The new iPhone SE is the iPhone 8 with a new processor. And, apparently, the camera hardware in the SE is exactly the same as in its 2017 prototype. At least, this is what iFixit specialists tell us, having disassembled both smartphones:
iFixit: iPhone 8 parts fit new iPhone SE
Kostya Baranov
April 27, 2020
But we all know that using the same components does not mean anything. This is why many Android users are so keen on Google Camera ports, believing that installing this application will make their smartphones take better photos.
In two and a half years, Apple has made great progress in terms of camera software. Consider portrait modes on iPhones with one camera, Deep Fusion or Night Mode. It's a shame that the new iPhone SE doesn't have a dip. Yes, and “Night mode” was not delivered.
But users have a reasonable question: how does the iPhone SE use the old camera?
You can find the source photos from this text on Google Drive.
iPhone SE review
Apple made a big splash by releasing a powerful smartphone with a ridiculous 4″ diagonal for 2016. This was the norm 4-5 years ago, but today it is nonsense. Thus, the iPhone SE has become almost the most controversial product of the American company in its entire history. The design of the smartphone dates back to 2012 and this made many people horrified when they saw the device during the presentation. The price of the iPhone SE also did not please users very much, and the signals that it is super powerful do not seem so convincing to many. Steve Jobs said: “Users don’t know what they want, so let’s force what we want on them.” Most likely, the guys from Cupertino acted according to this scheme. Now we have the first reviews and real practical information about this smartphone and can soberly judge: is the iPhone SE good or not?
Why is it needed?
A: Get to know iOS . Apple iPhone SE is Apple's most affordable smartphone and part of its ecosystem, with app store exclusives and guaranteed years of support. “Will the manufacturer update the firmware? When will this happen? — after buying an iPhone, they don’t Google this. Enough to become a defector from another OS.
Save phablet haters. Cupertino calls the gadget the most powerful four-inch smartphone on the market, but it is the only one. The closest competitor is larger - the Xperia Z5 Compact with a 4.6-inch screen. Do you want a flagship that doesn't weigh down your trouser pocket? Taking photos and typing messages with one hand? Do you need confidence that your device won’t turn into a pumpkin in a year? Then there are no alternatives, only iPhone SE!
iPhone SE specifications
The device has quite interesting characteristics. The powerful processor from the iPhone 6S, combined with a small diagonal, allows it to work incredibly quickly. Therefore, below we present to your attention its main characteristics, which you should familiarize yourself with before we talk about the sensations of the smartphone.
iPhone SE memory capacity:
- 16 gigabytes
- 64 gigabytes
Apple decided to abandon the 32 GB version and thus quietly told its fans: “Guys, it’s all or nothing.” In my opinion, this is more bad than good. After all, there are people who don’t need these 64 GB at all, and 16 is not enough, considering that the iPhone SE records video in 4k format.
iPhone SE weight:
- 113 grams
If only the phone had been heavy, then Apple would have been stoned. The lightness of this smartphone is the key point of love for millions.
iPhone SE size:
- Length: 123.8 mm
- Width: 58.6 mm
- Thickness: 7.6 mm
Dimensions are as important an argument as weight, which Apple is trying to play on. Indeed, there are many people who only need a phone to make calls. So why not give it to them in the form of the iPhone SE?
iPhone SE display parameters:
- Retina display
- Diagonal: 4″
- LED backlight
- Widescreen format
- Multi-touch support
- Resolution: 1136 x 640, 326 PPI
The iPhone SE display is really good, perfectly readable and no different from its older versions. The only difference between the iPhone SE is the absence of the new 3D technology - Touch, but everything in this smartphone cannot be perfect.
iPhone SE processor:
- 64-bit A9 chip
- M9 Motion Coprocessor
The processor here is truly beastly. All applications on the iPhone SE launch instantly, which, as I noted above, is due to the small diagonal of the display.
iPhone SE iSight camera:
- 12 MP iSight camera with 1.22µ pixel size
- Live Photos
- Autofocus and Focus Pixels technology
- True Tone Flash
- Shoots video in 4k
The camera will pleasantly please you. Photos are taken instantly, and the small size allows you to hold the iPhone SE firmly in your hands while shooting.
iPhone SE HD FaceTime Camera:
- Photos with a resolution of 1.2 MP
- HD video recording at 720p resolution
No comments here. 1.2 megapixels is just a mockery of users.
iPhone SE Touch ID:
- First generation Touch ID fingerprint scanner
iPhone SE power and battery:
- Talk time: up to 14 hours on 3G network
- When browsing the Internet: up to 12 hours on a 3G network, up to 13 hours on a 4G LTE network, up to 13 hours on a Wi-Fi network
There is nothing outstanding about these results. The iPhone SE will work quietly for a day, but it’s unlikely to last longer.
iPhone SE delivery kit:
- iPhone with iOS 9
- Apple EarPods headphones with remote control and microphone
- Lightning to USB cable
- USB power adapter
- Documentation
This is a short list of all the characteristics of the iPhone SE. If you want to read a more detailed review about this device, then you can safely follow this link, where we have analyzed each characteristic of this device piece by piece. And in this review we are talking about the sensations of the iPhone SE and about its obvious strengths and weaknesses.
Screen
There are many opinions that have been expressed by users about the old 4-inch Retina display. Skeptics will constantly mention the super small screen, large bezels, low resolution, while the opposite camp of consumers praise the abundance of colors and sunlight clarity, as well as high brightness. Thus, customer reviews of the iPhone 5 SE regarding the screen vary greatly.
The device's display uses a 4-inch IPS panel measuring 640 x 1136 pixels, offering a density of 326ppi - classic Retina specifications. The resulting contrast ratio of 1:804 isn't all that remarkable, mainly due to the low black levels. For comparison, the 4.7″ screen in the iPhone 6s has the same 326ppi, but a less bright screen with higher contrast.
In terms of color rendering, the iPhone 5 SE scores excellent with an average DeltaE of 2.3, meaning the screen is almost fully calibrated. The maximum deviation - 5.2 - is in white tones, which look a little bluish, but this is not noticeable without an external reference point.
iPhone SE reviews
After collecting the opinions of countless users online, as well as based on our own experience, we were able to identify five things you should know about the iPhone SE. Knowing them, you can decide: is it worth buying an iPhone SE or not?
1. iPhone SE dimensions
The first thing that catches your eye and also feels when you use it is its compactness. The same feeling when we used a smartphone with one hand has already somehow been forgotten and gone far away. You can reach absolutely any part of the iPhone SE screen, which gives you a completely different experience from interacting with it.
2. 4″ diagonal is not enough
Unfortunately, we are so accustomed to the fact that a huge amount of news, games, and widgets fit on our screen that we absolutely cannot get enough of the content that a small screen offers us. This is the very first question you should ask yourself when choosing an iPhone SE: can you absorb information from such a small display?
3. Great camera.
The 12-megapixel camera produces absolutely stunning images. If we take into account that 4″ photos look even better than, say, 5″ ones, then we have a monster of photography in our hands. I have a friend who took the iPnone SE as a portable camera, citing the fact that it fits very comfortably in the hand and it is incredibly convenient to take pictures with it. If we talk about the front camera, then there are more questions about it. Why can't you make a normal camera on the iPhone SE? After all, most likely, this smartphone was conceived more for a female audience (4″ after all). And girls, as you know, love to take selfies. So why not give them at least a 5 megapixel camera. 1.2 megapixels is absolutely barbaric!
4. Owning an iPhone SE can be a mixed bag.
The fact is that in our country people buy smartphones, specifically from Apple, in order to show off their coolness. But such a number will not work with the iPhone SE, because from a purely visual point of view, you have a 2012 phone in your hands. So if you are ready to live with this feeling, then SE is for you.
5. Productivity.
iPnone SE is very fast. At first glance, it works even faster than the iPhone 6 and 6S. Applications on it open quickly and are stored in memory for a long time. The speed of operation of this device will definitely please you.
After reading these five points and thinking about them a little, you can decide to buy this smartphone or, on the contrary, get scared and close this article. But if you still like the iPhone SE, then I suggest continuing to read the review and find out where to buy the iPhone SE and at what price.
Battery life
The battery inside the iPhone 5 SE is slightly larger than previous models - 1,624 mAh. Apple's iOS 9 platform introduced a low-power mode that you'll be prompted to turn on when the charge drops below 20%.
According to reviews of the iPhone 5 SE, the battery shows very good results in all tests: it can withstand about 12 hours of 3G calls, 13 hours of web browsing or 14 hours of video playback on a single charge.
iPhone SE comparison
As soon as the iPhone SE appeared, there was absolutely no one to compare it with. But after a short period of time, the giants of the smartphone industry began to produce small flagships for themselves. There are already rumors about the release of Samsung S7 mini, LG G5 SE, which are going to compete with the iPhone SE in this field. Also in this race was the Meizu company, which just recently introduced Meizu Pro 6, a smaller version of PRO 5.
On our website you can read a comparative review of iPhone SE, iPhone 5S and iPhone 6S
Are there any pitfalls?
S: It’s worth looking at the calendar. Journalists showered applause on the brand new 5s almost three years ago. All this time, applications, games, and websites slowly followed the trend of growing diagonals. The 2016 interfaces are a bit cramped on the small iPhone SE display. Switching from a larger device can be painful - it takes time and getting used to.
Telephony and messaging
The Phone app remains largely unchanged—it doesn't support smart dialing, but it does offer social media integration. Blacklist is also available for those who need this feature. FaceTime is, of course, available for all compatible iOS devices, allowing the user to make free voice and video calls to any other device that supports the service.
Apple also offers Wi-Fi calling on this device. If both subscribers support this service and it is turned on, the call will not occur through the cellular network, but the connection will be made via the Internet. This improves sound quality and also saves money.
The same goes for iMessage - once enabled, the user can send free text and multimedia content, including voice messages, to any other Apple gadget.
One hand is enough.
First world problems, right? It’s funny how it happened: first Apple taught us to love shovels, and now it reminded us that life before was no worse.
When you can do absolutely everything on a smart phone without “throwing” it in your palm, without moving it, without stretching your fingers to the far corner - you understand why Jobs fought so hard for small screens and did not let Apple release Plus during his lifetime. This is cool , and there is nothing to add here.
I don’t pretend to be true, but it seems to me that SE is doomed to become a hit not only among Apple technology connoisseurs, but also among practical girls. A small smartphone is damn convenient. And if it’s also pink... well, you understand.
Unlike Arthur, I have not yet decided to make the SE my main phone. The screen is half the size, it will take some getting used to. It would be a different matter if I hadn’t initially taken Plus, I would have stayed on the once beloved “five”. Then, sorry, now there would be pure ecstasy.
I went to France. But you can also get it in Moscow
I figured that if I buy the phone at the start of sales in France, I save 7,000 rubles. after the return Tax Free. At that time, no one in Moscow was offering pre-order of the iPhone SE, so I had nothing to lose.
But in fact there was a second reason to take a plane ticket: I had never been to Paris.
Further, on the road, the children dropped the wife's iPhone 5c on the floor, which is why the display stopped responding to touch.
So we needed two SEs at once.
And finally, our daughters study French at school, so speaking practice will only benefit them. It was decided to go with the whole family, renting an apartment through Airbnb near the Apple Store.
While I was in Paris and waiting for the start of sales, Nikita Goryainov also took SE - but in Moscow.
