Sketchy Video Shows Possible iPhone SE 2 With Glass Back and Headphone Jack

[Michael Goff]

How would you describe it then? Does it do something fundamentally different to what the 6s had? Or just feel like a slightly different type if buzz. You're talking to someone who has used a 6s and 8 by the way....

The engine in the 6s wouldn't be able to do the faux home button on your 8 or even the 7 as an easy example. A stronger Taptic Engine allows for a more articulated click than before, and to me that's what it most feels like. It's a better version of what they had before and it takes up more space.

 

[KeanosMagicHat]

There is no science to back this up. Audio quality will always depend upon the original recording and the quality of the channel. There is nothing inherently better about a wired connection.

It took me less than a minute to find this article on the latest Bluetooth version 5.0 and why it's no comparison in terms of audio quality to the superior wired connection via a Jack.

https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com...nt-make-your-headphones-sound-better-0175490/

 

[Michael Goff]

It took me less than a minute to find this article on the latest Bluetooth version 5.0 and why it's no comparison in terms of audio quality to the superior wired connection via a Jack.

https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com...nt-make-your-headphones-sound-better-0175490/

I do have to wonder if most will hear the difference when they're streaming their music from Spotify or Apple Music.

 

[H818H]

But just because a jack is universal, it doesn't mean that it is good. It is like a floppy drive. People in the past could have argued just how you argue now: "What ? No floppy drive? Thanks but i will pass! I have so many floppy disks and no CD-Roms! And everybody at work has floppy drives! It is universal!!! ...."

you get the point ...

the jack is outdated because it just can do one thing, transmit audio. That is not good enough compared to other ports, that have multiple functions.

The floppy disk/cd drive analogy is flawed - there was an overall improvement in usability and functionality in most ways from the upgrade for floppy's to CDs - huge increases in capacity, increased reliability. In aggregate, widely agreed, an overall upgrade.

No such upgrade exists from wired audio to wireless - in fact, it's easily arguable as a downgrade in every way bar the convenience of not having wires - battery life, disposable life span, lesser audio quality, latency issues, pairing issues, overall reliability....

Floppy disks and CDs were also not replaced by any kind of proprietary format.

Now though, manufacturers are attempting to entice people to buy their headphones by offering ecosystem-specific features - airpods for apple, pixel buds for google - do you want to live in a world where you have to buy THAT companies specific headphones to get the best experience? I don't.

And finally, why is an audio-only port bad? Do you understand that the only thing standing in the way of headphone specific DRM is that jack?

If you don't support the inclusion of a 3.5mm jack, then get used to a future of:

"Audio stream splitter detected - possible recording device detected - this Youtube live stream broadcast is not licensed to be played with this audio device".

If the cluster-f*ck that is USB-C is anything to go on, the "one port" thing is a stupid ideal which is completely unrealistic in reality.

[doublepost=1524775772][/doublepost]

The engine in the 6s wouldn't be able to do the faux home button on your 8 or even the 7 as an easy example. A stronger Taptic Engine allows for a more articulated click than before, and to me that's what it most feels like. It's a better version of what they had before and it takes up more space.

A fake home button - the feature we'd all been waiting for....

 

[manu chao]

They're not "better" just because they're shoved down our throats.

Really? They are forcing you to use Bluetooth headphones? There are no wired Lightning headphones that ship with the phones? Or third-party Lightning headphones? There is no way to use an adaptor that is not shipping with the phone?
[doublepost=1524777507][/doublepost]

I don't see that on mine...?

View attachment 759731

Europe:

 

[H818H]

Really? They are forcing you to use Bluetooth headphones? There are no wired Lightning headphones that ship with the phones? Or third-party Lightning headphones? There is no way to use an adaptor that is not shipping with the phone?
[doublepost=1524777507][/doublepost]
Europe:

Lightning headphones plug into nothing but iPhones (not even MacBooks/imacs - nothing).

3.5mm headphones plug into everything.

The adapter is close to useless if you intend to use one set of 3.5mm headphones across multiple devices - it will quickly be lost or damaged and is a pain to use.

Sh*tty dongle and no 3.5mm port = a heavy incentive to buy AirPods, apple's significantly higher margin audio offering. Use of the word 'force' could be argued to be hyperbolic, but when taking into account how embedded many are in the Apple ecosystem, 'force' seems appropriate.

 

[manu chao]

Why don't you want me to have a choice? I don't want to stop you listening via bluetooth

Where did I say that I didn't want you to have a choice? A comparison was made with optical drives and it was said that alternatives to optical drives were better (USB sticks, buying music or software online, sending files via email or Dropbox).

All I said was that Bluetooth headphones were a better alternative in a similar way. Just saying that a better alternative exists is not the same as saying that there should be no choice.

I don't want headphones that die. I don't want headphones where the battery is unusable in ~2 years and they go in the bin.

Wired headphones go into the bin within six month for me. Their cables get hooked on something and get yanked at and eventually the cable fails. My first Bluetooth headphones suffered from the same fate. My second pair Bluetooth headphones ended up with a malfunctioning volume control switch after a year which got stuck on lowering the volume.

I want one set of headphones that works across all my devices - laptops, iMac - and I want my phone to be able to plug into my car. I also want my phone to support the universal audio standard that it always has, and which is yet to be surpassed.

My Mac is too old for this (and Bluetooth support on the Mac is lacking anyway) but switching my Bluetooth headphones between my iPhone and iPad is pretty simple.

I don't want a dongle which will get lost.

I still have 'devices' that use a 6.5 mm headphone jack, I've used 3.5 to 6.5 mm adaptors for more years than not.
[doublepost=1524778433][/doublepost]

Sh*tty dongle and no 3.5mm port = a heavy incentive to buy AirPods, apple's significantly higher margin audio offering.

If ignore all the people that simply use the Lightning earbuds that ship with those iPhones. Just because you use separately purchased headphones, doesn't change the fact that an overwhelming majority simply uses whatever headphones ship with the phone.

Use of the word 'force' could be argued to be hyperbolic, but when taking into account how embedded many are in the Apple ecosystem, 'force' seems appropriate.

No, the word 'forced' is used to vent anger, not because it is appropriate. It's the same with all kinds of name calling, the 'name' someone or something is 'called' is not meant to be an accurate description, it is meant to be insulting.

 

[machumors90]

I'd like to see a cheaper iPhone that looks like the X in the front, but has a colorful plastic back. I don't care for wireless charging and would rather not have full-body glass (more chances for it to crack).
...But that's just me...

 

[Cloudkicker]

Wow. Fanboys cling to a 10 year old design in 2018-2019, then have the nerve to call Galaxy 9 "ugly" for having a minute bezel. Must be nice to have the hypocritical rose-coloured glasses judgement. You sure those SnapChat Spectacles aren't really made by Apple?

 

[1050792]

Wow. Fanboys cling to a 10 year old design in 2018-2019, then have the nerve to call Galaxy 9 "ugly" for having a minute bezel. Must be nice to have the hypocritical rose-coloured glasses judgement. You sure those SnapChat Spectacles aren't really made by Apple?

Apple is considered a luxury brand so it's not surprising people get extremely excited even when Apple changes the power button size.

 

[H818H]

No, the word 'forced' is used to vent anger, not because it is appropriate. It's the same with all kinds of name calling, the 'name' someone or something is 'called' is not meant to be an accurate description, it is meant to be insulting.

Who could be insulted by use of word force here? Apple?

To be fair, you never advocated removal of jack so I was wrong to accuse you of that.

I still have 'devices' that use a 6.5 mm headphone jack, I've used 3.5 to 6.5 mm adaptors for more years than not.

I also use 6.5mm jack - I have no issue with it. Adapters are cheap, non-proprietary (£1-2 vs apple's £10 cash-grab) and the way a 3.5mm sits directly inside the 6.5mm adapter (and sometimes screws in) is simply great design - no fragile cable linking them - its as though there's no adapter at all. An adapter

Just because you use separately purchased headphones, doesn't change the fact that an overwhelming majority simply uses whatever headphones ship with the phone.

Wired headphones go into the bin within six month for me. Their cables get hooked on something and get yanked at and eventually the cable fails.

I agree many people use whatever headphones are included - me included. Based on your experiences with wired headphones, an iPhone buyer is likely to use the included lightning headphones, then six months in, they might snag them on a door and then they'll.......what?

Either buy another set of annoying lightning headphones which only work with their phone (but not their laptop).........or maybe buy AirPods?

Apple removed the jack to "motivate" users to buy expensive AirPods.

AirPods are likely high profit margin and will increase average revenue per customer (same strategy as USB-C dongles on laptops). It has nothing to do with space constraints, waterproofing, progress, 'the future', courage, or because its a superior option to wired. Everyone already had the convenience of wireless audio (if they wanted it) long before Apple removed the 3.5mm jack. There is no good reason to remove it and I will not buy a new iphone without one.

 

[oldmacs]

Are you also those who complain about Apple not "innovating" and bringing the same boring design every year?

No i’m not. I’m a very content with the current SE design.

 

[bluecoast]

I’m going to be controversial here and say:

• It didn’t bother me at all that the headphone jack disappeared on my iPhone 7. I either use BT headphones, the supplied ones and regular headphones via the supplied dongle.
• I haven’t managed to lose the dongle. It works! It’s ok.
• Dare I suggest it, but if you’re an audiophile you should probably get one of those $300-400 FLAC players that are on sale. The iPod/iPhone has never been a product for audiophiles.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

This is COMPLETLY wrong. Best Buy no longer sells CDs, target CD sales are all on a consignment basis.

 

[OneMike]

I’m 50/50 on this one.

Wireless would be cool

 

[mi7chy]

Looks pretty convincing to me. iPhone SE is a lower margin model so it makes sense the next gen model will get minimal changes. One of the most important changes is moving away from the cheaper looking metal back to industry glass back with wireless charging as a bonus.

As for audio jack, it's for pros that appreciate high bandwidth and low latency while bluetooth is for amateurs. For example, pro gamers use wired mouse and keyboard and not bluetooth.

 

[JVNeumann]

Wow. Fanboys cling to a 10 year old design in 2018-2019, then have the nerve to call Galaxy 9 "ugly" for having a minute bezel. Must be nice to have the hypocritical rose-coloured glasses judgement. You sure those SnapChat Spectacles aren't really made by Apple?

Speaking for myself, while I regard the iPhone 4 (and, to a lesser extent, 5) to be the only genuinely beautiful phones Apple (or anyone, really) has ever made, my biggest draw for the SE is just the smaller size. In fact, I'd love for them to try out some new designs at the 4" size rather than endlessly rehashing the 5, including trying an edge-to-edge screen.

Although I do love the glass backs, so that can stay. But otherwise, I'd be thrilled if they tried something new. I just don't need some aircraft carrier-sized thing in my pocket, I'm a single issue buyer in that regard.

 

[albusseverus]

Speaking for myself, while I regard the iPhone 4 (and, to a lesser extent, 5) to be the only genuinely beautiful phones Apple (or anyone, really) has ever made, my biggest draw for the SE is just the smaller size. In fact, I'd love for them to try out some new designs at the 4" size rather than endlessly rehashing the 5, including trying an edge-to-edge screen.

Although I do love the glass backs, so that can stay. But otherwise, I'd be thrilled if they tried something new. I just don't need some aircraft carrier-sized thing in my pocket, I'm a single issue buyer in that regard.

Here's something NEW - the SE came out when the 6 should have been dropped to the entry level price. Total rip-off by Apple. A dog-old design with new guts. Budget buyers could have had a thinner, slightly larger screen, much better experience - 6, but Apple tossed them a 5SE bone and called it good.

A 6/7/8 shape would still be a significant user experience upgrade for even SE owners - how about Apple give them THAT? Barely larger than the SE in-the-hand (thinner phones are easier to hold) and much more modern design. Heck, Apple are still using it in their latest releases.

Glass backs are ridiculous. Liquid metal is a ceramic-metal hybrid, supposedly radio transparent and should be the material of choice. No word of how liquid metal is going. Ceramic is probably as brittle as glass, almost, but that would be better, too. Clearly Apple can't make either of these economically for iPhone, let alone cheap iPhone.

Last year's glass backed models seemed like such a cop-out. Guess I'll be holding on to my 6Plus a bit longer, until Apple gets its materials act together. I'd love a bigger X, but the weight of the thing would be ridiculous.
In the meantime, Apple can stop the Watch trick of software cosmetics to differentiate models (there's faces on the 3 I can't get on my original) and give the rest of the iOS ecosystem a swipe alternative to hitting the home button, even if the phone has a home button. Apple is getting so petty with product differentiation. No wonder customers are becoming more cynical.

 

[omihek]

This could be real. Apple's team nowadays is so complacent and expedient, they wouldn't shy from reiterating a 6 year old design.

You wanna talk about an old design? Why are tires still round? /s

Age isn't what makes a design good or bad, and the 5/5S/SE design has been hailed by many as the best smartphone design to date. I personally love it and would buy a new SE over an X just for that.

 

[woodynorman]

Please educate me - why did they remove the headphone jack if not to boost sales of AirPods?

Making more money off iPhone users was the primary motivation for removing the jack - the 3.5mm jack makes them no money.

Whereas...wireless audio gets them AirPod "subscribers" - people who drop $160 every 2-3 years, forever.

^^ this guy gets it. Everyone here wants to believe Apple does everything for the betterment of the consumer, but at the end of the day its all about money. Lots of money.

 

[JVNeumann]

Here's something NEW - the SE came out when the 6 should have been dropped to the entry level price. Total rip-off by Apple. A dog-old design with new guts. Budget buyers could have had a thinner, slightly larger screen, much better experience - 6, but Apple tossed them a 5SE bone and called it good.

A 6/7/8 shape would still be a significant user experience upgrade for even SE owners - how about Apple give them THAT? Barely larger than the SE in-the-hand (thinner phones are easier to hold) and much more modern design. Heck, Apple are still using it in their latest releases.

You seem to be missing the point (or at least my point, as I can't speak for anyone else). My highest priority is size, followed by beauty - on both counts I view the the 4-5 models as the peak of Apple's design. I'd rather they tried something new to rehashing an old design, but I'd take an old design over an iPhone 6/7/X.

As far as anything 6 and over goes, they'd have to pay me to carry those monstrosities around. Conversely, if they released a "premium" 4 inch model (an SE-sized iPhone X) I'd be all over it. Hell, they could charge more for the smaller model than the bigger one and I'd still get it.

 

[geta]

Hopefully they'll keep the headphone jack while upgrading the internals (A10 or A11 CPU, front\rear cameras & touchID).
About the rear glass\wireless charging - dont care but dont mind as long as the overall weight will stay the same as the correct SE.

Only when or if it will come, we'll know if its fake or not. Till then believers will believe and haters will hate…

 

[Fixey]

The only good thing about iPhone is it’s OS, apart from that it is dated and playing catch-up to the gold master SAMSUNG phones, iPhone doesn’t even have edge to edge screens yet they still have bezels so 80s.

 

[baryon]

I'd love it if the new SE looked like that.

 

[oyabroch!]

I don't entirely disagree. For me this is also the ideal handset size and form factor. But to leave it unchanged to such a degree after 6 years, from a company with virtually unlimited budget and innovation potential, is f--ing lazy to a fault. Give it a full-front display at least, and it will sell out like Coachella early bird tickets.

Change for changes sake is pointless and imprudent. There's a reason wheels are still round and not triangular or square. Polishing up a classic, much beloved design, and sprucing it up with a glass back (or whatever, unknown back) is not "lazy", it's a clear sign of wisdom which has been found by knowing your product legacy, knowing what people absolutely LOVE, and refining it enough to sell a new and more useful model without removing what makes it that iconic size, shape and hand feel.

I see you've become indoctrinated into the mass consumer electronics purchasing mind set, which may be why your perception of Apple's legendary design prowess is somewhat skewed.