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First Impressions Roundup: iPhone SE and 9.7" iPad Pro

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Apple today provided members of the press with hands-on time using the iPhone SE and 9.7" iPad Pro, and first impressions of the new products are beginning to surface across the web. Below is a roundup of some of the more interesting observations and opinions about the new smartphone and tablet.

iPhone SE

iPhone-SE-demo-800x273.jpg

The Verge said the iPhone SE "finally makes a small phone feel powerful," which is unsurprising given it is essentially an iPhone 6s shrunk down into an iPhone 5s form factor. The 4-inch smartphone is powered by a 64-bit A9 chip with M9 motion co-processor, which is up to twice as fast as the iPhone 5s. Other features are outlined in our iPhone SE announcement coverage.
Usually, getting a small phone has meant getting a phone that skimps on power or on the camera (or, most likely, both). That's absolutely not the case with the iPhone SE. It feels every bit as fast and modern as an iPhone 6S, able to move quickly through screens and web pages. Obviously we weren't able to test the camera very extensively, but we can say that it launches quickly and takes photos just as fast.
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TechnoBuffalo described the iPhone SE's top five new features as its 4-inch screen size, $399 starting price, 4K video recording, Live Photos support, and full Apple Pay support without needing an Apple Watch.

That’s going to be a nice bump for folks with the iPhone 5s who otherwise weren’t able to use Apple Pay due to the lack of an NFC chip in the smartphone. Also, Touch ID should be much, much faster than the sensor originally included in that device.
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Business Insider highlighted how Apple used more scratch resistant materials for the iPhone SE shell, meaning it should not be prone to scratches and scuffs as easily as the iPhone 5s. This includes matte-chamfered edges and a slightly different aluminum backing with a color-matching Apple logo.
The good news: The iPhone SE gives you everything great about the iPhone 6s for $250 cheaper.

The bad news: Despite all those great features, it still feels a lot like the iPhone Apple unveiled 2.5 years ago.
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More: Ars Technica, Engadget, TechRadar, and SlashGearClick here to read rest of article...

Article Link: First Impressions Roundup: iPhone SE and 9.7" iPad Pro
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/03/21/iphone-se-9-7-inch-ipad-first-impressions/
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The iPhone SE is a way for Apple to test how the market responds to what is essentially a flagship 4" model. If it reacts favorably and sells well, then they would probably start releasing one every year, probably starting with the iPhone 7s. If it reacts unfavorably and does not sell well, then that's why it was a "special edition." Works either way!
 
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Now that is some SErious innovation right there. :D
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Jokes aside, iPhone SE has a hidden ace up its sleeve: battery life.
Thats what you get when you have a reasonable thin iphone than an anorexic iphone, which doesn't protrude plus I still love the 5's design better than my own 6's.
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Now if only they could sort out on what exactly is "space grey".
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"The good news: The iPhone SE gives you everything great about the iPhone 6s for $250 cheaper."

Does this confirm it has 2gb ram? That's one of the major features of the 6s.
 
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Note that according to Apple's comparison website the iPhone SE does *not* have a faster TouchID sensor (one of the reviews claims it does). Edit: Apple's compare page

Here are my notes from the compare page:

Differences: iPhone SE vs 6S 4.7 inch:

iPhone SE Better:
Higher battery numbers! (12/13/13 hrs vs 10/11/11 for Internet usage on 3G, LTE, WiFi)

iPhone 6S better:
No 3D touch for iPhone SE (obviously)
1.2 MP front camera vs 5 MP 6S camera
Front camera is aperture F2.4 vs F2.2 in regular iPhone 6
Slower TouchID vs 6S
No barometer sensor (removes ability to detect elevation on-chip, could be done with GPS)
Lacks “Dual Domain Pixels for wide viewing angles” for the screen
Slower LTE (no LTE Advanced) vs 6S
Slower Wifi (no MIMO support) vs 6S
No Display Zoom or Reachability (not needed because smaller screen)
 
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Anyone notice the 9.7 ipad pro has an embedded sim, and is the first Apple device to have LTE Advanced?
 
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I'm definitely getting the iPhone SE 64GB for the wifey for Mother's Day. Her trusty iPhone 5 16GB has served her well for 3.5 years. I'm interested in checking out the new nylon AW straps too. I really want the iPad Pro 9.7" but I think I can wait for next year. Maybe by then there will be some apps to make it worth it. Or some iOS X features. I mainly want the Pencil capability. Right now I'm saving up for a Sony A7rII and some primes! :cool: Not to mention that 5k iMac on my wish list… :confused: If only the iPad had trade-ins as decent as the iPhone! I'm so done with using Craigslist so that's not an option. And I always get screwed selling the high capacity models which most used-market people aren't intersted in paying more for.
 
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Swordylove said:
That is not bad news at all. The iPhone Apple unveiled 2.5 years ago is much better looking and has the perfect size.
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Just what I was coming here to post. The iPhone 5/5s is my favorite form factor ever (with a nod to the 2007 iPhone just for nostalgia's sake). I have had an iPhone 6 for well over a year now, and although it's a very good device, I prefer the design of the 5 to the 6 in so many ways. A newer design is not necessarily better.
 
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That was the least interesting keynote presentation since Steve Jobs yet, I could not bare to watch all of it. I would always watch the keynotes with great anticipation since Steve Jobs announced the iPod. Now things seem to be slowing down at Apple and I'm not sure why, they have so many resources it's insane.
 
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The deal breaker for me is the ram. I've seen on gsmarena and bgr that it has 1gb ram. But supposedly the iPhone needs 2gb ram for 4k camera capability.
 
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Pakaku said:
Seeing what the 9" "Pro" is (Pencil support and extra speakers) really makes me question whether or not I can seriously consider them to be "pro" at this point.
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Exactly! To make it "pro" they should have included a faster processor, better graphics, better screen, better camera, etc. Oh wait, they did all those things too. Never mind.
 
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