Who’s buying an iPhone SE in 2019? Well, you probably think I’m crazy because I bought an iPhone that will be three years old in just a couple of days, and most likely won’t get the next iOS version (iOS 13).
Look I was never a big fan of larger displays despite I’ve owned an iPhone 6S Plus and a Samsung Galaxy Note 3. It was with huge disappointment that I learned Apple had discontinued the iPhone X and iPhone SE.
Because I was looking forward to buying the iPhone SE second generation, which I think will never happen, according to a report.
The small form factor was one of the key aspects that make people fall in love with the iPhone when it was first introduced in 2007. Small iconic, but powerful gadget.
With Android phones coming out with larger displays, especially the Samsung Galaxy Notes, Apple’s approach with small displays took another direction with the release of the iPhone 6 Plus.
Small but Powerful
Apple normally makes premium features exclusive to higher-end iPhones as a marketing strategy.
People who love bigger, better iPhones with exclusive features would easily buy them without thinking of the price difference.
People have different tastes and preferences when it comes to buying a new smartphone. When it comes to design and esthetic, the form factor is a deal-breaker to me.
As a consumer product, I want something that’s affordable, powerful, and durable. Without a doubt, the iPhone SE checks all the boxes.
I understand that iPhone user preferences have clearly been moving in the direction of larger displays for a while.
From a business standpoint, the iPhone SE was out of place in Apple’s vision for the future. But I’m pretty sure there are many iPhone users that’d buy an iPhone SE 2 in a heartbeat.
Form-factor
Speaking about the future, foldable phones is the way to go. Samsung already introduced its first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, with two more to come at the end in the near future. Don’t worry a foldable iPhone isn’t far behind if you’re excited about the idea.
The small and easy-to-handle form factor is something I really appreciate considering that I’m using an iPhone X. I find joy every time I pick up the phone.
It fits easily in the palm of my hands and comfortably inside of my pockets. Sometimes I almost forgot if it’s there, seriously I’m not kidding.
By the way, I currently own an iPhone X, which I use as my daily driver. The iPhone SE is kind of a backup phone to me, but sometimes I found myself using it more than I’ve expected.
Performance and Battery Life
In terms of performance, the iPhone SE is a little monster. With the release of iOS 12, performance has improved greatly across all iOS devices.
The iPhone SE is no exception and it’s even faster than I thought it would despite having Apple’s older A9 processor and just 2GB of RAM.
If there’s one thing that I believe every smartphone user should be concerned about is battery life.
We all know a smartphone’s display is one of the biggest power drainers. Smaller displays draw less power, which makes the iPhone SE lasts a long time on a single charge.
Everybody knows iPhones are expensive, and they are okay with it because apparently it’s more than a phone it’s a symbol status. I refuse to pay more than $500 for a phone.
Smartphone prices have been climbing up over the years to a point they’ve reached $1000, and I think it’s plain ridiculous.
Last iPhone with a Headphone Jack
There’s a headphone jack, which is more than a benefit than a trade-off. The iPhone SE is the last iPhone with a headphone jack.
I love wired headphones but wireless headphones are the future. They are getting better with more features and better battery life, which is more important than anything.
Of course, there are many trade-offs for a budget phone, and the camera is where the iPhone SE falls short compared to the big players.
I mean I’d not expect it to have all the premium features found on higher-end models. The camera isn’t that bad either, you can take live photos, shoot 4K videos at 30 frames per second.
My iPhone SE costs me way less than $500, in fact, less than half of that price – not even $200. I got 128 GB of storage and the battery is in pretty good shape with 90% of maximum capacity.
This is the best investment I’ve done since I’ve been buying phones. I intend to use this phone for a long time.
