Comparison of iPhone 5 and se. IPhone SE - what is it? Is it worth buying an iPhone SE?

My main phone is iPhone 5S. This is not at all shameful, despite the fact that many iXBT commentators will point at me in the back and shout offensive things (they generally don’t like Apple here, as I see it). Well, it’s more convenient for me, a small and fast, trouble-free phone, it doesn’t freeze, everything is synchronized, you can read social networks. I looked at the new Apple products with interest, and even thought about getting a “six” for myself, but I came to the store, touched it and realized that it was not for me. At all. The Smart simply doesn’t fit in the hand, it’s annoying because it’s blurry, and so on.

And now, finally, which is not only cheaper than the new “six”, but also comes directly in the case that I liked so much, from the iPhone 5S.

Now let's see, why are these phones so different?

That is, the iPhone SE hardware is almost entirely consistent with the “six es”, however, it does not support 3D Touch (I suspect this was due to the type of screen used in the smartphone - most likely, this is a screen from the “five es”).

Perhaps the most interesting innovation here for me is the camera. It was she who recently became the object of envy for me, it was because of her that I wanted to buy myself a new iPhone. Otherwise, everything in my 5S suits me so far. I suspect that after a couple of iOS updates it will start to slow down very much (so far so good), and I will have to change it.

Regarding prices and memory capacity. For me, the most correct and relevant device was and remains a phone with a storage capacity of 32 GB. Why he was taken “out of bounds” is not very clear to me. 32 GB is really enough (well, at the moment), 16 is not enough, 64 is expensive. Apparently, you will still have to work harder and take a more expensive model, although, of course, I do not approve of Apple at all.

The prices are as expected, at the start of sales 38,000 for a model with 16 GB, and this despite the fact that a refurbished iPhone 5S can be purchased for only 19,500. I think that in just a couple of weeks “gray trucks” will arrive on the market and bring us an iPhone SE for the coveted 30,000 rubles, but without an official guarantee. I'll wait for them. But maybe I’ll trample, of course, without a camera. I'll wait for an iPhone SE2 of some sort.

Well, who really should think about a replacement is the owners of the iPhone 5. After all, unlike their ancient devices, there is normal LTE, and living without a fast network connection is now very, very unpleasant.

UPD: Have you noticed how often lately Apple has begun to follow the lead of users, and then roll back? How many shouts have there been about the fact that a professional tablet needs a large diagonal, and where is it all? Literally the next year they brought back the iPad with a diagonal of 9.7", just as Jobs had imagined. Then they made huge iPhones in the guise of Chinese flagships, and somehow it didn’t work out very well with them either. Look, the Mac Pro will be returned soon. No, Apple not the same anymore, although that’s not why I love him.

Hello everyone! The article is probably a little late - after all, the iPhone SE has been on sale for quite a long time and writing a year later about how it differs from the iPhone 5S is a little untimely or something :) But, at the same time, there are several reasons why this instruction has right to exist. The most important of them is a large number of fakes, which you can easily fall for when buying a smartphone second-hand or second-hand. They are everywhere!

What kind of fakes are we talking about? An iPhone 5S is taken (it’s good if it’s an “S”, or even a regular “five”) and “repackaged” into a case from an SE. After this, it is sold at a price that is an order of magnitude more expensive than it should actually be. You come home happy, but after a while you realize that you were deceived and sold your old device at the price of a new one.

And this is not a far-fetched situation - in the comments on the site you can often find the following questions:

Good afternoon, please tell me how I can check an iPhone se 64gb to see if the memory is really 64 (except in the settings, since I heard that they jailbreak and set other parameters) and distinguish it from the converted 5s?

Well, there is already an article about memory -. But how to recognize a “remake” and distinguish a real iPhone SE from previous models in the same case? Now I’ll tell you everything, let’s go!

Method 1: Check the serial number

As the main difference, almost all sites recommend using a serial number. And, in a sense, they are right. By looking at the IMEI () and entering it on the Apple website (), you can find out the model to which it belongs. And everything would be fine, but!

As readers rightly note, some craftsmen know how to remake the serial number and entering the “left” numbers is not difficult for them. It turns out that you will not see the real serial number, but the one indicated by the scammer. And of course, when you check on the Apple website, they will tell you that you have an iPhone SE in your hands. Therefore, it is necessary to play it safe and perform a few more checks...

Method 2: Connect to iTunes

Yes, taking a laptop or computer to a meeting with a seller is not always convenient or possible, but somehow connecting the device to iTunes before purchasing is simply necessary. By the way, for such an action you can always contact any seller in an electronics store. I think that for a purely symbolic amount, they will not refuse you and will carry out a similar check.

Moreover, it will take a few minutes at most. Moreover, you don’t need to do anything - just connect and see what data iTunes shows in the main window. There will be a model, serial number, and memory capacity.

To be sure, before this procedure it is better to reset the content and settings or restore the firmware - this will already be a 100% way to determine what you currently have in your hands - iPhone SE or iPhone 5. Another thing is that it will take a little more time.

Method 3: Camera Settings

Despite the external similarity, the camera in the iPhone SE is much better in terms of photos and videos than in the iPhone 5S. And this can also help us distinguish one from the other. Go to “Settings - Photos and Camera” and see that the video recording modes for these two gadgets are different:

1. iPhone 5S - 720p HD, 30 fps and 1080p HD, 30 fps.
2. iPhone SE - everything is the same + 1080p HD, 60 fps and 4K, 30 fps.

A few more differences between the iPhone SE and the disguised 5S

Everything written above is the most basic.

However, there are a few more tips that you need to follow so as not to buy an iPhone 5S with the body and price of an iPhone SE:

As you can see, most of the tips are very simple and checking what you have in front of you - an iPhone 5S or SE should not take much time. I really hope that by following these rules you will be able to identify a repackaged phone and not fall for the tricks of scammers.

So, the iPhone SE has been on Russian shelves for a week now. Many of those who are interested in the new 4-inch iPhone model have already purchased it - while others are still just thinking about it. It is for them that our new material: a detailed comparison of the iPhone SE with the iPhone 6S and iPhone 5S!

Why with these smartphones?

On the one hand, in terms of design, the iPhone SE is extremely close to the iPhone 5S, released in 2013. It has an almost identical design and the same dimensions (but we will dwell on this issue in more detail). On the other hand, in terms of technical characteristics, the iPhone SE is very close to the iPhone 6S, released last fall.

Therefore, you will have to compare the new product with two “Apple” smartphones at once. Let's start by following our usual pattern!

Dimensions and design

iPhone SE is made in exactly the same case as the iPhone 5S, except for the material: it uses 7000-series aluminum, which first appeared in the iPhone 6S.

You will see below how this affected the mechanical strength. In the meantime, skipping the comparison of almost identical devices, let's turn to the iPhone 6S. Dimensions of the iPhone 6S are 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 millimeters, weight – 143 grams. iPhone SE, of course, is more compact in linear dimensions and lighter, but slightly thicker: 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 millimeters, 113 grams of weight.

The colors of the iPhone SE and iPhone 6S are the same: “space gray”, silver, gold, “rose gold”. The iPhone 5S does not have a pink variant. Here's how the iPhone SE compares to the iPhone 6S Plus:

A little about the strength of cases, in a visual form:

And about water resistance, in comparison with the iPhone 5S:

And with two devices at once:

Display

The iPhone SE and iPhone 5S have 4-inch screens, while the iPhone 6S has a 4.7-inch display. All screens have an IPS matrix, all have the same number of pixels per inch: 326 pieces. This makes the displays of the gadgets under discussion comply with the Retina standard adopted by Apple (more than 300 ppi).

Naturally, the resolution varies. For iPhone SE and iPhone 5S it is 1136x640 pixels, and for iPhone 6S it is 1334x750 pixels. The flagship model has a higher screen contrast: 1400:1, instead of 800:1 for the iPhone SE and iPhone 5S. Also, the iPhone 6S has a slightly larger viewing angle due to the use of dual-domain pixels.

In fact, we can say that the screen has changed the least on the iPhone since 2013. Unless the iPhone 6S supports 3D Touch technology.

Specifications and performance

To begin with, let’s talk about “naked” numbers. iPhone SE has on board the same processor that underlies the iPhone 6S – Apple A9. True, its frequency is slightly lower for the new product: 1.85 GHz versus 2 GHz for the flagship model. The amount of RAM is the same: two gigabytes. And this is an important factor, and if you still think otherwise, watch the video:

Of course, the iPhone 5S is completely behind. It is based on the A7 processor, the world's first x64 mobile processor, clocked at 1.3 GHz. The 2013 flagship has exactly half as much RAM as the two smartphones described above:

Of course, there is absolutely no point in comparing the iPhone SE with the iPhone 5S in terms of performance: these are gadgets of completely different generations. But what about the iPhone 6S? Here, judging by the tests, an interesting situation arises. An example is the popular Geekbench 3 benchmark, in single-core and multi-core modes:

Tests have already been carried out both using synthetic benchmarks and in a visual way. They show: the iPhone SE is at least as fast as the iPhone 6S (and therefore any other smartphone currently on the market). Moreover: sometimes he even gets ahead! One more example:

Camera

Before iFixit specialists opened the iPhone SE case, everyone believed that the main cameras of these two gadgets were the same. It turned out that this is not entirely true: the modules still have design differences. But this does not affect the characteristics.

So the iPhone SE and iPhone 6S have main cameras with a resolution of 12 megapixels, supporting Live Photos, and capable of shooting video in 4K format. Let us remember that optical stabilization is only available on the 5.5-inch iPhone 6S Plus. The iPhone 5S, of course, lags behind: its 8-megapixel camera with 1080p video looks faded compared to the new models. What about the front cameras?

The iPhone 5S and iPhone SE already have the same 1.2-megapixel module (although the 2013 smartphone does not have a front-facing Retina Flash). Apparently, the manufacturer decided to save money by not integrating the 5-megapixel FacaTime camera into the new product, which is equipped with the iPhone 6S.

How do cameras film in practice? Here are some examples:

Comparison with iPhone 5S in video format:

And an overview of the camera's capabilities:

Built-in memory capacity

iPhone SE comes in only two flash drive capacities: 16 and 64 gigabytes. The iPhone 5S and iPhone 6S each have three configurations: 16, 32 or 64 gigabytes for the first, 16, 64 or 128 gigabytes for the second. Note that 16 gigabytes of built-in memory has long been insufficient for comfortable use of the device: this was pointed out back in the days of the iPhone 6.

Accessories

We consider it important to note one factor that is not directly related to the comparison of characteristics - however, it does not hurt to know about it. The iPhone SE has a lot of components similar to both the iPhone 6S and iPhone 5S. The Cupertino company has equipped this smartphone with only a few new chips. Otherwise, the iPhone SE inside the case is exactly a cross between the two smartphones with which we compare it.

iFixit specialists managed to find out this. It was thanks to this decision that Apple achieved a very low price for the gadget, with very high technical characteristics.

Software

Here there is complete parity. All three smartphones run the current version of iOS (at the time of writing - iOS 9.3.1), and will definitely be supported by iOS 10. You can install exactly the same software on them. The iPhone 5S does not have any significant problems with the performance of the modern operating system (unlike the earlier 4S). The flagships, of course, too.

Autonomy

Of the three, the most capacious battery, as you would expect, is the iPhone 6S: 1715 mAh. The iPhone SE battery boasts a capacity of 1642 mAh, but the iPhone 5S has only 1560 mAh.

But at the same time, the stated operating time differs slightly. For iPhone 6S and iPhone SE, 14 hours of talk time and 240 hours of standby time are claimed. The iPhone 5S is designed for 10 hours of talk time, but, on the other hand, 250 hours of standby.

However, this is just a bare theory. You can try to assess what the situation is in practice using tests, although they do not give a 100% objective picture. It all depends on how exactly you use the device. Let's say, here are the test results, according to the conditions of which Wi-Fi was actively used on smartphones:

Let us only note that the smaller battery capacity for the iPhone SE is not only natural (the smartphone itself is smaller than a flagship), but is also not a disadvantage: one of the main consumers of battery energy is the screen, and the iPhone SE has a much smaller screen.

Other nuances

The iPhone SE has an NFC module for working with the Apple Pay payment system, which the iPhone 5S does not have. True, so far this advantage does not mean anything in Russia: Apple Pay does not work in Russia. There are rumors about the launch of the system by the end of this year, but for now this is just speculation. Another advantage of the iPhone SE over its “ancestor” is support for Bluetooth 4.2, while the iPhone 5S only works with Bluetooth 4.0. This may be quite important, for example, for Apple Watch users.

On the other hand, the iPhone SE does not have one of the important features of the iPhone 6S: it lacks the 3D Touch system, which allows the screen to respond not only to the pressure itself, but also to its force. Also, the iPhone SE, like the iPhone 5S, does not support LTE-A communications: only regular LTE. The iPhone 6S supports LTE Advanced.

Price

The cost of the 16-gigabyte version of the iPhone SE in Russia is, at the time of writing this article, 38 thousand rubles - this is exactly the price set in the Russian segment of the Apple Online Store. For 48 thousand rubles you can purchase a 64 GB version. iPhone 6S is significantly more expensive. The basic 16 GB version costs 57 thousand rubles in the official Apple online store. And for 66 thousand you will get a 64 GB version. The cost of the 128-gigabyte configuration is 75 thousand rubles.

The iPhone 5S is no longer officially sold by the company from Cupertino: immediately after the release of the iPhone SE, it was discontinued and disappeared from the Apple Online Store and from the official retail stores of the Californian company. However, it is still possible to buy this smartphone from certain retailers.

The average price of a 16 GB iPhone 5S in Moscow at the moment is 24 thousand rubles. On average, the package with 32 gigabytes on a flash drive costs 10 thousand more. And the 64GB version will also cost a little less than the base version of the iPhone SE. Given the difference in characteristics described above, each of you will decide for yourself how to evaluate the difference in cost. And now, a little about how Apple managed to save money:

Time to draw conclusions

What do we have as a result? The iPhone SE is certainly a very technically advanced smartphone, despite the fact that Apple has found a lot of opportunities to save money. In terms of performance, it is not inferior to the iPhone 6S, and therefore to any modern flagship smartphone, despite its modest price. Look at the results of the comparison test between the iPhone SE and the Samsung flagship:

At the same time, the smartphone is compact. For many this is a disadvantage, but for others, on the contrary, it is an advantage. iPhone SE is a fairly “niche” product: it is aimed at people who want a high-performance gadget with an advanced camera, but either do not want to spend a lot of money on it, or do not want to carry a “shovel” in their pocket.

If you belong to at least one of these categories, be sure to pay close attention to the iPhone SE! He totally deserves it.

Can’t decide which Apple device to choose so that the technical parameters are not too outdated and at the same time the price suits you, or maybe you are looking for a gadget with a 4-inch screen? The iPhone 5S and iPhone SE are best suited for these conditions. But to understand what to choose from, we reviewed the devices and identified all their advantages and disadvantages.

Design

Both of these smartphones are made in almost identical cases with beveled edges, the size of which is 124x59x7.6 mm. Both the physical side volume buttons and the Apple logo made of stainless metal on the back cover - this and much more is no different for these gadgets. They fit equally comfortably in the hand and fit into any pocket.

The only, completely insignificant difference between the cases is their weight; for the SE it is 1 gram more compared to the 5S: 113g versus 112g, respectively.

The screen diagonal is no exception; it is identical for both devices and is equal to four inches. By the way, the screen is worth paying special attention to, since it is made in the best traditions of Apple - it is a high-quality Retina display with a resolution of 1134x640 pixels.

The advantages of SE include the fact that it has a wider range of colors to choose from than its competitor. In addition to silver, gold and gray, the 5S model now has a rose gold color. This solution is perfect as a gift for a girl.

Characteristics

But the technical characteristics of the 5S and SE differ quite greatly, and far from being in favor of the first.

The 5S model is equipped with an A7 chip, which is already quite outdated compared to modern developments.

The user can choose from three versions of this device with 16, 32 and 64 GB of memory. Quite a wide range, but given that the device has already ceased to be produced, it will soon be difficult to find even its most expensive versions.

As for the battery, the iPhone 5C has a capacity of 1570 mAh. This is enough for about 14 hours of active use.

The iPhone SE has a dual-core processor called A9, just like the 6S. Apple claims that the SE's processor performance is 50% higher than that of the 5S, and the graphics core is three times faster, and tests confirm this. These characteristics are sufficient for the full use of all applications for IOS without exception at the moment.

The iPhone SE's memory selection is not as wide as the previous model. There are options with 16 and 64 GB of internal memory. Yes, it’s not very nice that users’ freedom of choice is so limited, but it’s still not such a big problem that it would make them refuse to buy a device.

But what you should pay attention to is the battery size. The manufacturer fulfilled its promise and increased it compared to the company’s previous smartphones to 1624 mAh. But since this is a relatively small step, users did not notice any particular increase in operating time.

Camera

When comparing the cameras of iPhone 5S vs iPhone SE, the difference between them appears, and again not in favor of the first. The older model has an 8-megapixel camera, which is a pretty poor performance these days. Most Android smartphones can produce much better images for the same money.

But the SE version already has a modern camera with a 12-megapixel matrix. This means that the photographs taken by her will be of higher resolution. By the way, this is the same camera that is installed on the 6S model.

Both devices have the same f/2.2 aperture and True Tone flash.

But, besides this, CE has several additional features that can only be a plus for it. For example, the ability to take panoramic photos with a resolution of up to 63 megapixels. There is a Live Photo function, which, although not very useful, will not be superfluous.

Video shooting

This smartphone has added a large number of functions for video shooting. For example, it is possible to record video in 4K format at 30 frames per second, 1080 pixels at 120 frames per second, and also record slow motion in HD quality at 240 frames per second.

This is a significant step up from the 5S. The camera of the previous device allows you to shoot only 720 pixels at 120 frames per second.

Price

Now, due to the release of new flagships from Apple, the price of the 5S has dropped as low as possible, so there is no point in waiting for it to get cheaper. At the same time, due to the cessation of production, finding a new fifth iPhone is becoming more and more difficult. But its price is very attractive, about 11,000 rubles.

Now you are unlikely to find a new SE for less than 17,500 rubles, since it is a fairly popular device. But this price has its justification; by choosing this model, you will get the same 6S characteristics, only with a smaller screen.

Conclusion

We tried to compare all the characteristics of these smartphones so that you make the right decision when choosing between the iPhone 5S and SE. I think what is the difference between them and why the iPhone SE is the best choice has become clear to everyone.

Make comparisons size in this case does not make sense, since the devices are packaged in outwardly identical cases.

The CE version showed itself to be head and shoulders above almost all parameters, in some ways it is even better than the 6S. By choosing it, you will get a modern smartphone with an advanced camera and good technical characteristics for the right price.

Differences there is no doubt between smartphones, so the choice is yours, n I hope our advice helped you. See you on the pages of the site!

Video

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.

Summary

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.

iPhone SE phone: what is it?

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, there are only two changes: 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.

Less is more

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. on the home screen buttons belong to the first generation, which is not as fast as in 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, the Apple iPhone SE Gold is produced in gold and Silver in a silver shade.

Picture and sound

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.

Software

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.

Camera

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: the Apple 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 video that looks smooth and evenly exposed, even when tracking moving objects. 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.

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 phone test results. Its performance is more or less on par with Apple's most expensive models.

Table of test results for 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

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.

Conclusion

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 phone owner should not compare the screen with, 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.