After reading this thread.. I’m considering it too. Especially since so many people are saying it’s such a good value. Would it be a dumb move to get an SE 2020 now?
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iPhone SE (2016) iPhone SE 2020 Users
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After reading this thread.. I’m considering it too. Especially since so many people are saying it’s such a good value. Would it be a dumb move to get an SE 2020 now?
If I could use the 11 Pro without a case it would work. But with even a minimalistic case it doesn’t work. What’s most important to me is being comfortably pocketable. The SE is without a doubt is comfortable pocketable with a case but the 11 Pro is barely pocketable without a case and not so pocketable with a case.
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Not a dumb move to purchase an SE now. Apple will be most definitely selling this phone for at least another 3 years (as they did the original SE, from what I remember). Unless you care about 5G, then wait for the 12 series.
I came over to the 2020 iPhone SE from a 2013 iPhone 5s. So, my perspective might be different from those switching from larger or comparably sized phones. As with all things, there are tradeoffs. But, on balance I'm happy with the SE.
Compared to the iPhone 5s, the SE has many obvious advantages.
- speed
- responsiveness
- solid state 2nd gen TouchID button (upgrade over 1st gen click button in the 5s, and more responsive)
- camera quality (the front and rear cameras are both a step up from the 5s, although I will say that the front camera takes much less flattering selfies)
- app compatibility (because the SE uses the full version of iOS 13, while the 5s uses iOS 12 with some features missing)
- cell range (more bands = better LTE coverage, especially inside buildings and in remote areas [I'm on T-Mobile])
- larger screen (this is both an advantage and disadvantage)
- water resistant (my 5s was not watertight, yet somehow survived dunkings in both salt water and pool water; but, it did make headphone detection and charging less reliable afterwards)
- futureproof (my 5s received its most recent update less than 2 months ago but it's now EOL; I used the 5s everyday for over 6 1/2 years, and I would expect the SE to delivery a comparably long shelf life if I choose to keep it for that long)
For me, the disadvantages to the iPhone SE primarily center on the larger form factor. While it remains pocketable and usable with one hand, it's not as EASILY pocketable or usable with one hand.
Without a case, the thinner SE is almost as easy to handle as the 5/5s/SE (2016) bodies with a case. However, while the 2020 SE is built to tighter tolerances and feels great with the rounded edges and glass back, it's also much easier to slip and drop. I dropped my phone 3 times without the case before giving up and using a case with the SE at all times. The glass on the back already has a few scratches but at least nothing shattered.
Some of the common gripes I read about the iPhone SE are not relevant for my use case. So, anyone with concerns about the SE should see which situations are applicable or dealbreakers. And in some cases, what other reviewers insist are disadvantages might not be so for everybody.
Screen Size: I don't use my phone for media consumption. I play games, use the browser on the go, and use the phone for its mobile functionality. I prefer a phone that places more emphasis on the mobility component even at the expense of maximum usability. For how I use the phone, I was already fine with the 4" screen on the 5s. Going even to the 4.7" screen that reviewers regard as tiny nowadays, I found the larger screen to be a tradeoff. I find the utility of one-handed operation comes in handy more frequently than when I would want a larger screen.
Camera: I don't need maximum image quality on my smartphone. My phone is what I use for capturing spontaneous moments and easy sharing. If I want to do higher quality images or compose my shots, I have a DSLR with extra lenses for that. There's no substitute for larger pixels and full-sized lens optics, so I'm okay with less space and expense devoted to the camera function on my phone.
Battery Life: I'm coming over from a 5s, so the battery life on the SE is actually a step up for me. Unless I'm in heavy use, even the 5s had enough battery life for my all-day use. I'm used to charging the phone in the car, or whenever I'm at my work desk. The only time I ever had to keep a watch on the battery level was whenever I traveled, and in those situations I would take steps to conserve battery life (i.e., turn off push notifications, use low power mode, switch to Airplane Mode if I'm in an area or building with bad cell coverage, etc.). The SE has more than enough battery life for how I use the phone, so it's a nonissue in my use case.
Bezels: Coming over from the 5s, I don't have an issue with the look or utility of bezels. I will often grip the phone using the lower edge, so I don't know if going to a full screen would negate being to do that.
Touch ID: Here, I regard the presence of the Touch ID button as an advantage. I keep my phone docked in the car and can unlock the phone without taking my eyes off the road. Using Face ID in the car would not feel safe to me, because it requires positioning my face in front of the screen. Touch ID is at a point where it unlocks the phone almost instantaneously. Pick up the phone, put my thumb on it, and it goes. Maybe it's just what I'm used to, but how can that be viewed as a disadvantage?
Conclusion: So, should you get an iPhone SE? The answer, as with all things tech, is it depends. The SE is basically the iPhone 8s, just as the original 2016 SE was really the iPhone 5gs. It's a refinement to a proven design, at a much lower price. That's how the phone should be viewed.
Because it uses a state-of-the-art processor, anyone who buys the SE will know that the OS and app support will be in place for a long time. Because Apple did not give the SE a numerical designation, it means that they will carry the design forward for multiple years. This is not a model that Apple will replace or update annually. The SE that you buy now is the same one that Apple will likely still be selling two years from now.
The iPhone SE is a combination of best-in-class and older tech. It has to make tradeoffs in order to hit that $400 price point. If the tradeoffs are in areas that are inconsequential to you, then the SE is a no-brainer bargain that you've probably already jumped on. If the SE excludes features or makes design compromises that are more consequential, then that's where you look at the price and determination if the tradeoffs were in more of the right spots than not. If there are things that the SE does that you cannot live with, then it won't matter how low the price is, this phone is not for you.
For me, the SE is a comfortable update to what I've been using. It's not perfect, but I can live with the compromises for what it does actually deliver. And starting at $400, this is the best value in the iOS sphere.
Compared to the iPhone 5s, the SE has many obvious advantages.
- speed
- responsiveness
- solid state 2nd gen TouchID button (upgrade over 1st gen click button in the 5s, and more responsive)
- camera quality (the front and rear cameras are both a step up from the 5s, although I will say that the front camera takes much less flattering selfies)
- app compatibility (because the SE uses the full version of iOS 13, while the 5s uses iOS 12 with some features missing)
- cell range (more bands = better LTE coverage, especially inside buildings and in remote areas [I'm on T-Mobile])
- larger screen (this is both an advantage and disadvantage)
- water resistant (my 5s was not watertight, yet somehow survived dunkings in both salt water and pool water; but, it did make headphone detection and charging less reliable afterwards)
- futureproof (my 5s received its most recent update less than 2 months ago but it's now EOL; I used the 5s everyday for over 6 1/2 years, and I would expect the SE to delivery a comparably long shelf life if I choose to keep it for that long)
For me, the disadvantages to the iPhone SE primarily center on the larger form factor. While it remains pocketable and usable with one hand, it's not as EASILY pocketable or usable with one hand.
Without a case, the thinner SE is almost as easy to handle as the 5/5s/SE (2016) bodies with a case. However, while the 2020 SE is built to tighter tolerances and feels great with the rounded edges and glass back, it's also much easier to slip and drop. I dropped my phone 3 times without the case before giving up and using a case with the SE at all times. The glass on the back already has a few scratches but at least nothing shattered.
Some of the common gripes I read about the iPhone SE are not relevant for my use case. So, anyone with concerns about the SE should see which situations are applicable or dealbreakers. And in some cases, what other reviewers insist are disadvantages might not be so for everybody.
Screen Size: I don't use my phone for media consumption. I play games, use the browser on the go, and use the phone for its mobile functionality. I prefer a phone that places more emphasis on the mobility component even at the expense of maximum usability. For how I use the phone, I was already fine with the 4" screen on the 5s. Going even to the 4.7" screen that reviewers regard as tiny nowadays, I found the larger screen to be a tradeoff. I find the utility of one-handed operation comes in handy more frequently than when I would want a larger screen.
Camera: I don't need maximum image quality on my smartphone. My phone is what I use for capturing spontaneous moments and easy sharing. If I want to do higher quality images or compose my shots, I have a DSLR with extra lenses for that. There's no substitute for larger pixels and full-sized lens optics, so I'm okay with less space and expense devoted to the camera function on my phone.
Battery Life: I'm coming over from a 5s, so the battery life on the SE is actually a step up for me. Unless I'm in heavy use, even the 5s had enough battery life for my all-day use. I'm used to charging the phone in the car, or whenever I'm at my work desk. The only time I ever had to keep a watch on the battery level was whenever I traveled, and in those situations I would take steps to conserve battery life (i.e., turn off push notifications, use low power mode, switch to Airplane Mode if I'm in an area or building with bad cell coverage, etc.). The SE has more than enough battery life for how I use the phone, so it's a nonissue in my use case.
Bezels: Coming over from the 5s, I don't have an issue with the look or utility of bezels. I will often grip the phone using the lower edge, so I don't know if going to a full screen would negate being to do that.
Touch ID: Here, I regard the presence of the Touch ID button as an advantage. I keep my phone docked in the car and can unlock the phone without taking my eyes off the road. Using Face ID in the car would not feel safe to me, because it requires positioning my face in front of the screen. Touch ID is at a point where it unlocks the phone almost instantaneously. Pick up the phone, put my thumb on it, and it goes. Maybe it's just what I'm used to, but how can that be viewed as a disadvantage?
Conclusion: So, should you get an iPhone SE? The answer, as with all things tech, is it depends. The SE is basically the iPhone 8s, just as the original 2016 SE was really the iPhone 5gs. It's a refinement to a proven design, at a much lower price. That's how the phone should be viewed.
Because it uses a state-of-the-art processor, anyone who buys the SE will know that the OS and app support will be in place for a long time. Because Apple did not give the SE a numerical designation, it means that they will carry the design forward for multiple years. This is not a model that Apple will replace or update annually. The SE that you buy now is the same one that Apple will likely still be selling two years from now.
The iPhone SE is a combination of best-in-class and older tech. It has to make tradeoffs in order to hit that $400 price point. If the tradeoffs are in areas that are inconsequential to you, then the SE is a no-brainer bargain that you've probably already jumped on. If the SE excludes features or makes design compromises that are more consequential, then that's where you look at the price and determination if the tradeoffs were in more of the right spots than not. If there are things that the SE does that you cannot live with, then it won't matter how low the price is, this phone is not for you.
For me, the SE is a comfortable update to what I've been using. It's not perfect, but I can live with the compromises for what it does actually deliver. And starting at $400, this is the best value in the iOS sphere.
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For me it is perfect. The only slight drawback is that the screen is .5 inches smaller than my Motorola. But it wasn’t enough of a drawback to purchasing the iPhone.
Originally I got it because I had been drooling over small phones for a while, and wanted to try one. Since my plan was to give it to my granddaughter when 12s came out, I figured it was a good time to try one, and got the SE.
I really liked it but was thinking it was a little too small coming from the 11, so I got an 11 pro to try. Overall I loved the screen size, but It was heavy and I couldn’t justify the price, so back it went. I decided just to go back to an 11. I used it about 3 days and couldn’t stand how big it was, and have been on the SE since, now thinking the 12s will have to surpass all expectations to get me to buy one. I love the SE.
Woochifer, good write up on your experience with the SE. I would highly recommend the Spigen Liquid Crystal case to you to protect your SE with absolute minimal bulk added. Its a clear case with micro dots on the back to stop moisture smearing. It really compliments the phone and only costs about £7 UK price on amazon.
I bought mine around June.
Coming from the 6s it was of course a welcome improvement.
- The battery has let me down quite a couple of times, especially when having a long day with streaming music etc.
- The screen is indeed too small as I feared, in general not a big improvement from the 6s.
- What I do not like is how easy the screen scratches in comparison to my 6s. I already have bigger scratches while maintaining the same use. I think there was the same problem in this years' 11 and 11 Pro.
- The camera is not spectacular, especially the selfie cam
- In hindsight it s a good average phone, nothing more and nothing less. Definitenly overpriced in my opinion but hey.. it is an iPhone!
Coming from the 6s it was of course a welcome improvement.
- The battery has let me down quite a couple of times, especially when having a long day with streaming music etc.
- The screen is indeed too small as I feared, in general not a big improvement from the 6s.
- What I do not like is how easy the screen scratches in comparison to my 6s. I already have bigger scratches while maintaining the same use. I think there was the same problem in this years' 11 and 11 Pro.
- The camera is not spectacular, especially the selfie cam
- In hindsight it s a good average phone, nothing more and nothing less. Definitenly overpriced in my opinion but hey.. it is an iPhone!
I'm coming from a Samsung J2. I didn't understand how things worked in Samsung, so I thought it was a great cellphone that it was going to be upgraded.
Nope. The phone stuck on the system 6 from 2016 when I buy it. The phone still work good, but I wanted and iPhone since 2007 so I decide to give it a try.
The J2 was 5.5"... but through all this 4 years, was constant my "I would like a more tinier phone"... I was thinking to get a Xioami or any "thing" like that so this SE2 started to make eyes on my.
The Xr/X/11 where too big... so this being 5" was ok. Yeah, the battery it's even less powerful Thant the J2 but may vary from a day to day charging, to day and a half.
The screen it's good for me. Maybe what could happens it's you get a phone that's not so fashionable when you're with mates, but to be honest, the privacy thing was getting me off. In fact, I log in my google account in mail because it's primary, but the major change it's not use anymore google products. I'm using duck duck go time ago in my Mac so it's the same on the phone.
I will recommend this iPhone to anybody who don't care about the screen without frames. That's it, because the camera it's ok, the battery it's decent, the sound amaze me with that stereo ability... and 400$?
I went directly to the 128GB which I think will be better looking from here to 5 years...
I only could think it, with the 5,4" rumored... but since life it's this one, here in present, I prefer enjoy right know like hopping someday if happens.
Nope. The phone stuck on the system 6 from 2016 when I buy it. The phone still work good, but I wanted and iPhone since 2007 so I decide to give it a try.
The J2 was 5.5"... but through all this 4 years, was constant my "I would like a more tinier phone"... I was thinking to get a Xioami or any "thing" like that so this SE2 started to make eyes on my.
The Xr/X/11 where too big... so this being 5" was ok. Yeah, the battery it's even less powerful Thant the J2 but may vary from a day to day charging, to day and a half.
The screen it's good for me. Maybe what could happens it's you get a phone that's not so fashionable when you're with mates, but to be honest, the privacy thing was getting me off. In fact, I log in my google account in mail because it's primary, but the major change it's not use anymore google products. I'm using duck duck go time ago in my Mac so it's the same on the phone.
I will recommend this iPhone to anybody who don't care about the screen without frames. That's it, because the camera it's ok, the battery it's decent, the sound amaze me with that stereo ability... and 400$?
I went directly to the 128GB which I think will be better looking from here to 5 years...
I only could think it, with the 5,4" rumored... but since life it's this one, here in present, I prefer enjoy right know like hopping someday if happens.
Thanks for the tip. I might have to look into that. I'm currently using a Tech21 Evo Check case. It's a flexible case with impact absorption around the edges, and generally I like it. It seems to offer decent protection, but adds more bulk than I'd like.
I used a Tech21 Mesh case with my iPhone 5s for over 6 years and it protected the phone very well. It was grippy and I only recall dropping the phone about 4 times in the entire time I had the phone, and there was no damage to the phone itself (only issue was the dot pattern on the case rubbing into the aluminum body). With the smaller phone, the extra bulk around the edges of the case was not an issue.
But, with the larger SE, I would like to try out a thinner option. The phone feels a lot better without the case. However, like I said before, I've already dropped the phone 3 times because of how slippery it is without a case.
Came back to Apple, after having a huge Huawei Mate 20 Pro for +/- a year. I've had every iPhone model up to the 7 before switching to Android.
Very happy to be on iOS again. The iPhone SE has the perfect form factor and I'm amazed of the screen and camera performance (even coming from the Leica camera of the M20). Doesn't feel like a brick in my pocket. Portrait photos are top notch. Low light is subpar, but it's not a deal breaker. Price is a major plus. Buying a €1000+ phone every year just doesn't cut for me anymore. If I would need to comment on a negative point, it would be the battery.
Very happy to be on iOS again. The iPhone SE has the perfect form factor and I'm amazed of the screen and camera performance (even coming from the Leica camera of the M20). Doesn't feel like a brick in my pocket. Portrait photos are top notch. Low light is subpar, but it's not a deal breaker. Price is a major plus. Buying a €1000+ phone every year just doesn't cut for me anymore. If I would need to comment on a negative point, it would be the battery.
Upgraded to the SE 2020 from the SE 2016. I am happy but not excited so I think that sums up the SE for me.
I have purchased my new iPhone SE 2020 two days back. I'm loving this phone. I think I will never go back to android. Clean UI with superb performance. Battery performance is also good after disabling siri and background refresh for the apps which I don't use regularly.
Only downside is I cannot play the mp3 files I download on internet. I think I should be given a freedom to do this so.
Only downside is I cannot play the mp3 files I download on internet. I think I should be given a freedom to do this so.
Glad your enjoying your new SE. Unfortunately you cant really download mp3 files on the iPhone via safari, and then play them via the music app which is a limitation of iOS (You can do this easily on an Android phone though). Your gonna have to copy those mp3 files to iTunes on your pc/Mac and then sync to your iPhone the good old fashioned way. Other members may have other solutions though.
Picked up my new SE 2020 middle of last week and set it up over the weekend. I'm coming from the old SE so I am absolutely loving this new one. It's a little bigger but not too much and Much faster, everything is just a lot smoother overall. I prefer a more compact phone as I have an iPad mini and pro if I need more screen space. Anyway.....I do have one question, when I go under settings > general, it shows that I have 116 photos and 2 videos however when I look at "photos" from the home screen I have 33 photos and no videos. I don't remember this being an issue on the old phone. Can anyone shed some light on the discrepancy? I bought the 64 gig model because I only use an iPhone as a phone and emergency camera (and because I had the 64GB 2016 SE and still had 10GB's free after 4 years) so I don't want any unnecessary items taking up space. I'd really appreciate your thoughts and comments. Thanks.
Hey guys, I just removed my iPhone SE from my case to clean it / basically just wipe away the dust and crap as I always do. Down near the back towards the bottom I noticed there is like bubbling / discoloration, but it’s under the glass itself? Nothing is cracked? But there are distinct weird splotches present in about three places and it’s basically light gray and very noticeable that something has happened. It’s also happening up near the camera in two spots. Definitely under the glass and not something smudged or that I can wipe off, and it’s not missing paint, it’s *under* somehow?
Anyway, I don’t really care seeing as it’s always in a case anyway and doesn’t bother me as it’s cosmetic. But I was wondering if I did take it to Apple if they would replace it or if I would just be wasting my time. Thanks I’m advance if anyone offers any opinions. I do not have AppleCare. I’ve only had the device maybe 3 months.
Anyway, I don’t really care seeing as it’s always in a case anyway and doesn’t bother me as it’s cosmetic. But I was wondering if I did take it to Apple if they would replace it or if I would just be wasting my time. Thanks I’m advance if anyone offers any opinions. I do not have AppleCare. I’ve only had the device maybe 3 months.
If it is under the glass, that sounds like a manufacturing defect. And if that is correct, it would be covered by Apple.
I have the same in red and love it.
I like the 6/7/8 form factor and it is way faster and of course doesn't get hot, battery lasts longer, etc. than my old 7 I upgraded from.
Yeah, I feel like anyone who loves the design should get the SE. People try and give it Flak over the design, but some people just aren’t all that concerned with aesthetics.
I’ve seen people say “phone with bezels that big you won’t want to use in 2023!” Idc if I have a phone with bezels in 2023. If the phone is still performing well then why worry about it?
edited to remove an attachment I don’t remember adding
I'm "meh" on bezels.
You need somewhere to grip the phone without interacting with the display, and bezels also provide a non-display part of the phone to take impacts/drops/etc without destroying the screen.
They've never bothered me.
You need somewhere to grip the phone without interacting with the display, and bezels also provide a non-display part of the phone to take impacts/drops/etc without destroying the screen.
They've never bothered me.
I actually reckon the Notched iphones will look a bit out of place in the future when sensors/cameras are under the screen. Classic touch id iphones with bezels will be seen as retro, but at least having a fully rectangular screen. Just my opinion of course!
This is certainly a possibility. I definitely understand what you’re saying as well. By 2023 iPhones will surely not have notches anymore. Therefore notched phones would look weird and out of place. Whereas, all of the retro designed iPhones will look just that “retro”. I personally love the design of the iPhone SE. I didn’t care for the iPhone 6/6s design with the antenna bands, but with the iPhone 7 Apple started to refine the design and I think the 7/8/SE are wonderfully designed. Going back to the 7... the Jet Black and Black were especially very nice.
With the 8 and the SE I feel as though Apple completely nailed the design of both phones. While the 8 got overlooked by the iPhone X it’s still a very nice iPhone aesthetically IMO.
Yeah I have absolutely no issues with Bezels at all. To be completely honest I would much rather having bezels that look like the SE compared to the ones on the XR/11. To me the Bezels on the XR and 11 just don’t look great for what they’re trying to accomplish.