[rwp-review id=”0″]
It’s rare to be wowed by smartphones these days. Every year, we expect a ground-breaking, revolutionary new device that sets our expectations ever so high. And every year, we get minor — and expected — enhancements. Faster chips, sharper screens, deeper colours, DSLR-quality photos. Phones get bigger and wider, pushing the boundaries of what phones can do by entering into the tablet territory.
Apple, though, did something that has been long awaited and probably counter-intuitive. The iPhone SE is the answer to everyone’s moaning to the transitions to the bigger screens, but is definitely not a phone for those who have moved on and have settled with more screen real estate. The 4-inch phone is a true marvel, but not in a way that breaks any new grounds — the iPhone 5 and 5s it is modeled after has broken those grounds already. It is a marvel because it elevated the category of smaller phones to very high grounds.
When Apple introduced the iPhone SE, the comparison was to its predecessor from almost three years ago. Better GPU, faster CPU, better camera — honestly, there was no need for the comparison. Apple won’t be releasing a phone with mediocre specs and call it an upgrade. What Apple did is cram much of the iPhone 6s features into the SE, making it not a significant upgrade per se, but a strategic port of entry into Apple’s ecosystem. It’s the least expensive iPhone available — especially the 16GB model (note: don’t buy the 16GB model) — and it has nearly identical features as the more premium versions. That means you’re no longer left out on all the cool speeds and features of the new phones (bar a few) like you did had you owned an iPhone 5c.
Speaking of the 5c, it would be great to bring those colours back!
On the SE, you’ll find the amazing back camera with 1080p 60fps video recording and even 4K recording (hence, don’t buy the 16GB model). The photos are fantastic and identical to those of the 6s, but the selfie camera is only 1.2MP on the SE. Additionally, there is no video stabilisation as found on the 6s Plus. It’s a big deal for me personally — being spoiled by the 6s Plus — but it’s perfectly capable for the SE’s intents and purposes.
The phone itself is blazing fast, too. Games and apps feel that they run more efficiently, and my suspicion is that the GPU has to render the app on a smaller amount of pixels than my iPhone 6s Plus.
That said, though, there is a massive learning curve to be had here. The iPhone SE isn’t truly meant for people who have the bigger phones (unless you do like the smaller size); it’s meant as an entry point for those currently not in the ecosystem and for those who truly want the smaller size. Coming from an iPhone 6s Plus, the screen real-estate was a massive downgrade. Websites seem tiny (thankfully, the reader can be switched on for bigger font), games look kinda cramped, and apps in general feel that they could use a little more leg room. The iPhone SE isn’t ideal for video consumption either — that is one thing that everyone agrees is better enjoyed on a bigger screen.
I found myself sometimes experiencing some visual fatigue (guess I am ageing quickly), but after a few days of using the iPhone SE, I have adapted just fine. Going back to the iPhone 6s Plus now feels heavy and clunky, though I do appreciate the screen on the Plus. Another anomaly I found is that the SE’s screen is just slightly warmer than the iPhone 6s Plus that I have. It isn’t too distracting and only noticeable when you have the two side by side — but minor inconsistencies in screen white balance has been prevalent on almost all Apple devices I’ve tested over the years.
After using the SE for a few days, I had new-found appreciation of the phone’s size and weight. As much as I have praised the iPhone 6s Plus when I first reviewed it, the iPhone SE made me appreciate smaller and lighter phones even more. What I found difficult to adapt to, though, is the lack of 3D Touch on the SE. When I first reviewed the iPhone 6s Plus, I noted that the feature takes a conscious effort from the user’s side to take advantage of, and not many developers at that time have integrated it into their apps. Since then, 3D Touch has become an integral and subconscious part of how I interact with apps and iOS, that not having it on the SE was more jarring than it being a 4-inch phone. Of all the things existing iPhone users need to get used to, it’s this.
What I can say, though, about the SE is that it has become my favourite smartphone since the original Nexus 5 — a phone that, to this date, I consider to be perfect in form and function. The iPhone SE, modeled after the 5s released the same time as the original Nexus 5, boasts the same perfection in form and function. Of all Apple products that are promoted as meticulously designed, the iPhone 5s is the one where this holds true. It is no wonder, then, that the SE seems perfect, despite the (understandably) missing features from the more premium brethren.
There will be many phones released this year — including the much-awaited iPhone 7 — but the SE will be the one that’s remembered among them. It’s Apple’s ultimate Throwback Thursday, an ode to pocketable perfection.
