Apple’s new iPhone SE is an interesting blend of old and new. You have a body that looks nigh identical to the iPhone 5S, and you have the processor of the blazing iPhone 6S in it. One might think “Who in their right mind would buy a new phone that looks like an old phone?” Which is why the iPhone SE is such an interesting device. Because I would.
What’s in a name?
It is easier to just call this the iPhone 5S(E) because in more ways than one, this is the (E)nhanced version of the iPhone 5S. Short of a new Rose Gold colour, a matte chamfered edge, an SE logo on the back, and a stainless steel inset Apple logo, it looks almost exactly the same as the iPhone 5S.
Which isn't such a bad thing since this is still my favourite iPhone design to date. The sharper corners, the flatter sides, all adds to the feel of a precision-built, beautifully-machined product. It is a design that will still hold its own when compared to modern smartphones, a huge testament to Apple’s design chops.
(Keeping in mind the design actually started in 2012 with the iPhone 5)
While I have largely gotten used to using larger devices, it still feels great to be able to use a phone with one hand securely even while I am on the move. It did take a bit longer than I expected to get used to typing with two thumbs on the phone though.
Taking recycling seriously
It feels a bit pointless to talk about how good a 4-inch screen with 1136 by 640 resolution is, for obvious reasons. If you're buying this phone, it won't be for the screen. That said, the display inherited from the 5S still looks pretty decent, despite not having as good a viewing angle and contrast ratio as compared to newer iPhones.
(With a 4-inch screen, you get lesser content on screen)
The display isn't the only thing recycled from the iPhone 5S though. You get a similar 1.2MP Facetime camera as well as the same (still quite capable) Touch ID sensor. There is no 5MP front camera, or the speedier 2nd-Generation Touch ID from the iPhone 6S.
(Pretty much the same sensor you find on the iPhone 6 & 6 Plus)
Since the iPhone SE uses the same front panel as the iPhone 5S, it lacks 3D Touch & Taptic Engine. To me I found 3D Touch pretty useful on the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. It allows me to quickly access a function of an app on the home screen, or use it to edit text easily, something I do a lot when drafting blog posts. On the iPhone SE however, I don't find myself missing 3D Touch as much. Perhaps due to the smaller screen, it is easier and quicker to access all parts of the display, mitigating the need for 3D Touch a little. For the Taptic Engine, most people are not going to notice the lack of the subtler haptic feedback.
(Using the 3D Touch to edit text)
Packing a punch
While the exterior was largely kept the same, the internals got a huge upgrade. It now packs the same Apple A9 processor found on the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, and a reported 2GB of RAM. The phone is stupid fast. It’s like putting the engine of a Ferrari 458 in a Lotus Elise. It feels even smoother and faster than the iPhone 6S, perhaps due to having lesser pixels to push around. The iPhone SE is not just fast for a small phone, it’s fast, period.
With the new A9 processor, you can now wake your iPhone up with “Hey Siri” even without being connected to a charger.
Despite its diminutive size, the battery lasts surprisingly long. The iPhone SE is the perfect showcase for how bigger isn’t always better. It also demonstrates Apple’s advantage when it comes to software and hardware integration. It even outlasts the iPhone 6S, probably because it has lesser hardware features to power.
(Other tradeoffs compared to the iPhone 6S includes the lack of Cat 6 LTE,
MIMO support for Wifi, and a barometer, but these are mostly not as crucial,
and doesn’t affect the overall experience of the phone.)
Sharpshooter
(No unsightly camera hump here)
The iPhone SE also inherited the iPhone 6S’ 12MP iSight camera. While it may not be the best camera in the market, it is certainly still one of the better ones around. Having that camera in such a compact form factor is a liberating experience actually. The phone is light, and easy to handle even one-handed, making it a joy to shoot with.
Even though the phone lacks 3D Touch, you do have the ability to shoot and view Live Photos. Instead of pressing harder to watch a Live Photo, you just press and hold. The bigger deal however, is the ability to shoot 4K videos. Something I think will come in more handy than Live Photos.
Oh, and despite the same 1.2MP from older iPhones, the iPhone SE has a new trick up its sleeve. Selfie Flash. Overpowering the display with a bright white image to light up my face even in dark conditions.
iOS update
The iPhone SE launched with iOS 9.3, which brought some nice features to it. The more notable ones are Night Shift, and an updated Notes app.
Night shift uses the time and location to determine when the sun sets, and then tunes the display temperature for more comfortable viewing at night. You can also set your own custom schedule.
Notes app now comes with the ability to lock notes with Touch ID, a minor but super useful update for hiding sensitive information.
Apple Pay
Apple Pay also makes it way onto the iPhone SE, which I am guessing is one the reason why this iPhone even exist in the first place. Instead of continuing the sale of the iPhone 5S, why not introduce a new model that is able to support Apple Pay? With the iPhone SE, all of the iPhones that Apple currently sell will support Apple Pay.
-----
Apple releasing a new phone that looks almost exactly like a phone from 2013 might seem crazy to some, but Apple knows exactly what they were doing with the iPhone SE. Apple is the only company that I know that can pull off something like this.
The design of the iPhone 5S still looks great till this day, perhaps more so than newer iPhones. The facelift done to the iPhone SE may seem minor, but it makes the phone look a bit more refined. The proficiency of the Apple A9 chipset allowed them to squeeze it into a much smaller device without compromising on performance, thermal management, and battery life. The camera is as good as the iPhone 6S. The use of high quality parts back in 2013 means that even till this day, the Retina display, and the 1st-generation Touch ID still works as well as most smartphones in the market today.
With the right combination of upgrades and compromises, Apple was able to keep the price of the device low (but not too low). At the price point of S$658 for the 16GB model, and S$828 for the 64GB model, the iPhone SE is the cheapest new iPhone yet. The big play comes in when you look at the phone pricing with a 2 year contract. That would undoubtedly be an attractive option for those who wants an iPhone on a budget.
Compare it to the iPhone 6 which still costs S$888 for the 16GB model, the iPhone SE only loses out in terms of the barometer, as well as the display. But importantly, it wins out in crucial areas like the A9 processor, and the 12MP iSight camera.
I still maintain that the iPhone 6S is the best iPhone to date, and the one to buy if you want the latest and greatest that Apple has to offer. However, if you are in the market for a smaller or cheaper iPhone, the iPhone SE should be at the top of your list.
No comments:
Post a Comment