iPhone SE Design Possibilities Compared in New Renderings

[mi7chy]

Apple copying Samsung ? lol .... in which parallel dimension ?

My last iPhones were 4 and 4s so the last iPhone that still looked like an iPhone was the 5s. Starting with the 6 Plus and 6 they suddenly started looking like my Galaxy Note II from 2012 except with half the functionality. As a matter of fact, iPod Pro's multitasking side menu looks identical to what the Note II had in 2012 (see attached screenshot). That's why I prefer newer iPhones to go back to the iconic iPhone 4 look.

 

[miniyou64]

What would SE stand for though

 

[maxsix]

There's no mystery, nothing like a fresh design. Predictably it'll be the same old flat rectangular slab. Clever to the extreme Apple has complete control and yet chooses to crank out repetitive examples of the same basic shape. No wonder their profits are astronomical. When nothing is spent year after year, the profits skyrocket. With their own army of apologists Apple is the big winner.

 

[oldmacs]

Does this mean we also get the iPhone SE/30 ??

 

[mstearne]

I think the onleaks version is probably the one. The size is essentially the same with an iPhone 6 rounded edges update. The inner space for components doesn't need to change.

 

[Max(IT)]

My last iPhones were 4 and 4s so the last iPhone that still looked like an iPhone was the 5s. Starting with the 6 Plus and 6 they suddenly started looking like my Galaxy Note II from 2012 except with half the functionality. As a matter of fact, iPod Pro's multitasking side menu looks identical to what the Note II had in 2012 (see attached screenshot). That's why I prefer newer iPhones to go back to the iconic iPhone 4 look.

lol. This post must be a joke.
Amusing, thank you.

 

[mikelward]

I like them in order of their appearance in the picture. In the third version, the power button is on the side which would be a foolish move for a 4" device. Every time I try to squeeze the power button on my iPhone 6, I also end up squeezing the volume rockers. Keep the power button on top, Apple.

Foolish? I'm very tempted to try the iPhone SE, but a power button on top would be a deal breaker. I want to be able to use it completely one-handed without repositioning my hand constantly. That's the whole point of a smaller phone, IMO.

 

[MrGuder]

Boycott the side power button it's a terrible design, a 4" or 4.7" phone does not need a side power button.

 

[mikelward]

Boycott the side power button it's a terrible design, a 4" or 4.7" phone does not need a side power button.

Very compelling argument.

Maybe explain why?

 

[Rigby]

Very compelling argument.

Maybe explain why?

As was mentioned several times, the problem is that the button is located directly opposite the volume buttons on the iPhone 6, which means people keep accidentally changing the volume with the opposite finger when using the power button. The button on top didn't have this problem, and still could easily be used one-handed on the iPhone 5 and earlier.

 

[mikelward]

As was mentioned several times, the problem is that the button is located directly opposite the volume buttons on the iPhone 6, which means people keep accidentally changing the volume with the opposite finger when using the power button. The button on top didn't have this problem, and still could easily be used one-handed on the iPhone 5 and earlier.

So put the power button higher or lower. Or move the volume buttons to the right side.

My point was that it wasn't easy to reach the power button on the top. Could you actually hold your phone naturally in one hand, press the power button using the same hand, and then use your phone without rearranging your hold, or doing contortions?

Maybe your hands are larger than mine. Maybe you're so angry with the iPhone 6 you forgot what the iPhone 5s was like. *shrug*

 

[Mac 128]

So put the power button higher or lower. Or move the volume buttons to the right side.

My point was that it wasn't easy to reach the power button on the top. Could you actually hold your phone naturally in one hand, press the power button using the same hand, and then use your phone without rearranging your hold, or doing contortions?

Maybe your hands are larger than mine. Maybe you're so angry with the iPhone 6 you forgot what the iPhone 5s was like. *shrug*

I'm not sure I follow that rationale. Typically when I press the power button, I'm locking the phone, done with it. It doesn't matter whether I'm easily reaching it with one hand without shifting the phone, because I'm done with it and putting it away. The only other way I use the power button is to take a screen shot which requires two handed use, and a major phone shift anyway.

What I do know is that if the 5s had a similarly designed power button placement, which got accidentally triggered while adjusting volume using a natural hand position, I'd be really unhappy with that design. And yes, one could move the power button slightly up or down, but that's not a universal fix, since everyone's hand size will affect where that button falls in opposition to the use of volume controls. Or for that matter, taking photos with the volume buttons. It also breaks the convention of power button placement between iOS devices, which is not a major problem, but does take some of the intuitiveness out of the product offerings.

In the end, I just don't understand why they would move the power button into possible conflict with one-handed use, when there's absolutely no reason to include the power button in one handed use to begin with. Clearly Apple moved the button because they needed to use the space in the upper right hand corner differently, and the placement on the side of the phone is likely dictated by the underlying hardware. Otherwise, the alternative interpretation is purely form over function, with no ergonomic testing whatsoever, and that's an unusual direction for Apple to travel ...

 

[mikelward]

I'm not sure I follow that rationale. Typically when I press the power button, I'm locking the phone, done with it. It doesn't matter whether I'm easily reaching it with one hand without shifting the phone, because I'm done with it and putting it away.

But also to unlock/wake it up, no?

And yes, one could move the power button slightly up or down, but that's not a universal fix, since everyone's hand size will affect where that button falls in opposition to the use of volume controls. Or for that matter, taking photos with the volume buttons. It also breaks the convention of power button placement between iOS devices, which is not a major problem, but does take some of the intuitiveness out of the product offerings.

Yeah, I think that's a real reason I might not get my way.

Clearly Apple moved the button because they needed to use the space in the upper right hand corner differently, and the placement on the side of the phone is likely dictated by the underlying hardware.

It's not clear to me. Isn't the top of the iPhone 6 completely blank? My assumption is they put it on the side so you could unlock it with your right hand while holding it naturally, the same thing I want from the iPhone SE.

 

[Mac 128]

But also to unlock/wake it up, no?

Yeah, I think that's a real reason I might not get my way.

It's not clear to me. Isn't the top of the iPhone 6 completely blank? My assumption is they put it on the side so you could unlock it with your right hand while holding it naturally, the same thing I want from the iPhone SE.

Yes, unlock/wake too, but in my mind, that's part of picking up the phone and putting it down. You're not actually using it in any one handed way at that point, but yes theoretically it could save a fraction of a second in moving into one-handed use, while serving no purpose when putting it away.

However, whether the button is on the top or side, I still have to slide my thumb all the way down to the home button to unlock with Touch ID thus repositioning the entire phone in the process. Which is why I forgot about unlocking the phone that way ... Typically I wake/unlock the phone by pressing the home button to wake, and leaving my thumb on the Touch ID to unlock it. Can't imagine anyone would do it any differently since Touch ID.

The only way this makes any sense to me is if they are planning to replace the power button with the Home/Touch ID function at some point, and they're just trying to get people used to it. Even so it's still in a terrible place to locate a button where opposing pressure is needed to actuate other controls which are used far more than the power button during operation of the phone.

 

[Rigby]

So put the power button higher or lower. Or move the volume buttons to the right side.

Sure. I was just trying to answer your question what's wrong with the button arrangement on the 6 models. I'm still surprised that Apple apparently missed this ergonomic flaw.

My point was that it wasn't easy to reach the power button on the top. Could you actually hold your phone naturally in one hand, press the power button using the same hand, and then use your phone without rearranging your hold, or doing contortions?

When I was primarily using the 5s, I mostly held it in my right hand and could easily reach the power button with the index finger. I used it to turn off the phone in one motion while putting it back into my pocket without even thinking about it.

Maybe your hands are larger than mine. Maybe you're so angry with the iPhone 6 you forgot what the iPhone 5s was like. *shrug*

Whatever. I still have my 5S and sometimes use it instead of my 6, especially during physical activities where the larger 6 sometimes gets in the way. The only thing I miss on the 5S is Apple Pay.

 

[MrGuder]

Sure. I was just trying to answer your question what's wrong with the button arrangement on the 6 models. I'm still surprised that Apple apparently missed this ergonomic flaw.
When I was primarily using the 5s, I mostly held it in my right hand and could easily reach the power button with the index finger. I used it to turn off the phone in one motion while putting it back into my pocket without even thinking about it.
Whatever. I still have my 5S and sometimes use it instead of my 6, especially during physical activities where the larger 6 sometimes gets in the way. The only thing I miss on the 5S is Apple Pay.

Exactly, during the entire 2 yrs I had my iPhone 5 I never had a problem reaching for the power button, held it with my right hand and index finger turned on power button so easy no shifting needed. The 6s is a different story. I will put my 6s in my pocket holding it on the sides and more than a few times I would glance down at my pocket to peak inside and low and behold I turned on the power button accidentally while putting it in my pocket. The same would happen pulling it out as well on goes the power button accidentally.

I just feel designing the iPhone with the power side exactly across from the up volume control is a bad design. Maybe it's good for the 6s plus but for the 6s I HATE it.

I'm seriously considering downgrading to this 5se for the form factor that I miss from my 5 and the power button on top and the smaller height that I miss.

 

[Rigby]

I'm seriously considering downgrading to this 5se for the form factor that I miss from my 5 and the power button on top and the smaller height that I miss.

If the rumored specs are accurate, I'll get the SE on day one. I don't consider it a downgrade. I just prefer the smaller form factor.

 

[MrGuder]

Yeah by downgrade I just meant that I'm sure Apple will remove some features on the 5se that the 6s has so for me I'll be most likely missing some features but nothing I can't live without.