iPhone SE (2016) What are current SE users doing?

[Jacobi]

My SE is showing its age. I plan to upgrade it before this calendar year is over. What I'm debating among:

Option 1. Just get an iPhone 11 Pro now (I don't need pro features, but it's the smallest up-to-date option)

Option 2. Wait for the supposed "SE 2" release this spring IN CASE they actually do keep the smaller footprint. I won't buy if it's an iPhone 8 design. How sure are we that it will be?

Option 3. Wait for supposed 5.4 inch "iPhone 12" in the fall as a new smaller option.

What are others doing?

 

[oVerboost]

If the size is the most important aspect, which for many it is, you can still buy brand new SE’s on eBay etc. You’ll still have until September update wise, maybe another year on top but even if Apple do pull support, it’ll still work great for at least another couple of years.

Nothing is going to be the size of the SE, but I do hope the rumoured smaller iPhone with square sides etc is reality this September, but it won’t be cheap.

 

[JBGoode]

My SE is showing its age. I plan to upgrade it before this calendar year is over. What I'm debating among:

Option 1. Just get an iPhone 11 Pro now (I don't need pro features, but it's the smallest up-to-date option)

Option 2. Wait for the supposed "SE 2" release this spring IN CASE they actually do keep the smaller footprint. I won't buy if it's an iPhone 8 design. How sure are we that it will be?

Option 3. Wait for supposed 5.4 inch "iPhone 12" in the fall as a new smaller option.

What are others doing?

If you’re considering an 11 pro to replace an SE, why wouldn’t you consider an iPhone 8 style SE since you admittedly don’t need pro features and since it would obviously be closer to what you currently have? I guess I’m not following the logic. Or are you just looking for a no bezel phone?

 

[Jacobi]

I personally just don't like the design of iPhone 8 at all -- I know the SE has bezels too but it's more attractive to me.

 

[alp00]

I have an iphone se and actually want a larger phone now. Price is an issue so I was going to buy the iphone 8 but now I am waiting to see what happens with the iphone 9.

 

[rui no onna]

The SE's A9/2GB still performs pretty well for our needs so at this point, I'd probably just pony up the $269 out-of-warranty repair cost should something happen to it right now.

For now, we're just at wait and see. Might replace it with the rumored 5.4" iPhone 12 if that's smaller than the iPhone 8. If not, I expect we'll just keep the SE for as long as it works and performs as needed.

 

[maxjohnson2]

I had an SE, but gave it away. I might be more interested in the iPhone 9 if it had some new design, but after the initial hype I realized its just a small upgrade in the 6/7/8 series. For $450, I rather buy two used iPhone 7 and change the battery myself. Some people argue this iPhone 9 is officially the SE2, I still believe it is not meant to be or shouldn’t be an SE2, but a sequel to the iPhone 8.

I think anyone with an iPhone 7 or older and their battery is wearing out can look at buying the 9. But if you have anything newer, you can wait. However, I don’t expect Apple to ever make a phone with screen less than 5” again, so if you have money might as well get it. I’m skeptical if there will be a true SE2, with smaller overall body than the iPhone 6, my feeling is it won’t happen. It might be better to wait all the way until september 2020 to see the full lineup before thinking about buying the 9. I think this iPhone 6 design, good as it might be, wore out it’s welcome and maybe the price for the 9 will drop quicker than the 8, but I don’t know for sure.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

If the story on he main page is accurate, the 5.4 iPhone will be similar in size to the 8 just with oled, Faceid, dual camera and of course the A14

Upcoming Fall 2020 5.4-Inch iPhone Will Be Similar in Size to iPhone 8

Japanese site Mac Otakara today shared a somewhat confusing rumor about Apple's 2020 iPhone lineup, suggesting the 5.4-inch iPhone that Apple is working on will be sized similarly to the iPhone 8. Citing Apple suppliers exhibiting at CES, Mac Otakara says that Apple "might be developing Face ID...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[26139]

My SE is showing its age. I plan to upgrade it before this calendar year is over. What I'm debating among:

Option 1. Just get an iPhone 11 Pro now (I don't need pro features, but it's the smallest up-to-date option)

Option 2. Wait for the supposed "SE 2" release this spring IN CASE they actually do keep the smaller footprint. I won't buy if it's an iPhone 8 design. How sure are we that it will be?

Option 3. Wait for supposed 5.4 inch "iPhone 12" in the fall as a new smaller option.

What are others doing?

I cried a little, bought an iPhone 11, returned it, then settled for the iPhone Pro (same reason as you, size) because the alleged SE2 wasn't that much smaller anyway.

I can report using the smaller Pro with a pop socket thing is doable, and the phone itself is SO MUCH FASTER WITH MUCH MORE BATTERY LIFE (my SE was 94% on its second battery).

But I still long for the original SE size, because I have little hands.

 

[dcpmark]

Still using my launch day SE (after replacing the battery, of course). I have a NIB 128GB ready to go if mine ever fails or is lost/broken. I use my cell phone for calls, texts, emails, and CarPlay, so I have zero need to get an oversized phone, and I will stick with the SE form factor as long as I can.

That being said, I will likely get the 5.4” if it feels smaller than the 6/7/8 in my hand, and it has square-off edges.

 

[one more]

Out of your listed options, I would go for option 3 and wait for the rumoured 5.4” iPhone 12. The cheap iPhone 8 “re-loaded” rumoured for March is bound to be just that, as it was with SE compared to 5S - a good upgrade, but not really much fun. We really can’t expect anything amazing from Apple at that expected price point of 399$.

 

[serpico007]

I still have my SE as a back up but with eye sight getting poor, I bit the bullet and picked up the 11 Pro Max. It really is a great phone and have been using the camera a lot more than I thought. If you really want to stick with the size, I would wait for the new rumored phone before making any decisions.

 

[decisions]

If you’re considering an 11 pro to replace an SE, why wouldn’t you consider an iPhone 8 style SE since you admittedly don’t need pro features and since it would obviously be closer to what you currently have? I guess I’m not following the logic. Or are you just looking for a no bezel phone?

I was in the same position and got the 11 Pro because the 8 is just a downgrade for people who want a smaller phone. They get a bigger phone, and it doesn’t have any of the new X-line features.

With the 11 Pro, you downgrade to a bigger phone, but you at least get the new features. And the 11 Pro is just so much more nicely designed than the X and XS.

 

[mag33]

Out of your listed options, I would go for option 3 and wait for the rumoured 5.4” iPhone 12. The cheap iPhone 8 “re-loaded” rumoured for March is bound to be just that, as it was with SE compared to 5S - a good upgrade, but not really much fun. We really can’t expect anything amazing from Apple at that expected price point of 399$.

lol phones are meant to just be phones, not be for "fun" unless you're 10 years old

 

[44267547]

I’m not making any moves until I see this ‘iPhone SE 2’ first (Which should be launching March/April). If the specs’ are on point, this probably will be my next iPhone downsizing from Apples largest iPhone offered. The 5.4 iPhone is still a possibility, but that’s 8 months out.

 

[FlippyGonnaSnap]

The SE's A9/2GB still performs pretty well for our needs so at this point, I'd probably just pony up the $269 out-of-warranty repair cost should something happen to it right now.

For now, we're just at wait and see. Might replace it with the rumored 5.4" iPhone 12 if that's smaller than the iPhone 8. If not, I expect we'll just keep the SE for as long as it works and performs as needed.

Would it not make far more sense to just buy a new/refurbished one for like less then a $100?

 

[44267547]

Would it not make far more sense to just buy a new/refurbished one for like less then a $100?

In my market, I’ve _never_ found a quality refurbished iPhone SE for ‘less than $100.’ Try more like at least $185-$220 if they’re properly refurbished.

 

[rui no onna]

Would it not make far more sense to just buy a new/refurbished one for like less then a $100?

New ones tend to be locked to prepaid carriers for one year and you'd need a $20-40/month plan to unlock so there goes your savings and then some. Tried the ebay route for a BNIB Verizon prepaid SE to replace a CDMA-only flip phone (with $400 worth of load remaining accumulated over 5 years) and it wouldn't even activate on Verizon prepaid (which is what it's supposedly locked to).

Used/3rd party refurb, I really wouldn't trust the battery at this point in time and it seems most sellers' definition of Mint condition differ from mine.

If I could still buy an SE from an authorized retailer (e.g. $50-150 AT&T and VZW prepaid kits on clearance), I'd go that route. Sadly, ebay and Swappa is a crapshoot.

 

[one more]

lol phones are meant to just be phones, not be for "fun" unless you're 10 years old

IMHO, there are as many “realities” as there are people and each one uses their phones in a multitude of different ways. 😉 This is why we have threads dedicated to people’s home screen layouts, best iPhone cases, etc. I used the word “fun” to indicate that the design of the rumoured spring iPhone release (SE2, 9 or whatever) is expected to be the same old shape as we had with iPhones 6-8 and I assumed that if the OP wanted that, they could have picked an iPhone 8 right now. 🤚

 

[NiCk-]

Option 3 for me. I'm going to wait for the 5.4'' iPhone 12 and hopefully that would cover my needs. If not, then either the "iPhone 9" which is coming out in March or an iPhone 11 Pro.

 

[bobsamm]

In my market, I’ve _never_ found a quality refurbished iPhone SE for ‘less than $100.’ Try more like at least $185-$220 if they’re properly refurbished.

I got a used but as new se with 97% battery for $50aud, sold it for $250 when my 11 pro came.

 

[rui no onna]

I used the word “fun” to indicate that the design of the rumoured spring iPhone release (SE2, 9 or whatever) is expected to be the same old shape as we had with iPhones 6-8 and I assumed that if the OP wanted that, they could have picked an iPhone 8 right now. 🤚

Not necessarily. At this point in time, just didn't want to spend $499+tax on a 128GB iPhone 8 with A11/2GB when rumors of a refresh abound.

 

[mistsate86]

I've had the SE since launch. Previous to that I had the 4, 5, 6, 6plus, then SE. Through each new launch, I haven't been remotely tempted to upgrade because of the size and the pill shaped designs of the new phones. Really hoping Apple translates the design language of the iPad Pros to the new iPhones this September. The squared-off edges are so much nicer in the hand and just look so damn better. If Apple does this, then I'll definitely upgrade to the 5.4"

 

[MacRy]

I don't understand the need for a home button if the new SE is going to have Face ID. Surely if this is to replace a small form factor phone that people want, then it would make more sense to remove that in order to reduce the size of the phone - making it more appealing to those people who don't want a large phone in their pocket. MY wife has an SE and refuses to upgrade to a larger phone as she has small hands and women's clothes with their ridiculous pockets. I'm guessing that they have a production line tooled up for the iPhone 8, so they want to make use of that to do a cash grab rather than creating something new that people actually want.

 

[DevinNj]

lol phones are meant to just be phones, not be for "fun" unless you're 10 years old

Not to be "that guy" but, this is one of the most ludicrous statements I've seen in a while. "Just meant to be phones", really? Have you not seen the hundreds of thousands of apps out there, some of which include games, music and videos, so yeah, a phone can be "fun" even if you're older than 10. I enjoy the crap out of my phone, it's fun.