iPhone SE (2016) Getting an SE instead of XR/XS?

[cyyoungcear]

I just got an SE like a month ago, and I love it!

Easy to use with one hand, fits in my shirt pocket, and it has great battery life. I unplugged it this morning at around 6 AM, and now it's 5 PM, and it's at 55%. So after 11 hours, it hasn't lost half its battery life. I love the four inch phone. I'm going to be sad when these sizes are gone. Will have to get an 8, I guess.

 

[bryanc28]

Is it ok to get a 7? The 8's look great but I am a phone dropper and it seems the 7 seems less breakable.

 

[puma1552]

Well, the 8 costs almost XR-price


I see. 6S was fine, and I was considering getting an SE to tug for a year. XR looks a bit thick and slightly large? I feel 6S is just about right size-wise.

8 is almost as expensive so I feel that would be like buying old tech at high price.

Flawed argument.

The 8, which is a real upgrade from what you have, is too expensive, but you want to spend money on an SE which literally has 6S internals and is NOT an upgrade from your current phone, AND on top of that you want an SE just for a year? Then what, spend more money?

The SE is 2.5 years old, with 3 year old internals. That ship sailed long ago.

Just get the 8 now.

 

[kevink2]

If you can get an SE for under $100, it should be good for a year.

If I wanted to buy a new iPhone this year, I would have to get a hands-on comparison between the Xr and my year old X. See how the screen compares to my eyes. This would only be if I decided to switch to T-Mobile.

I have a T-Mobile MVNO SIM on order. I'm going to give the network a try with a disposable number over the next couple months, which includes a road trip across state lines.

 

[44267547]

Currently using 6S and happy about it, but it needs replacing after 3 hard years of work duty. I was considering the XR as my next phone, but I also love the form factor of the SE. Is the SE still up for the job? I feel the XR is a bit too large?

The A9 processor is performing fairly well from I have read regarding iOS 12. I still think it’s a very viable iPhone, and if your expectations are set lower knowingly that it doesn’t include the latest technology, then I don’t see why you wouldn’t opt for the SE if you prefer the form factor.

 

[Hater]

I have no reason to upgrade from my SE. All of my apps work great, battery life is great, it's snappy and light.

Loads of people still use 5S's and 5's.

I specifically went from 6S > SE due to the form factor, me going to a 7 or 8 would be stupid as it would be me going back to an existing form factor that I didn't like, so it really depends on personal preference.

 

[Q-Dog]

I activated a new SE 128 about 15 minutes after the keynote that introduced the latest iPhones. I was hoping for a new small phone from Apple, but none of the new phones were appealing to me. I am extremely happy with the SE and see no reason it won't be supported for at least a couple more years.

 

[jakja83]

Flawed argument.

The 8, which is a real upgrade from what you have, is too expensive, but you want to spend money on an SE which literally has 6S internals and is NOT an upgrade from your current phone, AND on top of that you want an SE just for a year? Then what, spend more money?

The SE is 2.5 years old, with 3 year old internals. That ship sailed long ago.

Just get the 8 now.

Work pays for the phone so price is not that important. I could get what I want. I just know I use phones for about 3 years, but could get the SE privately to postpone getting a new work-phone until e.g. an SE2 with 4,5 inch OLED and good camera emerges.

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

if you want a phone that fits in your tight clothes pocket and dont want to procrastinate your life away, get the SE. If you want to live through your phone like some zombie, get the new phones. I got an SE a month ago and to me it seems big now. The new pones encourage bad habits. Before you know it life ends.

 

[actcyclist]

The iPhone SE I have works absolutely fine in 2018. No lag and the battery life is excellent.
I think it will take a couple of more years for it to be running slowly, and hopefully Apple releases a better designed phone than the 2019 models by then. Something that's not an oversized, slippery piece of heavy, fragile glass would be nice.

 

[jakja83]

if you want a phone that fits in your tight clothes pocket and dont want to procrastinate your life away, get the SE. If you want to live through your phone like some zombie, get the new phones. I got an SE a month ago and to me it seems big now. The new pones encourage bad habits. Before you know it life ends.

I will get an SE for now and see how it turns out... They cost around 200$ here, compared to 1150$ for the XS. Or 650 for the 8.

 

[Abstract]

8 is almost as expensive so I feel that would be like buying old tech at high price.

But the 8 gets you what you want. Also, it’s not much different speed-wise than the previous X. It’s still a current phone, IMO.

Besides, buying the XR only gets you the latest. It doesn’t buy you what you want, which is small size. Getting what you really want is important. Why pay money for a compromise with the latest processor when the iPhone 8 is a 6s with more speed, battery life, and better camera?

I’d get the 4.7” iPhone 8. The iPhone 7 is a bit old for a new phone, and the SE is basically the same as the 6s you have now.

Only benefit of the SE is that the real-life battery life is awesome compared to the 8, battery life tests be damned.

P.S. I own an SE. I like mine, but would still recommend the 8 if you liked your 6s.

 

[rmoliv]

If your purpose is just to have access to iOS then go for it but if you want to be up to date and you can afford it go for the XR I think that's a no brainer.

 

[Gudi]

I will get an SE for now and see how it turns out... They cost around 200$ here, compared to 1150$ for the XS. Or 650$ for the 8.

Or $449 for the 7. I can’t figure out how much you really care about the price and size of your phone and whether you use it for more than just calling? Screen size does limit the usefulness of the SE quite a bit, but the processor speed is good for years to come. Even when it comes to pocketability consider the 7.

iPhone XR = 194 g (6.84 oz)
iPhone SE = 113 g (3.99 oz)
iPhone 7 = 138 g (4.87 oz)

 

[traveltoromantis]

If you got an SE you'd be downgrading to first-gen touch ID which imo worked terribly for me. Second-gen touch ID worked perfectly and face ID on the XS is almost as good.

 

[jakja83]

If you got an SE you'd be downgrading to first-gen touch ID which imo worked terribly for me. Second-gen touch ID worked perfectly and face ID on the XS is almost as good.

Turn of events. Tried the SE and though I do not watch TV on my phone I do like to watch som youtube-clips and decided to go with a black XR or XS to have more screen real-estate, and I also got reminded about the relatively poor speaker in the SE. Normal XS is smaller than XR so perhaps.

Thanks for your help!

 

[44267547]

If you got an SE you'd be downgrading to first-gen touch ID which imo worked terribly for me. Second-gen touch ID worked perfectly and face ID on the XS is almost as good.

First GEN touch ID actually work relatively well, it’s probably variable for everyone, but first GEN touch ID was considerably slower when Unlocking, which was notably faster with the second GEN touch ID.

 

[Tmacc47]

Well, the 8 costs almost XR-price


I see. 6S was fine, and I was considering getting an SE to tug for a year. XR looks a bit thick and slightly large? I feel 6S is just about right size-wise.

8 is almost as expensive so I feel that would be like buying old tech at high price.

Well, the 8 costs almost XR-price


The 8 is 599, the XR is 749. I'm not talking about the 8 Plus. I figured the OP wanted a 4.7 inch screen phone.

 

[MartyvH]

If you are buying a phone to keep for the next three years, you are best off going with one of the X models at this point. Apple is moving to larger phones, so I'm not sure if you can avoid that. If you have to stick with a smaller phone, try to find a cheap 7 (refurbished or something).

8 is almost as expensive so I feel that would be like buying old tech at high price.

[Headphone jack] Your options are dwindling by the day.

These are the overriding issues for me. The earlier phones are functional but you're buying in late 2018, not before. My SE's size is good but what's on the screen is becoming more and more important. The Xs is similar in size to the 6/6s/7/8.

I'm keeping my SE to take it places where I don't want to take my Xs, like camping, biking, hiking and overseas travel - going out on the streets to really adventurous places in poor and remote countries, leaving my Xs in my suitcase in the hotel room. It's great as a companion phone like the ones rumoured to be upcoming.

The touch ID works well enough that I don't know what the griping was about.

 

[TehFalcon]

SE is pretty junk at this point. It is the defacto entry level iPhone for prepaid cell companies.

Don't waste your money.

 

[44267547]

SE is pretty junk at this point. It is the defacto entry level iPhone for prepaid cell companies.

Don't waste your money.

Definitely not. And you’re also incorrect, because carriers are still supporting and selling the SE. Not to mention, you have to realize the SE is still selling globally as a phone in countries like India where the XSXR would be too expensive. It’s far from being Junk, especially being that it performs flawlessly on iOS 12.

 

[TehFalcon]

Definitely not. And you’re also incorrect, because carriers are still supporting and selling the SE. Not to mention, you have to realize the SE is still selling globally as a phone in countries like India where the XSXR would be too expensive. It’s far from being Junk, especially being that it performs flawlessly on iOS 12.

your opinion. It's junk by todays phone standards though.
It's only selling in markets like India because like I said it is an extremely cheap way into an iPhone. That doesn't make it a good choice or deal.

 

[Septercius]

And it's your "opinion" that the SE is junk. What's not a good deal for you may actually be a good deal for someone else.

Just because you believe something doesn't make it a fact.

 

[44267547]

your opinion. It's junk by todays phone standards though.

“By today’s standards?” What does that even mean? If you were referring to that it doesn’t have the latest specifications in terms of a camera, Face ID or OLED display, that doesn’t make it ‘junk’ (You using the word junk is extreme hyperbole), when all these phones execute the same functionality with communication. The SE serves it’s main , core purpose because it’s a four-inch form factor for those who don’t want a larger, more expensive phone and at a much more affordable price tag. That doesn’t make it ‘junk’, that’s a valid fact.

For the record, just because you don’t see value in the SE, Apple clearly did for just under _three_ years when they were offering this phone and even the too were surprised how well it was selling across the globe.

It's only selling in markets like India because like I said it is an extremely cheap way into an iPhone. That doesn't make it a good choice or deal.

I definitely think it’s evident you don’t understand the placeholder of the SE. It was never meant to be a Phone but that was to include the highest specifications, that’s why it had the price tag that it did, so I’m not sure how you can make the determination “What’s a good choice or deal”.

 

[noanker]

If you’re against the Xr because of size, and the 8 for price the iPhone 7 is a logical choice. Apple has them in their refurbished store (cheaper and standard warranty), they are fairly low priced used, and it’s still an upgrade from the 6s. That or find a good deal on another 6s. The SE is nice, but it’s main benefit is being small.

Just bought a refurb 7 off of Apple's Refurbished store. Solid phone and an upgrade in screen size. Loved everything about my SE except the screen size. In a few years I'll probably upgrade to an XR once they hit Apple's Refurb store.