Remember all the years of iPhones with 3.5" and 4" displays? Those devices seem antiquated today given that Android manufacturers have been pushing devices that barely (or do not) fit in your pocket. Apple finally decided to embrace the large phone movement in September of 2014 by introducing the iPhone 6 with a 4.7" display. Most people have adjusted to larger phones, but I always found myself switching back to the outdated iPhone 5S after using larger phones. Finally, Apple released the new iPhone SE; a familiar looking phone with a 4" display, but packed with hardware found on its latest flagship, the iPhone 6S.
I have been using the iPhone SE since its launch on March 31, 2016 and here is what you need to know:
The homescreen on my iPhone SE
- Yes, it is the same design as the iPhone 5/5S and your old case will fit it perfectly.
- Yes, it features almost all the latest specs found on the iPhone 6S, omitting 3D Touch.
- No, it does not have the updated Touch ID sensor from the 6S. This is a good thing (in my opinion) because the new sensor on the 6S unlocks too fast when the user may be trying to view lock screen notifications. I found the SE sensor, which carries over from the 5S, to be slightly faster thanks to the new A9 chipset.
- Yes, it has one of the best cameras on the market (12 megapixels with ƒ/2.2 aperture). Though, the front "FaceTime" camera is underwhelming with a 1.2‑megapixel sensor and ƒ/2.4 aperture. While competitors may have beefier specs for the primary camera, Apple tends to have a fine-tuned and reliable experience with their camera configuration.
- Yes, the battery life is phenomenal. Apple's A9 chipset is super efficient with a small display; I receive nearly 3 days of normal use without charging. Seriously.
Why you will dislike the SE:
- The SE is not designed to entertain you for hours while waiting for a delayed flight (it will hurt your eyes), but it is enjoyable to pocket while hiking, running, walking -- any time you do not want a huge brick-sized device in your pocket.
- If you are coming from a device with a larger screen and the size does not bother you, skip the SE. Adjusting from the 5" display of my Samsung Galaxy S6 was jarring for the first few days. Once my eyes adjusted to the small SE display, the S6 felt like a tablet. However, I slightly miss the large display of the Samsung because the interface was less cramped.
- If you are coming from a device that supports Fast Charging standards, you will wonder why such a small phone with a tiny battery takes hours to charge.
- Disappointing speaker for streaming audio. The speakerphone for calls tends to be robust, but playing music from its bottom-mounted speaker lacks high volume and quality. If you are concerned about the experience of media playback, check out the HTC flagships featuring BoomSound.
Why you will love the SE:
- It fits in your pocket and you forget it is there.
- Call quality and earpiece volume is excellent, especially when placing VoLTE calls on T-Mobile or Verizon's network.
- It is easy to walk and send text messages at the same time with one hand. However, this is evil on city sidewalks, and you are annoying everyone in your path.
- It's quick. Opening and switching apps is refreshing since there is no delay, and graphic rendering is smooth while scrolling.
- Easy to grip. I am not sure why some Android manufacturers think a glass chassis is a good idea if you have to use a case to prevent the phone from slipping from your hand.
Apple introduced a "reachability" feature on its larger models, which makes it easier to reach buttons/actions with one-handed use. The feature shifts the screen content lower on the display, so your thumb can reach everything without moving your hand. It may work well for some people, but I found it cumbersome as it introduces extra clicks.
In conclusion, it boils down to whether you want a phone that is easy to live with, or a phone with a larger display that makes extended use enjoyable. For now, the SE is my daily driver and my favorite phone on the market.