iPhone SE (2016) Those who have gone from bigger, newer phones to SE - why? Thoughts so far?

[subjonas]

I really dislike cases. The XS part - I have to accept the reality and move on. If XS and SE 2nd gen are almost same size, the choice is clear.

How about a clear skin instead of a case? Those can add some grip, and are a much lesser evil than a case.
I dislike cases too, unless I don’t care for a phone’s design. I never wanted to cover up my 3.5” - 4” iPhones—they were beautiful and felt great to hold. And they never needed a case because they were designed to be held and used with one hand. Never had one slip out of my hand from 2009 til now (had a short stint with a plus iPhone which I definitely had to use a case and still dropped).

You’re allowed to detest the 6 form factor and stick with SE1, but outside of that, dont act like there arent any reasons to upgrade, there are plenty: wireless charging, Silicon 4 generations newer, 3GB of ram, a way better camera, stereo speakers, second generation Haptic Touch ID, P3 screen that has better contrast and is higher quality, water resistance, improved battery life (A13 is going to be much better on iOS 13 than A9 which shipped with iOS 9 in 2016)

As far as I can tell, merode wasn’t saying there’s no reason to buy the new SE, they were just saying the only reason to choose the SE over a smaller flagship is price, because they don’t think there is a significant difference in size and slipperyness.
Although I’d say another reason someone would choose the SE is a preference for Touch ID.

 

[Clovis559]

I haven't moved to the SE, but I wish they would recognize people want small phones. I have a computer, a laptop, etc. I don't need a tablet in my pocket. If they made a flagship SE, take my my money... don't care... would die for. Make it rain debt... I'd be first in line... online...

 

[sjmontante]

I'm seriously considering moving to it. Frankly I've been looking to simplify my phone and usage anyway. I'm tired of the monthly installment payments and ATT in general. With a family full of phones, installment payments, data costs, etc our bill is over 400 month-- I've had enough. I'd rather buy an inexpensive phone outright, then shop for a carrier.

 

[SeanZy]

I went from iPhone 11 Pro to the new SE.

To me, it feels like an upgrade. I don’t miss the extra bulkiness and size. Sure, the screen on the 11 Pro was bigger and better overall, but I honestly got used to my SE screen in less than a day. I never liked Face ID. I didn’t mind it, but I prefer the comfort and speed of Touch ID. Half the time, the phone is laying flat on a table at work. With Face ID, I always had to pick it up in order to aim at my face. Otherwise, it wouldn’t unlock, which was truly annoying. With Touch ID, I unlock the phone from any angle.

Oh, and about the extra cameras on the 11 Pro - total gimmick. You know how many times I used the wide angle lens or the zoom? - Once! Literally once. And that was to see how it works. The photos in wide angle and zoom came out rather grainy. So I didn’t care for it and never used it.

But for me it ultimately came down to size. While many will argue that they can use their iPhone 11 Pro one-handed, I feel that the new SE is the only phone I can comfortably grip and use with one hand. It’s simply the most practical modern iPhone in that regard.

Speed-wise, I find the SE snappier than my iPhone 11 Pro. Could be because of the smaller screen. Navigating through menus feels faster.

One thing I learned is that you can never convince people which device works best for them. Many people simply don’t understand that newer tech and bigger doesn’t mean better.

Interesting about the cameras. The photos I was able to get on my trip to europe and Iceland last year alone made the phone worth it to me. The camera alone is precisely the reason I would not go to an SE. But I do like the smaller form factor as i downgraded from the XS max to the regular 11 pro.

 

[no_idea]

This will be my next phone...I’ve had an X for 2.5 years now but ever since I plucked down $1249, I have been realizing it was not worth the money. I’m going to hang onto the X as long as it will survive. For some reason, it’s hard for me to be ok with spending north of $600 on any phone. There’s more to life than spending your money on that.

 

[brandonnnnnnn]

This will be my next phone...I’ve had an X for 2.5 years now but ever since I plucked down $1249, I have been realizing it was not worth the money. I’m going to hang onto the X as long as it will survive. For some reason, it’s hard for me to be ok with spending north of $600 on any phone. There’s more to life than spending your money on that.

I had the X and made the switch. I would recommend selling it to cover most of the cost of an SE. Look around too, might be able to get a deal and not have to pay anything with selling your iPhone X. You are right on it is not worth paying 1K for a phone. Luckily, my ATT business account was ready for an upgrade and I only had to pay 99 cents plus taxes. The SE is excellent and you have the fast A13 like their flagships. I love it! Original iPhone X release day owner.

 

[UnusedLoginID]

Luckily, my ATT business account was ready for an upgrade and I only had to pay 99 cents plus taxes.

Ah! the contract subsidies! Reminds me of the good (sarcasm!) old times when people were ending up paying way more for their phone than they should have thanks to outrageous line fees and other services like insurance.

 

[DrRadon]

If they had another SE in the 5s from i would get it. Could have just made the screen 100% on the front of that, maybe a better camera sensor and be don with it.
I don't need a larger phone. I don't want a larger phone. Never got the trend towards bigger phones, 99% of the things i would do on a bigger screen i only do at home and thats were iPad, MacBook, iMac and my TV are.

 

[thadoggfather]

If they had another SE in the 5s from i would get it. Could have just made the screen 100% on the front of that, maybe a better camera sensor and be don with it.
I don't need a larger phone. I don't want a larger phone. Never got the trend towards bigger phones, 99% of the things i would do on a bigger screen i only do at home and thats were iPad, MacBook, iMac and my TV are.

that may be the rumored 5.4” model they’re releasing in fall or whenever with the others. SE sizedish except X style

 

[libertysat]

I just pushed the Buy button

My 8+ is in perfect condition & they giving $250 trade in for this huge ass phone (I regretted getting the plus within 24 hours)
After taxes $161.96 for a new SE2020
(plus another $21.71 for a Spigen case)

 

[rui no onna]

Ah! the contract subsidies! Reminds me of the good (sarcasm!) old times when people were ending up paying way more for their phone than they should have thanks to outrageous line fees and other services like insurance.

That depends.

In general, Android users, single line plans and folks who didn't upgrade every 2 years were were getting shafted.

Every 2-year iPhone upgraders, not really

Iirc, this one's 700 shared minutes, unlimited shared text and unlimited data.

$240/mo plan * 24 + $199 device upfront * 4 = $6,560

Consider $650 actual cost per iPhone.

$6,560 - $2,600 = $3,960 / 24 = $165 / 4 = $41.25/mo per line service cost

 

[sadsack]

Hey All. I moved from an iPhone XS to a Pixel 4 last year, for a change after 7 years. Still had access to iPads and MacBook etc and love other apple devices like the Apple TV. However, i liked the thought of freedom of the stock android to tinker with. The camera is amazing and OS has some interesting concepts. Most of all,it's different from iOS and the stock android is the only one I would try, straight from Google. However, when I saw the iPhone SE come out, I was intrigued and now have returned to an iPhone. 128 GB red. I like what I have seen so far and like it even more bec, it is fast and feels good to use. It reminds me of the iPad mini 5. Old body but powerful features. I have face unlock on my iPad pro and pixel, but the touch id just works so quickly. If this device was going to be your only camera, I would say you have nothing to worry about, people use so many apps to edit images etc, you cannot tell what is real anymore. I love the old size of these phones, it is balanced. My wife's X's feels like a solid, weighty brick in comparison when it should not. If you can put up with the old looks, this is a bargain of a device and a power horse. Keeping hold of my pixel for now as a backup device which has some excellent features. But you cannot go wrong with this SE. I love most of Apples products, but if it was not the top internals of this phone and price point, I would probably not have returned to apple as my main phone.

 

[menist]

I’m planning to get the SE. I initially got a 11 pro at launch, couldn’t justify the price tag, so I return it and got a 8+ 64GB from Visible for $360+tax (factory unlocked). No way I’ll spend 1k on a phone nor will I upgrade to, and pay more (monthly) for 5G later this year. The SE will do for hopefully the next year or so.

 

[haddy]

No one would ever say I have big hands for a guy, but I don’t see how anyone can reliably type on a phone that’s the size of the new se. I know up until the iPhone 6+, hundreds of millions of us did it. I just don’t know how I could go back to that feeling, when even the iPhone 11 felt more narrow than the 8+ I’m used to. The feeling in hand is definitely awesome on the se, but I just type way too much to ever be able to reliably use it.

I have an 8 and I never type messages I just use the microphone and talk. It works really well🎙

 

[Takeo]

I went from the original SE (and a 5 before that) to the new SE and I’m actually finding it a bit big and (most of all) really heavy. I think it’s only 30 grams heavier but it feels much heavier. Odd. I don’t know how people can walk around with a X or 11 Plus. I never could. I really preferred the small light original SE but I know it’s going to be end-of-life pretty soon so I figured it’s time to finally get a “big” (to me) phone.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I went from the original SE (and a 5 before that) to the new SE and I’m actually finding it a bit big and (most of all) really heavy. I think it’s only 30 grams heavier but it feels much heavier. Odd. I don’t know how people can walk around with a X or 11 Plus. I never could. I really preferred the small light original SE but I know it’s going to be end-of-life pretty soon so I figured it’s time to finally get a “big” (to me) phone.

It probably feels heavy because you already had mindset about the new phone with it’s size. I seriously doubt 1oz difference would be noticeable without the unintended bias.

 

[alvincth]

This will be my next phone...I’ve had an X for 2.5 years now but ever since I plucked down $1249, I have been realizing it was not worth the money. I’m going to hang onto the X as long as it will survive. For some reason, it’s hard for me to be ok with spending north of $600 on any phone. There’s more to life than spending your money on that.

I have an iPhone X too which is nearly two years (about a month left). The new iPhone SE which is the same body as iPhone 8 should be lighter and a bit smaller than X but these facts do not mean iPhone X is bad or SE is so good that I should sell X to pay for a little for SE.

I also have another option by switching back to my original 4-inch iPhone SE, which doesn't cost me any money. iPhone X is enough for me though. I don't carry any case or have screen protector on it, so the weight is still okay for My single hand despite not feeling so light.

There will be better phones in the future. In the past I thought of a better camera (Portrait mode for objects) with size smaller than Plus iPhone when iPhone X was launched, while using iPhone SE. Now I don't need so many functions on my phone and smaller is better. A year or two later I may have other criteria of a new phone. I don't think I should make a decision now. Just keep looking. Mostly keeping my iPhone X.

 

[GuruZac]

I’ve tossed the idea around but the SE is so close to the size of my 11 Pro and my 11 Pro was paid for in full upfront so I’ll stick with the 11 Pro. I am now toying with the idea of buying an SE as a phone to swap SIM cards back and forth with my 11 Pro. Old school experience to new school experience.

Not to hijack the thread, but I find the 11 Pro cameras not a gimmick at all, and quite good if you know the kind of shot you are wanting to get. The Ultra Wide angle is the most fun to use. But, with that said, if the SE was out in November when I got my 11 Pro, I would have bought the SE or 11 and saved hundreds of dollars. At the end of the day, the experience of using an SE, 11, 11 Pro/MAX is identical for almost all daily tasks.

 

[Lowhangers]

I'm seriously considering moving to it. Frankly I've been looking to simplify my phone and usage anyway. I'm tired of the monthly installment payments and ATT in general. With a family full of phones, installment payments, data costs, etc our bill is over 400 month-- I've had enough. I'd rather buy an inexpensive phone outright, then shop for a carrier.

Try Consumer Cellular, it uses ATT networks but it's way cheaper. Great coverage too. And you can change your plan anytime you want. Highly recommended.

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[bobjonesco]

Went from XS to the new SE. I don't miss the screen (or it's size) and it feels faster and less precious somehow.
Very happy with it.

 

[Kagio]

To everyone on the “size” argument:

Did you knew this holiday iPhone 2020 will have a new small size modern iPhone?

Like, ...exactly the size of current SE but screen to the edges, OLED, and many more modern features? sort of like a small nom-pro iPhone 11.

Its practically a fact that iPhone is coming.

I went from the Xs Max back to the original SE, and now with the new SE.

After getting my iPad mini 5, I spent more time using it than I did my Xs Max. I had been getting tired of big size and cost of the large phones and use of the iPad mini 5 made that feeling stronger.

The smaller phone size is much easier to use and transport. I don’t consume a lot of media on my phone or work a lot on my phone. That is what the iPad mini 5 is for, and it does it so much better than the iPhone.

I also liked my iPhone 4s and I missed that form factor, usability and price. I don’t regret for a moment leaving the large phone and price tag behind, even though I can easily afford them. I would rather spend money on the Apple Watch and upgrading the mini down the line, than spending money on a big brick of a phone with a lot of features I don’t really need.

Currently, I'm using a Samsung Galaxy S10, however, I'm planning to return back to IOS ecosystem since I hold Macbook and Ipad. Given the fact that I have Apple devices, it makes sense for me to complete the triangle with an Apple phone combined with Airpods Pro in the future.

The reasons that I'm considering to replace S10 with SE 2020:
1- Returning to the IOS ecosystem, greater integration of devices.
2- Compact form factor of new SE
3- Better camera, albeit not having the wide-angle lens.

Nonetheless, in where I'm living ah the moment, the prices of SE and XS are almost identical. Therefore it is a tough pick for me to decided between the two because at the end of the day XS is a compact device as well and I do not believe it will have any performance issues whatsoever in a foreseeable future.

I went from iPhone 11 Pro to the new SE.

To me, it feels like an upgrade. I don’t miss the extra bulkiness and size. Sure, the screen on the 11 Pro was bigger and better overall, but I honestly got used to my SE screen in less than a day. I never liked Face ID. I didn’t mind it, but I prefer the comfort and speed of Touch ID. Half the time, the phone is laying flat on a table at work. With Face ID, I always had to pick it up in order to aim at my face. Otherwise, it wouldn’t unlock, which was truly annoying. With Touch ID, I unlock the phone from any angle.

Oh, and about the extra cameras on the 11 Pro - total gimmick. You know how many times I used the wide angle lens or the zoom? - Once! Literally once. And that was to see how it works. The photos in wide angle and zoom came out rather grainy. So I didn’t care for it and never used it.

But for me it ultimately came down to size. While many will argue that they can use their iPhone 11 Pro one-handed, I feel that the new SE is the only phone I can comfortably grip and use with one hand. It’s simply the most practical modern iPhone in that regard.

Speed-wise, I find the SE snappier than my iPhone 11 Pro. Could be because of the smaller screen. Navigating through menus feels faster.

One thing I learned is that you can never convince people which device works best for them. Many people simply don’t understand that newer tech and bigger doesn’t mean better.

I went from 8+ to the new SE and love this size phone. It took me less than a day to get used to it and I'm realizing I spent the last three years trying to convince myself that bigger phone felt comfortable in my hand. It simply never did but I kept using it because it was "supposed" to be better!

Without a doubt yes. Feel in hand is much nicer. I am actually surprised just how much I like the device compared to my 11 pro max. I have no regrets.

On paper a few mm doesn’t seem like a big deal, but in usage it actually is. The weight is probably the biggest difference. I think it’s 30 grams, which is significant when you are taking about 150 - 180grams total. Using the SE for a few days will make most to the new phones feel like a brick in your pocket.

I went from a Plus size to the previous SE 4 years ago simply because I hated the bulk of the Plus. I want a phone that feels comfortable in my hand and fits nicely into a small pocket while barely noticing it’s there.

To me, the biggest drawback to the current SE is that it’s too big. I bought one anyway because I know Apple will eventually phase out updates and I want to be able to run the latest software.

I also don‘t like the position of the power button. It’s awkward on the right because when you push it, you often end up hitting the volume on the other side.

Lastly, I have a bigger problem in that my carrier (Consumer Cellular), doesn’t support Visual VoiceMail within their T-Mobile network, so I have to call my own number a few times an hour to see if I have any voice messages. At least the phones from the 90s let me know when I have a voice message.

That‘s not Apple’s fault. I’m going to need to switch carriers or get them to ship me an AT & T SIM.

 

[rui no onna]

To everyone on the “size” argument:

Did you knew this holiday iPhone 2020 will have a new small size modern iPhone?

Like, ...exactly the size of current SE but screen to the edges, OLED, and many more modern features? sort of like a small nom-pro iPhone 11.

Its practically a fact that iPhone is coming.

Been waiting too long to upgrade already. Just can't wait another half a year or so more. Besides, thus far OLED = migraine trigger for me.

I had originally been planning to keep the SE as backup if a small iPhone 12 at $600-700 does get released. With the current economy though, it seems far more likely I just keep using the SE and skip ~$800 (for 256GB) phone purchases.

 

[MandiMac]

To everyone on the “size” argument:

Did you knew this holiday iPhone 2020 will have a new small size modern iPhone?

Like, ...exactly the size of current SE but screen to the edges, OLED, and many more modern features? sort of like a small nom-pro iPhone 11.

Its practically a fact that iPhone is coming.

Yes, but it won't be starting at 399 either.

 

[raybo]

To everyone on the “size” argument:

Did you knew this holiday iPhone 2020 will have a new small size modern iPhone?

Like, ...exactly the size of current SE but screen to the edges, OLED, and many more modern features? sort of like a small nom-pro iPhone 11.

Its practically a fact that iPhone is coming.

Yes, but - it won't be close to $399, and the 5G modem will be generation 1. I'd wait for that...in the meantime, I'm looking forward to my Red 256GB SE... Edge-to-edge for me is just a gimmick, it looks cool, but when you hold the phone your fingertips block part of the screen. I like the small side bezels on the SE design... I saw Linus Tech Tips review the MacBook Air and he noted that some folks complain how "old" the large top bezel looks compared to the Dell - but it allows the MacBook's palm rests to be large enough to be comfortable for 90% of people's hands...function beats looks every time.

 

[benjo765]

My iPhone X recently had face ID stop working. Its out of warranty and I have smaller hands, to the extent that even that size is a little uncomfortable to hold. I guess the Face ID stopping working for no reason has left a bad taste in my mouth, so thinking either the SE2 or this rumored 5.4” iphone 12.