First iPhone SE Cases Start Appearing With Conflicting Designs

[QuarterSwede]

The sleep/wake button on the side isn't a problem. The sleep/wake button directly opposite of the volume up key is a major design flaw. I've had my 6 for over a year now and I still accidentally hit them both at the same time.

 

[Col4bin]

This is news? A case? Not the phone itself... but a CASE?

New iPhone model cases from China always leak first. Dude, where have you been since 2010?
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how the heck do I read that? I am a 6502a reader... what does it mean? I never figured it out.

Mac Rumors user-level names are based on old school Mac computer chips.

 

[Mac 128]

It's essential. Maybe the realisation will come when it is presented in Apple's marketing someday. When watching a video, widescreen, without headphones using the mono speaker, the iPhone/iPad 2016 experience is poor, with sound directed at just one ear. Is Apple serious? That lack of sound balance is almost unforgivable for a device lauding itself as a great music, video and gaming device.
The Nokia in 2009 was not twice as thick, just slightly thicker (3mm) than the iPhone at the time, but was more compact in height and width. The fact that sound for such a small device was stereo and good quality, directing sound at both left and right ears through barely noticeable smart ultra thin cut outs is commendable.

Again, not winning me over. The sound quality produced from such a tiny speaker isn't acceptable for much of anything. And we're not talking 7 years ago, we're talking today -- the speaker quality has only gotten worse inside a 7mm case (the Nokia being twice that). I can certainly understand watching a movie on an iPad -- which this is not -- and sharing that with a small audience of two or three people, where stereo speakers might make a difference in the experience for the group. But then, the iPad is bigger, and can accommodate higher quality multiple speakers.

Watching a movie on a 4" screen isn't much of a personal experience as it is, certainly adding an audience makes it worse. Adding a second speaker to the iPhone 7 as it is, would not be an acceptable way to watch a movie, and barely acceptable to listen to music in any significant way. That's why the iPod never had speakers, and that's why the iPods and iPhone comes with a set of headphones. The sound quality experience is 100 times better over headphones than playing over the built-in speaker, and adding a second speaker won't really change that. It will still be a substandard experience.

So that's the objective reality. Here's my anecdotal experience -- I've never seen anyone watching a movie on any phone without headphones. Maybe they do it at home, I don't know (but I don't). When I do see someone listening to audio on their phone, it's most often while engaged in a phone call on the speaker phone, and they are holding the speaker up to their ear. Having two on either end wouldn't help that situation. Occasionally someone will play a youtube video, or a song for me over the speaker, but its strictly for reference, I can't tell anything about it really, just enough to hear the joke, or the lyrics, and certainly having it in stereo won't improve that. Sometimes, I or others will play music while hiking, or working hands free, and have no other options. But it's strictly background noise. There's no critical listening going on, and a 2nd stereo speaker is going to make little or no difference at a distance, it might as well be mono.

So all things considered for me, stereo speakers on such a small device are the least essential aspect of it.

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Protruding camera, terribly obvious antenna lines, no 3d touch will mean no upgrade from my 4s, a time when good clean design principles actually mattered to Apple. I will wait another two more years or change brand.

Customers collectively pay Apple billions of $ to make decisions about products that exceed design standards in every way across many criteria. It's not acceptable for Apple to continue to release products that are unresolved and feature compromises such as that seen in the iPhone 6/6s.

I like the design of the 4 overall but I always thought the glass panels with plastic lip sitting proud of the steel band seemed a bit unfinished. Didn't look or feel quite right.

 

[jonnysods]

iPhone 4s gave improved reception. Yes, the whole package matters, so I would drop iOS. But the point is the 6/6s antenna bands shouldn't be where they are. Apple puts many $ into research and development to bring harmony to the design and function of the products it makes. Protruding cameras and mismatched antennas might be features of other manufacturers. Apple has dropped the ball on this one for two years.

Okay you totally have my support with the protruding camera. That was a weird one, and I don't use a case so my phone is always wobbly.

 

[smacrumon]

As someone that's had the 4s, 5s and now the 6s, all I can say is that you have issues and are only hurting yourself. The 4s is basically unusable on up to date software. That means that you either haven't upgraded your OS or that you're using a hopelessly out dated system. Trust me, anything you'd get would be a massive improvement over the 4s. The 4s was indeed great in it's day, but that day has long past and phones have become much more powerful.

Perhaps what's funnier though is that you claim to be a discerning customer with strong design demands, yet you threaten to go to another platform. Really?? Which device / OS do you really think matches something like the 6s running iOS 9? Good luck with that.

I think it is you who is projecting issues with that reply. Well done for adding to landfill only every two years by the way. 4s is completely still usable in 2016, the device is only five years old. iOS 7 is the sweet spot, but the current iOS 9 is still an option too. Power doesn't mean better design either. 4s design stands the test of time, iPhone 6/6s is a total fad. Protruding cameras and obvious antenna lines are what define Android devices and Apple lowered its standards by adopting Android device standards. Apple dropped the ball big time releasing the hack job iPhone 6/6s is. Before 2007 there was no iPhone. Today it is ubiquitous. Tomorrow however a competitor with great software and device design could enter the market and change things up once again. If Apple persists with design compromises into the future, then long term its future may not be guaranteed.
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yeah, if protruding camera is a big problem, and old apps and OS are not, I wonder how he uses the iphone.

The current iOS9 runs on the iPhone 4s, so do the apps. Protruding camera and mismatched antenna lines are only lauded by those with no taste or design sense including Apple.
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Again, not winning me over. The sound quality produced from such a tiny speaker isn't acceptable for much of anything. And we're not talking 7 years ago, we're talking today -- the speaker quality has only gotten worse inside a 7mm case (the Nokia being twice that). I can certainly understand watching a movie on an iPad -- which this is not -- and sharing that with a small audience of two or three people, where stereo speakers might make a difference in the experience for the group. But then, the iPad is bigger, and can accommodate higher quality multiple speakers.

Watching a movie on a 4" screen isn't much of a personal experience as it is, certainly adding an audience makes it worse. Adding a second speaker to the iPhone 7 as it is, would not be an acceptable way to watch a movie, and barely acceptable to listen to music in any significant way. That's why the iPod never had speakers, and that's why the iPods and iPhone comes with a set of headphones. The sound quality experience is 100 times better over headphones than playing over the built-in speaker, and adding a second speaker won't really change that. It will still be a substandard experience.

So that's the objective reality. Here's my anecdotal experience -- I've never seen anyone watching a movie on any phone without headphones. Maybe they do it at home, I don't know (but I don't). When I do see someone listening to audio on their phone, it's most often while engaged in a phone call on the speaker phone, and they are holding the speaker up to their ear. Having two on either end wouldn't help that situation. Occasionally someone will play a youtube video, or a song for me over the speaker, but its strictly for reference, I can't tell anything about it really, just enough to hear the joke, or the lyrics, and certainly having it in stereo won't improve that. Sometimes, I or others will play music while hiking, or working hands free, and have no other options. But it's strictly background noise. There's no critical listening going on, and a 2nd stereo speaker is going to make little or no difference at a distance, it might as well be mono.

So all things considered for me, stereo speakers on such a small device are the least essential aspect of it.

Sorry Nokia devices are comparable in dimensions to iPhones, they haven't been double the thickness today or in the past. There is definitely a noticeable difference between a mono speaker and stereo speakers on a small device. Maybe try covering your ear and tape it up for a whole day and see what a difference a lack of sound balance makes on your experience. On small devices sound is directed outwards and then reflects back off other surfaces then to be received back by the ear. Lots of people use their devices without headphones with the device oriented horizontal using the built in speaker. Watching videos with friends, listening to music or other recordings by themselves, playing games isn't uncommon. Stereo speakers improve the experience dramatically especially when playing games. Maybe you will only accept stereo speakers are essential once the overdue idea is neatly packaged up as a marketing talking point in a future Apple keynote for you to indulge on. This is the problem though, not enough people evaluate things critically. For the amount of money iPhone uses pay they aren't getting great design.

 

[rudychidiac]

a time when good clean design principles actually mattered to Apple.

Where's the dislike button?

 

[MrNomNoms]

Why is this even an issue? they're case vendors making cases based on speculation rather than some sort of secret knowledge - why are Macrumors even referencing these would-be entrepreneurs who are guessing along side other people online?

 

[lowendlinux]

Where's the dislike button?

The iPhone has gotten distinctly less attractive over the years.

 

[yaxomoxay]

The current iOS9 runs on the iPhone 4s, so do the apps. Protruding camera and mismatched antenna lines are only lauded by those with no taste or design sense including Apple.

Why the hyperbole? I don't think that anyone is lauding. Most people - including me - simply say that those two items are a secondary issue compared to usability. I put a cover on, so I never even see the infamous antenna lines.
Could Apple do better? Probably. Is it a deal breaker? Not at all.

 

[Mac 128]

Sorry Nokia devices are comparable in dimensions to iPhones, they haven't been double the thickness today or in the past. There is definitely a noticeable difference between a mono speaker and stereo speakers on a small device. Maybe try covering your ear and tape it up for a whole day and see what a difference a lack of sound balance makes on your experience. On small devices sound is directed outwards and then reflects back off other surfaces then to be received back by the ear. Lots of people use their devices without headphones with the device oriented horizontal using the built in speaker. Watching videos with friends, listening to music or other recordings by themselves, playing games isn't uncommon. Stereo speakers improve the experience dramatically especially when playing games. Maybe you will only accept stereo speakers are essential once the overdue idea is neatly packaged up as a marketing talking point in a future Apple keynote for you to indulge on. This is the problem though, not enough people evaluate things critically. For the amount of money iPhone uses pay they aren't getting great design.

Stereo speakers on a 2009 Nokia are just as bad an idea as they are on a 2016 Nokia. The same is true for the iPhone of any generation. What was a bad idea in 2009 is a much worse idea in 2016 now that devices are considerably thinner. The speakers are too small and poor quality to offer any kind of enjoyable listening experience, stereo or otherwise.

If Apple does introduce stereo speakers on the iPhone 7, at the expense of the 3.5mm jack, and tries to spin this in a marketing talking point, I'll be the first in line to accuse them of the very same thing you accuse them of in your earlier comments:

"Protruding cameras and obvious antenna lines are what define Android devices and Apple lowered its standards by adopting Android device standards." -- smacrumon

Except, I'll add "stereo speakers" to that list of stupid design decisions most commonly found on Android and Nokia devices.

If you can explain why the iPod is the most popular portable media players in the world, yet never had built-in speakers of any kind, much less stereo speakers; and there have further been 6 generations of the iPod Touch, one of the most successful portable media players and gaming platforms in the world, and has never had stereo speakers, then maybe we'll have something more to discuss. In 16 years, Apple has never felt the need to add speakers, or later stereo speakers to the iPod line, and yet it's been one of the most successful products of its type. I don't recall customers clamoring that stereo speakers were "essential" to the device. Indeed Apple didn't think so, and this is during the period where you claim in your earlier comments that Apple knew what it was doing.

It's clear to me, Apple knows stereo speakers on such a small device are anything but "essential", and offer at best a poor quality user experience. Apple knows adding a second speaker is a marketing gimmick used by inferior android, and Nokia products in their attempts to compete with Apple on something other than quality, offering their customers novelty over the best experience. And Apple's customers seem to agree.

If stereo speakers on such a small portable device were "essential" as you claim, then Apple would either have them after 16 years of making iPods, and almost a decade of making iPhones, or everyone in the world would be using Androids or Nokias (and last time I checked, Nokia did so poorly selling phones with "essential" stereo speakers they had to sell their phone division off to Microsoft, who is still doing so poorly with the brand, they have to give the phones away).

 

[smacrumon]

Why the hyperbole? I don't think that anyone is lauding. Most people - including me - simply say that those two items are a secondary issue compared to usability. I put a cover on, so I never even see the infamous antenna lines.
Could Apple do better? Probably. Is it a deal breaker? Not at all.

Apple customers pay it $ billions for it to R&D the best designs. What were they doing with the iPhone 6/6s? A whole department appears to have been definitely out to lunch when that protruding camera and mismatched antenna lines design was floated as production worthy and approved. It’s just poor because when they relax their standards on device design, soon after shall they relax iOS design. It’s not hyperbole, because pure design standards matter. Apple must do better to actually raise the bar, not let things slide like this.
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Stereo speakers on a 2009 Nokia are just as bad an idea as they are on a 2016 Nokia. The same is true for the iPhone of any generation. What was a bad idea in 2009 is a much worse idea in 2016 now that devices are considerably thinner. The speakers are too small and poor quality to offer any kind of enjoyable listening experience, stereo or otherwise.

If Apple does introduce stereo speakers on the iPhone 7, at the expense of the 3.5mm jack, and tries to spin this in a marketing talking point, I'll be the first in line to accuse them of the very same thing you accuse them of in your earlier comments:

"Protruding cameras and obvious antenna lines are what define Android devices and Apple lowered its standards by adopting Android device standards." -- smacrumon

Except, I'll add "stereo speakers" to that list of stupid design decisions most commonly found on Android and Nokia devices.

If you can explain why the iPod is the most popular portable media players in the world, yet never had built-in speakers of any kind, much less stereo speakers; and there have further been 6 generations of the iPod Touch, one of the most successful portable media players and gaming platforms in the world, and has never had stereo speakers, then maybe we'll have something more to discuss. In 16 years, Apple has never felt the need to add speakers, or later stereo speakers to the iPod line, and yet it's been one of the most successful products of its type. I don't recall customers clamoring that stereo speakers were "essential" to the device. Indeed Apple didn't think so, and this is during the period where you claim in your earlier comments that Apple knew what it was doing.

It's clear to me, Apple knows stereo speakers on such a small device are anything but "essential", and offer at best a poor quality user experience. Apple knows adding a second speaker is a marketing gimmick used by inferior android, and Nokia products in their attempts to compete with Apple on something other than quality, offering their customers novelty over the best experience. And Apple's customers seem to agree.

If stereo speakers on such a small portable device were "essential" as you claim, then Apple would either have them after 16 years of making iPods, and almost a decade of making iPhones, or everyone in the world would be using Androids or Nokias (and last time I checked, Nokia did so poorly selling phones with "essential" stereo speakers they had to sell their phone division off to Microsoft, who is still doing so poorly with the brand, they have to give the phones away).

Apple saved itself a couple of $ per device for 16 years by not including a speaker or dual speaker. Lots of people buy into a marketing story, “white buds into the ear, everybody!”, so that’s why Apple has got away with this for so long. Once you know and experience better, you want better, forever and ever. The human ear is more sophisticated than you give it credit. No one is saying you’ll get a symphony with dual speakers, but the imbalance of a speaker placed only on one side of the device is noticeable. Seriously, try an ear plug only in one ear for the day. Some of the iDevices include dual microphones, dual wifi receivers, all in an effort to improve their function, their experience. Protruding cameras and obvious antenna lines are u-u-u-u-u-ugly. It is the result of laziness, too much time watching competitors at the expense of time exploring genuine new ideas, new directions. Seems that too many people at Apple have been scrolling through the dregs of Facebook feeds, getting exposed to the worst of the worst, and not enough time spent focusing on what counts. Someone was definitely out to lunch when that iPhone 6/6s design was floated and approved. You’ll never see a dual speaker because it’s encased, but you’ll appreciate the benefit. It’s certainly not a gimmick and is an item I notice as absent and a flaw with the iPhone.

 

[0958400]

No conflict! One is for Apple, the other one's for Samsung's copy. 🙂

 

[MacGod]

anyone know what market segment they are trying to capture with the iPhone SE model? the iPhone 6 is decent enough - not sure how the SE will be compelling enough for market. Guess it will be like the 5C model was to the 5S.

 

[aces99]

anyone know what market segment they are trying to capture with the iPhone SE model? the iPhone 6 is decent enough - not sure how the SE will be compelling enough for market. Guess it will be like the 5C model was to the 5S.

They are trying the capture the people that want a up to date smartphone but in a smaller form factor. There is a pretty big market of people who haven't upgraded their phones because they don't want a bigger phone. The iPhone SE will hopefully capture that market.

 

[Michael Scrip]

They are trying the capture the people that want a up to date smartphone but in a smaller form factor. There is a pretty big market of people who haven't upgraded their phones because they don't want a bigger phone. The iPhone SE will hopefully capture that market.

Bravo to Apple for bringing back smaller models. Other companies seem to be abandoning them.

Samsung's Galaxy S series once offered a 4" phone... back in 2010. Now they have grown to 5.1" and beyond.

Think about that... Samsung's flagship series now starts at 5.1"

They do make smaller phones... but they are nowhere near flagship-level.

I just checked Verizon and they have something called the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime at 4.5" but it's an older slower phone. And AT&T doesn't have a Samsung smaller than the 5.1" Galaxy S5.

Other manufacturers are in a similar position.

If the iPhone 5SE is indeed 4" with the A9 processor... that's a hell of a combo.

It'll be good news for iPhone users who have been wanting a small flagship-level phone.

The closest thing on the Android side is the Sony Z5 Compact... but their availability and carrier support is limited.

Full disclosure... I love my 5.5" iPhone 6S Plus... but I'm glad Apple will continue to support the 4" size 😀

 

[rockosmodurnlif]

Yes, the 4 series iPhone also represent the height of form over function.

I can't imagine a more stupid design than sandwiching $700 worth of sensitive electronics between two sheets of glass on a highly portable device, prone to drops and breakage by its very nature.

Can't wait for Apple to return to that high water mark of creativity.

Yeah, never seen an iPhone 5 or 6 series with cracked glass or bent/dented rear cases. You've got a point.
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Love your avatar.

haha! 😀 Love yours too.

 

[ReneR]

side power button is so wrong, so often we touch it when we want to increase the volume watching some video, ...

 

[ValO]

side power button is so wrong, so often we touch it when we want to increase the volume watching some video, ...

That is all about adjusting your own behavior.
If you do this 10 times, it should change after a while. And you should get accustomed to it.
If you don' t , you are one of the Apple users that are very conservative , can' t handle change, and want to go back to the 4s days with iOS 6. Everything was so much better then...
Ok, it was good at that time, but not according to present days standards. Accept it and adjust to modern times.

Don' t get me wrong. It is a good move that Apple is releasing a new 4 inch iPhone .
I just can' t adjust 🙂 to people living in the past and not moving forward. Just whine, whine, etc....
It is these users that are holding Apple and their board back. We just get evolution instead of revolution, and these users are partly the blame(including leadership in Apple ).
If Apple releases a iPhone pro they will whine because they want all those features in a 4 inch phone.
It can' t , it is technically impossible, stop complaining, and adjust to having more choices, etc.

 

[rudychidiac]

The iPhone has gotten distinctly less attractive over the years.

Well I guess that's a matter of opinion no? I think the space grey 6/6s are the most beautiful

 

[lowendlinux]

Well I guess that's a matter of opinion no? I think the space grey 6/6s are the most beautiful

You agree it's subjective but you want to dislike a person that disagrees with your perception...

 

[AVEGA]

I hope this phone is just called the 6S mini and has 3D touch and all features of 6S. No compromises, No excuses
The 5SE is stupid and confusing name and having less features of larger new iphone models makes it an ugly complex upgrade decision , apple should also kill the 16 gig option and just start with 32 now, it's 2016 for goodness sake and with operating system taking up so much room ( ap thinning my butt ! ) having 32 is good for business in the long haul because it gives consumers more room for music, apps , etc.

 

[Mac 128]

I hope this phone is just called the 6S mini and has 3D touch and all features of 6S. No compromises, No excuses
The 5SE is stupid and confusing name and having less features of larger new iphone models makes it an ugly complex upgrade decision

All the features of the 6S, or the 6S Plus? I mean, why don't all three phones have identical features, and performance, just in different sizes? And then, isn't the fact the 6S doesn't have all of the features of the 6S Plus "an ugly complex decision" as well in your opinion?

I agree that 5SE is not a great name, but then again this is entirely a rumor, right? There's no real basis for this name at all, and to the extent it actually did come from inside Apple, it could just be a code name, not a marketing name, right?

 

[AVEGA]

All the features of the 6S, or the 6S Plus? I mean, why don't all three phones have identical features, and performance, just in different sizes? And then, isn't the fact the 6S doesn't have all of the features of the 6S Plus "an ugly complex decision" as well in your opinion?

I agree that 5SE is not a great name, but then again this is entirely a rumor, right? There's no real basis for this name at all, and to the extent it actually did come from inside Apple, it could just be a code name, not a marketing name, right?

I hope your right on name.

The difference between + and regular is resolution and optical image stabilization . Resolution makes sense because screen size . You probably won't be able to tell a difference between 4K and 1080 P on a 32 in tv, but bigger size makes it easier to see difference. Image stabilization shouldn't be a problem to do in smaller phones , but whatever reason Apple decides to lock it away for bigger screen.

 

[Mac 128]

I hope your right on name.

The difference between + and regular is resolution and optical image stabilization . Resolution makes sense because screen size . You probably won't be able to tell a difference between 4K and 1080 P on a 32 in tv, but bigger size makes it easier to see difference. Image stabilization shouldn't be a problem to do in smaller phones , but whatever reason Apple decides to lock it away for bigger screen.

You forgot battery capacity. The Plus has much greater battery life, despite the larger screen.

If you think of the 6S Plus as the benchmark by which the rest of the 6s series iPhones are based, then basically, the customer has to chose between the following:

6S Plus: All of the 6S features, including Optical Image Stabilization, larger screen, and better battery life
6S: All of the 6S Plus features, except Optical Image Stabilization, larger screen, and better battery life
6S mini: All of the 6S Plus features, except Optical Image Stabilization, 3D Touch, larger screen and better battery life

So that's not really confusing at all. In fact, having 3 physically different sizes highlights the differences -- the smallest phone has LESS features than the medium and largest-sized phones, and the largest phone has MORE features than the medium and smallest-sized phones. I can't imagine a situation where anyone would be confused by that. Certainly the 6s and the 6s Plus differences haven't resulted in any mass confusion that I'm aware of. It all makes perfect sense.

What you are suggesting is to have all there models with feature parity to avoid some sort of perceived confusion by the consumer. In doing so, you prevent larger devices from having additional features made possible by the increased size. How pointless would it be to limit the 6S Plus to the same features physically possible to include on the "6S mini", including relative battery performance?

I know you think there's no reason to add optical image stabilization to the 6s, but what are you basing that on?