Other Used X or XS (with 2 year warranty) or brand new SE?

[NewBench]

This purchase will be my daily driver for the next two years (I normally change every couple of years and now is the time).

I've never had a full screen/home button-free iPhone before and always wanted one but just haven't been able to justify putting down so much money for a handset.

However, here in the UK I can pick up a used iPhone X, XS or XR for around £350-£450. If I buy from a certain well known phone re-seller over here, it will come with a two year warranty. Obviously the phone is 2-3 years old at this point, but will clearly be good for at least another couple of years of iOS updates and battery replacements are affordable enough. Anything else (11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max) is out of my budget.

On the other hand, in the same price range I can pick up a brand new/sealed SE. Obviously it has better specs all round, but still has that same basic iPhone 6-esque body shape thats been around since 2014(!). Part of me thinks if I go for an SE, I might as well save £100-£200 and get an 8 instead?

So do I go for the used X, XS or XR, or go for a brand new SE?

Thanks

 

[Apple_Robert]

I vote for the new SE.

 

[ssledoux]

Seems like an XR would be an option if you bought used, as it was cheaper than the X or XS. If you want to go with the full screen, no button, I’d pick the XS, as it’s a year newer and has some improved features over the X.

If you want something with the latest processor that’ll last the longest, and is a good price new, go SE.

 

[NewBench]

Seems like an XR would be an option if you bought used, as it was cheaper than the X or XS. If you want to go with the full screen, no button, I’d pick the XS, as it’s a year newer and has some improved features over the X.

If you want something with the latest processor that’ll last the longest, and is a good price new, go SE.

Yeah my mistake - the XR is roughly the same cost used as the XS over here (although for some reason the XR is maybe marginally more expensive on the used market). So it's either a used X, XS or XR - or the SE.

I only need it to last two years, so choosing the SE for longevity isn't a consideration for me.

 

[ssledoux]

Yeah my mistake - the XR is roughly the same cost used as the XS over here (although for some reason the XR is maybe marginally more expensive on the used market). So it's either a used X, XS or XR - or the SE.

I only need it to last two years, so choosing the SE for longevity isn't a consideration for me.

Oh well thing you’re pretty much choosing from a full screen/Face ID with OLED (or LCD if you get the XR, but that would probably not be in the running if you can get an XS for the same price, unless eye strain is a worry from OLED) vs bezels and Touch ID.

After trying every phone ever made in the last month (okay maybe not EVERY one), I wound up with the SE and I am finally content with my decision.

 

[iCorz87]

I’d choose the SE. It is the newest of the ones you mentioned but also stays with the home button you are familiar with. If you go a full screen phone you may not like Face ID. I know for me since going from the 11pro to SE this week, I realised how much I missed the home button and the smaller form factor. I also don’t see myself missing anything that the 11 pro has that the SE doesn’t

 

[theapplehead]

I just went from an iPhone 8 to an iPhone XS and I’ve been very satisfied with it so far. It is exactly the perfect size for me: not too big like the XR but not as small as the 8 was.

 

[JPack]

The XS should give you the best balance in terms of longevity (4GB RAM) and performance (A12). I would choose the XR if you prefer a larger display.

The SE2 obviously doesn't meet your needs if you want a full-screen iPhone.

 

[trevpimp]

The latest release from Apple would be an SE and I have heard so many good reviews about the phone. I would go with the SE because of its form factor and you would feel better lightened that the phone is up to the current specs for todays phone market

 

[nordique]

I think the X or XS is a significantly better product and superior piece of hardware to the SE 2020

So either of those devices gets my vote

 

[matraco]

Id go for the XS if it is in good condition. The A12 is almost as powerful as the A13 and you would get a bigger (but not too big) screen and the gestures experience. After going from a 4'7" inch device to a 6"+ i can't imagine going back to a small screen.

 

[MisterAndrew]

The XS should have better battery life than the SE. So it has that going for it and the larger screen of course. The SE will be faster and supported a little longer. The SE is tempting, but I like the battery life of my 11 Pro and I prefer Face ID. Touch ID never worked very well for me.

 

[akash.nu]

My vote goes to the XS hands down. It’s only a year old and has plenty life in it. As a daily driver it will handle anything you throw at it.

Compared to SE 2, it has better camera options, battery life and screen of course. There’s no debate about it.

 

[MacRazySwe]

I would also suggest having a look on marketplaces, sometimes you can find brand new in box units for good prices. XS is still being produced new for certain carriers.

I’m a bit hesitant toward a 2 year old used device, unless the battery has been changed. My iPhone X (produced new in Jan -19) and used since March -19 is already down to 88 % battery and I can really tell.

So, new XS or SE would be my advice, or used with new battery.

 

[KOTN91]

Some people on here are absolutely crazy and BUM the SE. The SE is a pile of crap. It’s a design from 2014, LOL, and there is only a marginal difference from a 6S and no difference from a 7. How on earth could anyone choose that over the iconic X?

 

[LFC2020]

Xs for the win, got a xs max hasn’t missed a beat, handles everything you throw at it with ease.

you’ll get a couple more years of software updates, compared to the x, plus newer chipset.

What xs has that se doesn’t, build quality, oled screen, larger screen, better battery life, Face ID.

Also apple has disabled some features on the se via software, that you’ll get on the xs.

Friend of mine has a x, solid phone, also handles everything with ease.

 

[doolar]

I bought a XS in February, excellent phone and close to half the cost of a 11 Pro. I got it new from a electronics store. Really satisfied and it’s a great phone overall which I expect to last for years.

Kind of a bargain really at the price!

 

[Huw Price]

This purchase will be my daily driver for the next two years (I normally change every couple of years and now is the time).

I've never had a full screen/home button-free iPhone before and always wanted one but just haven't been able to justify putting down so much money for a handset.

However, here in the UK I can pick up a used iPhone X, XS or XR for around £350-£450. If I buy from a certain well known phone re-seller over here, it will come with a two year warranty. Obviously the phone is 2-3 years old at this point, but will clearly be good for at least another couple of years of iOS updates and battery replacements are affordable enough. Anything else (11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max) is out of my budget.

On the other hand, in the same price range I can pick up a brand new/sealed SE. Obviously it has better specs all round, but still has that same basic iPhone 6-esque body shape thats been around since 2014(!). Part of me thinks if I go for an SE, I might as well save £100-£200 and get an 8 instead?

So do I go for the used X, XS or XR, or go for a brand new SE?

Thanks

HI there, can I suggest that you have a look in the local John Lewis store - if you've not done so - they seem to be reducing 3 or so differing I phones with the reopening of the store after lockdown. JL Oxford street had a glass case with reduced examples all new - look for the red sticker - all with 2 year warranty. I was in there on Wednesday. Not great reductions but worth having.
I didn't buy since I have an XS from last January that does fine. All the best let us know what happens.
[automerge]1595684026[/automerge]

 

[Devyn89]

Personally I would go for the XS but I value display quality.

 

[NewBench]

HI there, can I suggest that you have a look in the local John Lewis store - if you've not done so - they seem to be reducing 3 or so differing I phones with the reopening of the store after lockdown. JL Oxford street had a glass case with reduced examples all new - look for the red sticker - all with 2 year warranty. I was in there on Wednesday. Not great reductions but worth having.
I didn't buy since I have an XS from last January that does fine. All the best let us know what happens.
[automerge]1595684026[/automerge]

Thanks for the heads up, there's a large John Lewis about 15 minutes from me so I'll head down there tomorrow.

 

[44267547]

Personally I would go for the XS but I value display quality.

You Make a good point about the displays. Do you (As in the ‘OP’) want LCD or OLED? For some, they can’t differentiate the variables, for others, they can discern the differences between both display technologies. I personally like Apples LCD displays, they matured a lot over the years. But I do think their OLED panels are really sharp (Which Is a direct complement to Samsung, being they do have the best OLED panels in the smart phone sector.)

 

[freeagent]

I bought an se for my gf, she likes it because it fits her old case and it takes nicer pictures. And it’s pretty zippy. I prefer my XS Max if I was given the choice. I can’t really say I’m a fan of the se tbh. It’s a nice phone, but not as nice.. and I prefer the gestures, Face ID, and the nice oled screen.

 

[Natzoo]

I vote for the XS because of the OLED panel, the specs are going to be good for another 2 years at least.

 

[Bawstun]

Some people on here are absolutely crazy and BUM the SE. The SE is a pile of crap. It’s a design from 2014, LOL, and there is only a marginal difference from a 6S and no difference from a 7. How on earth could anyone choose that over the iconic X?

What? The 2020 iPhone SE has the A13 Bionic chip processor. It’s the same as the 11. 3GB RAM. 64GB starting model and for $399 that’s crazy good. Even had portrait mode and not even the iPhone 8 had that.

 

[akash.nu]

Some people on here are absolutely crazy and BUM the SE. The SE is a pile of crap. It’s a design from 2014, LOL, and there is only a marginal difference from a 6S and no difference from a 7. How on earth could anyone choose that over the iconic X?

Probably the most uninformed post in this thread