True.
Of course there's size and weight, too. If one got a Xr or 11 and find themselves regretting the size, the SE might seem like a good opportunity to downsize. One just has to accept that the SE comes with accompanying reduction in battery life.
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.
iPhone SE (2016) So the SE been out a few weeks any regrets buying it?
- Thread starter Ixon2001
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Of course there's size and weight, too. If one got a Xr or 11 and find themselves regretting the size, the SE might seem like a good opportunity to downsize. One just has to accept that the SE comes with accompanying reduction in battery life.
I went from the 11, but I’ve been wanting a smaller phone, and I have picked up the 8 a lot of times in the Apple store and had small phone envy. With them upgrading the chip, I knew this would be a phone I would like.
Honestly, other than charging more often (but it charges quickly), and the buttons used for screen shots being different, the adjustment for me has been nil. I think I was just ready. Now when I pick up my daughter’s 11/grandson’s XR, they feel giant.
Some people don't live on their phones. It is there when they need it for whatever reason throughout the day. This is my kind of usage and with that, my iPhone 11 would usually be at least 75% battery at the end of every day.
Using it for occasional light web browsing, listening to music, and banking with my bank Apps, I was not really using that phone to the extent of justifying the added size, weight, and cost. That is why I 'downgraded' to the SE. It does almost everything the same as the big guys, only on a smaller screen, but is a lot nicer to carry around all the time.
Based on my usage, battery life is not a concern. Also, I really had no use for the ultra wide angle lens. The night mode was nice for the very rare occasion it was used.
Using it for occasional light web browsing, listening to music, and banking with my bank Apps, I was not really using that phone to the extent of justifying the added size, weight, and cost. That is why I 'downgraded' to the SE. It does almost everything the same as the big guys, only on a smaller screen, but is a lot nicer to carry around all the time.
Based on my usage, battery life is not a concern. Also, I really had no use for the ultra wide angle lens. The night mode was nice for the very rare occasion it was used.
The battery is such a big deal. I don’t want to have to charge it through out the day!
I got in on the WalMart deal for $199, and I really like this new SE. I had an XR, and just got tired of the bulk. Also, I wanted to give the XR to my college age son, who needed a replacement phone with more screen real estate for school. So, this was an inexpensive way to kill two birds with one stone....so to speak.
Finally, I have an iPad 7 for casual use and light productivity, so I really don’t need a large phone too.
Finally, I have an iPad 7 for casual use and light productivity, so I really don’t need a large phone too.
Yep, forgot about about size and weight mainly because those never bothered me before (although if the 12 PM is much more heavier than the 11PM, I may be changing as well), but you both hit the main point in that you knew what you were getting and the benefits outweighed any of the current new features.
Glad you both are enjoying your phones. Heck of a deal!
Not really. Wishing you had 120hz screen is a first world problem. Wishing your phone made it through the day is complete normal. If you work long days in an area with a bad signal, knowing you will have to charge your phone is an added headache. What if you want to go out for the night after work and your phone is at 20%? It’s not the end of the world, but having true all-day battery is worth whatever it costs to people like me.
True. Even cheap Android phones have huge batteries these days. Of course, most of those Androids are also bigger and heavier compared to the SE2.
In any case, hoping the 5.4" iPhone 12 will see a big improvement in battery life.
I can’t say I’ve ever had the need for a ‘bigger battery‘. I think iPhones are sufficient enough in terms of battery management where I genuinely don’t know anyone that just runs out of battery. Adding a bigger battery was already implemented, but the changes have to come internally to make the battery more efficient. So I don’t think it necessarily needs to just get bigger for the sake of making the phone thicker/heavier, when there’s so many other ways of Improving the iPhone to the A-Series processors/RAM management.
1800mah is tiny, no matter if it has the most efficient processor ever made. Anyone who is more than a casual user will not make it until the end of their day without a charge. My wife is a heavier user, and her 11 pro is usually around 20% by bedtime. The SE would be dead hours before that for her. There are plenty of people who do way more on their phones, too. If people had to pick THIN or all day battery life, I have a feeling the majority want thin. You hear people complaining all the time about how heavy their bigger phone is. We can’t have it both ways. Give me more battery, even if it’s thicker and heavier. A small phone that feels good in hand is useless if the battery dies and it’s not convenient to charge it.
Starting with the iPhone 7 with Apple A10 chipset, there's already been a big improvement particularly in terms standby battery life. I think chipset is already very efficient.
However, one of the biggest battery drains is still the display (particularly at high brightness), hence the relatively poor screen on time. OLED with dark mode helps but I don't think there's really been much improvement with energy efficiency on this front.
Honestly, one of the reasons I switched to iPads is because of poor screen on time/battery life on iPhones. By the time the Plus phones with better battery came out, I preferred the much larger screen real estate on the iPad already. Iirc though, still couldn't compete with iPad battery life.
If you are home all the time and have access to charging, returning the phone because it needs charging makes no sense. That is akin to someone buying new clothes every week, because said person doesn’t want to take the time to clean the dirty clothes.
The only thing I think some exaggerate is when they justify their purchase saying the bezels are better, its way better using a home button, OLED is overhyped etc...Yes I can easily understand someone likes a smaller device and don’t need the top of the line one, and yes, LCD screen are still very good screen but no, bezels make the phone bigger for no reasons, and the new touch controls are objectively better and quicker to use than the old home button Even iPads with home button include the new touch controls so the decision by Apple to not include then in old iPhone design model is purely marketing. The only reason someone would prefer the home button is if he prefer Touch ID over Face ID.
Same thing for OLED, its overall better than LCD screen but it doesn’t mean the LCD screen on the SE is crap. It just make me laugh when someone try to justify their purchase by saying old tech or design are better and that’s the reason why they chose it. Its like saying a Kia is better than a Ferrari. Yes, a Kia is a good car but it’s objectively not as good or better than a premium car.
Same thing for OLED, its overall better than LCD screen but it doesn’t mean the LCD screen on the SE is crap. It just make me laugh when someone try to justify their purchase by saying old tech or design are better and that’s the reason why they chose it. Its like saying a Kia is better than a Ferrari. Yes, a Kia is a good car but it’s objectively not as good or better than a premium car.
If they used a Qualcomm modem like the iP8 would be worth the money, as it stands with a intel it's a iP7 as far as reception goes so not really worth it. They start at $749AUD here.
Not sure how they get away with calling it a SE as it's a 8S nothing like a SE, those upgrading from a SE could of had a 6,6S,7 or the 8. 6S and 8 were the best models of this design reception wise. The only 2 iPhones since the 4S that have been given a blue tick by Australia's biggest Telco for better reception in rural areas.
Not sure how they get away with calling it a SE as it's a 8S nothing like a SE, those upgrading from a SE could of had a 6,6S,7 or the 8. 6S and 8 were the best models of this design reception wise. The only 2 iPhones since the 4S that have been given a blue tick by Australia's biggest Telco for better reception in rural areas.
Iirc, iPhone 7 CDMA was the one that still had Qualcomm and iPhone 8/X was when Apple moved to all Intel (at least in US).
As for branding, Apple can call it whatever the hell they want (as long as the name they use is not trademarked by someone else). The first SE was basically a 5SS anyway. A lot of people actually referred to it as the 5SE.
I also don’t understand the hype for the SE2 when its nothing more than a 8S for me as well. The current iPhone 8 is still a very decent phone and easily match the performance of the A13 chip in almost all situations. Plus in Canada its $599CAD, so its a little expensive for an « SE » that’s basically an iPhone 8.
The iPhone 8 was $449 here in the US before it was discontinued and replaced with the iPhone SE for $399. Call it an 8S if you want but bar 3D Touch (I always disabled that anyway), it's a better device for less money.
Particularly so if looking at the iPhone 8 256GB model. Iirc, that one didn't get a price drop and was simply discontinued when the 11 series was released so carriers were still selling it at previous MSRP of $699 last I checked (and I did check during the holiday sales since my 7's battery just wasn't holding up anymore).
I believe Verizon stores and apple unlocked used the Qualcomm, while GSM carrier phones got the intel. My T-Mobile 8+ both were intel, but my unlocked 8+ was Qualcomm. I never noticed the “huge” differences between them that so many people here swear by.
Yep, I have learned my lesson and will not get the SE2. (even though I very much prefer the design and homebutton over the notch) The horrible batterylife of my original SE isn't fun to deal with.
Love my phone. Coming from a 6s everything is so much better. Portraits of the kids come out wonderful. Only charging at night and it’s a fast charge. Honestly zero complaints so far.. can’t believe I only paid 250 for the 128 from Walmart. I feel like they just gave it to me. I’ve already paid it off and am upgrade eligible again.crazy deal. The phone is also so much more snappier than my wife’s $700 xs
How much was the 8 in Canada before the SE2020 launched? How much was the 8 in Canada when it launched? How much is the 11, 11 PRO and Max in Canada? The price of the SE2020 taken by itself can sound expensive if you want it to. But compare it to the ones mentioned and then we'll talk.
I think all of the points you’ve made have been at least iterated once, it’s obvious in terms of we all have different use cases for our phones and how they survive in terms of battery longevity. But my point was, if the battery becomes thicker, then you’re looking at a thicker phone/heavier phone with added glass and stainless, Which we all know Apple Has a lengthy history of wanting their devices over the course of time maturing to ‘become thinner‘.
But like I said, I think the improvements are internally adjusted Coinciding to battery efficiency, it doesn’t just have to resort to being a ‘thicker battery‘. Every keynote, Apple discusses how they have managed their battery data in terms of If you consider the efficiency of the A-Series processors, and micro-LED will be a major contributor when it does arrive, which will use less power draw over OLED, Which will also extend the life of the battery.
According to Apple the new processors are more battery efficient so I assume they are. But the real big noticeable improvement in iPhone battery life came when Apple put in bigger batteries.
iPhone XS ---------- 2658 mAh
iPhone 11 Pro-------3046 mAh = 15% bigger
iPhone XS Max------3174mAh
iPhone 11 Pro Max--3969mAh = 25% bigger
iPhone XR -----------2942mAh
iPhone 11 -----------3110mAh = 6% bigger
Processor efficiency had very little to do with the much improved battery life on the new phones. The new iPhone SE doesn't get much different battery life than the iPhone 8 which shares the same size battery despite 2 generation difference from A11 to A13 chip.
You want long battery life, you need a bigger battery which makes the phone bigger and heavier.