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First Impressions Roundup: iPhone SE and 9.7" iPad Pro
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Absolutely... just define cheap!
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Those are some huge assumptions. It's fair for them to sell a phone that is meant to validate or invalidate those assumptions, but it seems to have been wrapped up in a separate untested assumption that those who want a 4-inch phone don't care as much about having the latest tech as those who want larger ones.
"Kinda disappointed"? You really buy into the idea that an iPad can replace a desktop for everyone? Apple would have you believe that (since they think that nothing really gets done on PC's).
Tim neglected to mention during the keynote yesterday that all that boring documentary was 100% completely created and produced on an iPad.
They really should've dropped the 16GB model for the Western markets just to avoid the negative press. If other markets, such as India, justify the 16GB model then fine, but I finally agree.. it's time to retire the 16GB size once you add 4K videos and 12MP photos. Space will fill up fast!
The iPad has become a computer replacement for many people that I know, so yes.
The Apple crew were tired. They need a long and restful vacation.
I think Apple is delusional about their "Pro" iPad lineup. They burned themselves by being arrogant and dismissive of Microsoft's hybrid tablet/laptop and so this has forced Apple to keep their MacBook and iPad divisions completely 100% separated from each other, and I think this is a real shame.
I don't' think anybody would disagree that a touch screen version of the MacBook Air with detachable screen would be a hit product. To be honest I think I would buy one in a heartbeat over Surface Pro. The ease and capabilities of the iPad for my "casual" workflow combined with the power and capabilities of the MacBook for "real" work is undeniably a win-win situation.
However while Apple quibbles about keeping OS X and iOS separate and never blending the two together they have promoted a mixed message of telling users that touch on a laptop screen is a poor user experience while promoting the idea of using the iPad Pro on a keyboard dock on a desktop as a "great Pro" experience that forces you to use touch only because there is no trackpad or mouse support in iOS; this is absolutely the fault of Apple's poor marketing of these product lines. How can something supposedly suck in one case but be forced on users in another case as the only option?
I think this is also a direct result of Tim Cook's poor leadership when it comes to product evolution and innovation.
So for me, the pro in iPad Pro stands for "proster", a "pro" product for hipsters that think they need a more expensive iPad in their life because they might dabble with some photo or video editing from time to time while spending more of their time flinging angry birds or crushing candies.
But seriously, anybody that pounds on a keyboard or wrangles a screen cursor as part of their professional career, the iPad Pro, at any size, is just not good enough.
Let's put it this way. When you can develop apps directly on the iPad it will finally be considered a REAL professional tool.
I don't' think anybody would disagree that a touch screen version of the MacBook Air with detachable screen would be a hit product. To be honest I think I would buy one in a heartbeat over Surface Pro. The ease and capabilities of the iPad for my "casual" workflow combined with the power and capabilities of the MacBook for "real" work is undeniably a win-win situation.
However while Apple quibbles about keeping OS X and iOS separate and never blending the two together they have promoted a mixed message of telling users that touch on a laptop screen is a poor user experience while promoting the idea of using the iPad Pro on a keyboard dock on a desktop as a "great Pro" experience that forces you to use touch only because there is no trackpad or mouse support in iOS; this is absolutely the fault of Apple's poor marketing of these product lines. How can something supposedly suck in one case but be forced on users in another case as the only option?
I think this is also a direct result of Tim Cook's poor leadership when it comes to product evolution and innovation.
So for me, the pro in iPad Pro stands for "proster", a "pro" product for hipsters that think they need a more expensive iPad in their life because they might dabble with some photo or video editing from time to time while spending more of their time flinging angry birds or crushing candies.
But seriously, anybody that pounds on a keyboard or wrangles a screen cursor as part of their professional career, the iPad Pro, at any size, is just not good enough.
Let's put it this way. When you can develop apps directly on the iPad it will finally be considered a REAL professional tool.
It's about making a profit. If they put this phone out and realize it sells better than anticipated, then I guarantee there will be lots of number crunching up at Cupertino and eventually decide to release the latest and greatest iPhone in 3 sizes. This is a calculated move to satisfy some of their customers who were clamoring for a smaller phone with the latest technology, people who want an iPhone at a lower price point, and to possibly penetrate other foreign markets (think India, Brazil etc.) without dedicating the cost of R n' D to develop a brand new 4in iPhone that frankly will not sell as well as a larger model. Also, the only thing really missing from the SE is 3D touch (and screen size obviously).
jamezr
macrumors P6
Mac 128
macrumors 603
You say it's not about the old design, but then you say it's two year old tech. It's a two year old case, but the tech is almost all 6s (barely 6 months old). And what few things aren't 6s, are 6. It also improves over flagship performance in one major area -- battery.
And not only do you get all of the "flagship" features for $250 less than the 6s, you also get the few remaining upgrade features for $150 less than the 6. The 5s has an amazing screen, so I don't see that as a major issue, literally the only vestige of the 5s that doesn't appear on the 6 or 6s besides the design. I will completely agree the lack of a 128gb offering is a let down, but not a deal killer. I also wish it were a few millimeters thinner.
If I were planning on buying a 6s, and saw this phone with almost identical features and better battery life for $250 less, I'd be a lot more upset. Seemingly the only sacrifice is case design and screen size, both being entirely subjective, especially since you can do exactly the same things on a 4" screen as you can on a 4.7" screen.
The whole argument that the SE isn't a "flagship" 6s phone is misguided. The fact this phone costs an average of $200 less than any 6 series phone available is outstanding.
LizKat
macrumors 604
Because one prefers the smaller one, and has a 5c?
BECAUSE ONE PREFERS THE SMALLER ONE (AND HAS A 5C).
Sorry to shout. It's about having an older phone to begin with, and then about personal preference for a smaller one on the upgrade. I'm ordering the 64GB and delighted Apple is offering the 4" option.
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4jasontv
Suspended
The A9 is old, the A9X is new. The old processor was used.
The 6s+ camera has better image stabilization.
You're not very nice.
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Some people don't care about price. Apple could charge $200 more. I care about function. Yes, I want a 4" screen with iPad pro hardware. 6 months is a long time, especially when Apple designs every aspect the hardware. What I don't want is to have to trade off quality for form. As far as battery life goes, of course it's better. It uses older hardware. 6 moths or 18 months, it's still old.
Not only that, but by stuffing it into the same form factor they seem to have recognized many of us have cases and accessories married to a certain form factor that we'd rather not replace. Not to mention permanently creased back pocket outlines in our jeans 🙂
As a family of 4, each of us with a 5s, I welcome this new phone. It's exactly what's needed the next time one of us demolishes a screen. And at the current price point it means not having to worry about buying a used phone on eBay.
Would have been nice to start at 32gb, though.
But if some of us fail to buy because we're holding out for a 4" phone that's spec-equivalent to the larger phones, will they take that as evidence that there isn't demand for 4" phones at all?
And a decent front-facing camera. And newer Touch ID. And quite possibly sufficient RAM to keep up with newer models and newer OSes and apps. And a 128GB storage option. And probably several more things nobody's pointed out yet.
Mac 128
macrumors 603
I'm sorry, but comments like this make you seem even more out of touch. The A9X is only used in the iPad Pro. There never will be an iPhone with this chip. Arguably it's overkill and inappropriate for such a small device. And then you're talking about hardware image stabilization available only on Apple's largest phone, something that's not even available on the flagship 6s. Why on earth would anyone expect that to be available on a smaller phone!?
OK I get it. You're being completely unreasonable. Even the iPhone 6s Plus won't have the same specs as the iPad Pro, and arguably features that are totally unecessary, and many of which are just impossible (I suppose you'd like four speakers with the same quality as the Pro too).
The reality here is that if the 4" phone had been released in September with the 6s, with the exact same specs -- that 6 months later, you'd still only have the same tech available to you 6 months ago, and for the next 6 months. You realize that the iPad Pro was introduced a month after the 6s. You must have been livid that Apple screwed their customers so badly with an old A9 chip. And now 6 months later they still expect their customers to buy the same iPhone they were selling 6 months ago with an old chip, and have the gall to keep selling such old tech for 6 more months.
Sorry, but you're off the rails on this.
4jasontv
Suspended
As someone who left the 5 series awhile ago I appreciate you bringing accessories to our attention. It's a very valid point, and completely out of character for Apple. I will be curious to see if 3rd party manufactures bring back any of their retired products. The best cases I ever used were for that generation of iPhone.
ron7624
macrumors 68020
The iphone SE is NOT a new iphone! It's a repackaged iphone 5s with slightly upgraded specs and a 16 gigabyte option. More of Tim's regurgitation. Color me disappointed
skinned66
macrumors 65816
You very well could be correct, but there are so many changes for this product that it could go either way IMO. Nothing Apple does to make a few extra bucks really surprises me anymore.
Was hoping for a Macbook update, but since it's most likely just a speed enhancement they'll probably release it in April.
4jasontv
Suspended
Thats because the iPad pro is the only device to launch since the A9X was first announced.
"No one needs more than 640k, I mean A9 processing power on their phone."
Because its popular and was released nearly 2 years ago. Why on earth is it still only on the + series. It isn't exactly controlled with hydraulics.
Clearly. Yeah, I mean, who dares to want something more!
(Thanks marketing department.) Of course not exactly the same, but the processor isn't a feature like screen size or battery size. It's completely reasonable to ask for the same level of quality.
Ummm... What?
Yeah. I would. Are you suggesting that better audio is unnecessary or impossible?
What? But they didn't release them at the same time. Now, based on the extra time and economy of scale, they have the ability to improve the design. You know, for that product that wasn't released 6 months ago.
Honestly, I have no idea what you are saying. Are you suggesting that I am upset because they didn't use their newest processor in their newest devices? If so, yeah I am disappointed. Livid is a pretty strong word. I'm not quite that emotionally attached to a product I don't own. Are you emotionally attached to a product you don't own?
I am sorry. They flat out said one (of two) reasons people buy the iPhone 5s was due to size not hardware. They said people want a premium product with modern specs. I got excited and thought that was what they would announce. I should have realized when even Tim Cook was bored, that they were just providing lip service.
Do you have trouble differentiating between what Apple announced and what others had hoped for? Do you really think that its unreasonable for people to want Apple to update a product so that their preferred solution stays modern? You must really despise the MacPro people. This is a forum to discuss Apple, and this particular page is in response to a particular series of products released. Correct? So when other users have a fundamental problem with how products are being treated, they don't want to be told they are ignorant, they want to voice their disappointment in how their opinion is being ignored. I want 3 screen sizes with exactly the same internal hardware. I don't care that you could do more with a larger device. I don't want my choice to be burdened by more than one factor. That's my opinion, not my delusion. Apple used to give us what we wanted before we asked. They made purchasing devices easy, so that buyer remorse was minimal. That time has gone, and now we have to ask (as seen by the prior days announcements) or we will clearly never get it.