Seems like the new iPhone Air might take a few influences from the old iPod touch, apparently it’s thinnest point could only be around 5.5 MM, over half an MM thinner than the old iPod touch.
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iPhone SE (2016) First Gen SE: How much longer viable?
- Thread starter rwh63
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I gotta say I really admired the rose gold SE, even though I had the rg 6s plus at the time. I miss the white iPhone and iPad bezels, although I think I'm in the minority here. Since the transition to screens with minimal borders, it'll never come back 😢
Yes, I wish they’d make the current thin bezels white on the white models. As well on the iPad. Otherwise the front is always just one black rectangle. If they can do it on the iMacs, why not on the mobile devices as well.
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I remember the leaks for iPhone X way back had a janky white bezel. I thought they looked nice, aside from the cutouts for FaceID and audio components. I'd totally go for a variant with a white edge and black dynamic island.
I have one too. It's not by any means my daily phone, but it fits into the hand amazingly well. What a *really* wish is that there was a way with my carrier to quickly switch between handsets, as I'd love to temporarily activate this thing from time to time as a "going out" phone when I'm dressed nicely and don't want my bulky 15 Pro in my pocket. Ah well. First world problems, I guess.
You could get one of the newer SEs on sale.
Or the 13 mini like I have is such a fantastic phone.
I really hope the SE comes back in the mini form factor. A 16e in the mini frame would br amazing.
Or the 13 mini like I have is such a fantastic phone.
I really hope the SE comes back in the mini form factor. A 16e in the mini frame would br amazing.
It’s surprisingly capable in 2025. You can still browse the web, run videos on Prime, Disney+, Netflix, YouTube, etc… stream music & podcasts, shop on the Amazon app, IM on WhatsApp along with FaceTime, etc… it pretty much does everything my 13 does only in a tiny package with a battery that lasts 4-5 SoT.
Maybe a mini form factor at some point. But the mini form factor is clearly off the table at this point. Although I was a hopeful a year or so ago.
Although it does not get new updates, you can continue use it as long as your daily apps you use support iOS 15.8.3 .
I use one with zero problems! and with the new battery it holds two days easily.
I use one with zero problems! and with the new battery it holds two days easily.
At some point it's not worth holding out anymore, I mean small are not coming back like 3.5" was not coming back after the iPhone 5 launch either. It will be hard to avoid going big. Good thing about new phones is that you could again get a long life out of them. Never did I think a phone would last as long as a laptop, but here we are.
For me the life of my 13 mini would end after a banking app or an authenticator app is no longer supported. That's just a deal breaker for work (and I'd rather get a bigger phone than a second work phone TBH). Or if the phone drops and breaks beyond repair, but then I could still end up getting another one.
For me the life of my 13 mini would end after a banking app or an authenticator app is no longer supported. That's just a deal breaker for work (and I'd rather get a bigger phone than a second work phone TBH). Or if the phone drops and breaks beyond repair, but then I could still end up getting another one.
Se3 is a possibility. Will be supported for years. Has been out since 2022, so should be good selection of lightly used inventory. And available in 128 and 256 gb.
It also depends on if you have previously "purchased" an app. If you haven't "purchased" an app and it requires iOS 16 or newer, you won't be able to run it, period. If you've previously "purchased" an app on your Apple Account, you'll be able to download the last compatible version (if still available), which may still work fine.
If you have a newer iPad, for example, you can "purchase" the app you want to run on the older iPhone on it. Then, try to download it on the iPhone. Your millage may vary, but this sometimes helps.
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If you have another device that has a more recent OS, you could try getting the app on that device, then on your SE or whatever devivce you are referring to & then downloading the most recent compatible version.
If it'w currently working for you, that's great, but there have been a lot of improvements to cellular bands since 2016 & if you are experiencing dropped calls or a hard time getting online, a newer phone may work a lot better. Things seem to have slowed down recently, but for a while new bands were being introduced all the time. I think the iPhone 8 introduced Band 66 & a later version added 71. Those are T Mobile bands, but there were also additional ones for Verizon & AT&T.
Thanks did not know about that trick. In this case already returned the earbuds as their hairtrigger to drop support for iOS 15 annoyed me...
No dropped calls or other. I recall when I had my 4s, it stopped working because T-Mobile upgraded their lines. They gave a generous promotion to those affected, and I used it to get my first SE in space grey w/128 gb.
I still use the 4s as a music player. If I have it out in public, some people ask about it. I think there is a decent niche market for small sexy pocket phones like the 4s.
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I have been purchasing apps w/ iTunes (12.6 or older) on a Mac, then when I use iOS14 or older I am generally given the option to 'download the latest compatible version'
mk313 said: "there have been a lot of improvements to cellular bands since 2016"
I actually purchased an SE (gen1) new in 2018 from AT&T. Any chance the phone was a newer production and had upgraded innards?
I actually purchased an SE (gen1) new in 2018 from AT&T. Any chance the phone was a newer production and had upgraded innards?
I mean good job but holy crap. I couldn’t use an se 1st gen. I have an se 2016 and it’s unusable for my daily needs. battery literally goes down precipitously while I use it and I swap the battery.
I mean if you can live without a 9 yr old phone I don’t think any phone will make you change your mind and upgrade unless your phone gets lost or stolen.
unlikely, but IIRC, the big move for AT&T was Band 30 (I could be off here, as I don't use them). But all that did was enable faster internet speeds IIRC. So you likely aren't missing much call wise, but more just internet speed wise.
Whenever someone sees my OG SE they asks what phone is it and how I can use such a small phone… and then I ask them how they can use a phone so huge. 😂
As I said before, SE1 works super smooth for me and after I changed the battery last year, for my daily use/needs the battery can easily hold two days.
And as long as the apps I use on a daily basis working, I will continue to use it, however I know it's a matter of time before apps stop supporting its iOS…
