I gave upon SE2 already. Looking forward to see actual design for 5.4" iPhone 12. That may be the one I may be upgrading to, if needed.
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Apple Media Event Rumored for End of March, 'iPhone SE 2' Launch on April 3
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The SE 2/iPhone 9 will definitely need a camera upgrade to make it 2020 iPhone worthy, even as a budget model. Flagship iPhone cameras have improved massively in the last few years, and a new phone will have to compare. The original SE was a minor upgrade but definitely got the 5S model 2016-ready with the vastly improved processor, camera and addition of NFC.
But more importantly, it has to be different enough be worth purchasing over a used or resold 8. At the the time of the original SE, the 5s's processor was going to show serious age very soon. But power in these last few years has kind of leveled out, and the 8's processor is still plenty powerful for day-to-day use. A processor upgrade wouldn't be immediately apparent like it was years ago.
I really hope this new device is real, and is successful. My original SE is in fantastic shape but the camera is not good enough for my needs anymore and I'm getting bored with it.
But more importantly, it has to be different enough be worth purchasing over a used or resold 8. At the the time of the original SE, the 5s's processor was going to show serious age very soon. But power in these last few years has kind of leveled out, and the 8's processor is still plenty powerful for day-to-day use. A processor upgrade wouldn't be immediately apparent like it was years ago.
I really hope this new device is real, and is successful. My original SE is in fantastic shape but the camera is not good enough for my needs anymore and I'm getting bored with it.
I think this is the underlying answer. They can't put the tech in a small device, and on top of that they don't have to spend money on R&D to get to that point because plenty people buy whats available, big phones.
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I wonder who the target audience is for such a phone. The budget angle I don't fully understand because why not buy a lightly used X for the same price... and then you have an X.
You’re not going to get the best iPhone cameras on a $400 iPhone. Those would be on the $1,000/1,100 models. The “SE2” won’t even have optical mage stabilization.
I'm not saying it will have the same camera as an $1,000 iPhone. I'm saying it will probably have some improvement over the 8's.
And it'll definitely have OIS, even the standard iPhone 7 had it.
Ok, but there are limits to what that could be. The X, XR, XS and even iPhone 11, 11 Pro/Pro Max all use a 12MP wide angle, six-element ƒ/1.8 aperture rear camera (albeit with OIS). The “SE2” will very probably have that camera, though no OIS.
There’s only so much computational photography you can do with a single lens (but quite a bit). With the A13 it’ll definitely have a more capabilities and take better pictures than the iPhone 8. You can always take it for a test drive and see for yourself if it’s good enough 🙂
I think you threw me off when you said it would definitely need an upgrade, and would have to compare to the flagships, even though it’s a budget model.
I wouldn’t really say it will compare all that favorably to the three camera (plus the new laser-assisted depth sensor) but yes, agreed it’ll take better pictures than the 8, even if the underlying camera won’t be any different than the 8 🙂
PS re: IOS you’re almost certainly right that the “SE2” will have it. I was mis-remembering, thinking that was only on the Plus model.
Those attributes being favorites is what it is.
But then that second point about SE not selling in enough numbers as the probable reason for not making more of it is not just about customer preference but also Apple's and indeed every smartphone maker's strategy and capabilities. If Apple had been able to engineer all the necessary components as in iPhone11pro in a chassis the size of an SE at economically, I have no doubt they would have tried that, although that is just my personal opinion.
imo, phones kept getting smaller till it became too expensive to keep up with the necessary R&D to keep doing that and so they started making it bigger and then some mba in one of the marketing departments decided to market phones having larger screens as a new idea. again that's just my version of the story that I am happy to believe and hope!
And hello PickUrPoison
Yep... that guy lives in his own world I guess...sWasn't SE1 just another iPhone 5 with better specs though
Exactly.
Phones in the old days kept getting smaller because all they needed was an earpiece, a microphone, and a rudimentary display. You didn't need much physical mass to make a phone call or type a T9 text message on an old flip-phone. They could shrink a phone down to the size of a Zippo lighter!
But as smartphones became more capable... and were used for more than just calls and texts... the big beautiful LCD screen became the primary selling feature. And they got larger.
I actually prefer larger phones. Now I watch Youtube on my smartphone, record and playback videos, use it as navigation in my car, all sorts of stuff.
I didn't do any of that stuff with my old StarTac!
If you think about it... phones did get smaller. We went from giant heavy brick-sized phones to teeny-tiny phones you can wear on your wrist!
But the big-screen smartphone proved to be very popular. And that's where the focus is today.
I am fully aware of how it is to use a smaller screen.. I still have an SE as my backup device, and I find it completely frustrating to use. Mostly because of the compact size of the keyboard and the need to zoom text a lot to see what I want. I currently have an iPhone 7 but I previously had a 6S Plus and I preferred the larger size of that. The only single inconvenience I ever found was the size of the phone in my jeans meant crouching was a problem (i.e. putting on shoes) ... otherwise I had no problems with the size of the phone, and usability / comfort. Just because the size doesn't work for you, doesn't mean it doesn't work for others.. same with the SE. For me... ME.. it doesn't work any more. If it works for other people then I have zero problem with that and I hope Apple releases a refreshed device that retains the formfactor THEY prefer.
Probably be wise to add "and a price that doesn't require organ donation" to that list...
Well that got weird. You jumped in asking me why I want a smaller phone. Obviously it doesn’t work for you, and I don’t particularly care. Current size trend works for you? Fine. You do you. You asked me why I prefer it, so I told you.
I am target audience for example. I have iPhone 6 which is in a need of replacement and I hate 11 and 11 Pro. I don't like FaceID, OLED and huge phones all which is present these days in the flagship phones.
Buying used X would be a punishment for me.
I want one handed operation phone, with good camera ( yeah one thing that I might not get but still better than 6), TouchID, LCD screen, smaller and as a bonus cheaper.
The SE or whatever name they pick is shaping up to be the best phone for people like me.
And I did have 11 Pro for 2 weeks to try but hated it. Gladly went back to my 6.
Buying used X would be a punishment for me.
I want one handed operation phone, with good camera ( yeah one thing that I might not get but still better than 6), TouchID, LCD screen, smaller and as a bonus cheaper.
The SE or whatever name they pick is shaping up to be the best phone for people like me.
And I did have 11 Pro for 2 weeks to try but hated it. Gladly went back to my 6.
The chassis is bigger than the SE... and the screen is much taller which would affect one-handed use. Remember... those are the two favorite attributes of the iPhone SE.
It's a valiant effort... but the Sharp Aquos R2 Compact is not an iPhone SE alternative.
I'm afraid there will never be an SE-sized phone ever again. Even budget phones today have giant proportions. So why would any company try to cram top-tier hardware into a tiny chassis anymore? With a tiny battery too?
Some people were excited when Apple introduced the tiny iPhone SE after the bigger 6 and 6 Plus series seemed like the only form-factors to come.
But Apple eventually gave it up. Clearly the iPhone SE wasn't selling in enough numbers to justify keeping it updated alongside future iPhones 7, 8, X, Pro, Max, etc.
Sorry guys... I think the iPhone SE is part of a bygone era... along with headphone jacks, removable RAM and SSD, etc.
That iPhone SE looks sooooo dated now. Almost like Apple selling a iMac with the G5 design.
There are a lot of people on this forum so against having a smaller form factor iPhone. Yet there's just as many if not more who are clinging onto their old 5s and SEs. There is def a market for smaller/cheaper iphones.
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Agreed, this is why I was hoping for an SE the size of a 5 but stylized after the X.
At least you could fit it in your pocket!I guess you can't please everyone. The more devices, the more picky people are. It was so much easier when it was just.. iPhone. The one model!
I'm used to it.
I just really want a performant MBP in a smaller form factor. Other companies are able to do it, but I'm fully Mac for work. Don't mind if it gets a little thicker.
