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.
Hands-On With Apple's Most Lackluster Smartphone: The 2022 iPhone SE
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
In my opinion, I think this phone is worth $430. However, I think if Apple would’ve priced it at $399, that’s probably where it should be in my opinion, however; as we all know, there’s inflation on just about everything right now in terms of manufacturing and producing, so there might be particulars of why Apple chose a $430 price point. I don’t think it’s overpriced extensively, but I definitely don’t think it’s priced where it should be either. But then again, Apple’s never been lenient with pricing on anything that they manufacture. That’s why their profit margins are so high.
I upgraded my 86 year old mother’s phone from a 7 to the 2020 SE. the fact that it did still Relies on a fingerprint scanner was a godsend. there was no punitive learning curve to bring her up to speed in how to use the new phone. Most likely I’ll get her the meter iteration in a few more years.
so,etc,es easy to use and simpler are better.
Heard that argument before, but that’s not that important to be on a phone in a crowded event is it? You should be more aware of your surroundings then be on the phone.
My daughter (14) is still using the first iPhone SE, and she’s going to be getting the new SE for Christmas. She’d rather have that for its size than any other iPhone. And although she says she’d be happy with a 2nd hand one, I’d rather she had new. The new SE should last her until she’s old enough to get her own contract (18). She doesn’t really care if it doesn’t look like the flashiest, newest device, she just wants one that has more storage than her 16GB SE (1st gen) and doesn’t need teathered to a power bank.
For less tactile thumbers (the kids and the elderly), the home button does have a purpose.
Corporates also love these because of the price point and the ability to say “Hey, we gave you a brand new iPhone!”
Corporates also love these because of the price point and the ability to say “Hey, we gave you a brand new iPhone!”
Clearly, you’re a good sibling.
Yes, at this point, the remaining stocks of the SE 2 are going to be discounted and sold first, but that is a temporary situation that I avoided because your choice for the majority of the time from now until September’s iPhone 14 launch is going to be choosing between the SE 3 and the iPhone 11. And between the two, only the most price sensitive buyers are going to be swayed by $70 difference. Once the iPhone 14 is revealed and if Apple follows suit, the iPhone 12 will replace the iPhone 11 and if it does at that $499 price point, Apple is going to have an even tougher row to hoe. I suspect the 12 goes away, the 11 remains and the 13 slots in behind the 14.
I'm not so sure it has much to do with the 2017 design. I think it has more to do with people who buy this model are the types who keep their phones until they literally break or cease to function in some necessary way. Those who bought the 2020 SE were probably those whose 1st gen SE's or 6's were dying. Those buying the 2022 SE are probably owners of 7's and 8's that are reaching the end or the road. Almost guaranteed, the people buying the 2022 SE aren't the same ones who bought the 2020 SE. Most of them consider replacing a working phone just to have 'the latest and greatest' as financially irresponsible. We, the geeks and phone nerds AKA macrumors forum members, are the ones who care about the latest design, newest camera, bla bla bla. Most do not give a rat's behind about such things.
I think Apple knows this - they just got greedy and overshot on their sales estimates.
Agreed. While the design isn’t exactly exciting, I may upgrade from my 6s for this. I find it difficult to justify spending $1,000 on a phone. Call me cheap or whatever. I can afford it but don’t want to for features I’ll never use. Crazy huh.
So disappointing to see MR moving to clickbait / trolling headlines!
Clickbaitiest post title I can remember in recent history, so congrats on that I guess…
Just because nothing was promised doesn't mean it can't disappoint. It's not well specced for its price and it's price isn't enticing (not to mention it still looks like the iPhone 6). There's no reason a smaller phone couldn't be a decent phone. "Smaller" shouldn't automatically equal "gimped".
How about battery life, does the A15 chip have any influence on the battery, from what I have read, it does indeed. This reviewer did not mention this benefit at all.
For those who just want an iPhone that‘ll be up to the task for 4-5 years and are on a budget, here is the short version of the article:
Apple last week introduced the 2022 iPhone SE, an upgraded version of its low-cost smartphone. The 2022 iPhone SE looks identical to the 2020 model, featuring only internal upgrades, and it is arguably Apple's most lackluster iPhone. So who is it for? Read on to find out what we think.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
If you've seen the 2020 iPhone SE, well, you've seen the 2022 version. Apple has not made any exterior updates, and it still looks like the iPhone 8 that was introduced in 2017. This five-year-old design features thick top and bottom bezels along with a Touch ID Home button. It's the last iPhone to continue to use Touch ID, as Apple has transitioned to Face ID for the rest of the lineup.
Apple didn't even spend too much time thinking about new colors for the iPhone SE. It comes in starlight, which is almost identical to the previous silver, midnight, which is not too far off from the prior black color, and (PRODUCT)RED, which was also available for the 2020 model. Apple did make it out of more durable glass, but glass is glass and it's still going to break when dropped onto hard surfaces, so that's not much of a reason to upgrade.
The new iPhone SE is equipped with the latest A15 chip, which is an upgrade over the A13, though it's hard to tell a difference in terms of day to day usage. Apps and games perform about the same, but the A15 chip will make a difference several years from now as Apple develops new versions of iOS and new features that require more processing power.
There's a single-lens 12-megapixel rear camera that has updated features like Smart HDR 4 and Photographic Styles powered by the A15, but when looking at photos from the 2020 and 2022 iPhone SE models side by side, there's little difference in quality. Battery life is also about the same.
The other major difference between the 2020 iPhone SE and the upgraded model is support for sub-6GHz 5G networks. 5G is still in its infancy, so 5G support is important for future proofing. The new SE doesn't support the fastest mmWave 5G speeds that are mostly limited to more urban areas, but it does work with the wider spread sub-6GHz bands that are going to expand worldwide in the coming years.
From the perspective of Apple enthusiasts who look forward to the latest and greatest each year, the iPhone SE is a disappointing phone, but that's not who it's for. Apple made the iPhone SE for the people who don't care about phones, those who just want a smartphone that's fast, simple, reliable, and most importantly, cheap.
At $429 the iPhone SE is more expensive than the prior-generation model, but in six months or so, it should come down in price with various carrier discounts and deals. It's the go-to phone for those who are upgrading from something like an iPhone 6, iPhone 7, or iPhone 8, because it's familiar and it's going to last for quite a few years to come.
Article Link: Hands-On With Apple's Most Lackluster Smartphone: The 2022 iPhone SE
„Apps and games perform about the same, but the A15 chip will make a difference several years from now as Apple develops new versions of iOS and new features that require more processing power. … The new SE doesn't support the fastest mmWave 5G speeds that are mostly limited to more urban areas, but it does work with the wider spread sub-6GHz bands that are going to expand worldwide in the coming years.“
I don't recall MR calling the previous version lackluster and yet, the 2022 model that has a bigger battery and 5G ability etc. is suddenly lackluster.
The phone meets the needs of a lot of consumers. That is the bottom line.
This kind of article is worthless. If you want to make worthwhile articles on newly released iPhones, have actual reviews from real day to day users, instead of creating clickbait copy. This isn't any better than the Apple mouthpieces on YouTube.
The phone meets the needs of a lot of consumers. That is the bottom line.
This kind of article is worthless. If you want to make worthwhile articles on newly released iPhones, have actual reviews from real day to day users, instead of creating clickbait copy. This isn't any better than the Apple mouthpieces on YouTube.
When will people get it. Some of us DO NOT want a bigger phone!!!!
Also don't care about the latest and greatest. Some of us just want a great phone that does what we need to do and for that this phone is perfect. The cherry on the top is that its also cheap.
Get it? GET IT?!
Also don't care about the latest and greatest. Some of us just want a great phone that does what we need to do and for that this phone is perfect. The cherry on the top is that its also cheap.
Get it? GET IT?!
Some thread titles lately chosen have misrepresented whats being discussed.
Look at this example
This involves the full Mac Studio take apart, and only one image related to studio display. Hardly anything about the Studio Display. Its clearly meant to attract clicks then provide value.
You almost want to think if the Apple product is too ordinary its not worth discussing. The iPhone SE 3rd gen clearly fills a need. Doesn't have to sell more than other models.
Tech bros and YouTubers will never understand or appreciate the SE.
Just upgraded my 2020 SE to the newest one. Battery capacity is a bit higher, now it is over 2000mAh, the GNSS chip seems a newer version and it is now compatible with Glonass (2020v was already compatible with it), Beidou, Galileo and most AGPS services like Japanese QZSS, etc.
I mostly bought it to enter the 5G era and have a future-proof phone, and also because my previous 128GB 2020 SE was still priced quite high and it was very easy to sell (it was like new).
Another thing that I noted is that when switching it off it now warns that the phone can be located also when off, using the FindMy network; 2020 SE never prompted me with this warning, as far as I can remember. Last thing, here in Italy I was able to buy it with a 55€ reduction on AMZN compared to the retail price.
I mostly bought it to enter the 5G era and have a future-proof phone, and also because my previous 128GB 2020 SE was still priced quite high and it was very easy to sell (it was like new).
Another thing that I noted is that when switching it off it now warns that the phone can be located also when off, using the FindMy network; 2020 SE never prompted me with this warning, as far as I can remember. Last thing, here in Italy I was able to buy it with a 55€ reduction on AMZN compared to the retail price.
It's not meant to be a small phone, it's meant to be a cheap, basic, but fast, phone. It's just the normal sized old iPhone 6/7/8 body with updated internals to the latest A15 processor (same as the iPhone 13), and an updated camera.
The 13 Mini is meant to be the small phone (even though it's not much smaller than the SE3), but isn't meant to be a cheap/basic phone. It's the 13 crammed into a smaller body.
There is no specifically targeted small and cheap phone.