If this is not your main phone, you should try the last iOS (15.8.3) instead of iOS14.
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iPhone SE (2016) First Gen SE: How much longer viable?
- Thread starter rwh63
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If this is not your main phone, you should try the last iOS (15.8.3) instead of iOS14.
No however I do not use for banking nor any apps that require passwords - primarily a phone: voice, texts, maps/traffic, weather, duckduckgo
As to getting a new battery, Apple has raised prices, now $129
As to newer & small the 12 and 13 mini models are a bit bigger than the gen1 SE but smaller than the 6s
iPhone Size Comparison Chart 2025 - From The Smallest To The Biggest iPhones - PracticallyNetworked.com
Since 2007, Apple has produced a vast number of iPhone models that constantly push the boundaries in technology and innovation. They have truly staked their
www.practicallynetworked.com
I feel the same way about the SE. are you using iOS 15? I find mine on iOS 13.5 works great for now and even better battery life
This is the third battery on my 2016 and yes, running iOS 15. Runs decently quick and is usable. Nothing like a modern phone but am I able to get done what I need to. When battery health reaches below 90%, that’s when I notice performance begins to suffer.
Using the first iPhone SE today is like insisting on using a Nokia 3310 when the iPhone 4 came out. A lot has happened since then. Why not try to find a SE 3rd gen - they should be available.
What your latest and greatest phone can do that the OG SE can't? and please don’t tell me AI…
For me it would be that one of the biggest things are that it can deliver a secure experience. Considering the number of security patches, iOS 17 and iOS 18 has received and the CVS score on some of those things fixed. Still have my SE1 and was considering it as a "backup/travel" phone but since I can't restore things on from a later iOS version I realise its pretty useless to me now. A shame, it has been a solid device.
So will get myself a SE2 as a "backup/travel" device as it can run iOS 18.
Aside from that I consider improved 4G and 5G a huge benefit that newer devices have.
Since 2G and 3G is being shut down and are replaced with 5G coverage older devices will suffer from less network coverage.
What I can think of right now that my iP16 can do that the SE 1st gen can't.
- 5G connection
- Wireless Charging (MagSafe)
- With lengths - better camera.
- Longer usage time (Better Battery)
- Better speakers
- OLED screen.
- USB-C
- FaceID
- Action Button
- Camera Control (.....yes)
+ All the features included in iOS 18 in addition to iOS 15. For example, fully updated security, and the ability to update all apps.
1. 4G works fine for me
2. Don’t care
3. Don’t care
4. I get two days of usage with new battery
5. Not important because I don’t play games or watch movies on my phone
6. Don’t care
7. Don’t care which cable im using
8. Always preferred TouchID
9. Don’t care
10. Don’t care
Until recently, there was security updates, and so far I have no problem with updates for all the apps I use.
however I know it's just a matter of time before certain apps will stop work, and then I'll change to a used 13 Mini, 16e or for other small phone if they release one. 🤷♂️
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None of that really matters. We all know the 16e is superior in every way to the OGSE in regards to performance due to incremental improvements. It’s the same with every other phone released after the 6… they’re all better performers than the OGSE. The OGSE is inferior however is beloved purely because of its compact size.
Yea, its funny you mention the size. Everytime I pick it up from the drawer it amazes me how I did think it was such an improvement from the 4 series in terms of screen size. I also remember remember thinking it was a bit trickier to reach the top of the screen with my thumb initially.
It's a shame it doesn't get security updates, it would have prob have made people use it a little bit longer.
But I can imagine the the FF is a pain if you are a developer, the smaller screen prob makes it a bit of a challenge.
Security updates are irrelevant imo, the issue is that if you want a good experience you won’t get one on iOS 15.
Battery life is utter garbage, and performance would not be up to standard for me, I don’t tolerate garbage.
I don’t have one (although I do have a 6s on iOS 10), but excluding the camera quality, I’d be content with using an iPhone SE 1st-gen on iOS 10. It wouldn’t be usable for compatibility reasons because developers are trash at supporting older iOS versions, but if compatibility were magically maintained forever I would happily use one.
The camera is the only aspect which would bother me, I use an iPhone Xʀ on iOS 12 and it’s time to upgrade for two reasons: compatibility, and the camera. It lacks too many features, and I even resented that back when the 11 was launched, it was so much better!
But apart from that, I’d use one if it were compatible, possibly my favourite iPhone ever launched (maybe behind the iPhone 5 on iOS 6).
Young people see mine and say what is that thing? is that a phone? OMG its so tiny....
And how the rest of the world became aware of what a "bumper" is
I kinda liked the colorful bumper that a lot of people had.
IPhone 4 Bumper
The Apple iPhone 4 Bumper was released by Apple in June 2010 as a protective cover for the iPhone 4. It covers the metal band around the perimeter of the iPhone while leaving the back surface visible. The iPhone 4 had a highly publicized issue in which the antenna configuration could lead to...
And the birth of "the bumper"
IPhone 4 Bumper
The Apple iPhone 4 Bumper was released by Apple in June 2010 as a protective cover for the iPhone 4. It covers the metal band around the perimeter of the iPhone while leaving the back surface visible. The iPhone 4 had a highly publicized issue in which the antenna configuration could lead to...apple.fandom.com
LOVE the bumpers
I have a whole case of them for my SE1s
They are the lightest form of protection of all the ones I have for my "fleet" of walk/exercise SE1s
I can use it (SE1, new battery, iOS 15.8.3) for two days between charges, and if this is "garbage", then I wonder what phone you use that gives you more ...?
As for iOS, you should try 15.8.3…
I’ve proven to him before that a fresh OEM battery in an OGSE can provide 5+ hours of SoT on iOS 15 which is more than enough for light users.
It’s not enough for me these days however if you have an OGSE, you’re probably not a heavy phone user, lol.
I use an iPhone Xʀ on iOS 12. It gives me 16 hours of SOT.
I have used an iPhone 6s on iOS 9 and 10, it gives me 8 hours of SOT.
I get 4-5 hours with my 6s on iOS 13, and that’s garbage.
The SE on iOS 9 was ridiculously good, better than the regular 6s on iOS 9, for an expected SOT of about 9-10 hours. The 6s Plus exceeded that, but for the size, it was amazing.
It isn’t nowadays, sadly...
We can’t normalise Apple destroying iOS devices with appalling updates. It is what it is, but it isn’t okay.
It’s not really noticeable anymore. I believe your argument applies more to older phones with small batteries and limited processing power.
The 13 I have, which is using almost 4 year old tech, is still a snappy performer on iOS 18 and the device still provides a good return in terms of battery life. The degradation you’re talking about is much less notable on modern iPhones. I believe even the iPhone XR/XS can run iOS 18 with a satisfying level of performance.
The 8 I have, which is maxed out on iOS 16, still runs brilliantly with little knock to performance.
I know the 6S/OGSE aren’t anywhere nearly as smooth on iOS 15 as they were on iOS 9/10 but they are still very usable. The last phone to get absolutely destroyed by updates is probably the 4S or 5.
I am not saying there are no issues with updates however I think you’re embellishing the problems and overstating the downsides to updating.
The newer you go, the better performance is.
Battery life is the issue when you go too new.
I have, in the family, an iPhone 11 running iOS 14. For compatibility reasons, I will be updating and testing that one soon. We’ll see how it fares...
I expect performance to be good, because you’re right that newer devices suffer less. I expect battery life to be functionally obliterated. I can get the same battery life I get on the Xʀ on iOS 12 - 16 hours. Let’s see, with the same usage, how much iOS 18 gives me. I’ll copy the settings and the usage pattern.
I expect to get no more than 8 hours with very light use. If that’s the case, then battery life would be functionally garbage. But I’ll tell you later. From what you said, you consider the 11 new enough when it comes to updates, right?
