iPhone SE Reviews: Impressive Performance in a 'Tired Design'

[MacRumors]

First impressions of the third-generation iPhone SE have now been shared by select media outlets and YouTubers, providing a closer look at Apple's latest entry-level iPhone. Reviewers praised the device's improved specifications, but were disappointed with its aging design and lack of Night mode.

The new model added the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13, 5G connectivity, an upgraded rear camera with more advanced computational photography capabilities, improved battery life, and stronger glass. The third-generation iPhone SE will begin arriving to customers and be available in stores starting this Friday, while delivery times are now slipping into late March.

Design, Display, and Durability

The Verge's Allison Johnson criticized the new iPhone SE's design and display, commenting that "It's a tired design straight out of 2017 that makes an already-small screen feel even smaller than it could be."

Unfortunately, that cutting edge performance is hampered by the small screen. It’s not a bad display – it’s a 4.7-inch 750 x 1334 pixel LCD that gets plenty bright for outdoor use. But you don’t get a faster refresh rate, which would make scrolling look a little smoother, you don’t get the same pop and punchiness of OLED, and it’s definitely one of the smallest screens sold on a new smartphone today. Text looks small at the default setting, and you can enlarge it, but that means doing more scrolling.

[...]

But phone design has moved on in the last two years, and the SE has stayed firmly in the past. Given just how many times per day most of us look at our phone screens and interact with them, I think it’s fair to demand a little more from your mobile device’s screen than the SE is offering.

Engadget's Cherlynn Low praised the device's more durable front and back glass, as well as the familiarity and reliability of the Touch ID fingerprint scanner:

More importantly, Apple says the iPhone SE is covered in the same hardy glass used on the iPhone 13. While I have yet to drop my review unit, knowing that this will be more scratch resistant offers some peace of mind. I don't use a case with the iPhone 13, and it's still pristine, despite having been tossed into bags with keys and other sharp objects. It does pick up fingerprints and smudges very easily, though. It's also nice that the iPhone SE is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance — something the Galaxy A52 5G and the Pixel 5a also offer.

[...]

Unlocking the phone was a breeze, too, and if you're familiar with the last iPhone SE’s sensor you'll be used to this, especially since the hardware is exactly the same. In fact, if you’ve never known life without the button below the screen and don’t want to give it up, this is the only modern phone around with it.

A15 Bionic and 5G Connectivity

Johnson lauded the performance of the iPhone SE's A15 Bionic chip, the same exact same chip from the iPhone 13 lineup:

The iPhone 8 chassis that the SE uses may be vintage, but underneath lies Apple’s very latest mobile processor, the A15 Bionic. It's the same one you'll find in the top-of-the-line 13 Pro Max. Again, the SE costs less than $500, and the 13 Pro Max costs more than twice that. That's just plain cool. And in day-to-day use, the SE behaves like a phone with a top-tier processor. Apps open quickly, and even the graphics-intensive Genshin Impact runs smoothly. There’s not a lot that the SE can’t do that a $1000-plus phone can.

Likewise, ZDNet's Jason Cipriani noted the similarity of the iPhone SE's responsiveness to the high-end iPhone 13 Pro Max:

My personal experience confirms that the iPhone SE is just as fast as the iPhone 13 Pro Max (which is my main phone). It's not only noticeable in how fast apps open or when multitasking, but also while changing between camera modes, for example.

With regards to 5G connectivity, Johnson said that support for it was "a good future-proofing feature, even if it's not tremendously useful yet.

Battery Life

Johnson said that the iPhone SE benefits from a noticeable battery life improvement, especially compared to the previous-generation model:

The 2020's SE weakest point was its sub-par battery life, so one feature that did get a boost this year is stamina. The 2022 SE includes a bigger battery, and power management is improved with the A15 chip. That results in an extra two hours of charge for most users, according to Apple, which checks out with my experience. I got through a day and a half of moderate use, and one full day of heavy use with some video recording, gaming, and a lot of screen on time with brightness boosted.

Rear Camera

Cipriani highlighted that most of the iPhone SE's camera improvements are computational and subtle as a result:

The lone 12-megapixel camera is no slouch. While Apple didn't upgrade the hardware itself, the camera benefits from the A15 Bionic processor and its image signal processor. The end result is a camera that takes clear and crisp photos without any tinkering with settings.

Johnson emphasized the benefits of Deep Fusion on the iPhone SE, but criticized the device's low-light performance and lack of Night mode:

The new processor offers some software-based improvements for this generation, adding Apple's Deep Fusion technology to boost details in medium and dim lighting. It's a feature that engages automatically under certain conditions, and there's no way to tell in image metadata when it's being used, but I can say that photos of static subjects in crappy indoor lighting look plenty detailed.

However, in very low light, the SE doesn't do as well. That's because there’s no night mode, a feature available on many other midrange phones sold in 2022 like the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G, and of course, the Google Pixel 5A. As a result, images in low light are very dark, and colors look muddled. Night mode on any smartphone has its limitations, and usually isn't very useful for moving subjects. But it's a nice tool to have when conditions are dark and flash isn’t an option, and it's a shame that it’s not included here.

[...]

The A15 chip also enables some improved processing for low light video, which does a good job of removing noise, although clips look fairly soft as a result. Still, mobile video is a strength for Apple, and overall video quality on the SE is excellent considering the price bracket it's in.

Low noted the similarity of photos taken with the iPhone SE to photos taken with the iPhone 13 mini, but said that the lack of Night mode was still a disappointment:

I was surprised by how similar the iPhone SE's pictures were to the iPhone 13 mini's. From landscapes to portraits of my coworkers, there were barely any differences in the shots taken by the two phones.

[...]

Our main complaint about the last iPhone SE's camera was that there was no Night mode. This year's model still doesn't offer one, and though some of the pictures I took of buildings surrounded by mist one night came out muddy, others came out bright and sharp.

More Reviews

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Article Link: iPhone SE Reviews: Impressive Performance in a 'Tired Design'

 

[zorinlynx]

"Tired design"

There are people out there like my mom who love this design and don't ever want it to change. That is this phone's target audience. Updating the "tired design" would hurt, not help this product.

If you want a newer design, just get a 13 series; the SE is not for you.

 

[djcerla]

Yup, it’s an easier interface to use than a swipe-based one, and this is a plus, not a minus, for many people.

 

[MayaUser]

This is not a tired design, it becomes a classic design for those who want the most easiest to use smartphone

 

[BrownyQ]

I love seeing review round-ups like these, because it so blatantly shows the bias of tech world reviewers.

When you spend the entire year looking forward to the latest, greatest, cutting edge tech, you tend to lose sight of what the average consumer (which in turn is the vast majority of people) really wants and looks for in devices.

And for those in the market for the SE, it's a low price and a familiar design.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

This seems more of an iPhone SE “S” year.

I really wish Apple had updated the design of the iPhone SE. But sometimes change is not good. At least it offers 5G. Features over design 😅

 

[Seanm87]

Apple need to take the XR design, update the internals and sell for this price. It would sell like hot cakes.

This design is way over done now.

 

[FSMBP]

"Tired design"

There are people out there like my mom who love this design and don't ever want it to change. That is this phone's target audience. Updating the "tired design" would hurt, not help this product.

If you want a newer design, just get a 13 series; the SE is not for you.

I wouldn't agree with that...My main reason for the SE is Touch ID (for work - using Face ID is awful) and a decent camera. I'd welcome a less-bezel and streamlined design (Touch ID into the power button, smaller bezels).

For a company like Apple (where good internals + good industrial design is key), you'd expect a bit more than a 2014 design. I get the whole point of the SE is a low-cost product result in Apple using old designs, but still...

 

[Kylo83]

No notch no annoying home bar and square display it’s better lol

 

[podycust]

It’s not “tried” design it’s a classic and it’s target audience love it and get it for a reason like they want touch ID for example

 

[icanhazmac]

Love the SE, thanks Apple!

I could care less about faceID, countless camera upgrades and bezels. My use case fits this device as I really want just a phone with a "good enough" camera and basic app use. I don't consume or create much media with my phone and I don't want to. I hope my 8 holds on a bit longer but if it dies I'll grab the SE without a second thought.

 

[alphaswift]

A sizable percentage of the population don't want a new design, they want 'tired'. The 'tired' design also keeps cost in check, so Apple is on the right track here.

 

[Sir_Macs_A_Lot]

I understand that some people get tired of looking at the same old thing. But who is realistically expecting 'innovation' from a budget phone?

 

[Andrew73875]

I don't get these claims of tired design. Many customers want exactly this design with LCD screen and Touch ID. Don't remember anyone calling iPod classic design "tired". Maybe it should be renamed as iPhone classic ?

 

[DJTaurus]

Greedy Apple they are holding back the se version of the XR/11 iPhone…... even fanatics of small sized iPhones will not have interest of the dead form factor 6/7/8.

 

[now i see it]

Reviewing this phone is funny

 

[chucker23n1]

But you don’t get a faster refresh rate, which would make scrolling look a little smoother, you don’t get the same pop and punchiness of OLED, and it’s definitely one of the smallest screens sold on a new smartphone today.

Oh no! A writer for The Verge has to review a product that isn't for them!

A lot of people consider a smaller screen than most of the competition a good thing.

 

[MacLoveMacHate]

Longing for my old love, Touch ID

 

[SuperCachetes]

"Tired design..." from a group of YouTubers whose video thumbnails are virtually interchangeable.

 

[acblue94]

First impressions of the third-generation iPhone SE have now been shared by select media outlets and YouTubers, providing a closer look at Apple's latest entry-level iPhone. Reviewers praised the device's improved specifications, but were disappointed with its ageing design and lack of Night mode.

The new model added the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13, 5G connectivity, an upgraded rear camera with more advanced computational photography capabilities, improved battery life, and stronger glass. The third-generation iPhone SE will begin arriving to customers and be available in stores starting this Friday, while delivery times are now slipping into late March.

Design, Display, and Durability

The Verge's Allison Johnson criticized the new iPhone SE's design and display, commenting that "It's a tired design straight out of 2017 that makes an already-small screen feel even smaller than it could be."



Engadget's Cherlynn Low praised the device's more durable glass, as well as the familiarity and reliability of the Touch ID fingerprint scanner:



A15 Bionic and 5G Connectivity

Johnson lauded the performance of the iPhone SE's A15 Bionic chip, the same exact same chip from the iPhone 13 lineup:



Likewise, ZDNet's Jason Cipriani noted the similarity of the iPhone SE's responsiveness to the high-end iPhone 13 Pro Max:



With regards to 5G connectivity, Johnson said that support for it was "a good future-proofing feature, even if it's not tremendously useful yet.

Battery Life

Johnson said that the iPhone SE benefits from a noticeable battery life improvement, especially compared to the previous-generation model:

Rear Camera

Cipriani highlighted that most of the iPhone SE's camera improvements are primarily computational:

Johnson emphasized the benefits of Deep Fusion on the iPhone SE, but criticized the device's low-light performance and lack of Night mode:



Low noted the similarity of photos taken with the iPhone SE to photos taken with the iPhone 13 mini, but said that the lack of Night mode was still a disappointment:



More Reviews

• Pocket-lint
• Tom's Guide
• Mashable
• CNET
• Input

Videos

Article Link: iPhone SE Reviews: Impressive Performance in a 'Tired Design'

Lmao. I'm convinced not to ever take iJustine seriously. The cringe of surprise opening a phone that is 8 years old as it's this special thing. They actually did unboxing videos. They could recycle the same video they have done for the past 5 years.

 

[cesko]

If these reviewers would stop looking at this phone through “must have latest” optics and more from a pensioner, senior, budget restrained client, the new SE is looking pretty good.

 

[bobtem]

So by “tired”, they are suggesting it should have been the notch design, which is not tired?

 

[acblue94]

I don't get these claims of tired design. Many customers want exactly this design with LCD screen and Touch ID. Don't remember anyone calling iPod classic design "tired". Maybe it should be renamed as iPhone classic ?

Hey 2014 called they want their comment back. If you were in charge of Apple design we would still have the iphone 3G. Yes, it's an old ugly tired design with an LCD screen and big bezels. Welcome to 2022.

 

[WinstonRumfoord]

Oh no! A writer for The Verge has to review a product that isn't for them!

A lot of people consider a smaller screen than most of the competition a good thing.

Yep. I am actually kind of regretting going with a 12 pro instead of 12 mini when I last upgraded.

My neighbors kids have an old broken original iphone "1" they play with, and I got to hold it this weekend a few times. That sure took me back, and it was actually incredible how much better it felt to hold than the current crop of ever-growing phones. And my thumb could hit every pixel on the screen without requiring two hands!

 

[Jett0516]

They should at least make it a plus size.