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duaneu

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 19, 2010
721
292
Bellevue, WA
There was a lot of discussion and concern last fall about the AT&T model of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus being the only one to have LTE Band 30. It looks like there are no versions of the new SE that have that band. I'm not sure how quickly AT&T is rolling out Band 30, but it's something AT&T customers considering getting one should at least be aware of.
 
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dave006

macrumors 68040
Jul 3, 2008
3,915
1,117
Just West of East
Correct. As stated in many reviews, the iPhone SE is missing the Advanced LTE (300 Mbps), It only goes to LTE (150 Mbps).

Here is what is missing by not having Advanced LTE:

LTE Advanced offers a range of benefits over standard LTE support. LTE Advanced offers smoother "handoffs" when switching between cell towers. This allows your iPhone phone to not drop the connection as often. LTE Advanced, aslo offers a faster data rate, and theoretical throughput.

Dave
 
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cableguy84

macrumors 68000
Sep 7, 2015
1,769
2,634
It makes me laugh how this phone can be claimed to be a flagship device, with so many missing features...
 

cube

Suspended
May 10, 2004
17,011
4,973
A couple years ago, a non LTE phone was a no-go, now a non LTE-A phone is off limits.

Unless it is just for testing.
 

Rigby

macrumors 603
Aug 5, 2008
6,257
10,215
San Jose, CA
Correct. As stated in many reviews, the iPhone SE is missing the Advanced LTE (300 Mbps), It only goes to LTE (150 Mbps).
At least in the US this is pretty meaningless, since no carrier has rolled out category 6 LTE-A (and even if they did, you're unlikely to get that kind of speed in practice). Arguably a much more relevant carrier feature is VoLTE, which is supported by the SE.
LTE Advanced offers a range of benefits over standard LTE support. LTE Advanced offers smoother "handoffs" when switching between cell towers. This allows your iPhone phone to not drop the connection as often.
I haven't lost a connection on AT&T in a long time with the iPhone 6 (which also doesn't support LTE-A).
 

mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,732
6,095
At least in the US this is pretty meaningless, since no carrier has rolled out category 6 LTE-A (and even if they did, you're unlikely to get that kind of speed in practice). Arguably a much more relevant carrier feature is VoLTE, which is supported by the SE.
I haven't lost a connection on AT&T in a long time with the iPhone 6 (which also doesn't support LTE-A).

I feel the exact same way. LTE-A adds very little practical use
 

PaladinGuy

macrumors 68000
Sep 22, 2014
1,685
1,093
Do y'all think it will be a long time before LTE-A actually makes a practical difference?
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,461
It makes me laugh how this phone can be claimed to be a flagship device, with so many missing features...
It seems that it's mostly only the people who have something against the SE that try to somehow refer to it as a flagship device so that the potential issues they have with it would supposedly seem that much more meaningful.
 

Shirasaki

macrumors P6
May 16, 2015
16,247
11,741
So could I assume only device with LTE band 30 has LTE-A? If so, then even not all iPhone 6s/6s Plus are LTE ready.

BTW, Optus in Australia does not support LTE. Only 4G. Maybe Telstra supports it but I would never know.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,738
It makes me laugh how this phone can be claimed to be a flagship device, with so many missing features...
No such claim has been made, and in fact Apple distinguishes this over the 6s, so as not to impact its flagship sales.
 

oldmacs

macrumors 601
Sep 14, 2010
4,941
7,179
Australia
A disadvantage but something that many upgraders (from the 4, 4s, 5, 5S and 5C) never had and will not miss. At the low price point, no one considers this a flagship model, but a mid range model that has the camera + processor + ram of the flagship + more battery life, in a smaller body and at a much lower price, missing a few things that many people don't care about.

I'm more than happy to trade off LTE Band 30, the 6S screen and Touch ID 2 for better battery life and the form factor I love, and many other people feel the same.
 

Shirasaki

macrumors P6
May 16, 2015
16,247
11,741
A disadvantage but something that many upgraders (from the 4, 4s, 5, 5S and 5C) never had and will not miss. At the low price point, no one considers this a flagship model, but a mid range model that has the camera + processor + ram of the flagship + more battery life, in a smaller body and at a much lower price, missing a few things that many people don't care about.

I'm more than happy to trade off LTE Band 30, the 6S screen and Touch ID 2 for better battery life and the form factor I love, and many other people feel the same.
So is this your ideal iPhone in 4" form factor so far?
I agree that this iPhone is a really good deal and Apple is even a little bit generous to put latest processor inside this form factor.
 

mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,732
6,095
Just keep laughing at those people then. The iPhone SE is an antonym of the definition for "flagship".

It's missing features are only missing to people that would actually use them.

I will actually agree. It is called the "special edition". I personally would consider all apple products a flagship product....be it an iPhone or iPad. I do not consider the iPad mini an entry level iPad. It is just smaller.
 

oldmacs

macrumors 601
Sep 14, 2010
4,941
7,179
Australia
So is this your ideal iPhone in 4" form factor so far?
I agree that this iPhone is a really good deal and Apple is even a little bit generous to put latest processor inside this form factor.

In all honesty, even if it was the iPhone 5S with an A9 +2GB of ram I would have been happy. I consider the longer battery life + camera improvements to be bonuses.

My absolute ideal would be the 6 form factor in the 4 inch size. However that would probably mean less battery life so I'd prefer the 5 shape if it means more battery life. Would have also liked 3D touch + the 6/6S screen technology but again, my main priorities were the 4 inch size and guaranteed longevity through the A9 +2GB of ram.

Had they priced it more expensively I would have been a bit unhappy, but at the price, getting an A9 processor + 2GB of ram + the latest camera is a great deal.
 

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
I will actually agree. It is called the "special edition". I personally would consider all apple products a flagship product....be it an iPhone or iPad. I do not consider the iPad mini an entry level iPad. It is just smaller.

I was just basing that statement off the definition of flagship. The SE isn't the biggest, fastest, best, most expensive, most important, most anything device in the iPhone lineup.

That doesn't not make it the best for you or any other particular individual however it's not worthy of carrying the admiral leading the charge in the overall product line.
 
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