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I Still Love My iPhone SE Months Later
- Thread starter Traverse
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I will say iOS 10 is clearly designed around 3D Touch and interactions there are a bit more natural. But, for me at least, 3D Touch really hasn't ever made it out of the novelty stage. It isn't the game changer that retina displays, Siri, or Touch ID have been for me. If all you can afford is an SE or a 6S, I would say the SE is probably a better value if you're ok with the smaller screen size and inferior front camera. The 6S has rather poor battery life also. If you can afford a 7 though, I would strongly consider it. Great screen, better battery life (thanks to the low power cores in the A10) and OIS in the camera means way better low light photos.
Still love mine - couldn't be happier. It's the size I originally wanted when I upgraded to my 6S from my 5C (but it wasn't out at upgrade time which is annoying). Fits in my pockets, does everything I need it to with great battery life. As another user said - I'll keep it until they come out with another 4" model.
I went from a 5c to a 6S, then happily switched to the SE when it came out. I was never thrilled with the 6S; the ergonomics were terrible for me (I tried various cases, but each had its own issues). Switching to the small, light SE was a breath of fresh air.
I did like 3D Touch, and miss it sometimes... but the upsides of the SE far outweigh that loss for me.
I have a 6s Plus and I'm seriously considering moving to an SE. This phone is just too unwieldy. I will miss it for videos, though.
If it is going to be updated, it would have to wait until the 6S is gone. If not, the SE will be (yet again) in a weird position, of potentially having better internals than the next up iPhone model (currently the 6S). Even today, it's a $400 phone with a chip that is still faster than Snapdragon 820. It's quite a feat.
If Apple is keeping it (instead of just a one-off), it would probably be updated in 2018, after the 7S/8. Hopefully I'm wrong though.
Good point. Assuming the 6S is available until September 2017 that means the SE current version would be available until then or later so it's probably still safe to buy, update-wise.
I was at a wedding this weekend and took my SE instead of my 7. Looking around the tables near us, I saw a lot of 6/6s/7 Plus models just sitting at the table when people were dancing. I threw my SE in my pocket and didn't even know it was there at times. It's a beast in terms of the internals in a nice and small package.
space gray SE - best design, value
black 7 - best ergonomics
black 7 Plus - best specs
Considering my favorite keyboard is SwiftKey for the last 3+ years and is pretty horrible on iOS, the SE would work best for me. Final iPhone to offer headphone jack, no camera hump, and less smudges on the back since silver or gray hide it better than anything black. The 1.2MP front camera and weaker aluminum grade (bends easier) probably wouldn't bother me so much. Not using it to text with one hand. My Moto E2 gives me the perfect ergonomics for that and it has Android to use my torrent app Flud.
I will never go back to an iPhone for a daily driver although I did consider it a few times. Would only use SE as iPod and occasional pocket camera when I travel. But there are times when the iPhone 7 wins me back because while it is slippery, it is far more forgivable in the palm of the hands while browsing for awhile. It is the perfect middle ground and is the size I have gotten used to for the last 3+ years. And the 7 Plus is also tempting with the best specs of the trio. The true flagship of the bunch.
black 7 - best ergonomics
black 7 Plus - best specs
Considering my favorite keyboard is SwiftKey for the last 3+ years and is pretty horrible on iOS, the SE would work best for me. Final iPhone to offer headphone jack, no camera hump, and less smudges on the back since silver or gray hide it better than anything black. The 1.2MP front camera and weaker aluminum grade (bends easier) probably wouldn't bother me so much. Not using it to text with one hand. My Moto E2 gives me the perfect ergonomics for that and it has Android to use my torrent app Flud.
I will never go back to an iPhone for a daily driver although I did consider it a few times. Would only use SE as iPod and occasional pocket camera when I travel. But there are times when the iPhone 7 wins me back because while it is slippery, it is far more forgivable in the palm of the hands while browsing for awhile. It is the perfect middle ground and is the size I have gotten used to for the last 3+ years. And the 7 Plus is also tempting with the best specs of the trio. The true flagship of the bunch.
I've been using an SE for a while now, but will be moving back to a 6S Plus.
The form factor is great, and it's a powerful little phone - but I need more screen space and the bump to battery life will be appreciated too.
The form factor is great, and it's a powerful little phone - but I need more screen space and the bump to battery life will be appreciated too.
I think best color is subjective
Love my
Gold SE
had a slate 5 for a long time and a matte black 7+ I like seeing Touch ID in front easily and spotting small phone on my
Couch or bed easily.
I also just love the gold
Look on this form factor personally. To me space grey looks too business professional for lack of a better description
I go gold on all devices anymore. It's much more pleasing to me than the usual black/gray. I generally prefer white faces as well.
I really like my iPhone SE as well, but I wound up pulling the trigger on a jet black iPhone 7, so it makes my iPhone SE a little redundant. Looks like I might be selling it soon.
Still in love with my little fella' 
iPhone SE, Rosa Gold.
iPhone SE, Rosa Gold.
I'm leaning this way too.. my route has been 6 -> SE -> 7 (JB) - it's early days with the 7 (and JB adds a great deal in usability, being far grippier than any other finish), but so far the battery has not lasted all day as with an SE and I don't really want 2014 phablet bezels as an alternative.
If it wasn't for the battery concerns I would be sold, and after a DFU update to 10.1 it might stabilise, but let's see. Could be that the Intel modem on UK models is a culprit, but that's another thread!
My wife loves her SE as well. It's a great little phone and perfect for her needs. It's a powerhouse in a very convenient and sturdy form factor. I borrowed it for a day last week and was reminded of how convenient it is to have such a small device (though I did miss the screen size of my 7).
The sharper edges of the iPhone 5 series design does have its advantages. Grippier and easier to take photos. The 6/7 series design has got to be most slippery iPhones since the 2G. Rounded sides, flat back and matte finish doesn't help especially for the Plus models which is harder to grip in one hand.
My perfect size is about "4.5-"5 but just trim the bezels. Motorola since 2013 with the first Moto X and G probably is my most ideal dimensions and ergonomics. If Apple could increase the display about an half inch, give the sides a slight angle, curve the back, and lower the bezel with 130mm in height, that would close to the perfect iPhone size for me.
Some design aspects of the 5 & 6 design/ergonomics aspects and being the midpoint for each of their height would simply be perfect. Improve the Touch ID, display, and front camera too. But knowing Apple, they probably return similar to the 4 series if glass but edge-to-edge..
Whatever we see in some aspects from Android now (Xiaomi Mi Mix, Mi 5s), that's what Apple will go for but glass. You still want 3.5mm headphone phone jack and don't want camera hump? Do you want less smudges on the back? Then SE might be your only and final iPhone option with more than good enough specs.
Just live with the "4 display for a little more typing mistakes, fairly mediocre 1.2MP cam from 3+ years ago, and older Touch ID. But design-wise, gripping it with one hand, and snapping photos, it is close to perfect. The perfect iPod-like iPhone for running and working out.
I see the matte black iPhone 7 for the first time and just went "meh".. The so-called Batman iPhone looks like any other black phone that attracts smudges like crazy.
^ Most beautiful iPhones ever made.. Space gray 5s & SE. Slate 5 is also up there bur the Scuffgate. I like the lighter shades of gray from the SE because the lighter the color, the less smudges will show. And it matches a little more to the silver MacBooks.
My perfect size is about "4.5-"5 but just trim the bezels. Motorola since 2013 with the first Moto X and G probably is my most ideal dimensions and ergonomics. If Apple could increase the display about an half inch, give the sides a slight angle, curve the back, and lower the bezel with 130mm in height, that would close to the perfect iPhone size for me.
Some design aspects of the 5 & 6 design/ergonomics aspects and being the midpoint for each of their height would simply be perfect. Improve the Touch ID, display, and front camera too. But knowing Apple, they probably return similar to the 4 series if glass but edge-to-edge..
Whatever we see in some aspects from Android now (Xiaomi Mi Mix, Mi 5s), that's what Apple will go for but glass. You still want 3.5mm headphone phone jack and don't want camera hump? Do you want less smudges on the back? Then SE might be your only and final iPhone option with more than good enough specs.
Just live with the "4 display for a little more typing mistakes, fairly mediocre 1.2MP cam from 3+ years ago, and older Touch ID. But design-wise, gripping it with one hand, and snapping photos, it is close to perfect. The perfect iPod-like iPhone for running and working out.
I see the matte black iPhone 7 for the first time and just went "meh".. The so-called Batman iPhone looks like any other black phone that attracts smudges like crazy.
^ Most beautiful iPhones ever made.. Space gray 5s & SE. Slate 5 is also up there bur the Scuffgate. I like the lighter shades of gray from the SE because the lighter the color, the less smudges will show. And it matches a little more to the silver MacBooks.
I just ordered the SE in space grey last night. I'm over big screens with bad battery life. We have a handful of kids, two of which have iphones already-the 6 and 6s, and we are always on the go. Selfie camera isn't a big deal for me. The SE seems to tick all my boxes for my wants and needs. Side note.... I have large hands and am looking forward to a one hand friendly phone again.
That would increase the price I bet and make the phone not worth it compared to the 6s.
I have zero issues with the 7 as far as putting it in any pocket. It fits fine.
I agree the plus is too big for most pockets.
I have smaller hands and I have no issues with the 7 and one handed use.
I was seriously considering the SE. It's very powerful and offers a lot of bang for the buck. I ultimately went with the 7 because I want to keep this phone for several years and figured the processor would be able to handle future updates to the iOS better.