Should You Get an iPhone SE in 2017?
I got my first iPhone, the iPhone SE, over a year ago. Since then, Apple has yet to refresh the SE, only doubling the storage from 16GB to 32GB and from 64GB to 128GB. Packing over 2 year old specs, should you get the iPhone SE in 2017 or 2018?
Design - Old But Gold
The iPhone SE uses the same design as the iPhone 5/5s, but I do not consider that to be a bad thing. With a design so iconic, you get a lot of choices for phone accessories. You can find a case for the iPhone SE almost everywhere.
Thanks to this, I have multiple cases for my SE, from official Pokemon and LINE cases to a S$3 clear hard case that came with a free glass screen protector. It is insane how many cases fits this phone; many of the latest Android flagships cannot even come close.
Another benefit to having this classic design would be its size. The iPhone SE is the only high-end device to pack tiny 4.0" display today. This means that one handed usage is a breeze; you can type a message easily even when one hand is occupied.
There are some quirks to a small display though. Some people may not be comfortable going back to such a small display after being exposed to much larger ones. Also, it is really easy for others to mistake your iPhone SE for an old iPhone 5/5s.
After a year of usage, my iPhone SE suffered a couple of dents and scratches. Also, the part between the front and the metal frame broke after a hard fall, resulting in the gap seen below. But considering how "careful" I was with the iPhone, it held up really well.
Camera - Still Really Good
The iPhone SE may not have dual rear cameras like many of today's flagship devices, but it is still an exceptional smartphone camera. Over 95% of the photos on my blog are taken with the iPhone SE. Under most lighting, its quality is on par with the latest flagship devices.
When it gets really dark, the iPhone SE starts to show its age. But even then, photos are usually usable, unlike those taken with a budget device like the Redmi Note 4. For its price range, the iPhone SE's camera is still among the best.
The only disappointing part of the iPhone SE's camera would be the front facing shooter, which comes in at a measly 1.2MP. (the dot is not a typo) This is decent for voice calls, but definitely not for Instagram. Too bad selfie lovers, no affordable iPhone for you.
Performance - Feels Like New
Unlike many phones I have used in the past, the iPhone SE runs everything smoothly without a hitch even till this day. Of course, that is if you factor out bugs brought by iOS 11; there are a ton of them that Apple has yet to fix. They will probably do so in a month or two.
Gaming is not an issue on the iPhone SE. Throw a heavy game at it and more likely than not it will handle the game really well. However, playing certain games can be really challenging on such a small display. Also, gaming on the SE is not as immersive as on larger devices.
Battery Life - Not As Impressive As Before
In my original review, I praised the iPhone SE for its excellent battery life, lasting over a day on regular usage. But recently, it easily hits 20% in the late afternoon on the same usage intensity. Due to this, I bring around a power bank wherever I go these days.
Some articles blamed it on iOS 11, which I too believe is likely the cause. That said, the iPhone SE's battery life on iOS 11 is comparable to many flagship phones, so it is still relatively good. I hope Apple can fix this issue soon and give the SE its amazing battery life back.
iOS - Quite a Bit of Improvements
When I purchased the iPhone SE back in June of last year, it came with iOS 9.3 and since then, it has received 2 major updates. From Apple's past records, I foresee that the SE will be getting at least 1 more major update, possibly even 2.
Both major updates brought sizable improvements to iOS. iOS 10 gave iOS a bolder, more colorful style, most noticeable in the notifications and control center. It also introduced "raise to wake", a feature I have grown really fond of.
Meanwhile, iOS 11 gave notification center new customizable toggles, as well as a matching new look. This includes the mobile data toggle, which I have been asking for a long time. The App Store also received major transformations that made it feel more personal.
I am really satisfied with what I am seeing from Apple in terms of updates. Some of the quirks of iOS are still here, file transfer for example. But with what I have seen thus far, I am confident that Apple will address most of them before the iPhone SE gets phased out.
Conclusion - Still an Amazing Budget iPhone
If you are looking for an affordable iPhone, you should definitely consider the iPhone SE. The SE may pack specs that are over 2 years old, but it still feels new when you use it, thanks to Apple's dedication to updating all products, regardless of pricing.
Will I recommend the iPhone SE in 2017? If you are still using an iPhone 5s or anything earlier and do not want to spend over S$1000 on a new phone, I highly recommend the iPhone SE. But if you are already using a larger iPhone, probably not.
Before you rush out of the doors to purchase an iPhone SE, hang on. The 32GB iPhone SE may be really affordable at S$568, but consider spending another S$160 on the 128GB variant. Trust me, 32GB is not enough for long term usage.
If you are reading this in 2018, I recommend waiting for a next iteration of iPhone SE. The SE came out in March 2016 and got upgraded storage in March 2017 so it is very likely that the SE's successor will be unveiled in March 2018.
