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iPhone SE (2016) This totally sucks. How do we convince Apple to keep making a 4" phone?
- Thread starter dan98
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Bought one a few days ago. I was expecting something smaller from Apple. My expectation were unfulfilled. I have an iPhone 7, a great device but I think it's just too bulky to carry around, especially during summer. I'll sell it if I'm pleased with the SE. I'll use my tablet or my Macbook for more screen estate. While on the move I just need something powerful but portable. The latest iPhones, with cover, are around 200gr in weight and no one seems to care.
When I have to go out for some little grocery shop or other casual things I just find the smartphone a nuisance, the same in my trousers pocket. True revolution would have been something in the form factor of the SE with bigger screen. Personally I do not need the latest and greatest in feature (and weight and dimensions) when it comes to smartphones. These are small tablets, the phone form factor has been sadly lost (pretty sure it will come back in fashion later on).
When I have to go out for some little grocery shop or other casual things I just find the smartphone a nuisance, the same in my trousers pocket. True revolution would have been something in the form factor of the SE with bigger screen. Personally I do not need the latest and greatest in feature (and weight and dimensions) when it comes to smartphones. These are small tablets, the phone form factor has been sadly lost (pretty sure it will come back in fashion later on).
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I started to use a 5c as a backup phone a few months ago. I use it when I'm out - for security reasons, don't want to lose my 6s on iOS 9 - and I have found that's really comfortable to use and carry. Yes, it has 8GB and it isn't that fast (it's running iOS 9; yet, surprisingly, it is decently snappy, but not blazing fast like my 6s).
But I would really love an SE as my use-while-out phone. If the SE is as fast as my 6s - which it should - then there will be no issues at all.
Not quite happy about Apple's form factor change.
I think a new gen of SE should be made. A 5” edge to edge display would pretty much satisfy everyone. It would be smaller than a 7.
I would purchase that just to switch Sim cards between having a larger iPhone Max and a smaller 5 inch OLED display. I did us previously with my iPhone Plus model and SE.
The only problem with elongating the screen to the edges of the device is that unless someone has large hands, they will no longer be able to reach all four corners of the screen with their thumb without shifting their grip on the phone, thus making it no longer a true one-handed device. In my opinion, that true one-handed usability is what makes the SE truly special and valuable. I figure once I have to start shifting grip, I might as well get an iPhone 8, etc.
Agree wholeheartedly. Elongate my 5c to the edges and it is no longer a true one-handed phone. Just throw some better specs in there, leave Touch ID and the home button (which is faster than Face ID, and I personally prefer the older design). That would be nice.
Okay, I understand that some people want a “4” inch phone, which I’m fine with, I think there is a decent amount of people who will drive sales for an updated “4” inch phone. However, there will be some compromises.
In the past 2 weeks this is how many size preferences I’ve seen (this includes apple’s lineup)
1. “4” inch updated se
2. “4.5”- “5” all screen no bezels
3. “5.8” Xs
4. “6.1” XR
5. “6.5” Xs Max
6. Above “6.5”
That is ridiculous, there is no way apple can cater to all these folks. Some people will be disappointed.
Nevertheless, I think if apple can find a way to make a 4.5-5 inch X mini. It will be small enough that SE owners can feel comfortable using & big enough for the 6/7/8 users and if they released it during the Spring like March-May. It would not cannibalize sales in the fall.
I couldn’t go back to an SE from a Max, but I do have family members that refuse to update their 5s until apple comes out with a smaller footprint.
In the past 2 weeks this is how many size preferences I’ve seen (this includes apple’s lineup)
1. “4” inch updated se
2. “4.5”- “5” all screen no bezels
3. “5.8” Xs
4. “6.1” XR
5. “6.5” Xs Max
6. Above “6.5”
That is ridiculous, there is no way apple can cater to all these folks. Some people will be disappointed.
Nevertheless, I think if apple can find a way to make a 4.5-5 inch X mini. It will be small enough that SE owners can feel comfortable using & big enough for the 6/7/8 users and if they released it during the Spring like March-May. It would not cannibalize sales in the fall.
I couldn’t go back to an SE from a Max, but I do have family members that refuse to update their 5s until apple comes out with a smaller footprint.
I mentioned before that a true smaller LCD version of the X would be 5.5". Overall the phone would be roughly the same size as the 4.7" 6/7/8. So, a 2019 could be...
5.5" LCD (750x1624) with same screen real estate as 5.8" X, but size of 6/7/8
5.8" OLED (1125x2436)
6.1" LCD (828x1792) with same screen real estate as 6.5" Max, but smaller
6.5" OLED (1242x2688)
Interesting at the Apple store yesterday, I was there for a bit and whilst there not one person went anywhere near the new XRs. Plenty of people looked at Watches and other stuff, I had a look at the XR and way it's huge size is very unappealing.
To answer the question of this thread, all you can do is just don't buy the new phones. Apple said that they brought the SE out because they were still selling a lot of 4" iPhones, if Apple see that a significant number of people are buying 4.7" iPhones or even 4" iPhones via other retailers, maybe they'll bring something out.
The positive thing I see about Apple releasing phones I don't want to buy is I've saved a lot of money.
To answer the question of this thread, all you can do is just don't buy the new phones. Apple said that they brought the SE out because they were still selling a lot of 4" iPhones, if Apple see that a significant number of people are buying 4.7" iPhones or even 4" iPhones via other retailers, maybe they'll bring something out.
The positive thing I see about Apple releasing phones I don't want to buy is I've saved a lot of money.
That's why I would absolutely fall in love with a full-screen phone the size of an iPhone 4. Will never happen of course, so at least I'm saving some money, I guess. Haven't bought a new iPhone in years and it looks like I'll be driving my current one into the ground. Not interested in phablets at all.
The XR has the same amount of screen real estate as the Max, yet has a smaller footprint than the Max.
My bet is the XR outsells the Max, which in turn outsells the XS.
Still on a 5S, actually. At the time that the SE was released, the 5s still felt reasonably current so I didn't upgrade immediately. After some time had gone by, I started waiting for an SE successor which obviously never materialized. The fact of the matter is that the 5s actually runs better than ever on iOS 12. I've also had its battery replaced. So overall I'm good for the moment and fine with the money saved. But I do like to run the latest software so we'll see what 2019 brings, when the 5S will almost certainly stop being supported.
The 5s is really good. I had one on iOS 8. Really fast, and great phone overall.
I'm of the ones who believe that older iPhones are perfectly usable, and newer devices being available do not impact the usability or my personal enjoyment of the phone.
I have said it in another thread: as long as my device works well, I don't really care about the newest devices. So, same principle, basically.
If you like the form factor, and want to upgrade, then you can always get an SE, if you like to run the latest iOS version (thing which I absolutely do not recommend, but that's another discussion). It should still be really fast.
Fully screen iPhone 4 would be slightly better but still a bit bigger than the 4” screen of the 5/se. I’d actually love to go back to the 3.5” 3:2 form factor of the 4, but that will never happen.
I wanted to stay on my 5s but Apple Pay and 128gb storage on the SE was too compelling for me. The upgraded camera was a big contributing factor too.
The thing that really annoyed me about the 5S later on was the constant tab reloads in Safari. That happens much, much less frequently on my 7 Plus.
By the way, this old iPod remains my absolute favorite device to hold in the hand, yet its almost twice as thick as the iPhone 5s. So, if what's holding Apple back is their inability to fit all of the components (including a sufficiently large battery) into a smaller form factor, I really think they should consider simply increasing the device's thickness. Would get rid of the camera bump as well.
Same, I look back on the iPod 2nd Gen as one of my favourite devices ever. If I could get a music service like Apple Music working on an iPod, even a Nano, I'd be using it today. The next best thing is an iPhone SE (iPod Touch is OK but the battery life isn't good enough).
Actually, if you watch the 2016 Keynote, when the iPhone SE was announced, Greg Joswiak specifically mentioned that the SE was heavily requested to be return in its current form factor (and) at an affordable price. Those are the two things I think Apple is trying to execute, but more so, they wanted this phone to be an out-reach in countries where they know their other iPhone models are way too expensive.
I think it’s possible Apple could return another iPhone that might be more entry level in terms of pricing, but no doubt it will never look the same again and will likely be more expensive, not including the 3.5 mm Jack, as some believe it will.
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They started selling them again but they will kill them off after they have no more stock.
Your best bet is iPhone XR or Pixel 3 (not XL)
They are slightly bigger but fit in the pocket nicely and aren't huge I use a pixel 3 and it works fine but if you want to stick with iPhone then get an XR.
They started selling them again but they will kill them off after they have no more stock.
Your best bet is iPhone XR or Pixel 3 (not XL)
They are slightly bigger but fit in the pocket nicely and aren't huge I use a pixel 3 and it works fine but if you want to stick with iPhone then get an XR.