The A9 processor from Samsung is more power-hungry than its counterpart from TSMC. iPhone SE feature review: everything you need to know about SE How much memory does the iPhone SE have?

Not only may the processor size be different in different batches of iPhone 6s, but these chips also differ in energy efficiency.

Quite recently it became known that in and the manufacturer installs - from and, regardless of the smartphone model. Now it turns out that these chips work differently.

Processors from Samsung and TSMC differ from each other in size and manufacturing process. Naturally, the question arises: in what proportions are these chips used in the new Apple smartphone? It is especially relevant against the backdrop of recent news. Initially, data appeared that the processor ratio was approximately 60/40 in favor of TSMC. However, more recent information shows an almost even distribution of the two A9 models between the iPhone 6s.

Further delving into the topic, there is a desire to find out about the differences between the chips - is there a difference or can you, in principle, calm down and not bother yourself with unnecessary things? It turned out that according to the results of tests on the energy efficiency of the processor, the product from Samsung consumes battery power faster than the analogue from TSMC. Of course, these data so far come from few sources, and it cannot be said that they are statistically reliable. Nevertheless, such tests attract the attention of an increasing number of users and become the topic of their discussions on specialized forums.

Probably the most revealing results were provided by one of the network users Reddit, who compared the performance of two iPhone 6s Plus with different A9 processors on board using the Geekbench 3 test [download from the App Store]. According to its results, a smartphone with a TSMC chip lasted two hours longer than an iPhone with a Samsung A9 on board.

iPhone 6s Plus battery life test using Geekbench: TSMC processor on the left and Samsung processor on the right

I ran these tests a couple of times and the results were the same. The difference in work was two hours. I tested both phones using the same processes, with the same amount of memory filled and with the same settings. I also tried to compare their operating time on “clean” iPhones [after resetting all settings and deleting content], the result was unchanged.
Reddit user on testing iPhone 6s Plus using Geekbench 3

MacRumors editors asked John Poole from Prime Labs, test developer, comment on the results of the analysis. He noted that Samsung and TSMC use different chip production processes. In the case of Samsung's A9, we are dealing with a 14nm process, while TSMC uses a 16nm process to create the A9 chip. However, the difference in battery life in the described cases still surprised the engineer. After all, these processors still have similar performance indicators. For a more accurate analysis and understanding of the reasons for the differences between processors from TSMC and Samsung, you will have to test them more carefully and meticulously.

Results of tests conducted using a Chinese site MyDrivers(they are also published on Reddit) characterize the performance of identical smartphones with different processors when launching browsers (JavaScript) and when playing videos. As with Geekbench 3, test results on MyDrivers showed that the iPhone 6s with Samsung's A9 chip drains faster. But a test using the AnTuTu application showed that due to the Samsung processor, the smartphone also heats up several degrees more.

TSMC iPhone 6s (left) and Samsung iPhone 6s (right); according to the results of 12 tests, the battery charge of the first is 77% versus the charge of the second at 71%

Based on the results of such tests, we can draw a general conclusion that the A9 processors produced by TSMC are still somewhat superior to a similar product from Samsung. However, to officially confirm this, it is necessary to conduct many more different tests examining the real performance of the chips themselves and the iPhones in which they are used.

In general, commentators on forums, including the MacRumors forum, report completely different test results. Although, the information received from them is very interesting. After all, it shows how new smartphones work in real conditions of everyday use.

Those who are interested in finding out what kind of processor is in their iPhone 6s can use the Lirum Device Info Lite app [download from the App Store]. In the tab Model Information This program displays which chip is installed in the device. It could be a Samsung processor ( N66AP in 6s Plus or N71AP in 6s) or from TSMC ( N66mAP in 6s Plus or N71mAP at 6s). [MacRumors]

Please rate.

So, in short, the iPhone SE is an iPhone 6s in an iPhone 5s body. There are only two visible differences between the iPhone SE and the iPhone 5s. First, on the back it says “iPhone SE” instead of just “iPhone”.

From left to right: iPhone SE, iPhone 5s

The second difference is that the chamfers of the metal edging are not glossy, but matte. It is difficult to notice this, even with direct comparison, however, it is a fact.

There are no other external differences - including with regard to the location of the camera and flash (remember, these elements were slightly different for the iPhone 5), speakers and generally all sizes.

And this is very good news. If you still have accessories for the iPhone 5s, they are 100% suitable for the iPhone SE. In our editorial office, for example, we still have a special plastic case with a mount for external lenses - we had to throw it into the back drawer when the iPhone 6 was released, but now we found it and installed it on the iPhone SE without any problems.

We also note that the iPhone SE is now available in rose gold, which appeared in the iPhone line only starting with the iPhone 6s/6s Plus.

From left to right: iPhone 5s, iPhone SE and iPhone 6s

As for our personal impressions, after ten minutes of working with the iPhone SE, returning to the dimensions of the iPhone 6s feels like an inconvenience. At the same time, the relatively small screen of the iPhone SE compared to the iPhone 6s does not cause such inconvenience (if we were switching to it from the iPhone 6s Plus, of course, the difference would be huge)

iPhone SE in hand

iPhone 6s in hand

However, it should be noted that Apple could increase the screen of the iPhone SE without changing the dimensions of the device itself. The frames are quite thick - there is room to increase them. A screen with a diagonal of 4.3-4.5 inches would fit quite well.

Features and performance

Inside the iPhone SE is a full-fledged iPhone 6s. Almost. The differences are minimal - there is no 3D Touch (many, however, have already forgotten that the 6s even has it) and the screen resolution is lower - it corresponds to the iPhone 5/5s: 640x1136 pixels instead of 750x1334 pixels. Thus, the total number of pixels on the iPhone 6/6s screen is 1.4 times more than in the iPhone 5/5s/SE.

At the same time, the hardware in the iPhone SE is absolutely the same as in the iPhone 6s - a dual-core Apple A9 APL0898 processor with a nominal clock frequency of 1850 MHz, a PowerVR GT7600 video accelerator, and 2 GB of RAM.

Source: ZOOM.CNews

However, benchmark results show that the iPhone SE is still a fraction less powerful than the iPhone 6s - despite the fact that its processor has less to worry about due to the reduced screen resolution.

Source: ZOOM.CNews

This difference may be due to an artificial limitation of the processor frequency. The iPhone 6s has a 1,715 mAh battery, while the iPhone SE (according to iFixit) has a 1,624 mAh battery, which is smaller. To ensure autonomy similar to the iPhone 6s (and the manufacturer claims that the autonomy of the SE is even higher), the difference in screen resolution and brightness may not be enough.

In any case, the artificial reduction in processor frequency also explains the heterogeneity of the benchmark results obtained on the iPhone SE. As a rule, we run the benchmark several times (up to 5 times) and select the best results (it is possible to slow down the benchmark by third-party processes, but it is unlikely to speed it up). In the case of the iPhone SE, there was a large difference between the minimum and maximum results, which hints at control of the processor frequency.

By the way, pay attention to the line “internal memory” in the technical specifications table. iPhone SE will only be available in 16 or 64 GB variants. There are only two options, there will be no others. Although, in an amicable way, it was possible to leave only one option - 64 GB. Indeed, 16 GB is very little these days, even if you don’t watch movies or play games. There is enough music to fill half of this volume, and the other half will be useful for system needs, especially when the new iOS firmware is released.

Another hardware difference between the iPhone SE and the iPhone 6s is the front camera. If the rear cameras of these smartphones are identical (but in the SE it does not protrude above the body because the body itself is thicker), then the SE inherited the front camera from the 5s. This, however, does not mean that the quality of selfies has become significantly lower, but we will cover this issue in more detail in the review.

What's left of the iPhone 6s

So, we’ve sorted out the hardware: the processor, RAM and rear camera in the iPhone SE are identical to the iPhone 6s. There are also few differences in software. There is no 3D Touch, but this is mostly a hardware function - you need support from the screen. However, Live Photos were left here - i.e. You can take animated photos on iPhone SE as well as view them.

But the ease of using one hand (double tap on the “Home” button) has been removed - this is not needed here, because You can easily reach the top row of icons with your thumb.

The iPhone SE comes with iOS 9.3 by default, and on the very first day we received it for testing, the phone requested an update to iOS 9.3.1. The update fixes some bugs in version 9.3.

It should be noted that the system works at lightning speed on the iPhone SE; we did not notice any performance problems. That is, for those who began to notice lags on the iPhone 5s, it will be very convenient to upgrade to the iPhone SE.

General impression

At the cost of minor sacrifices like 3D Touch and a 5-megapixel selfie camera, Apple managed to cram the power of the iPhone 6s into the body of the iPhone 5s. Yes, the larger the screen, the easier it is to consume modern content. But for the big screen there is an iPad, but you want to handle your phone with one hand and not get it in your pocket. All the same, the phone will not fully replace the tablet, and the tablet will not replace the phone.

Well, for the upcoming review we will test the autonomy and both cameras, and in general the operation and stability of the device. At the same time, let’s think about how the line of Apple smartphones will develop further, and whether we will see another SE in a year. It seems to us that it would be logical to remove the line of 4.7-inch iPhones and leave 4 inches and 5.5. The first option is for those who care about ergonomics (and who use an iPad for content that requires a large screen) and the second option is for those who perceive a smartphone as a universal device that replaces, among other things, a tablet.

We already know that the new generation of iPhone 6s and 6s Plus is equipped with different processors produced by Samsung and TSMC using different technologies. It is reported that the difference lies not only in the technology, but also in the final results of the work. How to find out which chip is installed in your device, read below.

Samsung uses more advanced 14-nanometer technology to produce the chip, while TSMC uses 16-nanometer technology. At the same time, the power consumption of the latter is slightly lower than that of Samsung. Neither the boxes nor the devices indicate which chip is installed in the gadget. This information can be found in several ways.

The Samsung processor has a more yellow color and more compact dimensions, the TSCM processor is closer to golden and slightly larger in size.

To avoid opening the case, you can use specialized utilities, for example, the Lirum Device Info application. After installing it from the App Store, go to the Storage and Model Information tab and find the digital designation of the chip.

Apple iPhone 6s:
 N71AP - Apple A9 made by Samsung
 N71MAP - Apple A9 manufactured by TSMC

• 128GB

Size and Weight 2

• Height: 4.87 inches (123.8 mm)
• Width: 2.31 inches (58.6 mm)
• Depth: 0.30 inch (7.6 mm)
• Weight: 3.99 ounces (113 grams)

Display

• Retina display
• 4-inch (diagonal) widescreen LCD Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
• 1136‑by‑640‑pixel resolution at 326 ppi
• 800:1 contrast ratio (typical)
• Full sRGB standard
• 500 cd/m2 max brightness (typical)
• Fingerprint‑resistant oleophobic coating
• Support for display of multiple languages ​​and characters simultaneously

Chip

• A9 chip with 64‑bit architecture
• Embedded M9 motion coprocessor

Camera

• 12‑megapixel camera
• ƒ/2.2 aperture
• Five-element lens
• 5x digital zoom
• Live Photos with stabilization
• Local tone mapping
• Face detection
• True Tone flash
• Sapphire crystal lens cover
• Backside illumination sensor
• Hybrid IR filter
• Autofocus with Focus Pixels
• Tap to focus with Focus Pixels
• Exposure control
• Noise reduction
• Auto HDR for photos
• Panorama (up to 63 megapixels)
• Auto image stabilization
• Burst mode
• Timer mode
• Photo geotagging

Video Recording

• 4K video recording at 30 fps
• 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps
• 720p HD video recording at 30 fps
• 3x digital zoom
• True Tone flash
• Cinematic video stabilization (1080p and 720p)
• Continuous autofocus video
• Face detection
• Noise reduction
• Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps and 720p at 240 fps
• Time‑lapse video with stabilization
• Take 8-megapixel still photos while recording 4K video
• playback zoom
• Video geotagging

FaceTime HD Camera

• 1.2‑megapixel photos
• ƒ/2.4 aperture
• Retina Flash
• 720p HD video recording
• Auto HDR for photos
• Backside illumination sensor
• Face detection
• Burst mode
• Exposure control
• Timer mode

Touch ID

• Fingerprint sensor built into the Home button

Apple Pay

• Pay with your iPhone using Touch ID in stores, within apps, and on the web
• Complete purchases made with Apple Pay on your Mac
• Receive and redeem rewards using rewards cards

Cellular and Wireless

• Model A1662*
  • LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29)
• Model A1723*
  • LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28)
  • TD‑LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41)
  • TD‑SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)
  • CDMA EV‑DO Rev. A (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • UMTS/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
• All models
  • 802.11ac Wi‑Fi
  • Bluetooth 4.2 wireless technology

Location

• Assisted GPS and GLONASS
• Digital compass
• Wi-Fi
• Cellular
• iBeacon microlocation

Video Calling 3

• FaceTime video calling over Wi‑Fi or cellular

Audio Calling 3

• FaceTime audio
• Voice over LTE (VoLTE) 4
• Wi‑Fi calling 4

Audio Playback

• Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC -3), Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
• User‑configurable maximum volume limit

TV and Video

• AirPlay Mirroring, photos, audio, and video out to Apple TV (2nd generation or later)
• Video mirroring and video out support: Up to 1080p through Lightning Digital AV Adapter and Lightning to VGA Adapter (adapters sold separately)
• Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 4K, 30 frames per second, High Profile level 4.2 with AAC‑LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio or Dolby Audio up to 1008 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo or multichannel audio, in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG‑4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC‑LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio or Dolby Audio up to 1008 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo or multichannel audio, in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M‑JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

Siri 5

• Use your voice to send messages, set reminders, and more
• Get intelligent suggestions in Messages, Mail, QuickType, and more
• Activate with only your voice using “Hey Siri”
• Listen and identify songs

External Buttons and Connectors

• Touch ID sensor
• Volume up/down
• Ring/Silent
• On/Off - Sleep/Wake
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Lightning connector
• Microphone
• Built-in speaker

Power and Battery 6

• Talk time:
  Up to 14 hours on 3G
• Internet use:
  Up to 12 hours on 3G,
  up to 13 hours on LTE,
  up to 13 hours on Wi-Fi
• Video playback:
  Up to 13 hours
• Audio playback:
  Up to 50 hours
• Standby time:
  Up to 10 days

Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter

Sensors

• Touch ID fingerprint sensor
• Three-axis gyro
• Accelerometer
• Proximity sensor
• Ambient light sensor

Operating System

iOS 11
With new features and capabilities that let you get more done quickly and easily, iOS 11 makes iPhone more powerful, personal, and intelligent than ever.
See what's new in iOS 11

Accessibility

Accessibility features help people with disabilities get the most out of their new iPhone SE. With built-in support for vision, hearing, physical and motor skills, and learning and literacy, you can fully enjoy the world’s most personal device. Learn more

Features include:

• VoiceOver
• Magnifier
• Software TTY
• Siri and Dictation
• Type to Siri
• Switch Control
• Closed Captions
• AssistiveTouch
• Speak Screen

Built-in Apps

• Camera
• Photos
• Health
• Messages
• Phone
• FaceTime
• Music
• Wallet
• Safari
• Calendar
• iTunes Store
• App Store
• Notes
• Contacts
• iBooks
• Weather
• Reminders
• Clock
• Stocks
• Calculator
• Voice Memos
• Compass
• Podcasts
• Watch
• Files
• Find My iPhone
• Find My Friends
• Settings

Free Apps from Apple

Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iMovie, GarageBand, iTunes U, Clips, and Apple Store app are preinstalled.

• iMovie
• Pages
• Numbers
• Keynote
• iTunes U
• GarageBand
• Apple Store
• Trailers
• Apple TV Remote
• iTunes Remote
• Music Memos
• Clips

Headphones

• Storage and travel cases

SIM Card

• Nano-SIM
  iPhone SE is not compatible with existing micro‑SIM cards.

Rating for Hearing Aids

• Model A1662, A1723: M3, T4

Mail Attachment Support

• Viewable document types
  .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key(Keynote); .numbers(Numbers); .pages(Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt(text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel); .zip; .ics

System Requirements

• Apple ID (required for some features)
• Internet access 7

Syncing with iTunes on a Mac or PC requires:

• Mac: OS X 10.9.5 or later
• PC: Windows 7 or later
• iTunes 12.5 or later (free download from www.itunes.com/download)

Environmental Requirements

• Operating ambient temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
• Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
• Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
• Operating altitude: tested up to 10,000 feet (3000 m)

Languages

• Language support
  English (Australia, UK, U.S.), Chinese (Simplified, Traditional, Traditional Hong Kong), French (Canada, France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish (Latin America, Mexico, Spain), Arabic, Catalan, Croatian , Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
• QuickType keyboard support
  English (Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, UK, U.S.), Chinese - Simplified (Handwritten, Pinyin, Stroke), Chinese - Traditional (Cangjie, Handwritten, Pinyin, Stroke, Sucheng, Zhuyin), French (Belgium, Canada, France , Switzerland), German (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), Italian, Japanese (Kana, Romaji), Korean, Spanish (Latin America, Mexico, Spain), Arabic (Modern Standard, Najdi), Armenian, Azerbaijani, Belarusian, Bengali, Bulgarian, Catalan, Cherokee, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Emoji, Estonian, Filipino, Finnish, Flemish, Georgian, Greek, Gujarati, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi (Devanagari, Transliteration), Hinglish, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Irish , Kannada, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Malayalam, Maori, Marathi, Norwegian, Odia, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal), Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian (Cyrillic, Latin), Slovak, Slovenian, Swahili , Swedish, Tamil (Script, Transliteration), Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Welsh
• QuickType keyboard support with predictive input
  English (Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, UK, U.S.), Chinese (Simplified, Traditional), French (Belgium, Canada, France, Switzerland), German (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish (Latin America, Mexico, Spain), Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal), Thai, Turkish
• Siri languages
  English (Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, UK, U.S.), Spanish (Chile, Mexico, Spain, U.S.), French (Belgium, Canada, France, Switzerland), German (Austria, Germany , Switzerland), Italian (Italy, Switzerland), Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (China mainland, Taiwan), Cantonese (China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao), Arabic (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates), Danish (Denmark), Dutch (Belgium, Netherlands), Finnish (Finland), Hebrew (Israel), Malay (Malaysia), Norwegian (Norway), Portuguese (Brazil), Russian (Russia), Swedish (Sweden), Thai (Thailand), Turkish (Turkey)
• Dictation languages
  English (Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, UK, U.S.), Spanish (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, U.S.), French (Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland), German (Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland), Italian ( Italy, Switzerland), Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (China mainland, Taiwan), Cantonese (China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao), Arabic (Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates), Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch (Belgium, Netherlands), Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi (India), Hungarian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Shanghainese (China mainland), Slovakian, Swedish, Thai , Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
• Definition dictionary support
  English, Chinese (Simplified, Traditional), Danish, Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
• Bilingual dictionary support
  Chinese (Simplified), Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
• Spell check
  English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Turkish

In the Box

• iPhone with iOS 11
• EarPods with 3.5 mm Headphone Plug
• Lightning to USB Cable
• USB Power Adapter
• Documentation

iPhone and the Environment

Apple takes a complete product life cycle approach to determining our environmental impact. Learn more

iPhone SE embodies Apple's continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:

• Mercury-free LED-backlit display
• Arsenic‑free display glass
• Brominated flame retardant-free
• PVC-free
• Beryllium-free
• Recyclable aluminum enclosure

Apple and the Environment
Apple is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of our products and process. Learn more. Or read our detailed information on the environmental performance of every Apple product. Read our Product Environmental Reports.

Apple GiveBack
If you're ready for your next iPhone, Apple GiveBack is a great way to let go of your old one. If it’s in good shape, you can trade it in for Apple Store credit. If it’s not eligible for credit, we’ll recycle it responsibly at no cost to you. Good for you. Good for the planet.

Thanks to numerous reviews from iPhone SE owners, we were able to highlight the main advantages and disadvantages of the 4-inch Apple smartphone released in 2016.

Benefits of iPhone SE

The good old 4-inch form factor

Millions of graceful women's palms have yearned for the small, comfortable contours of the bodies of old gadgets. The same can be said about the large army of Asian buyers, teenagers and children. A return to a 4-inch display diagonal and proportional body dimensions is a clear plus. Not degradation, but creative quality, rethinking the concept of a smart phone for all occasions.

A9 processor

Small but bold - the iPhone SE is in some ways inferior to the flagship models, but this does not apply to performance. Those who have not yet replaced their old iPhone 5 are in for a pleasant surprise. It looks like the same device, but its hardware is the most advanced, take at least the full version of the A9 processor, no modifications with reduced functionality. The last factor will become one of the most important marketing advantages of a newbie over competitors.

M9 and Siri always active

The gadget, among others, also received a function that was first demonstrated six months ago. The power of the M9 coprocessor has finally become enough to serve as a full-fledged deputy of the main chip in case it is turned off to save energy or the smartphone is simply locked. In situations like this, you can still shout “Hey Siri” and she will respond. Convenient, whatever you say.

Rose gold color

The iPhone SE can still be considered the successor to the iPhone 6s. This is indicated, for example, by a characteristic family feature – the “rose gold” color of the case, first introduced in 2015. Not a rarity, but this color is still not available on many devices in the Apple product range. But the iPhone SE smartphone received it - to the delight of those who like to splurge without extra costs.

Presentable view of the Apple logo

Not a metal stamping, but a separate stainless steel part, skillfully placed in its rightful place. The logo serves as a kind of inlay, decoration for the smartphone body, although this is not entirely logical from the point of view of minimizing the cost of the product. Or vice versa - it’s just not worth saving on such inexpensive, but catchy details in order to attract buyers.

Correct silhouette of the edges

The iPhone 5s model had excellent ergonomics, but with the transition to the phablet format, Cupertino engineers had to significantly adjust the bevels of the edges - they became more rounded. iPhone SE received its own side edge design. Comfortable to grip and protected from scratches and chips.

2 GB RAM

A small bow to Apple, which not only deigned to satisfy one of the key requests of users, but also did not skimp on a solution for a budget model. We are talking about the long-awaited transition from a single gigabyte of RAM, unchanged for years on end, to twice the volume of a valuable resource. Even without official confirmation, the iPhone SE model still received the coveted 2 GB of RAM - goodbye to Safari slowdowns, unmotivated iOS freezes and other unpleasant factors.

12 MP iSight camera

Another example that users of the new product will not feel too disadvantaged compared to owners of flagship devices. Their main cameras of the iSight series are identical - the same matrix resolution, the same f2.2 aperture, almost the same set of additional modules. Whether video shooting or selfie, everything will turn out at approximately the same level and depend on the skill of the operator, but not on the capabilities of the equipment.

Thick body, but no protruding camera lens ring

Indeed, no, and that says it all.

4K video format support

iPhone SE not only can shoot in high resolution, but also implements almost all aspects of working with the most popular format. For example, the ability to merge several streams into a single video using iMovie. Or digital zoom and virtual panning for those who are not going to reproduce 4K, but would not refuse to increase the comfort of work when creating video with a resolution of 1080p.

Slow-mo shooting at 240 fps

Copied from iPhone 6s - the new smartphone supports both modes of recording video in slow motion. And playback too, both with a frequency of 240 fps, the quality level is 720p, and with 120 fps, but in a resolution similar to 1080p. Its predecessor, an old 4-inch gadget, was also familiar with slow-mo, but could do much less.

Retina-Flash

The technology, first implemented in the iPhone 6s model, allows you to neutralize the lack of lighting when working with the front camera of a smartphone. An additional light source is the display itself, which in the latest version is capable of producing a flash three times brighter than the standard screen backlight. More importantly, the concept of “triple” is relative and in fact the required brightness is calculated very accurately based on the sensors in the latest generation FaceTime camera. Alas, the iPhone SE smartphone inherited the old front-facing module, and therefore, although it can illuminate itself during selfies, it does so rather clumsily against the backdrop of a truly smart flagship camera.

Live Photos support

One of the cosmetic functions of the latest generation of Apple gadgets is theoretically supported on older models. But only in playback format - the iPhone SE is different in that it can also create “live photos”. Nothing fundamentally new, the same automatic video capture and adding short animated inserts before and after a static image. But at least there is no lag behind fashion.

Compatible with Apple Pay

This service was initially developed for broad compatibility with the iPhone lineup, and its only bottleneck was the need for an NFC chip and a “security enclave” key storage in the mobile device. Both are present in the iPhone SE by default—you don't have to use the Apple Watch companion gadget to shop using your smartphone.

High speed communication

More than the iPhone 5s, but less than the current flagship - the result is a good average result. The iPhone SE model is equipped with Bluetooth 4.2 wireless modules, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and 19-band LTE with a peak throughput of up to 150 Mb/s.

Optimized Power System

Less free space inside the case, but modern compact batteries. An advanced and energy-intensive display, but due to the 4-inch diagonal, it is not as power-hungry as similar phablet units. Together, these two factors provided the iPhone SE with better battery life than the iPhone 5s.