Detailed review and testing of Apple iPhone SE. Apple iPhone SE camera: comparison of photo and video shooting, quality analysis

Text: Igor Bannikov, Alexey Dubkov

So, the results!

The iPhone SE turned out to be a copy of the fifth on the outside and a smaller version of the 6S on the inside. With the new iPhone, Apple aimed not at the cheaper segment, but at ardent fans of compact smartphones (so that you can reach the opposite upper corner with your thumb.)

Prices:
37990 rubles for 16 GB
47990 rubles for 64 GB

There are no other capacity options.

Colors: silver, gold, space gray, rose gold

Journalists from The Verge have already twirled the new iPhone in their hands.

Main characteristics

Capacity: 16 GB; 64 GB

Display: Retina, 4 inches and LED backlit, 1136x640 pixels.

Processor: A9 with 64-bit architecture

Camera 12 MP. Live Photos. 4K video recording (3840x2160 pixels).

Power and battery:
Talk time: up to 14 hours on 3G network
When surfing the Internet: up to 12 hours on a 3G network, up to 13 hours on a Wi-Fi network

iPad Pro 9.7

Another attempt to replace laptops with tablets.

Size:

• 9.7 inches (24.638 cm)

Camera:

• 4K video

Prices:

• 32 GB - 52990 rub.
• 128 GB - 64,990 rub.
• 256 GB - 76,990 rub.

Colors:

• Space Gray
• Silver
• Rose Gold

Filling:

• Apple A9X processor
• 4 GB RAM
• Four speakers
• True Tone screen, 40% less reflective

Gadgets:

• Support for the Apple Pencil digital pen (RUB 7,790)
• Smart Keyboard

The spectators disperse. There were no surprises or cliffhangers.

Finally, we showed off the new campus. It opens in 2017. It will have its own theater! On April 1, Apple will celebrate 40 years on this very campus.

Meanwhile, the presentation has been going on for an hour! Either this is the end, or an interesting coming out awaits us.

The main question that, obviously, will now arise in the minds of fans of compact gadgets: will the new iPad Pro with a keyboard replace the MacBook Air?

They showed a backlit pro-keyboard and an Apple Pencil. Apple Pencil has been named the best drawing thing in the world. Yes, Jobs did not quote the stylus, but... This is not a stylus, but a paint brush.

In general, the new iPad Pro will be so powerful that developers will now have to try and make as many high-performance games as possible. And it has 4 dynamics, a 12 MP camera, 4K video. 3d touch will not be available on iPads yet.

The iPad Pro screen now changes according to the temperature of the light in the room.

The Pro's new True Tone screen will have the least glare of any tablet. Finally, you can use your iPad on a summer day.

Another joke about Windows tablets: you didn’t know, but a huge number of people are switching to iPads from these transformers of yours.

The little iPad pro took the stage! 9.7 inches

The smaller iPad Pro is a good option for everyday use. In general, now not only jocks and geeks can use it.

Cook even casually joked about Android, noting that the latest version of Google is installed on only 2 percent of phones.

We moved on to the new iOS 9.3 (it will be available to download immediately after the presentation). The main feature is the Night Shift mode, which will allow you to fall asleep normally and produce melatonin.

You can create iPad accounts for several children! Ours or others - it doesn’t matter.

Price from 399 $! This means that in Russia it will cost approximately 33,000 rubles.

ATTENTION, MOST IMPORTANT: the lifespan of the iPhone has increased significantly! Our fitness editor has already thrown out his 5th right before our eyes.

Built-in camera - 12 megapixels. Video - 4K. 50% faster than 5S. Touch-id. ApplePay, unfortunately, is not yet supported in Russia, so you don’t have to read this line.

Here it is - the new iPhone SE! The design of the new background is exactly the same as the 5S! The filling is the same as the 6S.

Let's talk about the iPhone! More than 30 million 4-inch iPhones were sold in 2015 (with the 6th iPhone still alive). And Apple admitted that many people love small smartphones, and they are ready to respect them.

There was a story about Apple TV and the picture showed the main Oscar films as an example. Tim remembers “Game of Thrones,” and it’s immediately obvious that he’s a knowledgeable person.

Apps on Apple TV can be stored in folders, just like on the iPhone.

Now Cook is bragging about the success of the Apple Watch. It turns out that this is the fastest selling watch in the world.

The watch has new straps. The clock itself is the same. And the price has decreased to $299.

Finally something relevant: in April the company is launching CareKit, an open source platform for health monitoring. Thanks to it, information about your health will be available to both you and your doctor! And even family and friends!

A new person from Apple came out and talked about health, which is also, of course, important. Everything is heading towards Apple announcing the creation of a party, or formalizing a sect.

In the environmental part, the only interesting thing is the robot that destroys smartphones.

Apple Vice President Lisa Jackson talks about environmental responsibility and more. In general, nothing interesting yet - corporate formalities.

The presentation has begun! Stormy applause sounds. As expected, Tim Cook began with a conflict with the FBI. He once again confirmed that Apple will not back down from its position and will not voluntarily provide a backdoor to its devices for intelligence agencies.

Starts in 2 minutes!

These pictures most accurately reflect the intrigue of what the new Apple smartphone will look like.

And the presentation will most likely begin with a speech by Apple CEO Tim Cook about the conflict with the FBI. In two days, the next court hearing will take place, as a result of which the intelligence services hope to obtain a tool for free access to the iPhones of criminals. The company obviously does not use such a large event to once again convey its position on data privacy.

In addition to the new iPhone, releases of new iPads, watch straps and new versions of iOS, tvOS, OS X and watchOS are expected.

The new iPad Pro will be reduced to a 9.7-inch diagonal. No revolutionary innovations in content are expected. The hardware will likely be identical to the first iPad Pro.

I don’t even want to mention new straps.

Small improvements are expected in new versions of operating systems. In iOS - night mode for comfortable reading in the dark. In tvOS for Apple TV - voice search. In OS X, password protect notes. Etc.

The start of iPhone SE sales is expected within a week after the presentation. The predicted starting price of new iPhones is $450. That is, the same as the “fives” have now. This means that in Russia the iPhone SE will presumably cost from 37,000 rubles. For comparison, iPhone 6s start at $650 in the USA, in Russia - from 57,000 rubles.

It is predicted that the processor in the new iPhone will be the same as in the iPhone 6s - A9. That is, it will be just as fast. It will have Touch ID, without which it is impossible to imagine iPhones. However, the camera will be worse than in the 6S - 8 megapixels, without the ability to shoot 4K video.

It is quite possible that this will be the last iPhone with a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. On iPhone 7, headphones will only connect via Bluetooth.

However, according to fresh leaks, the new iPhone will look almost identical to the fifth. Only the top and bottom pads will be matte.

Rendering and photo of iPhone SE according to 9to5Mac.

Apple decided to release an intermediate iPhone for two reasons. Firstly, to please fans of compact smartphones who never accepted shovel phones with a new product and encourage them to update their devices. Secondly, to once again try to reach the cheaper segment of the market. An attempt to do this with the plastic 5c failed, and there was almost no room for growth in the most expensive segment (Apple sales grew by only 0.4% in the first quarter of 2016).

Apple developers did not come up with a new design for the iPhone 5 SE. Instead, they reused the fifth model's exterior while outfitting it with new interior features. This is a strange step that could be observed for the first time.

One way to interpret this is to suggest that Apple is taking the easy way out and simply reworking an existing design to produce a low-cost smartphone. Another possible explanation is that they are revitalizing the iconic iPhone 5/5s design in an attempt to cater to a group of users who not only want a budget phone but also prefer a smaller form factor. After all, a third of Apple users still use older 4-inch smartphones.

What immediately attracts attention?

According to reviews of the iPhone 5 SE, the most important feature of the device is the rethinking of the specifications. The iPhone SE features the 4-inch Retina display introduced in the iPhone 5s with a first-generation touch sensor. The device has an identical body, but inside it is equipped with a new Apple A9 chip with 2 GB of RAM, a 12-megapixel main camera and a slightly larger battery.

The functionality limitations of Apple devices haven't changed for years, so they shouldn't surprise anyone - you can't have expandable storage, fast or wireless charging, FM radio, replaceable batteries, and the rest. The new 3D Touch technology is also missing for obvious reasons, although you can still use Live Photos. Reviews of the iPhone 5 SE usually do not classify the above as disadvantages of the device.

Apple iPhone SE Review

As you'd expect, the iPhone 5 SE comes in a fairly compact box, filled with a Lightning cable, a 1A A/C plug, and a well-packaged pair of headphones.

The dimensions of the device are 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm, which is fully consistent with the size of the iPhone 5s. The gadget weighs 113 grams. Compared to the new 4.7-inch iPhone 6, the SE model is 1.5cm shorter and 1cm narrower.

Design and build quality

Keeping the old design means having the first-generation Touch ID and an older FaceTime camera model (1.2 MP). There's also the issue of bezels, which make the phone look dated by today's standards. This is repeatedly mentioned in reviews of iPhone 5 SE owners.

There's one more thing worth mentioning: the iPhone 6 comes with water resistance, which allows it to avoid damage if exposed to water for up to 40 minutes. In contrast, the iPhone SE will instantly “die” in such a situation, as confirmed by many online videos.

The front panel of the iPhone 5 SE is covered with ion-strengthened glass (this is the usual version of Gorilla Glass protection), complemented by an oleophobic coating to read fingerprints. The case frame is metal, as is most of the back.

The front of the SE is mostly taken up by the 4-inch Retina display. On top you can find a headphone slot, a FaceTime camera and a pair of sensors. At the bottom there is a Home/Touch ID button with a steel ring. The slide-out nano-SIM slot is located on the right. On the left side are the volume keys.

At the top of the iPhone 5 SE is the power/lock key, also made of metal. The audio jack, speaker grille, main microphone (also behind the grille) and charger port are at the bottom.

The back side of the SE is familiar to all fans of this brand of smartphones. As in previous models, there is a 12-megapixel camera, a dual LED flash with a second microphone and, of course, the Apple logo. The camera functionality is the same as on the iPhone 6, with the ability to record 4K video. This is happily noted by many reviews from iPhone 5 SE users.

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 whites, which look a little bluish, but this is not noticeable without an external control point.

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.

Connection

iPhone 5 SE comes with a lot of wireless features. The smartphone supports a fast LTE signal (up to 150 Mbps) with wide band coverage. Regular 2G and 3G connections are also reliably covered by a variety of supported network bands.

The device supports all existing Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac standards. AirPlay is the only way to accurately display your screen's content on an HDTV, but you'll need to have an Apple TV to do it.

Some apps will allow you to share your screen via Chromecast or Smart HDTV, but compatibility may vary. Additional local connectivity includes Bluetooth 4.2 LE. There is also NFC support, but its functionality is limited to Apple Pay only.

The iPhone 5 SE uses a proprietary Lightning connector for wired data transfer and charging. The device doesn't have USB On-the-go or USB host support, but you can pair a Bluetooth keyboard with your phone if you need such a peripheral.

To stream almost any content, you'll depend on syncing your smartphone with Apple's iTunes software on your computer. Reviews of the iPhone 5 SE 32 also vary in this regard. A good feature is that the device can connect wirelessly via Wi-Fi. The downside is that the paradigm for syncing content between a computer and a phone is quite old - the same as the first iPod. It requires you to first add your content to your iTunes library.

Apple iOS 9.3

The iPhone 5 SE, which has received mixed reviews, runs on pre-installed iOS 9.3, although a firmware update to 9.3.1 is already available. The new phone doesn't have 3D Touch hardware, so some core features are missing from the OS. However, this functionality is still nothing more than a gimmick, without any real value to the user. Reviews about the characteristics of the iPhone 5 SE do not indicate this circumstance as a drawback.

Apple's iOS 9.3 introduced a new Night View mode and an expanded notes app, while iOS 9 only introduced a new news app and support for public transit timetables using maps. Mail and messages have received an update, and a new system font has appeared. The Siri assistant has become more expandable, and the Spotlight Search service has expanded its range.

Screen interface

As usual, all applications are located on the desktop, you can group them into folders. There is the familiar docking station that can accept up to four shortcuts. System icons, color scheme and transparency - everything looks the same as in iOS 8. Photos of the iPhone 5 SE, reviews of which are discussed in this article, allow you to verify the above.

The lock screen hasn't changed either - it has a camera shortcut and shows all your notifications.

The Control Center, which extends from the bottom of the screen, maintains the same layout of switches, shortcuts, and media controls. Notification Center launches from the top and has the same tabs as before - Today and Notifications. There are no new widgets or notification options in this version.

New task manager

Search in Spotlight was improved back in iOS 9. You can bring it up by scrolling down from anywhere on the desktop or go to the far left window. According to reviews of the iPhone 5 SE 32 GB, this service has been updated even further, and can now perform simple calculations and conversions. It also supports sports score search and weather forecast information. Finally, you get shortcuts to make a call or send a message to any of the contact results in Spotlight search.

Voice assistant

Siri has also been improved. In addition to all the cool stuff a smart assistant could do, it can now view your photos and videos based on dates, locations, and album names. It supports custom reminders from requests you've made in Safari, Mail, Notes and Messages, and has also gained support for navigating public transport.

iOS 9 offers new active assistance available system-wide, which is more or less dependent on Apple's Google Now. DND mode has been available on iOS for a long time, but now there is a new feature provided by iOS 9.3 called Night Shift. It changes the display temperature at night to reduce eye strain. Reviews of the iPhone 5 SE note this as a positive feature of the device.

Hardware capacity

The iPhone SE has a dated look, but its hardware is updated. It is powered by the latest Apple A9 chipset, which is equipped with a 1.84GHz dual-core Twister processor, six-core PowerVR GT7600 graphics and 2GB RAM. According to user reviews, the A9, combined with a lower resolution (than the iPhone 6), makes the device very powerful. Separately, it is worth noting the graphics performance. SE uses a six-core PowerVR GT7600 GPU, which allows you to run even intensive games on the screen.

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.

What will the iPhone SE 2 be like? They told me all the available details.

iPhone SE 2 is a long-awaited and truly desirable smartphone from Apple, which has not yet been announced. Is it worth waiting for the iPhone SE 2 and what will the smartphone be like if it does come out? In this article, we have collected all the reliable information about the iPhone SE 2 - no unreliable rumors, only leaks from the most trusted sources.

Note: We will update this topic with fresh, reliable leaks until the official release of the iPhone SE 2. Stay tuned!

iPhone SE 2 - will it come out or not?

Let's start with the main question that interests most fans of the 4-inch form factor. Is Apple really developing the iPhone SE 2 and preparing to release it?

In 2018, it became known that Apple was launching the iPhone SE 2. The company registered new iPhone models in the database of the Eurasian Economic Commission. Apple is required to register all its devices in this database, which is why in previous years the whole world learned about the release of AirPods, iPhone 7, MacBook and iPad 2018 more than a month before the presentation.

It is expected that Apple will release the iPhone SE 2 not on its standard schedule. The original model was presented in March 2016, and all other iPhones in recent years were presented to the world in September. The last Apple smartphone, which was presented in June, was the iPhone 4 back in 2010. Below is a complete table of presentation dates and start of sales of all Apple smartphones.

In this regard, it is most likely that if Apple releases the iPhone SE 2, the smartphone will be presented in March. In 2019, Apple has just planned.

Hint about the release of iPhone SE 2 from Apple

At the beginning of 2019, Apple itself announced the possible release of the iPhone SE 2 in the future. The company suddenly relaunched sales of the iPhone SE in the US - the original 4-inch smartphone has not been sold there for a long time. The iPhone SE stocks put up for sale were instantly sold out - less than three hours later.

Analysts believed that in this way Apple was probably testing the current demand for the compact iPhone SE. The company certainly knows that the iPhone SE is extremely popular in developing countries, but it might have questions about demand for the model in the US. Such “testing,” carried out in January 2019, helped Apple understand that the iPhone SE 2 was also expected in the United States.

Design

There are three main assumptions about the design of the iPhone SE 2. According to the first, the iPhone SE 2 is expected to be a copy of the iPhone 7, except for the size, of course, just like the iPhone SE is externally indistinguishable from the iPhone 5s. Some experts have suggested that Apple intends to continue to release new 4-inch smartphones in the future, based on the latest flagship models.

According to the second, the iPhone SE will be simpler and will be an external copy of the iPhone 6. However, given that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 generally have a similar design, these versions do not differ very much.

The third assumption is considered the most likely. iPhone SE 2 may be an improved version of the original iPhone SE in technical terms. This means that the smartphone will have the same design, but improved characteristics. Most analysts are inclined towards this version, since, according to them, Apple does not have the time and resources to release a fully updated compact iPhone.

It is important to note that there have been no credible leaks coming from reputable insiders and analysts regarding the appearance of the iPhone SE. This could be due either to the fact that the iPhone SE 2 is in Apple's long-term plans, or to the fact that the company is keeping the development of the smartphone a closely guarded secret.

Display

Focus Taiwan resource sources said that the smartphone display will have a diagonal of 4-4.2 inches. Thus, the iPhone SE 2 display may be larger than the original model. However, the smartphone will remain compact. Afterwards, other sources confirmed that the iPhone SE 2 will retain its main feature - its compact size.

Characteristics

The original iPhone SE turned out to be an almost complete copy of the iPhone 6s in terms of technical characteristics. The only differences were that the iPhone SE lacked an improved front camera and 3D Touch pressure tracking technology on the display.

It is assumed that the iPhone SE 2 will take as a basis the “filling” of the next newest Apple smartphone -. As a result of this, the iPhone SE 2 will receive a system based on a 64-bit quad-core A10 Fusion processor and 2 GB of RAM. Due to such powerful hardware, iPhone SE 2 will become the most productive compact smartphone in the world, taking this title from its predecessor.

The same information was provided in April by the Japanese blog Macotakara. They also noted that the iPhone SE 2 will not have a 3.5mm audio output. Apple for the first time abandoned the previously traditional audio jack in the iPhone 7, so this change seems quite logical. However, other insiders left this message without comment.

3D Touch

One of the main new features of the iPhone SE 2 should be the smartphone's support for 3D Touch pressure tracking technology on the display. The iPhone SE, despite its technical similarity to the iPhone 6s, did not have 3D Touch. It is assumed that Apple decided to abandon the use of technology in order to reduce the price of the smartphone, and also to make its new and more expensive flagship iPhone 6s stand out against the background of the iPhone SE.

Battery

According to an August leak from Focus Taiwan, the iPhone SE 2 battery capacity will be 1700 mAh. By comparison, the original iPhone SE has a 1,624 mAh battery. In other words, you shouldn’t expect a big increase in the battery life of the second generation iPhone SE.

iPhone SE 2 price

According to reports, the iPhone SE 2 will have a price similar to the original iPhone SE - $399 for the base version with 32 GB of memory and $499 for the model with 128 GB of memory. In Russia, iPhone SE 2 will be priced at 32,990 rubles. and 40,990 rub. respectively.

Should we wait for the release of iPhone SE 2?

After rumors about the iPhone SE 2 began to appear more and more often, many fans of Apple technology faced another important question. Should you wait for the release of iPhone SE 2 and not buy other iPhone models for now? However, even more often we get this modification of the question - “Is it worth buying an iPhone SE or is it better to wait for the iPhone SE 2?”

We answer in order. If you want to buy a new iPhone, but at the same time you are crazy about the idea of ​​the iPhone SE 2 in a compact body and with the design of the iPhone 6/6s/7, hold off on buying another model until March 2019. After the March presentation, we will know for sure whether Apple will release an updated 4-inch iPhone SE. If the iPhone SE 2 comes out, buy it. If the rumors remain just rumors, choose any other model.

The choice between iPhone SE and iPhone SE 2 is a little more complicated. The previous advice about the need to wait remains valid, but one more is added to it. Assess your financial capabilities. 4-inch iPhone SE now rated cheaper than 20,000 rubles. in Russia. The smartphone is very serious, initially it was sold for as much as 37,990 rubles.

In other words, initially iPhone SE 2 will definitely not be budget, remember this.

When will iPhone SE 2 be released?

Let us draw a conclusion from all of the above. iPhone SE 2 may be presented at .

The iPhone SE smartphone, despite the fact that it was known about it long before its release, surprised many and raised many questions. Does anyone else buy 4-inch iPhones? Is Apple playing with fire by introducing this design? It can be argued that the answer to both questions is yes, but after getting to know the phone it becomes clear that this does not matter. Regardless of the reasons that forced the company to create this device, the iPhone SE (photo posted later in the article) is equally an excellent smartphone for both those new to iOS and users with small hands.

Just because the new iPhone SE looks like an old-fashioned device doesn't mean it functions like one. Apple has managed to squeeze flagship-level performance and the best battery life an iPhone has demonstrated in years into a familiar and relatively inexpensive form. The device lacks some of the 6s's niceties, and its screen may be too small for some, but the SE is the best compact smartphone the company has ever made.

To answer quickly, this is an iPhone 6s in a 5s body. In principle, we can stop there. Although this statement is greatly simplified, it is true. Almost all the things that make the 6s what it is are here, only now they're compressed into a body the size of which seemed never to be seen again. Apple could have taken the economically conscious route and offered a smaller sixth iPhone, in which case we can only be glad that this did not happen. The phone's performance will be discussed below, but the A9 chipset with M9 motion tracking processor used in the SE is a dead ringer for the company's flagship models, from its clock speed to the 2GB of RAM it's paired with. In short, the SE doesn't feel like a second-rate device.

This extends to its design. The iPhone SE 64 GB is just as light and well-built as the 5S two years ago, with minor differences. In fact, other than the introduction of a rose gold color to the iPhone SE, which the 5s didn't, the only two changes are the SE logo on the back and matte bevels around the flat edges of the phone. If anyone liked the old-school design of the iPhone 5s, then this will feel right at home. And if not, then he was not going to purchase this smartphone in any case.

There's a third camp: buyers who loved the 5s design and then discovered the big screen generation. And for them to return to a small phone after two years spent with the sixth family would be strange. They wonder how they could use small screens for so long? Even after a week, customers can't type text messages on the cramped on-screen keyboard like they used to. There's also a feeling of frustration at how little text can fit on a smaller display.

However, size has its advantages. According to owners, after months of using large smartphones (iPhone 6s Plus, Galaxy Note 5 and Nexus 6p, etc.), the right hand is in a rather tense state. It gets tired and painful quickly, especially when trying to reach the bottom edge of the phone with your pinky or when stretching your thumb across the screen to tap something in the corner. Using SE for a week is like a mini-vacation for your arm. The small display isn't for everyone, but there's no denying that the SE is a very handy little device.

The iPhone SE 64GB Space Gray we tested has 64GB of internal memory. Almost 64, as iOS 9.3 takes up some space, leaving 55.7 GB available. It's no surprise that the entry-level model comes with 16GB of memory, but hopefully this is the last time the company leaves so little space for user data and programs. This is just one of the compromises you have to make when moving to this form factor at this price. For example, none of the modifications, including the iPhone SE 64GB Gray, have 3D Touch. The fingerprint scanners on the home screen buttons are first-gen, which aren't as fast as the ones on the 6s. And the front camera is a 1.2 megapixel step back from the fifth model.

In addition to the already mentioned gray and rose-gold body colors, Apple iPhone SE Gold is produced in gold and Silver in a silver shade.

We can confidently say about the iPhone SE screen that it is fully consistent with the 5s display. It still runs at 1136 x 640 resolution, which also means the same 326 ppi pixel density (same as the 6s). If you look not at the numbers, but at the screen itself, you can see that it is as bright and rich as in the old days. However, 6s buyers will need some time to get used to the display. The screen is slightly darker than the 6s or 6s Plus, and the color temperature is slightly warmer. If anything, the biggest difference here is the loss of 3D Touch, which some will feel more keenly than others. But some buyers who were enthusiastic about 3D Touch gestures when the 6s launched are now rarely using them. Therefore, experienced iPhone owners may not worry about the lack of this function, and newbies won’t even notice its absence.

Meanwhile, the single speaker located at the bottom of the SE is much louder than you might expect, especially in the highs and mids. You'll still need a pair of headphones for any long-term listening, but the speaker packs enough power to cover YouTube videos and add charm to your favorite soundtrack.

The Apple iPhone 5 SE ships with iOS 9.3, which doesn't add many major features. If anything, the most notable addition is Night Shift, a feature that can automatically lower the screen's color temperature to ease nighttime eye strain. This is not an entirely new idea. Apps like f.lux have been able to do this on the desktop for years. Compared to plain white, warm colors really make evening reading easier. Instead of setting a specific schedule for night mode, you can manually adjust the screen's warmth. In theory, the color change should help ease the sleep cycle, but the result is an annoying orange display for the user. According to customer reviews, this does not help them fall asleep faster, but there is hope that there will be those who will find this function useful.

Additionally, it is now possible to lock certain entries in the Notes app. Opening them requires a password or placing your finger on the touch fingerprint sensor. And Verizon subscribers are finally able to make Wi-Fi calls to their friends (something others have been able to do for a while). The Health app now takes nutrition data into account. This program is especially nice to have on the SE: the smaller size of the device allows the phone to be a more pleasant training companion.

And the News application has become a little better at determining which topics users give greater preference to. While it still overestimates Donald Trump's relevance, it is likely a symptom of a larger problem. With iOS 9.3, 3D Touch has become more diverse, but it is obvious that not a single gesture functions here. That is life.

Oddly enough, some phone owners experience strange behavior from Siri after enabling the voice activation setting. When listening to an audiobook on the Audible app, passages with phrases that didn't sound like "Hey Siri" brought the virtual assistant to life, puzzled by a puzzle of random bits of dialogue. The same book on 6s did not cause a similar effect.

The iPhone 6s camera is excellent. And since it is exactly the same in SE, there is no doubt about its quality. In fact, it's even a little better for the following reason: Apple's iPhone 5 SE is slightly thicker and lacks the awkward bulge found on the sixth generation. So much for the argument for thicker phones.

In any case, we can talk for a long time about how the company’s deeply layered defense does not allow us to shed light on the neighboring photodiodes covered in darkness, but this is not necessary. All you really need to know is that the phone is capable of taking amazingly detailed, beautiful color photos. The photos on the SE and 6s Plus are almost identical. However, the latter is the leader when it comes to photography in low light conditions, as it has optical image stabilization.

In low light, the smartphone copes well, maintaining a minimum noise level, although buyers prefer the Galaxy S7's camera. The SE is also capable of shooting 4K video that looks smooth and evenly exposed, even when tracking moving subjects. This capability is certainly nice to have, but with 16GB of storage - and many would agree - users probably won't want to shoot such high quality video.

There are two other things worth mentioning. First, iPhone SE supports taking Live Photos, moving images that add a little feeling and context to your photos. Since there is no 3D Touch, a long press on the Live Photo button will launch the program. Secondly, selfies are not as good as on the 6s. Apple hasn't bothered to improve the 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera at the top of the device, although the 5-megapixel sensor in the 6s doesn't take up much more space. The result is noisier photos. While they're great for Instagram, they lack the vibrancy that higher-resolution sensors are capable of. At least the SE has a Retina flash, which uses the phone's screen to provide extra brightness.

The SE is more powerful than its old-fashioned looks might suggest. The combination of Apple's state-of-the-art A9 chipset with 2GB of RAM is enough to keep the device running effortlessly, from swiping through home screens and switching between apps to running graphically intensive games. The last time the company released a budget 4-inch phone (it was the inferior iPhone 5c), it seemed outdated from the start. But the ability to squeeze the hardware of your flagship phone into a small $399 iPhone is impressive. For the first time in many years, it's possible to own a 4-inch model without sacrificing performance for size.

Below are the results of testing the phone. Its performance is more or less on par with Apple's most expensive models.

Table of testing results iPhone SE vs 6, 6s, 6s+.

The iPhone SE smartphone surprises many and raises a lot of questions, despite the fact that it was known about it long before its release.

Looking at the design of the iPhone SE, you can’t help but ask yourself, where is the originality of the American corporation Apple, a manufacturer of personal and tablet computers, audio players, phones, and software?

I wonder if anyone else buys 4-inch iPhones?

In fact, after closer contact and acquaintance with this phone model, you understand that beauty lies not in the “bells and whistles” and “coolness”, but in the simplicity and reliability of the device.

The iPhone SE (photo in the article) is an excellent smartphone for both those new to iOS and those with small hands.

Although the new iPhone SE looks like an old-fashioned device, it is inexpensive, has high performance and better battery life. While the phone lacks some of the niceties of the 6s and its screen may be too small for some, the SE is the best compact smartphone Apple has ever made.

Simply put, it’s an iPhone 6s in a 5s body. This is a simplistic statement, but true. Everything that makes the 6s what it is is compressed into one package. Apple could have offered a smaller sixth iPhone, but that didn't happen.

We'll talk about the phone's performance further, but let's say up front that the A9 chipset with the M9 motion tracking processor used in the SE is an exact copy of the company's flagship models, from its clock speed to the 2 GB of RAM with which it is paired. SE is not a second-rate device!

The design of the iPhone SE 64 GB is as light and well-built as the 5S two years ago, with minor differences. Apart from the iPhone SE's Rose Gold appearance, which the 5s didn't have, there are two changes: an SE logo on the back and matte bevels around the flat edges of the phone.

If anyone liked the old-school design of the iPhone 5s, they will feel right at home with this phone, but if not, then the buyer simply was not going to buy this smartphone anyway.

There are buyers who liked the design of the 5s model, and later they discovered a generation of large screens. Of course, it would be strange for them to return to a small phone after two years spent with the sixth family. They are very surprised how they could previously use small screens for so long? Users, even after a week of practice, are unable to type text messages on the cramped on-screen keyboard. There's a slight sense of frustration at how little text can fit on the smaller display.

The device may be smaller, but still better

Still, the size of the phone has its advantages. According to reviews from owners, after several months of using large smartphones (Galaxy Note 5, Nexus 6p and iPhone 6s Plus), the right hand is under noticeable tension, as fatigue quickly sets in and pain appears. This is especially pronounced when trying to reach the bottom edge of the phone with your little finger or when stretching your thumb across the screen to press something in the corner.

Just a week's use of the SE is like a mini vacation for your arm. The display's small size won't suit everyone, although the SE is a very handy little device.

The iPhone SE 64GB Space Gray we tested has 64GB of internal memory. Almost 64, as iOS 9.3 takes up some space, leaving 55.7 GB available. It's no surprise that the entry-level model comes with 16GB of memory, but hopefully this is the last time the company leaves so little space for user data and programs.

This is just one of the compromises you have to make when moving to this form factor at this price.

For example, none of the modifications, including the iPhone SE 64GB Gray, have 3D Touch. The fingerprint scanners on the home screen buttons are first-gen, which aren't as fast as the ones on the 6s. And the front camera is a 1.2 megapixel step back from the fifth model.

In addition to the already mentioned gray and rose-gold body colors, Apple iPhone SE Gold is produced in gold and Silver in a silver shade.

Phone picture and sound

The iPhone SE screen is fully consistent with the 5s display. It still runs at 1136 x 640 resolution, which also means the same 326 ppi pixel density (same as the 6s).

If you look not at the numbers, but at the screen itself, you can see that it is as bright and saturated as before. But 6s buyers will still need time to get used to the display.

The screen is slightly darker than the 6s or 6s Plus, and the color temperature is slightly warmer. The biggest difference is the loss of 3D Touch. But some buyers who were enthusiastic about 3D Touch gestures when the 6s launched are now rarely using them. Therefore, experienced iPhone owners may not worry about the lack of this function, and newbies will not notice its absence at all.

Meanwhile, the single speaker located at the bottom of the SE is much louder than you might expect, especially in the highs and mids. Any long-term listening will require a pair of headphones, but the speaker packs enough power to cover YouTube videos and add charm to your favorite soundtrack.

Smartphone software

The Apple iPhone 5 SE ships with iOS 9.3, which doesn't add many major features. The most notable addition is Night Shift, a feature that can automatically lower the screen's color temperature to ease eye strain at night. This is not a new idea. Apps like f.lux have been able to do this on the desktop for years.

Compared to plain white, warm colors really make evening reading easier. Instead of setting a specific schedule for night mode, you can manually adjust the screen's warmth. In theory, the color change should help ease the sleep cycle, but the result is an annoying orange display for the user. According to customer reviews, this does not help them fall asleep faster, but there is hope that there will be those who will find this function useful.

It's now possible to lock certain entries in the Notes app. Opening them requires a password or placing your finger on the touch fingerprint sensor. And Verizon subscribers are finally able to make Wi-Fi calls to their friends (something others have been able to do for a while). The Health app now takes nutrition data into account. This program is especially nice to have on the SE: the smaller size of the device allows the phone to be a more pleasant training companion.

The News app has gotten a little better at identifying which topics users are most passionate about. True, it still overestimates the relevance of Donald Trump, but this is a manifestation of larger problems. With iOS 9.3, 3D Touch has become more diverse, but it is obvious that not a single gesture functions here.

Some phone owners experience strange behavior from Siri after enabling the voice activation setting. When listening to an audiobook on the Audible app, passages with phrases that didn't sound like "Hey Siri" brought the virtual assistant to life, puzzled by a puzzle of random bits of dialogue. The same book on 6s did not cause a similar effect.

iPhone SE camera

The iPhone 6s has an excellent camera. And since it is exactly the same in SE, there is no doubt about its quality. It's even a little better because the Apple iPhone 5 SE is a little thicker and lacks the awkward bulge found on the sixth generation. Here's an argument for thicker phones.

We can go on and on about how the company doesn't allow us to shed light on adjacent photodiodes, but there's no need to. All you need to know is that the phone is capable of taking amazingly detailed, beautiful color photos. The photos on the SE and 6s Plus are almost identical. However, the latter is the leader when it comes to photography in low light conditions, as it has optical image stabilization.

In low light, the smartphone copes well, maintaining a minimum noise level, although buyers prefer the Galaxy S7's camera. The SE is also capable of shooting 4K video that looks smooth and evenly exposed, even when tracking moving subjects. This feature is certainly nice to have, but with 16GB of memory, users probably won't want to shoot such high-quality video.

There are two other things worth mentioning.

The first is that iPhone SE supports taking Live Photos, moving images that add a bit of feeling and context to your photos. Since there is no 3D Touch, a long press on the Live Photo button will launch the program.

The second point is that selfies are not as good as on the 6s. Apple hasn't bothered to improve the 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera at the top of the device, although the 5-megapixel sensor in the 6s doesn't take up much more space. The result is noisier photos. While they're great for Instagram, they lack the vibrancy that higher-resolution sensors are capable of. At least the SE has a Retina flash, which uses the phone's screen to provide extra brightness.

Device performance

The SE is more powerful than its old-fashioned looks might suggest. The combination of Apple's state-of-the-art A9 chipset with 2GB of RAM is enough to keep the device running effortlessly, from swiping through home screens and switching between apps to running graphically intensive games.

The last time the company released a budget 4-inch phone (it was the inferior iPhone 5c), it seemed outdated from the start. But the ability to squeeze the hardware of your flagship phone into a small $399 iPhone is impressive.

For the first time in many years, it's possible to own a 4-inch model without sacrificing performance for size.

Below are the results of testing the phone. Its performance is more or less on par with Apple's most expensive models.

Table of testing results iPhone SE vs 6, 6s, 6s+.

Battery life

When Apple refused to release battery capacity data for the SE, some users became agitated. But there was no need to worry. You can rest assured that the phone can last all day and then some more. After charging at nine in the morning after 11 hours of work, there is still 30-40% charge left. According to the owners, the device can remain without recharging for more than 24 hours, which they are very happy about.

A video test of continuous high-definition video playback with Wi-Fi on and screen brightness set to 50 percent showed the iPhone SE lasted 13 hours and 40 minutes. The differences with the 50% increase in battery life declared by the manufacturer are obvious, but this model still has the best indicator of all iPhones. It's amazing that so much power is contained in such a tiny package.

Price and quality of the device

What makes the iPhone SE different from other top models is the combination of cost and power - the 16GB model is the cheapest new phone Apple has ever released. Therefore, it occupies a special place in the company's line of mobile devices.

There are no reasons left to buy the 5s, so the question is whether potential smartphone owners should buy the SE or 6s. We could include the iPhone 6 here, but the 6s costs only $100 more. As mentioned, the 6s shares the power of the SE but has a larger 4.7-inch screen. This is quite convenient, but battery life is reduced.

If someone has a desire to spend about $400 on a smartphone and is not tied to Apple, then they can consider the option from LG and Google Nexus 5X. It also delivers good performance at a reasonable price, but its plastic body doesn't compare well to the iPhone SE's premium looks. What kind of phone this is becomes clear when you get acquainted with the enormous power of the Snapdragon 808 chipset, which will run Google Android N, which supports multi-screen multitasking.

Possible disadvantages of iPhone SE

The biggest drawback of the iPhone SE is its size, and that's obvious. But if it weren't for the fact that it's easy to operate with one hand, it would be impossible to understand why Apple went ahead with its production.

The smaller size certainly feels great in your hand and pocket while out and about. The power that the phone has is impressive. Considering the performance of the processor that Apple managed to fit into the smaller phone, it's surprising that it doesn't overheat or degrade battery life. Although not the best in the industry, it is an iPhone with good battery life that many will like. The SE doesn't hold its charge as well as other iPhones when watching media, but it's a step up from the 5S. The camera is powerful and clear, and many will be surprised by the difference in image quality.

The phone design is outdated. There's no other explanation for why Apple didn't create a smaller version of the iPhone 6s other than cost savings. Users also do not like the outdated screen technology. Aside from minor changes, this is an old 2012 iPhone 5 display from almost four years ago. And the image on the phone plays an important role. The owner of the phone should not compare the screen with the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, for example. He will be very upset.

What's safe to say about the iPhone SE is that it's a smartphone that doesn't suit people who have welcomed the advent of larger screens, even if it creates strange bulges in their pockets.

When you look at the SE as a new Apple product, everything makes sense. The phone is relatively cheap, which will be tempting for people who want to finally get rid of their old flip phone. Its small size is suitable for those who stopped upgrading their iPhones when they became too large. But most importantly, it is powerful.

Apple fans should wait until the seventh model goes on sale in September, as this device was not intended for them. If you want a top-notch smartphone that won't empty your pockets or hurt your hand, then the iPhone SE deserves a place on the list of contenders.