New iPhone SE

"CB" (jrcb) 03/21/2016 at 14:10 • Filed to: Cellphones

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So, Apple is releasing a new version of the iPhone called the SE, which is !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Basically, it’s an iPhone with a 4 inch screen. Nothing too exciting, right? Wrong.

Now, I don’t like iPhones. They’re not really my thing, but this could be a good thing for people like me. I don’t like big smartphones. I’ve got one with a 4.5 inch screen, and that’s plenty large enough for me. But the thing is, if you want anything with decent specs (such as a camera that takes better photos than a Polaroid that’s fallen down a stairwell), you have to go above that, into the 5 inch range, and to me, those handsets look massive. My friend has an older Galaxy, and it looks fucking huge . With Apple coming out with a smaller smartphone, maybe other companies will follow suit and start making 4 inch smartphones again with their flagship features (waterproofing, microSD, decent cameras) and maybe bring the price down a little, too. A man can dream.

Anyone else see this as a good thing?

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:12

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They’re marketing it as a phone to fit in women’s jeans. Last I checked every time you market a product specificly towards women the femnazis come out of the wood work and it ends up being a huge flop.

Mattbob > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:14

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The main reason I like my work phone (5s) is that it is small. I hate my girlfriends 6 because it is way to big. This was a great move on their part.

CB > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 03/21/2016 at 14:15

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Really? That’s an odd angle. Not surprising when you think about it, but odd.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:17

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My current smartphone has a 4" screen and is(was) waterproof and shock resistant. Unfortunately, it’s a tad underpowered and storage-limited. A Galaxy in a teeny size would be great for me.

fourvalleys > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:20

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I disagree. I had an iPhone 4S (several actually, for work and personal phones) and I thought the size was fantastic. Then I switched to a Note 3 and it changed everything. It’s not great to use one-handed (even in “one-handed mode”) but the size is excellent for everything else. It’s visible and not at all a hindrance. Fits well in the pocket too, but I don’t use a case.

I’m glad I stopped resisting a larger phone. I could never go back.

Rico > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:20

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“With Apple coming out with a smaller smartphone, maybe other companies will follow suit and start making 4 inch smartphones again with their flagship features”

That’s exactly what will happen. The iPhone 7 is rumored to have a dual camera lens set up on the back for better depth and light reproduction in pictures, watch a bunch of phones start having 2 cameras on the back too.

functionoverfashion > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:21

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I, for one, am THRILLED about this. For years I would buy on ebay whatever phone was 2-3 generations behind and I was happy. Then I went and got a tech job and a new iphone, I thought it was pretty great to be honest. Then I decided, I’m in tech, I should experience the other side - so I got a Galaxy S5. It’s a lovely device, but it’s too big. It doesn’t fit in countless places that my iphone did. Pocket of pants, coats, backpacks, even pockets on bags that were very clearly designed to hold a cell phone because bigger is better, murica f-yeah, right?

I generally don’t like apple but their phones are really fantastic. My android is just not the same. I’ll be getting one of these “SE” things very soon I think.

CB > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 03/21/2016 at 14:22

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Seriously. I don’t mind my Moto G, but it’s pretty damn slow and the camera is absolutely awful. If I could have something this size with better specs, I’d be a happy man.

Rico > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 03/21/2016 at 14:22

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My GF has been holding onto her 5S because she doesn’t want a bigger phone and downsized from the Galaxy S3 to it. I told her about this the and she was overjoyed. It will likely be her new phone once released.

ttyymmnn > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:24

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Definitely a good thing. When I upgraded from my 4S to a 5S, I could have gotten a 6. But it’s just too damned big. I use my phone with one hand (the other, like it is now, holding a cigar). I will almost certainly upgrade this phone to the new SE. It’s just the right size for both my pocket and my hand.

CB > fourvalleys 03/21/2016 at 14:24

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Different strokes for different folks I guess. But hey, when there’s choice in the market, everyone wins.

sebdel > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:25

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I think is good, but can’t help thinking about how this goes against Jobs philosophy. Giving people options is not the mac way, 3 iphones is 2 too many.

Saracen > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:26

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I’m completely opposite. I have huge hands, and after using my brother’s 6 plus I regret going with the standard 6 model.

sebdel > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 03/21/2016 at 14:26

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Based on my experience women carry their smartphones in their purse, so is not a big issue for them, is men who need smaller devices for carrying in the pants pockets.

fourvalleys > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:27

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I was you, and I’m glad I gave it a shot. I was adamant that I wouldn’t be able to get used to it. It took about three days before I was all about it.

ttyymmnn > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:28

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The only thing that bugs me is that the SE will only come in 16GB and 64GB. I think 32GB is the sweet spot for storage size. 16 is not enough, so I'll have to pop an extra $100 to get more storage than I need. That said, I'll probably appreciate the extra space.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > sebdel 03/21/2016 at 14:31

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Maybe we have to carry them in a purse because they won't fit in our jeans...

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:34

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For me, this is great news. I’ve been holding off getting a new Iphone becuase the 6 is just too darn big. I have an Iphone 5 and it is starting to show it’s age but it’s size is perfect for using as a phone and being mobile and storable in many kinds of pockets (mobile phone! Imagine that!). My wife has the 6 and she finds it’s kind of a pain in the ass to take running and cycling all the time. My perfect phone would be the size of the 5 with the capabilities of the 6S.

CB > ttyymmnn 03/21/2016 at 14:37

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To be fair, with apps and everything, I’d give it another three years before we start thinking 64 gigs is too small.

McMike > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:42

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Apple realized that some people don’t want a large phone, and that was proven by how many non 6 devices people were buying.

4" is cheaper. 4" is smaller.

For the millions of people who only use iPhones it for email, phone calls, and texting, this was a smart move to update the 5s.

It’s also smart to stay small and less expensive to lure some people away from the cheaper Android devices they are buying because they are free with a service agreement.

Apple aint no dummy.

scoob > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:44

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If other companies have already thought about it, they’ll only do it if Apple does it. So yes, it’ll be a good thing.

More choice = the Android way :P

But I’ll keep my 6.1 inch screened phone with its 3900 mAh battery, thank you very much.

ttyymmnn > CB 03/21/2016 at 14:46

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True. My kids use my phone, and with all the games they play, plus my music, I’m maxing out my 32GB as it is.

Leon711 > fourvalleys 03/21/2016 at 14:47

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Same, got used to it fast. People (with iPhones) say it’s too big but my Note 4 is smaller than a 6s Plus.

ttyymmnn > McMike 03/21/2016 at 14:48

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I think the whole 5S form factor, from size to square-edge design, is a home run. I hate the rounded edges of the 6. Sure it’s pretty, but it’s a pain to hold. I also have an Otterbox on my 5S. Good security, and it gives even more to hold onto.

CB > ttyymmnn 03/21/2016 at 14:48

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I’ve got a 32 gig microSD card and six gigs of onboard storage on my phone, and I’m starting to run out of space. We live in an age of cheap storage, so hey, an extra hundred bucks for four times the storage doesn’t sound too bad compared to what it used to cost!

ttyymmnn > sebdel 03/21/2016 at 14:49

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Don’t worry. Apple is still limiting the SE to 16GB or 64GB, when I think that 32GB is the sweet spot on storage size. It’s just like my AT&T data plan. I can get either 5GB or 20GB. My family routinely uses just about 8 GB. So I can’t downsize to 5GB, and have to pay a premium for 20GB which I never even come close to using.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > functionoverfashion 03/21/2016 at 14:50

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If you’re adamant to sticking with Android and want to go small without sacrificing specs, you might want to look at the Sony Xperia line. They’re only sold through retailers (i.e. Amazon) unlocked, so you will have to pay in full for them. Their cameras are usually high quality, as are the internal mics used for video and such. They’re also water resistant, to boot!

McMike > ttyymmnn 03/21/2016 at 14:50

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My last Android device had slippy sides like an iPhone 3. Hated it. The one I have now has an bit on an edge on it, which helps me hold on to the damn thing.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > fourvalleys 03/21/2016 at 14:56

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Don’t use a case?!

ttyymmnn > CB 03/21/2016 at 15:10

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Agreed. And when you spread that out over the term of the contract, it’s not bad at all. Still, it’s another example of Apple deciding what they want you to have, rather than giving enough options to make everybody happy. If anything, they should have gone with 32GB and 64GB. 16GB is hardly enough for anything these days. My wife’s phone is a 16GB, but she doesn’t carry any music on hers.

KirkyV > Rico 03/21/2016 at 15:12

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I COME FROM THE FUTURE!

Rico > scoob 03/21/2016 at 15:13

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But I go on Oppo to run away from my schedule, I don’t want to be reminded of it on a separate screen!

KirkyV > CB 03/21/2016 at 15:14

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I’d like to see smaller phones become more of a thing again, but four inches is a little too small for me—my ideal is about 4.7, like my old Galaxy Nexus. I currently have a 5.7 incher...

Rico > KirkyV 03/21/2016 at 15:14

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Haven’t heard of those other ones but when I did first hear about this idea I immediately thought of that Evo3D sprint tried to get me to upgrade to from my Evo, fuck that phone!

KirkyV > Rico 03/21/2016 at 15:18

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Ah, I had the non-US Evo, the HTC Desire HD. Good phone. Great camera, for the time.

The Real Dacia Sandero > CB 03/21/2016 at 15:26

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I’m actually very intrigued by it. I have an iPhone 6, and while I like the screen real estate, it really is too big. Also, the cheaper price is appealing. However, the limit of 64gb is a problem as I’m currently running out of space on my 64gb iPhone. Having tons of 320kbps music takes up a lot of space, and data ain’t cheap...

Rico > KirkyV 03/21/2016 at 15:26

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Yeah I mean at the time it was amazing. It had a kickstand, loud speaker a 4.3" screen with front facing camera. I used to root it and run different roms too. Eventually though I came to hate it, it got so sluggish it would frequently lock up when trying to answer a call.

I remember I reached my breaking point when I was unemployed waiting to be called for a job. A phone number was calling me and I could not answer it (turned out to be a job interview call) and I just blew up, I marched into the store after getting a few paychecks and left with an iPhone 4S and never looked back.

yamahog > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 03/21/2016 at 15:37

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Overlooking the jeans angle, some of the larger fancier phones can’t even fit in smaller hands. It’s just poor business sense to have a product marketed towards everyone not work with half your market.

Last I checked every time you market a product specificly towards women pointlessly gender a product that didn’t need differentiation (like, say, pens ) the femnazis come out of the wood work people rightfully mock it and it ends up being a huge flop.

aaaand fixed that bit for you.

scoob > Rico 03/21/2016 at 15:51

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Fine!

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > ttyymmnn 03/21/2016 at 19:37

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You need to watch more YouTube while doing “paperwork”. Amy Shira Teitel does a show called Vintage Space that would be right in your wheelhouse.

shop-teacher > CB 03/21/2016 at 20:21

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I’m pissed that I just bought a 6s, because I would’ve bought it in a heartbeat. The whole reason I switched to an iPhone (I miss android so much!!!) is because it was the smallest decent phone out there. I’ve gotten used to it’s size, but I’d much prefer to have a smaller phone.

ttyymmnn > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 03/21/2016 at 21:31

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Sounds interesting. But I don’t have any paperwork to do.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn 03/23/2016 at 13:55

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...and here I am wanting 128.

pjhusa > ttyymmnn 04/03/2016 at 21:05

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Here’s my take on this. In my opinion, 32 GB is the sweet spot too. But Apple still sells a 16 GB, as there is a market for them. I’ve realized that those who generally need space use up more than 32 GBs, and then there are those who use hardly any space, so 16 GB works best for them.