Hands-On With Apple's Most Lackluster Smartphone: The 2022 iPhone SE

[0423MAC]

Oh and for the people comparing budget android phones to this, please stop. It’s not even close.

We are assuming that the SE is either targeting those who like the familiarity of older iPhones, people who are budget conscious, don’t upgrade as often & like the simplicity of something that has stayed relatively the same from a software standpoint.

No “budget” phone checks off all the boxes the iPhone SE 2022 will.

Insanely fast processor

Entry level 5G

OS updates for several years to come, most sub $300 factory unlocked android phones are lucky to get 2 major os updates, most get 1, some get NONE. Samsung is the exception on that side, but their budget phones lag way behind the latest Apple A-series processors to compare.

Quick access to Apple stores all across the world to get a battery, screen or other things checked should something go wrong on top of that.

I’m one to criticize Apple often for their anti-consumer decisions, but get real with this nonsense.

 

[cosmichobo]

The Mini’s are actually a little smaller than the 8. Screen size is much larger however, so best of both worlds.

OMG! The notch! The notch!

Ok - was wrong about the size.

 

[44267547]

Since when does a budget phone with blazing fast performance need to be all singing all dancing in terms of design?
Seems to me, it’s quicker, camera is just as good, it’s got a entry level 5G and familiar functionality vs the Face ID/no home button. That’s bound to appeal to the people who would go for a budget phone vs going for the flashier stuff

Agreed on all accounts.

The only thing that Apple isn’t doing right with the iPhone SE3, is marketing it. Can anybody point out where they were seeing marketing for this phone? Because I’m not and I pay close attention to a lot of different tech sources, carrier promotions, etc. and I’m not seeing anything for this phone. To me, that’s a huge hindrance that Apple isn’t marketing the way they should, especially this time of the year when consumers aren’t generally aware of when Apple has the ‘spring upgrades/releases’.

 

[MowgliWolf]

Agreed on all accounts.

The only thing that Apple isn’t doing right with the iPhone SE3, is marketing it. Can anybody point out where they were seeing marketing for this phone? Because I’m not and I pay close attention to a lot of different tech sources, carrier promotions, etc. and I’m not seeing anything for this phone. To me, that’s a huge hindrance that Apple isn’t marketing the way they should, especially this time of the year when consumers aren’t generally aware of when Apple has the ‘spring upgrades/releases’.

Yeah that’s a good point actually, I guess that makes it the runt of the litter in more ways than one haha

 

[123]

Yeah, expect when you factor in inflation. If you do that, the 2020 model comes out at $437 in 2022 dollars.

It's sad when not even editors get finance basics right.

Except this is not finance. This is economics.

Old tech like this (which it is except for the CPU) loses relative value way faster than inflation.

 

[wanha]

Look, I get that the iPhone SE is a boring phone.

I see a lot of comments that Apple needs to give the SE at least a facelift.

But that old design is 100% on purpose, because Apple is very wary of cannibalising it's flagship iPhone sales - there's a clear desire to separate sexy new flagship iPhones from the boring, uninspiring iPhone SE.

They're simply for two very different market segments.

 

[luxetlibertas]

The reviewer does not give me confidence to take him seriously in future reviews, "the battery is pretty much the same", goes against what I have been seeing with real world Youtube review tests, some reporting over 7 hours of screen time, sounds like he just half a$$ed assessing the battery.

Exactly, the battery was the weakest point of the SE 2020. The SE 2022 improves to maybe a bit better than the iPhone 12 mini but not reaching the iPhone 13 mini level. It provides a low total cost per year for a smartphone that lets people participate in the Apple ecosystem for years to come. Plus, damaged screens are common, so strengthening the glass is also significant in lowering the cost of ownership.

Sorry to sound so harsh but this review seems a waste of time for both reviewer *and* intended audience. There are many better reviews already available.

 

[Abstract]

An opinion by MacRumors’ most lacklustre reviewer. ?

 

[Thebrochure]

Most lackluster iPhone would be the 5C, easily.

 

[AndiG]

Invent or die, Apple!!!

So here is the plan for the SE 2023:
- Full Screen covering display
- No FaceId
- Integrated ultrasonic TouchId

Those will sell like hot cake. Believe me. I would love em that much that I would get one in every color Apple offers.

 

[cocoua]

Get an iPhone 11

 

[Htsi]

I don’t think it’s lackluster. It is great option for 6/7/8 users to upgrade to. Pricing also plays a role. I find it funny when people in the states say it’s priced high, because iPhones are the cheapest there. got my iPhone 12 Pro with AC for $1100 in the states. Same thing here is $1700

 

[svish]

Looks the same but it is a very good phone. But by spending $70 more, one can get iPhone 11 which comes with a bigger screen and FaceID.

 

[OnawaAfrica]

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

why do people who wana buy a low-cost smartphone expect always to have newest designs? save money and buy the flagship lol

 

[Joestanxx]

Lackluster is just being used as a substitute for cheap. So its cheap, uses a smaller screen, it doesn't have as many features. Likely a lot of people just want a iPhone for not as much money. But hey for only $270 more you can get a iPhone 13 mini. Thats a great phone for more money. You don't want the lackluster iPhone SE do you?

yes I do and I have one.

 

[Joestanxx]

Add WhatsApp and it turns your iPod touch to an iPhone ?

not if you are with our wifi

 

[dumastudetto]

The new iPhone SE almost certainly outshines $1200 Android flagships thanks to the power of that A15 chip. $429 would buy you a VERY lacklustre Android phone - a mid-range snapdragon processor, when even the top-of-the-line Qualcomm chips are years behind Apple.

The new iPhone SE is astonishing value-for-money if you can live with the dated exterior, touchid, and huge bezels surrounding a relatively tiny display.

 

[agffth]

It's the cheapest iPhone and you expected something that would wow you? Of course it's lackluster. It's a budget phone.

 

[deevey]

Looks the same but it is a very good phone. But by spending $70 more, one can get iPhone 11 which comes with a bigger screen and FaceID.

And a slower processor, and no 5G ... It's gonna depend whats more important to you.

 

[imagineadam]

I used to upgrade every 2 years until my current iPhone 7 which I’ve had since launch. It still does all the things the new phones do. The new ones just do it all just a little bit better each year.

Regular people don’t need the latest and greatest. They just need something that gets the job done. And apple’s phones get the job done for a long long time.

I really want a 13 mini or a 13 pro but I don’t need it and my 7 is still going strong. I feel like after the 6S everything on the iPhone is overkill. It’s awesome for longevity but there really isn’t much new that the phones can do. Pictures are sharper. Apps open a half second faster. Oled and refresh rate sure but when it all boils down everyone who has an iPhone… has an iPhone.

 

[deevey]

Oled and refresh rate sure but when it all boils down everyone who has an iPhone… has an iPhone.

????????????

 

[thejoshuabradshaw]

The only thing that has missed the mark is the asinine reviewers. This is a child's first phone or first big responsibility before dropping a grand on a newer version. It's a phone. Some people only need a phone that happens to do messages and email and are content with those features only. It's my fault for being clickedbaited to this.

 

[Mainsail]

The only thing that has missed the mark is the asinine reviewers. This is a child's first phone or first big responsibility before dropping a grand on a newer version. It's a phone. Some people only need a phone that happens to do messages and email and are content with those features only. It's my fault for being clickedbaited to this.

I agree. Also, the SE will run all of the apps that the Pro will run, so users aren't limited to just e-mail and text.

Frankly, this is the phone I would buy for most students (HS and college). Durable. Reliable. Less of a target for theft. On campus, a lot of phones get lost, broken, or stolen. I would not send my kid to college with a $1,200 phone. I would put that money into a good laptop that will last them through college and perhaps a couple of years afterwords.

 

[baryon]

It's great for those who only want to spend a small fortune on an iPhone, not two small fortunes.

 

[Runway]

If you read the first and last paragraphs, Lackluster = " ... a smartphone that's fast, simple, reliable, and most importantly, cheap". Now that I know what lackluster means to MacRumors, I'm feeling pretty lackluster today!