, I can type with great speed and accuracy.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I recently sold my Max and kept my SE. I use my cellular iPad mini 5 everywhere, including phone use at times. I don’t really need to consume media on the SE, just phone and texts at times. iOS 13 is working well and battery life is still 100%.

 

[djc6]

I purchased an SE in February to replace a 6S+ - I greatly prefer the small size of SE.

That said, I'm very tempted to buy an iPhone 11 Pro solely for the better camera than SE.

 

[Expos of 1969]

The battery on my 2 year old SE is at 92%. I am not sure if I should be concerned about that figure or not at this stage.

 

[eatrains]

What I'm worried about is these reports that the physical size will basically just be "an iPhone 8 with less bezel" (to make the larger screen).

What so many of us love about our SE is the small physical size.

I just don't see the point of trying to address the SE market with something that's a rebadged iPhone 8. If any of us wanted that physical size (we don't), we could have it right now for cheap (iP7 or iP8).
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It's interesting to me how many people comment about the typing difficulty on iPhone SE's.

I honestly barely type on it.

I'm usually always just using voice dictation or using Siri in the car through CarPlay anyhow.

Really hoping this is accurate:

 

[dcpmark]

You’ll have to pry my SE from my cold, dead hands. Love it, my son loves his, and I have NIB backups in case anything happens to ours. But I’m a guy who thinks that all the current iPhones are too big for pocketable phones and too small to do anything else as I’ve been 2-device guy for a long time. So, it’s the SE for calls, texts, the occasional photo, and CarPlay, and my Mini 5 for almost everything else. I can’t imagine media consumption or extended web browsing on an SE.

 

[dcpmark]

Really hoping this is accurate:

This would be fantastic! But....doubtful, IMHO. It’s more likely to retain the Home Button and bezels of the 8 with some updated internals to save on costs, which is what the SE was supposed to be about. I hope I’m wrong, though!

 

[Falhófnir]

What I'm worried about is these reports that the physical size will basically just be "an iPhone 8 with less bezel" (to make the larger screen).

What so many of us love about our SE is the small physical size.

I just don't see the point of trying to address the SE market with something that's a rebadged iPhone 8. If any of us wanted that physical size (we don't), we could have it right now for cheap (iP7 or iP8).
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It's interesting to me how many people comment about the typing difficulty on iPhone SE's.

I honestly barely type on it.

I'm usually always just using voice dictation or using Siri in the car through CarPlay anyhow.

If the mockup in this article is anything to go by, looks like it will be a halfway point between an SE and 8 in physical size:

Apple's Stunning 5.4-inch 2020 iPhone Takes Shape

Apple's shock decision to cancel its most recognisable iPhone looks a smart move now the replacement model is coming together...

www.forbes.com

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Really hoping this is accurate:

Isn't the 5.4" going to be the new 12 Pro along with the 6.7" option? If so, it could be the best of both worlds - small size with ultimate spec - 120hz ProMotion display, OLED XDR display, 3 camera, stainless steel. Could be truly incredible (although a higher price).

 

[JPack]

Really hoping this is accurate:

It's not, unfortunately.

If you do the math with the assumption the 5.4" has the same bezels as iPhone X:

iPhone 5.4"
W = 2.61"
H = 5.24"

iPhone 6
W = 2.64"
H = 5.44"

It's effectively an iPhone 6/7/8 form factor device.

 

[Jimmy James]

Its a great size, although I mostly comfortable with the regular 8 size now. Most of the time. Now, I’d be happy with almost anything smaller than the current options, which I consider huge.

 

[blairh]

What I'm worried about is these reports that the physical size will basically just be "an iPhone 8 with less bezel" (to make the larger screen).

What so many of us love about our SE is the small physical size.

I just don't see the point of trying to address the SE market with something that's a rebadged iPhone 8. If any of us wanted that physical size (we don't), we could have it right now for cheap (iP7 or iP8).
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It's interesting to me how many people comment about the typing difficulty on iPhone SE's.

I honestly barely type on it.

I'm usually always just using voice dictation or using Siri in the car through CarPlay anyhow.

I think it's foolish to dismiss an iPhone the size of the 8 but all screen. Also, there is a chance the 5.4" iPhone falls between the size of the SE and 8.

Regardless, the days of the SE footprint are over. I realize many still want that, but I think it's a niche audience at this point. Just because you don't type on your SE doesn't mean countless others don't. A narrow screen makes for very small keyboard keys. Really not ideal for anyone, even people who want a super small phone to use one-handed and barely feel in their front pocket. I'm confident the 5.4" iPhone will satisfy most people clamoring for a smaller iPhone.
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This would be fantastic! But....doubtful, IMHO. It’s more likely to retain the Home Button and bezels of the 8 with some updated internals to save on costs, which is what the SE was supposed to be about. I hope I’m wrong, though!

The 5.4" iPhone will be all screen.