The 8 will never be like an SE for the reason that it doesn't allow for the same secure grip that the SE allows, which is a very important factor for those of us that use the phone without the case. The 8 is much closer to the X than it is to the SE, in terms of the way it feels in the hand.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Resolved My iPhone SE died: Refurbished SE or brand new iPhone 8
- Thread starter Populus
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The 8 will never be like an SE for the reason that it doesn't allow for the same secure grip that the SE allows, which is a very important factor for those of us that use the phone without the case. The 8 is much closer to the X than it is to the SE, in terms of the way it feels in the hand.
8 without question. It’s the last true iPhone, and it’s in demand. Apple has cancelled production increases on the XR, and is having Pegatron double 8 production. Apple made a mistake with the ppi on the XR. People notice less crisp text. I didn’t think it would be an issue until I actually used an XR. Beautiful display. But without a doubt text is sharper on my 8+. 
8 without question. It’s the last true iPhone, and it’s in demand. Apple has cancelled production increases on the XR, and is having Pegatron double 8 production. Apple made a mistake with the ppi on the XR. People notice less crisp text. I didn’t think it would be an issue until I actually used an XR. Beautiful display. But without a doubt text is sharper on my 8+.
Yeah, but iPhone 8 resolution is not higher than XR. I mean, pixel density. It is on the 8 Plus, but for the iPhone 8, the ppi are the same as on the XR.
[doublepost=1541458545][/doublepost]I handle my SE, and it is SO comfortable to hold... Like typing on this 2010 MacBook Pro, so comfortable. I wonder if we got used to how this products were, back in the day, and now it is harder for us to get used to new products...
I used iPhone 6 for many years and finally got tired of the size. Switched to the SE in the last month or so. I would say if you really want a small phone, you should stick with getting another SE. And for what it's worth, the SE runs extremely fast on iOS 12 for me.
Stock up! Stock up! Stock up on those iPhone SEs! Buy as many as you can! Stock up!
For the difference in price, I’d go for the SE. It’s double the price and the savings could be worth at least a year of coverage from your provider.
Unless you’re a heavy user of games and video, the SE will meet your needs for several years to come and will continue to be supported and receive iOS updates from Apple.
The SE also runs exceedingly well on iOS 12.
Unless you’re a heavy user of games and video, the SE will meet your needs for several years to come and will continue to be supported and receive iOS updates from Apple.
The SE also runs exceedingly well on iOS 12.
I am about to order a Loopy case for my iPhone 8. I can’t use it one handed in my current case but it looks like this might help.
https://www.loopycases.com/pages/iphone-7-8
The way I would look at it, is if you’re not really worried about the progression of how long iOS will be supported through both devices, what form factor are you most comfortable with? The 4” or 4.7 inch? I think those are really two considerations on what you want in that respect.
I want from an iPhone 5 to an XR. It was a bit of adjustment at first but now I’m used to it.
Resting the phone on your pinky is definitely something that’s out unfortunately.
Maybe you should stick with the 8 and try and get used to the bigger size because I highly doubt their will be an SE 2. Bigger size phones are here to stay unfortunately for some.
Resting the phone on your pinky is definitely something that’s out unfortunately.
Maybe you should stick with the 8 and try and get used to the bigger size because I highly doubt their will be an SE 2. Bigger size phones are here to stay unfortunately for some.
Go for the 8. I had one until recently. I also have a SE that I use as an iPod touch and the 8 should last you for years. Great phone and one heck of a processor.
you sound very much like me. i used my 5S for 5 years. i would recommend the 8.
1) if you really want to use for the long time, 8 is likely the better choice. idk what the iOS and apps will require in future, but certainly wont hurt having the a11 chip which is on average 2.5x faster than the a9 in SE.
2) i do have some apps that i have problems with on my 5S. 5S has the same small screen estate as the SE, and words get hidden on my 5S because font size doesnt scale accordingly. i understand why it doesnt though, because the words become too small. for others, my phone will get very hot, which i believe is because the processor is pushed to the max.
3) it seems like the SE is the last of 4" iphones (i maybe wrong). by getting a refurbished one, you may hold on for a few more years, but you are eventually going to have to move to larger phones. why not now? you probably get a better phone that you can hold on for longer.
4) i have really small hands, but i can operate an iphone 8 quite comfortably in 1 hand. not saying everyone is the same, but you can definitely adapt. maybe adjust the way you hold your phone, or maybe get a thin plastic cover to improve the grip. get those with small bubbles on the 4 corners, i think they absorb more impact and protect the glass back better.
5) the glass back is unfortunate, but well we want wireless charging. just have to be more careful.
Last edited:
XR is 326ppi. 8+ is 401ppi. Resolution is overrated. PPI makes a significant difference in text. I don’t watch movies on a cell phone. I read a lot of text however. My 8+ is easier to read than an XR.
Then you can try to see how's the battery life for others and decide regarding that. You said you liked the SE's size. If that's the phone you like, then you should probably get it.
In my opinion, it doesn't really matter if it isn't the newest. As long as you don't update it, the phone will perform perfectly - I strongly recommend you not to update it, regardless of which phone you buy - and you will get the phone you like. That's the most important thing.
I wouldn't worry about performance, I assume it's perfectly fine on iOS 12. I'd try to know what's more or less the battery life from others and decide from there, considering you cannot try it.
@FeliApple well others say, at least on this forum, that SE battery-life on iOS 12 is bad. Like 4-5 hours max. I'm getting 8 steady hours from this iPhone 8 on iOS 11.4.1 (still haven't updated it).
It is my third day, I still have plenty of time to figure out what I want.
One of the things I like about this iPhone 8 is the Bluetooth 5.0, with more capabilities than Bluetooth 4.2. I use my iPhone a lot as a Bluetooth LTE modem, to provide mobile internet to my MacBook Pro. If someday I buy a new MacBook Pro, it will have Bluetooth 5.0, and the connection between the two will be flawless, also all the Bluetooth devices will have more bandwidth... But isn't enough with Bluetooth 4.2? Also the money difference could be spent on a new MacBook pro or maybe a new iPad mini. And definitely the new Airpods.
The iPhone 8 stereo speakers are very good, they sound great. But the problem is I don't listen to them, as I usually use my headphones. And when it comes to go out, running or whatever, with the iPhone on my pocket, I'm sure the SE is the winner, as some of you have already said you use it as an iPod sometimes.
Another thing I like about the 8 is the taptic engine. It makes a difference with the usual vibration. Oh man this is awesome! The feedback it gives is not comparable to the usual vibration.
And when someone calls, I listen the phone ringing loud and clear because of the two speakers and the taptic vibration. With the SE I've lost some calls because of how weak the ringing is... Do you think this can be solved by wearing a pair of AirPods?
Honestly I find the team SE + Airpods very appealing. Then moving to an iPad mini or a MacBook Pro to read and write properly, not on the smartphone.
Sorry guys, I am really confused. But only because of the price difference, money I could invest in another machine, it makes the SE the way to go... Also the fact that this morning the iPhone 8 slipped from my hands and, luckily, it landed on the bed.
It is my third day, I still have plenty of time to figure out what I want.
One of the things I like about this iPhone 8 is the Bluetooth 5.0, with more capabilities than Bluetooth 4.2. I use my iPhone a lot as a Bluetooth LTE modem, to provide mobile internet to my MacBook Pro. If someday I buy a new MacBook Pro, it will have Bluetooth 5.0, and the connection between the two will be flawless, also all the Bluetooth devices will have more bandwidth... But isn't enough with Bluetooth 4.2? Also the money difference could be spent on a new MacBook pro or maybe a new iPad mini. And definitely the new Airpods.
The iPhone 8 stereo speakers are very good, they sound great. But the problem is I don't listen to them, as I usually use my headphones. And when it comes to go out, running or whatever, with the iPhone on my pocket, I'm sure the SE is the winner, as some of you have already said you use it as an iPod sometimes.
Another thing I like about the 8 is the taptic engine. It makes a difference with the usual vibration. Oh man this is awesome! The feedback it gives is not comparable to the usual vibration.
And when someone calls, I listen the phone ringing loud and clear because of the two speakers and the taptic vibration. With the SE I've lost some calls because of how weak the ringing is... Do you think this can be solved by wearing a pair of AirPods?
Honestly I find the team SE + Airpods very appealing. Then moving to an iPad mini or a MacBook Pro to read and write properly, not on the smartphone.
Sorry guys, I am really confused. But only because of the price difference, money I could invest in another machine, it makes the SE the way to go... Also the fact that this morning the iPhone 8 slipped from my hands and, luckily, it landed on the bed.
Last edited:
Oh, 8 hours is perfect battery life. It's what I'm getting on my 6s on... iOS 9. I strongly recommend you to keep the iPhone 8 on iOS 11.4.1 forever. No other version will match the performance and battery life of that one. Then, you can keep it, as the iPhone SE's battery life is apparently lower.
If you plan to keep it for a while, and if you adjust nicely to the size, and don't miss the SE's size, then I'd just keep it, I can assure you it will work flawlessly for years to come if left on iOS 11. Battery life will be the same for a long time, too. (My 6s's battery life is the same as when it was new, and it has been used for two years already).
@FeliApple oh no, I am going to update this iPhone at least to iOS 12.0.1 if I hurry enough to do so before Apple stops signing that version. I don't want to miss some of the features iOS 12 brings.
[doublepost=1541530548][/doublepost]By the way... One of the things that annoys me is that, even when the screen is bigger, the text size on Safari is still the same on a 4" smartphone and on a 4,7" one.
And no, the accessibility text size option doesn't work on websites, so it is not useful for me.
Then, the visualization feature does increase overall text and makes everything bigger, but at the expense of decreasing crispness of the screen and making it look ugly.
It is a bit disappointing that we cannot do command + or command - to increase or decrease text size on iOS Safari
[doublepost=1541530548][/doublepost]By the way... One of the things that annoys me is that, even when the screen is bigger, the text size on Safari is still the same on a 4" smartphone and on a 4,7" one.
And no, the accessibility text size option doesn't work on websites, so it is not useful for me.
Then, the visualization feature does increase overall text and makes everything bigger, but at the expense of decreasing crispness of the screen and making it look ugly.
It is a bit disappointing that we cannot do command + or command - to increase or decrease text size on iOS Safari
Last edited:
On iOS 11 I'm getting sometimes near 10 hours of battery life. I think that's pretty good.
Okay, I have some news: today I purchased a silicone case, and it's hella comfortable. It's a cheap case, mind you, but it has a rubbery/sticky touch, and it's much thinner than other cases. It fits perfectly on the iPhone 8.
And, as expected, grip on my iPhone 8 is now quite good. It's like having another phone. It's not slippery anymore, although I'll miss the cold touch of the 7000 series aluminum.
So I'd say I'm getting used to this phone, and even tho I've seen deals with the SE, for 280€, even the 128GB version for just 400€, I think this iPhone 8 is better...
Sure, it will always be easier to grab a 4" smartphone, but among all the modern smartphones nowadays, I think the iPhone 8 is the smallest option we can get.
I will keep you updated, as I still have 9 days ahead to fully test it. Who knows if it will be a turn of events... Today I saw the new iPad Pro, and I'd like to return this to buy the new tablet, but honestly, I need a smartphone more than a tablet. And I'm a Mac user anyway.
Okay, I have some news: today I purchased a silicone case, and it's hella comfortable. It's a cheap case, mind you, but it has a rubbery/sticky touch, and it's much thinner than other cases. It fits perfectly on the iPhone 8.
And, as expected, grip on my iPhone 8 is now quite good. It's like having another phone. It's not slippery anymore, although I'll miss the cold touch of the 7000 series aluminum.
So I'd say I'm getting used to this phone, and even tho I've seen deals with the SE, for 280€, even the 128GB version for just 400€, I think this iPhone 8 is better...
Sure, it will always be easier to grab a 4" smartphone, but among all the modern smartphones nowadays, I think the iPhone 8 is the smallest option we can get.
I will keep you updated, as I still have 9 days ahead to fully test it. Who knows if it will be a turn of events... Today I saw the new iPad Pro, and I'd like to return this to buy the new tablet, but honestly, I need a smartphone more than a tablet. And I'm a Mac user anyway.
Unexpected turn of events: I've found a deal with a brand new 32GB Jet Black iPhone 7 for only 470€. That's 200€ cheaper than my 64GB iPhone 8.
I'm considering it, but I'm afraid battery life on the 7 will be worse... So I don't know what to do.
I'm considering it, but I'm afraid battery life on the 7 will be worse... So I don't know what to do.
Well, I used to think like you. And I will agree on the fact that a 4" screen is much more comfortable to use one handed, rather than a 4,7" iPhone, which also has big bezels.
That said, and after almost a week with my new iPhone 8, I have to say that, with a grippy and thin case, I've come to terms using my 4,7" iPhone with only one hand. With the phone naked it's impossible, its aluminum frame is very slippery, but with a proper case, you get used to it eventually.
Not sure I would be able to with an iPhone X, and definitely impossible for me with a XR, but this iPhone 6/7/8 shape is acceptable, I think.
Last edited:
Get Refrubished SE and save some Cash. Put it towards your next purchase.
iPhone SE is still usable on iOS 12 though.
iPhone SE is still usable on iOS 12 though.
I thought the same thing when the 6 came out, so I upgraded from 5 to 6. Over the course of the following year and a half, the larger size of the 6, particularly in my pockets, drove me nuts, so I got an SE, which I’m trying to ride as long as possible. I’d personally get another SE.
Totally respect that - that's why I would go iPhone 8 route. It will last longer (upgrades, CPU vitality etc).
Hello guys and gals. I wanted to bring you a quick update, and the conclusion of this story. Thanks to everyone for your opinions, all of them were taken into account.
I finally made a choice, I'm keeping this iPhone 8. The battery life is great honestly, it goes from 8 to 9 hours of on screen time -it is actually better since I disabled the Screen Time feature-, it has better WiFi and 4G reception than my SE, the GPS is accurate, the screen is gorgeous, and it is somehow manageable with one hand. Actually I use it only with one hand.
Just one caveat: it was almost impossible to handle without a case. The glass back is grippy, but the aluminum sides are slippery if don't managed carefully. Now I have a transparent thin silicone case, which is yellowish, but I don't care. It is thin enough to make or confortable, and thick enough to offer a bit of extra protection in case of any Drop. I don't count on it, but I won't carry my phone with a bulky case. Without the case, the phone is glossy and beautiful, but fragile.
With an A11 and iOS 12 I finally started to use Siri. I know Hey Siri it was available for my SE but 1) the power consumption was higher, and 2) Siri was a bit retarded on iOS 10. I mean, it's not the smartest on the class, but it's pretty useful on iOS 12. By the way, if anyone knows how to block my contacts to Siri I will be grateful, I don't want to make accidental calls to anyone.
The home button with the haptic feedback is kinda cool, but Touch ID 2 is amazing. I was used to the first version with my SE, but now it's much faster, wow..
The speakers are pretty loud, and the content is a bit more enjoyable on this 4,7" screen and the stereo speakers.
I haven't tested the camera too much, but I don't see a big improvement compared to the SE one. I even take some blurry images and this didn't happen with OIS, right? A bit disappointed with the camera honestly. I've seen some pictures from the XS and they are stunning.
I don't know if I'm missing something. I truly want to use more my smartphone and I think this step forward in tech is going to help me with that. I'm going to try social and dating apps like OKCupid or Tinder, although I'm not sure if I'll open an Instagram account. I'm not a cool guy who's taking pictures of their awesome trip or parties -I don't party-, but I like to take pictures of flowers and trees and dogs and cats and walls and doors and old churches... Is it worth to open an Instagram account if you're not going to pose?
Okay, I think I made my point, you can suggest me other apps tho, social or just useful. And yes, I already set up Apple pay on this iPhone.
Reading books on iBooks is not as comfortable as I thought on this 4,7" screen, but I have the regular iPad anyway. I find the iPad mini better suited for that purpose, but it's so underpowered and out dated that in not going to buy one until they refresh it.
I finally made a choice, I'm keeping this iPhone 8. The battery life is great honestly, it goes from 8 to 9 hours of on screen time -it is actually better since I disabled the Screen Time feature-, it has better WiFi and 4G reception than my SE, the GPS is accurate, the screen is gorgeous, and it is somehow manageable with one hand. Actually I use it only with one hand.
Just one caveat: it was almost impossible to handle without a case. The glass back is grippy, but the aluminum sides are slippery if don't managed carefully. Now I have a transparent thin silicone case, which is yellowish, but I don't care. It is thin enough to make or confortable, and thick enough to offer a bit of extra protection in case of any Drop. I don't count on it, but I won't carry my phone with a bulky case. Without the case, the phone is glossy and beautiful, but fragile.
With an A11 and iOS 12 I finally started to use Siri. I know Hey Siri it was available for my SE but 1) the power consumption was higher, and 2) Siri was a bit retarded on iOS 10. I mean, it's not the smartest on the class, but it's pretty useful on iOS 12. By the way, if anyone knows how to block my contacts to Siri I will be grateful, I don't want to make accidental calls to anyone.
The home button with the haptic feedback is kinda cool, but Touch ID 2 is amazing. I was used to the first version with my SE, but now it's much faster, wow..
The speakers are pretty loud, and the content is a bit more enjoyable on this 4,7" screen and the stereo speakers.
I haven't tested the camera too much, but I don't see a big improvement compared to the SE one. I even take some blurry images and this didn't happen with OIS, right? A bit disappointed with the camera honestly. I've seen some pictures from the XS and they are stunning.
I don't know if I'm missing something. I truly want to use more my smartphone and I think this step forward in tech is going to help me with that. I'm going to try social and dating apps like OKCupid or Tinder, although I'm not sure if I'll open an Instagram account. I'm not a cool guy who's taking pictures of their awesome trip or parties -I don't party-, but I like to take pictures of flowers and trees and dogs and cats and walls and doors and old churches... Is it worth to open an Instagram account if you're not going to pose?
Okay, I think I made my point, you can suggest me other apps tho, social or just useful. And yes, I already set up Apple pay on this iPhone.
Reading books on iBooks is not as comfortable as I thought on this 4,7" screen, but I have the regular iPad anyway. I find the iPad mini better suited for that purpose, but it's so underpowered and out dated that in not going to buy one until they refresh it.
Last edited: