Apple Announces New 4-Inch iPhone SE Starting at $399

[cult hero]

Looks like it's time to update my phone. The price is good enough that I don't need to hunt Craig's List anymore. I like the form factor. I honestly don't care about more storage space as I just don't use that much.

And my mom should be happy now since it looks like she'll be getting a 5s!

A protruding camera on the iPad is a really, really bad decision. I don't mind it on the phone because 99% of the people with phones use cases anyway, but I see A LOT of bare iPads (including mine). Personally, I want a Macbook/iPad similar to a Surface. Until then, the iPad is... well... in my house my toddlers use it and it's great for that purpose. I can't imagine having one for myself though.

 

[Beezzy]

$399 is an awesome price point. Dropped the 3D to drop the price even further down. Add Rose Gold and make a lot of people holding onto their iPhone 4s and 5s much happier about upgrading inexpensively without having dated technology.

 

[stanman64]

Should've made it rounded. The 6/6s iPhones feel fantastic in the hand (albeit a bit slippery). My biggest gripe with the 4-5s was how sharp the edges are.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Excellent upgrade of internals. It's good to see that the iPhone SE is equivalent to the iPhone 6S on internals. However, Tim Cook reveals his cluelessness once again by refusing to offer a 128GB models. There are iPhone users right now still using 64GB versions of the iPhone 4S, 5, and 5S who want to upgrade to a new phone because they have almost run out of storage and need more, but only want to upgrade to a 4-inch phone. The iPhone SE does not meet those potential customers' needs.

The 64GB iPhone 4S was released in 2011. It's been 4.5 years since its release. It was a poor decision for Cook to cap the iPhone SE storage at 64GB. Apple should have released a 128GB version at a more expensive price than the 64GB version.

I'll bet that it won't be a poor decision.

 

[alex2016g]

£359 and £439 in comparison to $399 and $499 how is that fair???

 

[Max(IT)]

Nah, mate, you misread that. Both cameras are identical to those in the 6s. The FaceTime camera is 5MP.

No it's not. The front camera is the same of the old 5S.

 

[MacNut]

I would prefer Apple make 3 sizes of phone with the same specs, but since Apple Pay is the only feature I wanted that my 5s doesn't have, this will have to do.

3 sizes physically can't have the same specs. You want a smaller phone, stuff is going to get left out. Like a bigger battery and better screen.

 

[iPlaid]

I agree that it's logical it would have 2 GB of RAM for simultaneously editing two 4K streams, and if it does, my wife and I will each buy one. If it doesn't, no deal.

 

[doelcm82]

Very weak of Apple to discountinue the 5S instead of lowering the price and actually being competitive in the emerging/post-communist society market. The SE 16GB is about $550 in Europe, what a joke.

 

[nviz22]

Currently I own a 5S and Mini2 cellular.
Frankly I've never been happy with the design of the 6 with the curves. Perhaps they will continue with the straight edge design of SE.

Out of all the features missing I wish it would have the stabilization in camera and MAYBE barometer (I'm thinking ahead of myself) if I could find cool use for that.

Well, I can't afford a new phone now but I'm happy this thing is out there. I carry both devices daily.
My old workplace provided me with few designs of the 9.7" and I was thrilled with iPad Mini1 came out.

The only area I wished my phone was larger when using it for GPS when in the car.

Bravo apple.

Well, I hope you can afford it soon!

 

[JohnGrey]

View attachment 622245
If it had a 5 MP FaceTime camera, one would have thought it mentioned on this slide.

Yes, I'm pretty much resigned to it being a 1.2MP. That's unfortunate but not a deal-breaker. Mum's still getting one to replace her 4S. She never uses FaceTime anywise.

 

[shadyman]

Did anyone catch whether this uses the newer TouchID sensor? I had lots of issues with the old one; the sensor in my 6s is much better.

Some here claim that it was the old one.

 

[lordofthereef]

The only thing I'll say is that they don't skimp at all on the internals though it has a 3 year old design.

This was a smart move. Manufacturing savings are big here since they didn't have to vastly retool for a brand new design. It seems they extended the savings to the consumer too. I am always complaining about Apple's prices, but I just can't with this one. I am absolutely impressed.

 

[AppleScruff1]

16GB in 2016, seriously? at least it looks like it still got a headphone jack ;-)!

Seriously, $399 for a current model iPhone?

 

[trifid]

One more thing to consider: will the 5se camera have the same aggressive noise reduction of the 6/6s?

 

[Max(IT)]

Why did they leave the other camera at 1.2MP?

Because using the same case, it's probably easier to use the old front facing camera than to adjust a new one.

 

[nviz22]

No.

The 5S was not $199 contract-free. AT&T has it for 449.99 right now.

The SE is cheaper. We don't have contracts anymore.

It's brand new for $200 from what Walmart was selling it for Straight Talk. Never go to a carrier for a popular 2.5 year old phone. They will hose you on pricing.

 

[aces99]

Did anyone catch whether this uses the newer TouchID sensor? I had lots of issues with the old one; the sensor in my 6s is much better.

No it doesn't have the 2nd generation Touch ID. I wish it did. Very disappointing.

 

[nviz22]

One more thing to consider: will the 5se camera have the same aggressive noise reduction of the 6/6s?

Who knows? Wait for camera tests or reviews or previews to get an idea? The Apple comparison page is up, but what's on paper is not the same as real world experience.

 

[freddiecable]

Considering that the iPhone SE is almost and iPhone 6S internally with almost half the price - makes this phone quite interesting. BUT - why on earth did they not update the hardware design? Most people in this price-range don't really care about the innards and specifications - they care mostly about the physical appeal of the device. Even if the design is 'nice' it is (getting) old.

 

[Beezzy]

Seriously, $399 for a current model iPhone?

People always feel the need to complain.

 

[iReality85]

Not bad for the 'budget' line of the family.

+Price.
+Borrows the best design of any iPhone to date (5S).
+Comes with almost all the features of the higher models
+3.5mm jack

-Storage.
-Still hampered with a 1.2MP front camera.
-Still has (like the 6S) a lower-than-1080p screen. What year is it again?

 

[nviz22]

No it doesn't have the 2nd generation Touch ID. I wish it did. Very disappointing.

Did you expect it in the SE at all? I thought it would at the very least. It's not like first gen Touch ID was crap. It's still very usable today.

 

[nixfu]

No.

The 5S was not $199 contract-free.

The 5S is available for $199 on no-contract/pre-paid contracts now like StraightTalk.

 

[MrCrowbar]

I ordered a 5S the day I had the opportunity to play around with colleagues brand new iPhone 6 and 6+. Hated the form factor. Too large for one handed use (my hands at least), too slippery with the rounded edges and i can't stand how it jiggles around when you use it while it's resting flat on a table. I refuse to use a case, that just makes it feel cheap and my phones don't have dents or scratches even after 3 years anyway.

I kinda want to get an SE, but then I think about what it would be doing better than my current 5S which is plenty fast for normal use. Would have gotten a SE for 3D touch or faster fingerprint sensing. Here's to next year...