iPhone 16e The "e" vs the "SE" - Which was Better?

[ElPaso]

When the iPhone SE (1st gen) came out in 2016 (ten years! wow) I bought one and used it for a little over a year. Now, I use a 16e, which is today's budget device (along with the 17e). Frankly, I love both of them - wonderfully capable iPhones "stripped down" a bit for cost, but still excellent.

I have to say that I liked the 2016 SE a leetle more than my 16e. I especially liked the iPhone 5 chassis -- classic, squared off, fits in a pocket easily - - But don't get me wrong, I'm not ready to part with the 16e, but out of the two I think I liked the SE gooder.

Anyone else have experience with both the SE models and the "e"s?

 

[Juicy Box]

iPhone SE1 is still one of the best Apple devices ever produced. I still use mine on occasion.

The size was perfect for one’s hand, pockets, cars, and wallet as well (price).

It was fast for its time, had excellent battery life considering the tiny size, and didn’t have a camera bump.

It was all that while still being thin, and so light.

 

[!!!]

SE.

• Touch ID
• No OLED
• No hole in the display
• Smaller screen size

 

[JPack]

16e/17e is better because it more closely resembles a modern iPhone experience.

The original SE in 2016 had that feel, but by the time SE2/SE3 arrived, the form factor was too out of date.

 

[1rottenapple]

SE was such a good phone. I know it’s not feasible to have a small phone with 5 in screen buy still.

 

[doogm]

SE.

• Touch ID
• No OLED
• No hole in the display
• Smaller screen size

While I didn't mind Touch ID phones, Face ID is infinitely better IMO. As is OLED. There may not have been a hole in the display, but there was a ton of unused space top and bottom - I'll take the notch.

Fair note: I have the 16e as a backup device, never had the SE, but I wouldn't buy a device like the SE even with the A19 and a current modem.

 

[Sosab123]

The SE and 5 designs will always be my favorite of all designs of Apple. The size lets you see the entire screen with a single glance. There is a benefit to that.

If Apple did another iPhone Mini, i'd buy one.

 

[!!!]

While I didn't mind Touch ID phones, Face ID is infinitely better IMO. As is OLED

Touch ID simply works faster, you can unlock your phone at any time with just your hand touching it, which you'll need anyways to use your phone. With Face ID, you must have your face positioned correctly in front of the screen for a long enough time for it to register and subsequently unlock. I can have my Touch ID-based phone unlocked before it is fully in my view and ready to use. Face ID is just plain slower as a technology. Furthermore, unlocking via Face ID requires a swipe, whereas Touch ID can be set up to go directly into the phone upon fingerprint recognition. Face ID does not work with face coverings nor does it work in bed or when your phone is on a table. Another critical component is intent, with Touch ID the intent is always clear, touching the fingerprint sensor unlocks your phone. With Face ID, your phone unlocks even if you just wanted to view the lock screen, and to "force" intent Apple has to resort to weird things like double pressing the power button when making payments, which forces you to hold the phone in an unnatural way, especially with how large these phones are now.

OLED is bad because it gives people eye pain, headaches, nausea, and in some cases migraines. I don't care that my phone does not display "perfect black", this has never been an issue in all my years of owning a phone. I've never thought to myself "wow, this person's text would be so much better if the black font was imperceptibly darker!"

 

[1rottenapple]

Touch ID simply works faster, you can unlock your phone at any time with just your hand touching it, which you'll need anyways to use your phone. With Face ID, you must have your face positioned correctly in front of the screen for a long enough time for it to register and subsequently unlock. I can have my Touch ID-based phone unlocked before it is fully in my view and ready to use. Face ID is just plain slower as a technology. Furthermore, unlocking via Face ID requires a swipe, whereas Touch ID can be set up to go directly into the phone upon fingerprint recognition. Face ID does not work with face coverings nor does it work in bed or when your phone is on a table. Another critical component is intent, with Touch ID the intent is always clear, touching the fingerprint sensor unlocks your phone. With Face ID, your phone unlocks even if you just wanted to view the lock screen, and to "force" intent Apple has to resort to weird things like double pressing the power button when making payments, which forces you to hold the phone in an unnatural way, especially with how large these phones are now.

OLED is bad because it gives people eye pain, headaches, nausea, and in some cases migraines. I don't care that my phone does not display "perfect black", this has never been an issue in all my years of owning a phone. I've never thought to myself "wow, this person's text would be so much better if the black font was imperceptibly darker!"

Ok I will say touchid has a higher failure rate vs face id for ME. My iPad mini usually fails after I wash my hands. FACEID has less failures rates, its usually d/t the angle when it fails to detect.

 

[James6s]

Touch ID simply works faster, you can unlock your phone at any time with just your hand touching it, which you'll need anyways to use your phone. With Face ID, you must have your face positioned correctly in front of the screen for a long enough time for it to register and subsequently unlock. I can have my Touch ID-based phone unlocked before it is fully in my view and ready to use. Face ID is just plain slower as a technology. Furthermore, unlocking via Face ID requires a swipe, whereas Touch ID can be set up to go directly into the phone upon fingerprint recognition. Face ID does not work with face coverings nor does it work in bed or when your phone is on a table. Another critical component is intent, with Touch ID the intent is always clear, touching the fingerprint sensor unlocks your phone. With Face ID, your phone unlocks even if you just wanted to view the lock screen, and to "force" intent Apple has to resort to weird things like double pressing the power button when making payments, which forces you to hold the phone in an unnatural way, especially with how large these phones are now.

OLED is bad because it gives people eye pain, headaches, nausea, and in some cases migraines. I don't care that my phone does not display "perfect black", this has never been an issue in all my years of owning a phone. I've never thought to myself "wow, this person's text would be so much better if the black font was imperceptibly darker!"

Some wrong statements in here… Face ID does work in bed, in complete darkness. It can register your face at more angles than when it was first launched, and while on a table.
Your face doesn’t need to be directly and perfectly aligned in front of the display to unlock your device. When you set up Face ID it asks if you want to use it with a mask/face covering. Also when you’re naturally holding your device, your thumb is near the power button making it easy and convenient using Apple Pay when double pressing it.
There is no delay in Face ID recognising your face, it’s instant.

I had a higher failure rate with Touch ID, eg any moisture or dirt/grease etc on your fingers.