Do you all know if someone who got a 5S at Christmas would be able to upgrade to an SE for about the same monthly price on AT&T? I'm (actually) asking for a friend.
Thanks for any input!
Thanks for any input!
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AT&T iPhone 5S to SE Question
- Thread starter 0038396
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Probably only a few dollars difference per month on next, however you'll have to pay through your upgrade date if you're on the next program and want to trade the 5s in, or pay off the 5s completely and start a new installment.
Not worth to "upgrade" - it is practically one and the same, the only noticable difference is ugly and cheap body.
It is not an upgrade, but just a new phone. How can device which is practically 1:1 with the previous one be an upgrade?
Not exactly right. There are components from current devices and some carrying over from the 5s, to include 2 GB RAM instead of 1GB.
Now, honestly, I don't care about specs. Just the overall experience. And the SE's overall experience is perfect for me. Your experience was negative, but that does not translate to an assertion that the SE is basically one and the same as the 5s.
If your preference is for the 5s, that's fine. But that's a whole other Oprah from a broad generalisation that the SE is practically one and the same as a 5s.
"Grim" indeed.
In fact, most of the internals are from the 6(S), not the 5(S), so "one and the same" is patently false.
Additionally, while "ugly" and "cheap" are subjective, most opinions I've read agree that the design aesthetics of the 5 series were more luxurious and pleasing than those of the 6 series.
Better CPU, GPU, more ram, more features (hey siri, live photos), I'd say its an upgrade.
5S has Hey Siri too, "faster" CPU and GPU? More RAM? So what? You will never notice it as a regular iPhone user. I didn't notice any boost of performance. I worked 1:1 the same as my 100 years old 5S. This is why I made a decission not to "upgrade". It is not worth to waste £224 just for another 5S, which is called "SE". But if someone has spare money to waste - go ahead!
Silly how to many this isn't an upgrade due to the same form factor... What about the 3GS, 4S,5S and 6S? Were they not upgrades?
To me the updated specs is really what makes any phone an upgrade. And considering that a difference in speed and performance is noticeable with a 6 to 6S, then yes, the SE should feel like a huge upgrade to the 5S.
If I was in the market for a new phone right now the SE would be a no brainier. $399 unlocked from Apple with basically everything you get with a 6S.
To me the updated specs is really what makes any phone an upgrade. And considering that a difference in speed and performance is noticeable with a 6 to 6S, then yes, the SE should feel like a huge upgrade to the 5S.
If I was in the market for a new phone right now the SE would be a no brainier. $399 unlocked from Apple with basically everything you get with a 6S.
So basically you don't care about the differences so that makes it the same and thus pointless. Kind of like someone doesn't care about a new sports car with a much faster engine and better transmission and steering and suspension because their old sedan does just fine for their needs of just driving down the street to the grocery store, so that must mean that the two cars are the same, right?5S has Hey Siri too, "faster" CPU and GPU? More RAM? So what? You will never notice it as a regular iPhone user. I didn't notice any boost of performance. I worked 1:1 the same as my 100 years old 5S. This is why I made a decission not to "upgrade". It is not worth to waste £224 just for another 5S, which is called "SE". But if someone has spare money to waste - go ahead!
I had it on my own hands yesterday. There is no noticable improvement of performance unless I don't play some 3D game. As I don't play games, I DID NOT see any speed boost. Sorry for bitter truth. I could't see any point to waste £224 for almost the same device I already have?
Like I said, sounds like for you it's not what you need. Doesn't change the actual facts that many comments are different and are much better. That's pretty much all there's to it.
No, that's your opinion based on your perception. Truth is empirical, can be tested, can be quantified. You could not see any point, means you did not find a reason. That's not empirical, that can't be tested, and that can't be quantified because it's your decision based on your perception.
What can be quantified is that there are additional components from newer devices. So again, it is not basically one and the same as the 5s.
No problem with that. I don't find a need to buy an uber specced phone, but I don't discount their existence. Similarly, just because you don't find a need to get the SE because you did not find it compelling doesn't mean that there are not updated components. And it doesn't mean that someone else might not find those updated components worth 224 sterling.
Upgraded from my 5S and it is an immediately noticeable improvement in performance. Especially with Spotify and Tumblr. Very happy I upgraded.
Also "Hey Siri" was only on 5S when plugged in.
Also "Hey Siri" was only on 5S when plugged in.
Last edited by a moderator:
You purchase (or obtain through some other means) the SE and start using it in place of your old phone (like the 5s).
5S has Hey Siri too, "faster" CPU and GPU? More RAM? So what? You will never notice it as a regular iPhone user. I didn't notice any boost of performance. I worked 1:1 the same as my 100 years old 5S. This is why I made a decission not to "upgrade". It is not worth to waste £224 just for another 5S, which is called "SE". But if someone has spare money to waste - go ahead!
the 5s does not have 'hey siri'. also the camera is better. shoots 4k video. and has apple pay
5S has Hey Siri too, "faster" CPU and GPU? More RAM? So what? You will never notice it as a regular iPhone user. I didn't notice any boost of performance. I worked 1:1 the same as my 100 years old 5S. This is why I made a decission not to "upgrade". It is not worth to waste £224 just for another 5S, which is called "SE". But if someone has spare money to waste - go ahead!
I noticed the speed performance from the 6 to the 6s. So yes, someone will definitely notice the performance increase from the 5s to the SE. There is no way its a 1:1 "upgrade". The SE is vastly superior to the 5s.
Silly comment.
To each his own but I think the iPhone 5S/SE is kind of a work of art to hold - feels very well made and in silver has some really good lines etc. BUT, the bottom line is mine lives in a case 99.9% of the time which is true for most so it's a moot point.
As far as being one in the same, it's got a faster processor, more RAM and better wi-fi. Now, being that I have the SE and my wife has a 5S I can tell you that in most uses there is hardly a difference in terms of performance, at least nothing noticeable. Sometimes the 5S feels a little laggy when I've been using me SE and pick up hers to do something or another but most times no difference. We don't have games on the phones though, nor do we do a whole lot of media editing so perhaps that's where the difference shows?
