iPhone SE: What a little beast!

[Populus]

Hi forum members!

I have been an Android user since I sold my beloved iPhone 4S. Since then, I've been using a Motorola Moto G, a very good phone for its price. And also, a really good form factor: 4 and a half inches, not more than 13cm tall and 65mm wide. But the phone was, in its last days, a bit choppy and slooow. It felt more slow than my 4S.

Then, a couple of months ago, it started to reboot itself, turning off suddenly... So I thought it was time for the warranty. Here in Spain, Europe, we have two years of consumer warranty, so It was repaired. Well, kind of: they only reflashed my phone. Problem was, apparently, solved. But suddenly, my Moto G fell onto the floor. And it cracked. Passed away.

About Android, I discovered Nova Launcher, the notification LED, the icon packs... I ended up loving Android, forgetting iOS during the iOS 8 and 9 era. And I was decided to buy a new Android smartphone... but not a big phone (5 inches or more). There was a problem, because I don't like the Z5 Compact. I know it is a good smartphone, but I just don't quite like it.

So, my idea was to initially but the Samsung A3 2016. It's not a big phone, similar in size to my passed away Moto G, and a good screen. But there was a problem: Touchwiz. I want Android Stock AOSP, and the software of Samsung is far from being pure Android experience. Yes, there are icon packs, and with Nova Launcher I can make it similar to a Nexus device but again, notifications aren't the same, Lock Screen is not the same, etc... Even though, the Samsung A3 2017 is pretty appealing to me, with that gorgeous black monolith appearance, that always on screen, probably with Nougat... In January or February of 2017. And I needed a phone NOW.

So this evening I went to the Apple Store of my city, and bought an iPhone SE 64GB. And, aside from that noisy clicky home button, I'm loving it.

I tried a 4,7 inch iPhone 6S back in November, and I arrived to a conclusion: This new iPhones (6 and above) are way too big for my hand. I used the 6S during the 14 day trial period, and that was my conclusion. Yes, its screen is the best of the smartphone market, and are really beautiful, but very very slippery even with the silicone case. And very bulky. I have an average man hand, but even then, it was pretty complicated using it one handed.

So I decided that, if I ever come back to iOS, it should be with a smaller device. Right now the only device that fits in my one handed usage is the iPhone SE, so I gave it a try.

This machine is fast, man. Camera app opens instantly, I can listen to Youtube in Safari with the device locked, I can install Ad Blockers, like Purify or 1 Blocker, and read the Internet without annoying ads. Touch ID is not as good as the one in the 6S, yes, and the Home Button is clicky and makes a weird sound, that's my only concern because battery-wise and performance-wise, this machine is awesome. And I can use it easily with my right hand!!! It fits on my pocket, and barely notice it.

I guess this is the feeling when you come back to iOS. It is like coming back to your old home, you know the bad things, but you appreciate the good things. I missed that snappiness, that clean aspect, that quality on the build, that EXCELLENT camera... I think the iPhone SE is going to be my next smartphone. This one has TSMC chip, the "good" one, the screen is not very yellow, and pretty uniform. Would you exchange it because its home button? It is a bit annoying, than chunky click, but I know a lot of iPhones feel like this one...


Overall, I feel very pleased with this smartphone.

 

[Retired Cat]

yes, and the Home Button is clicky and makes a weird sound, that's my only concern because battery-wise and performance-wise, this machine is awesome. And I can use it easily with my right hand!!! It fits on my pocket, and barely notice it.

Would you exchange it because its home button? It is a bit annoying, than chunky click, but I know a lot of iPhones feel like this one...

Overall, I feel very pleased with this smartphone.

I think it is normal for the home button to be this way. I bought an SE to replace a 5, and the SE does have more of a chunky "click" to it. I think all SE do this, but I have gotten used to it.

I didn't like the 6/6s design and didn't want to go for a 7 since it is new and has the usual early production issues (low availability, buzzing noise in some units) so I bought an SE to use until Apple goes to a new exterior design.

The SE is so fast though that I think I may end up using it for a long time.

 

[Sunny1990]

iPhone SE is a great little phone,(almost fast as 7 series)its still a good looking iPhone over 6/7 series

 

[lclev]

My husband needs a new cellphone. He currently has a 5c which has been okay for him. It has had a hard life. He has dropped it in water and he recently left it outside - in the snow - in it's lifeproof case. It did survive but occasionally it has to be reset because it will not make calls.

I have been debating on either an SE or a 7. I think since he is use the smaller size he probably would like the SE better. But then I remember the water resistance of the 7 and I vacillate.

Your review has me leaning toward the SE.

 

[trifid]

I love the SE, fast phone great battery life, you get the 6s underpinnings in a small form factor at a great price. It's one of the best price/values Apple has offered in a long time.

 

[44267547]

View attachment 678586 iPhone SE is a great little phone,(almost fast as 7 series)its still a good looking iPhone over 6/7 series

That's fine that you like the SE, which Is a good iPhone. It's Nothing personal, But you keep posting the same pictures on every single thread. Literally. Yes, we have all seen your iPhones laying on your pink sheets in the background. It's getting old and redundant.

 

[Sunny1990]

That's fine that you like the SE, which Is a good iPhone. It's Nothing personal, But you keep posting the same pictures on every single thread. Literally. Yes, we have all seen your iPhones laying on your pink sheets in the background. It's getting old and redundant.

Again insulted!!!! why???? don't worry i will take some more pictures for you today

 

[Populus]

Thank you for all your comments!

@lclev keep in mind that this is a SMALL phone. But your husband is used to the 5C screen and this is the exact same screen size, and same phone size, so no worries: if he likes it's 5C he will eventually like the much faster SE.

But if you have an apple store near you, I'd give a try to a newest iPhone 7. It is snow proof, water resistant and it has a bigger and gorgeous display. You can try it on the store and see if he can manage that size. Although the SE is a safe replacement for the 5C. If it's a present, a surprise, it's up to you.

 

[Reno Raines]

I have a 7 and a se. Personally I always come back to the se. It is a great phone and for the price is amazing.

 

[44267547]

Again insulted!!!! why???? don't worry i will take some more pictures for you today

Great. Can't wait to see them. (Now that you're back with full energy from missing on here for two days).

 

[SSAJ]

I think it is normal for the home button to be this way. I bought an SE to replace a 5, and the SE does have more of a chunky "click" to it. I think all SE do this, but I have gotten used to it.

I didn't like the 6/6s design and didn't want to go for a 7 since it is new and has the usual early production issues (low availability, buzzing noise in some units) so I bought an SE to use until Apple goes to a new exterior design.

The SE is so fast though that I think I may end up using it for a long time.

5S also does this

 

[EdenTan]

I gave up my 7 and kept my SE. Because the 7 is in matte black (don't like it) and my SE is in rose gold, with TSMC chip and the battery life.. don't get me started! It's awesome.

 

[Sunny1990]

I gave up my 7 and kept my SE. Because the 7 is in matte black (don't like it) and my SE is in rose gold, with TSMC chip and the battery life.. don't get me started! It's awesome.

Same here iPhone SE rse gold with tsmc chip,so far so good

 

[cableguy84]

SE is too small, like a little toy

 

[Newtons Apple]

SE is too small, like a little toy

It is good we all have choice but I have tried using my friends SE and the keyboard is too small for me. He loves his phone very much.

 

[maflynn]

I've had my SE since it came out last spring, and I've yet to incur any buyers remorse, its a handy powerful phone and I hope apple continues with the form factor. I understand we'll probably not see a refresh in 2017, but I'm ok with that since my phone will only be 1 years old.

 

[Populus]

I like your avatar @maflynn

It is good we all have choice but I have tried using my friends SE and the keyboard is too small for me. He loves his phone very much.

Okay, it is good to see all the angles, opinions are diverse and this is a phone that generates debate: the structure is from 2012, it is way too small, etc.

I don't mind the phone being aesthetically like the 2012 iPhone 5, I don't mind it at all because it has alwayes been gorgeous to me, and this rectangular form gives it a fantastic grip the rounded iPhone 6/7 doesn't have.

But I have to agree to some extent about the 4 inches screen being too small. This is not a definitive statement, this is my day one with a 4" phone -hey, I can do a diary!- but so far I feel the screen too narrow. Maybe this is because I use the Gboard Google Keyboard and I write with gestures? I don't know.

Don't get me wrong, it is perfectly usable, it's just it is the first time I go from a bigger screen (4.5" on my Moto G) to a smaller one, and I think it requires an adaptation time.

I have until January 20th in case I change my mind. Hopefully the 2017 Samsungs A3 will be for sale then and I'll be able to compare. Although Android lacks this stability. This SE is a very solid phone, fast, reliable.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I like your avatar @maflynn



Okay, it is good to see all the angles, opinions are diverse and this is a phone that generates debate: the structure is from 2012, it is way too small, etc.

I don't mind the phone being aesthetically like the 2012 iPhone 5, I don't mind it at all because it has alwayes been gorgeous to me, and this rectangular form gives it a fantastic grip the rounded iPhone 6/7 doesn't have.

But I have to agree to some extent about the 4 inches screen being too small. This is not a definitive statement, this is my day one with a 4" phone -hey, I can do a diary!- but so far I feel the screen too narrow. Maybe this is because I use the Gboard Google Keyboard and I write with gestures? I don't know.

Don't get me wrong, it is perfectly usable, it's just it is the first time I go from a bigger screen (4.5" on my Moto G) to a smaller one, and I think it requires an adaptation time.

I have until January 20th in case I change my mind. Hopefully the 2017 Samsungs A3 will be for sale then and I'll be able to compare. Although Android lacks this stability. This SE is a very solid phone, fast, reliable.

What is best is Apple gave everyone choice. No others offer the range of choices that Apple provides.

 

[asleep]

Overall, I feel very pleased with this smartphone.

Yep. I don't have to shift it in my hand to reach any part of the screen.

I can stick it in my back jeans pocket and sit on it without worry.

And it's one fast little beast.

And the Magpul case I have on it is

matte black... so there's that.

Has a headphone jack and doesn't make buzzy sounds or explode.

 

[Playamonte]

I like your avatar @maflynn



Okay, it is good to see all the angles, opinions are diverse and this is a phone that generates debate: the structure is from 2012, it is way too small, etc.

I don't mind the phone being aesthetically like the 2012 iPhone 5, I don't mind it at all because it has alwayes been gorgeous to me, and this rectangular form gives it a fantastic grip the rounded iPhone 6/7 doesn't have.

But I have to agree to some extent about the 4 inches screen being too small. This is not a definitive statement, this is my day one with a 4" phone -hey, I can do a diary!- but so far I feel the screen too narrow. Maybe this is because I use the Gboard Google Keyboard and I write with gestures? I don't know.

Don't get me wrong, it is perfectly usable, it's just it is the first time I go from a bigger screen (4.5" on my Moto G) to a smaller one, and I think it requires an adaptation time.

I have until January 20th in case I change my mind. Hopefully the 2017 Samsungs A3 will be for sale then and I'll be able to compare. Although Android lacks this stability. This SE is a very solid phone, fast, reliable.

Evening.
Thanks for your thoughts about the SE and like you I also live in the Valencia region.
My 5 has clearly seen better days and now having trouble charging it (tried all the cleaning fixes) so may well look at the SE myself.
Having said that I think a 6 size will suit me better as my eyes are not as good as they once were, but did note that you can return the phone inside 14 days if you are not happy ? (full refund ?)

 

[lclev]

Well I decided on the 7 because my carrier - Sprint - made me an offer I could not refuse! I can lease the 7 for 18 months and they cut the leasing fee in half and took $20 off that extra fee they all charge for having a smart phone. So I come out saving just under $7 a month. Granted the 7 is only 32GB but his 5c is 8GB and he has never come close to filling it up. He does not take pictures or videos and never puts music or anything else on it. So the 32GB is actually overkill for him.
[doublepost=1482094007][/doublepost]

Evening.
Thanks for your thoughts about the SE and like you I also live in the Valencia region.
My 5 has clearly seen better days and now having trouble charging it (tried all the cleaning fixes) so may well look at the SE myself.
Having said that I think a 6 size will suit me better as my eyes are not as good as they once were, but did note that you can return the phone inside 14 days if you are not happy ? (full refund ?)

I understand the screen size and old eyes issue! Yes, most all carriers give you 14 days and if you do not like it you can get a full refund. Just check first to make sure.

 

[Populus]

Evening.
Thanks for your thoughts about the SE and like you I also live in the Valencia region.
My 5 has clearly seen better days and now having trouble charging it (tried all the cleaning fixes) so may well look at the SE myself.
Having said that I think a 6 size will suit me better as my eyes are not as good as they once were, but did note that you can return the phone inside 14 days if you are not happy ? (full refund ?)

Hey! Glad to find someone from my region! It is nice how our world is so big, and so little at the same time...

Yes, on the Calle Colón Apple retail store you have regularly 14 days in order to try out your unlocked phone, your Mac, even your new headphones! But there is more.

Right now, due to the Reyes festivity, you have the trial period up until January 20th. So don't hesitate and go buy your new phone, and see for yourself if it fits on your lifestyle... And in your pocket.

I understand the small screen issue, believe me, so go for it!

See you around!

 

[Math889]

I compared a iPhone 5S with an iPhone SE .
The iPhone 5s is laggy on iOS 10
( the control center literally laggs. Imagine the 5s with iOS 11 next year )

I noticed a huge difference between the two . Heavy games , safari , even in iBooks the 5s opened slower!
The SE is so fast , and battery life is superior !
2GB of RAM makes difference now in iOS 10 and in the future updates

 

[b0fh666]

well the SE is 2 processor revisions newer and has twice the memory so no surprises there.

i am currently 'downgraded' to a 5c and it runs iOS10 surprisingly well. yes, it lags, but why the hurry?

keeping the SE pristine in 10.1.1 waiting for the possible jailbreak.

 

[perezr10]

My wife just got a 64gb iPhone SE last week and HOLY COW! The battery life on that little phone is incredible! I think it's in "Plus" territory for how long it lasts.

I tried talking her into getting an iPhone 7 for a week and finally gave up and let her get the SE. She's happy with it and has no regrets. That 12mp camera is still pretty darn good.