IN model range iOS devices include the iPhone SE, a compact smartphone with impressive specs and a great camera.
Externally, the iPhone SE is very similar to the 2013 model, iPhone 5s. However, internally they have significant differences.
External differences
iPhone SE comes in four color options: “ gray space", "silver", "gold" and " pink gold" There is no iPhone 5s in rose gold.
iPhone SE has improved matte edges. Therefore, even with careless use, iPhone SE is less susceptible to minor scratches.
The iPhone SE features a brushed metal Apple logo and an “SE” branding on the bottom back of the phone.
Internal differences
Battery
Thanks to the updated hardware and larger battery (1624 mAh versus 1560 mAh for the iPhone 5s), the battery life of the iPhone SE allows you to use the smartphone 2-3 hours longer than the 5s.
iPhone SE can withstand 13 hours of active use on 4G LTE networks, Wi-Fi or watching videos and up to 50 hours of non-stop music playback. For comparison, the iPhone 5s could last up to 10 hours of talk time, 10 hours of video playback, or 40 hours of music playback.
RAM
The iPhone SE has 2 GB of RAM, while the iPhone 5s has 1 GB less.
Therefore, the performance of the iPhone SE is much higher - now you can open a dozen pages in Safari, minimize the browser, launch a resource-intensive game or other application, then open the browser again and not worry about pages reloading repeatedly, wasting traffic and time.
CPU
Inside the iPhone SE is installed the latest proprietary A9 chip, similar to that in the iPhone 6s.
The SE scores 4,421 points in performance tests. For comparison, the iPhone 5s, which has an A7 processor, scores 2555 points.
The A9 processor guarantees high speed iPhone SE operation. Even when running resource-intensive applications and games, the system will not slow down.
M9 coprocessor
In addition to the main A9 processor, the iPhone SE has an M9 coprocessor, which directly interacts with the compass, gyroscope and accelerometer.
Therefore, the smartphone more accurately collects and analyzes statistics on physical activity, and also allows you to use the “Hey Siri” function, even if the iPhone SE is not connected to the network.
iPhone SE also supports the Raise to Wake feature in iOS 10, when in order to see notifications on the locked screen, you just need to lift the smartphone off the table.
Camera
The iPhone SE has one of the best cameras in smartphones, with a resolution of 12 megapixels.
When photographing on front camera, activated new feature Retina Flash for selfies: screen brightness increases several times compared to normal state. At the beginning of the process, the screen lights up in cool white, after which it changes its hue to warm amber.
The result is a photograph with realistic color reproduction and natural skin tone.
The video recording function also pleasantly surprises with its quality: unlike the iPhone 5s, where the video recording resolution is 1920x1080 pixels and slow motion is possible at 120 fps, the iPhone SE records video with a resolution of 4K (3840x2160 pixels) at a frequency of 30 fps and slow motion at 240 fps.
While the iPhone 5s took good pictures with its 8 megapixel camera, the iPhone SE takes pictures just fine.
Live Photos
Like iPhone 6s and later, iPhone SE supports Live Photos when taking photos.
If you press your finger on a photo taken on the iPhone SE, the picture will literally “come to life.” You will see a few seconds before the snapshot is taken and a few seconds after.
This feature in iPhone SE enhances your photography experience and lets you relive unforgettable moments of nostalgia as your photos come to life under your fingers. iPhone 5s does not have this feature.
Conclusion
iPhone SE will appeal to those who want to get modern smartphone, but in a compact package.
And although the iPhone SE and iPhone 5s are similar in appearance, the SE model has many undeniable advantages that will give you the joy of using Apple products.
In the second half of March 2016, the head of Apple presented to the world new iPhone SE. On the same day, the main characteristics of the new device and its release date in the world and the Russian Federation were announced. Tim Cook also announced the approximate price of the gadget, which surprised the audience a lot. It turned out that, despite many advantages, the phone is quite budget-friendly. Subsequently, this factor had a great influence on the popularity of the iPhone SE.
Already during the presentation, attentive viewers noticed that the SE resembles the fifth iPhone in design. And, it should be noted, the characteristics of the device also did not impress potential buyers of the new product. Whether they changed their minds after purchasing the gadget or were even more disappointed - we’ll try to figure it out in our review.
A Russian user deciphered the abbreviation in the name of the new iPhone as Special Edition. But what exactly is good about this model can be most easily determined by comparing it with the fifth and sixth line of gadgets. At the presentation it was said that the new device is not inferior in performance to its two closest predecessors. However, the dimensions of the SE, as everyone immediately noticed, turned out to be significantly smaller than other phones from Apple. Whether this is an advantage or a disadvantage is up to the user to decide. Some will be confused by the small display. And others will consider the small dimensions a big plus, because the phone will not be able to slip out of their hands.
Since many users consider the camera to be the main feature of an iPhone, this is what should be highlighted in the SE model. Advantages of the camera of the smartphone in question:
- Improved footage thanks to a 12 MP camera.
- Possibility of shooting 4K video.
- Availability of creating panoramas with a resolution of 64 MP.
- Taking “live” photographs.
- Excellent pictures even at night (the manufacturer has built a two-color flash into the device).
Of course, all these features will impress anyone. But the SE model's other interior components are just as good. At the same presentation, the manufacturer highlighted the following advantages of the model:
- Availability of A9 processor.
- Memory in 2 options – 16 GB or 64 GB.
- Built-in Touch ID sensor.
- A powerful battery that can hold a charge for up to 13 hours during active surfing on the Internet.
So, the iPhone SE is almost no worse than the six S. But, of course, there are a number of differences. Let’s say the new product has a Touch ID sensor of the first generation, and the six S has a second generation. In addition, the SE version does not include LTE Advanced technology. This negatively affects the speed of data loading. And if in the sixth generation gadget the speed indicator is 450 Mbit, then in SE it is 3 times less.
iPhone SE performance
At a time when the release date of the iPhone SE in Russia had not yet been precisely determined, Apple fans already knew a lot about this new product. In particular, many were interested in performance indicators. We will talk about them in more detail later.
The manufacturer installed the A9 chipset in the new gadget. As always, the company did not want to equip a “fresh” device old version processor. And this is quite understandable, because at the time of SE’s release, more new model– iPhone 7 with A10 chipset.
In addition, due to the presence of the A9 chip and M9 coprocessor in the SE, the Siri assistant can be used in the background. In order for this assistant to be activated, all you need to do is say “Hey Siri”. The supply of processors for SE was carried out by the Taiwanese company TSMC. But there are also rumors that Samsung Corporation is also involved in this.
According to the test results, it turned out that in terms of performance, the iPhone SE is more powerful than the six S. According to AnTuTu research, the younger model scored a little more than 133 thousand points, and the older one – 132 points. By comparison, a simple six has only 80 thousand points.
Memory
The RAM capacity of the SE model is 2 GB. As for the built-in memory, users have access to variations of gadgets with memory of 16 and 32 GB. According to research, thanks to a good amount of memory, tabs in the Safari browser are saved for a longer period than in the fifth iPhone. In addition, they are rebooted much less frequently. Thanks to this, the journey through global network becomes more efficient. The user can go to any open tab without waiting for it to update.
Battery
Journalists from one of the American newspapers tested the iPhone SE and the subject of the duration of its period battery life. This study also included iPhones 5 and 6 models S and Samsung Galaxy S7. The new device from Apple performed just fine, although the conditions were created equal.
It turned out that the iPhone SE lasts 2 hours longer on a single full battery charge than other Apple gadgets. And when compared with the Galaxy, the Korean device ran out of charge 3 hours earlier than the iPhone SE.
Cameras – main and front
The selfie camera characteristics of the SE are exactly the same as the six S cameras – 1.2 MP. The new device received the “live photo” function, but all gadgets in the sixth line have the same feature (except for the simple six).
Video recording with 4K quality and a frequency of 30 frames per second has become available.
iPhone SE cost in Russia
As noted at the beginning of the article, the price of the smartphone was announced at the presentation. It is very important that the manufacturer did not forget to mention this. For many buyers the cost mobile phone- an important factor in making a decision to purchase it. And here Apple was able to attract the attention of fans.
The price for the SE model turned out to be very affordable and at the beginning of sales was about $400 (on average, 28,000 rubles). Apple management focused on the rich “filling” of the device and the same functions. Thus, the iPhone SE model became the most inexpensive in the history of the company. But, importantly, at a low price, the quality remains at the same level.
It is for these reasons that Russian residents should pay attention to the iPhone SE. According to experts, in our country it is simply unrealistic to buy a smartphone with a similar set of functions for such a price. And, in fact, SE is a smaller version of the iPhone 6S.
Based on all of the above, we can say that the iPhone SE will be a great purchase for everyone.
iPhone SE release date in Russia
The release date of this gadget in our country was slightly shifted. As always, the new product was first sold in the USA and Europe, and Russia became one of the countries in the second wave of sales. And in countries such as India, the new device hit the shelves even later.
In the Russian Federation, Apple fans were able to purchase an iPhone SE in early April 2016. In the company's official online store, a pre-order service for the model was available, which many took advantage of.
4 inches, YEAH! What could be better?
Why I wanted an iPhone SE
Arthur: when I sold in 2014 year iPhone 5s and bought an iPhone 6, I realized that I had made a big mistake by switching from a 4 to 4.7 inch display. I don't strive for large diagonals; I like compact gadgets.
I still didn’t get used to the huge “six”, so I didn’t upgrade to the next S-generation.
Apple then announced iPhone SE with the filling from the iPhone 6s, but in the 5s body. And my joy knew no bounds. I decided to buy one for myself no matter what.
I went to France. But you can also get it in Moscow
I figured that if I buy the phone at the start of sales in France, I save 7,000 rubles. after the return Tax Free. At that time, no one in Moscow was offering pre-order of the iPhone SE, so I had nothing to lose.
But in fact there was a second reason to take a plane ticket: I had never been to Paris.
That's what was needed right away two SE.
And finally, our daughters study French at school, so speaking practice will only benefit them. It was decided to go with the whole family, renting an apartment through Airbnb near the Apple Store.
While I was in Paris and waiting for the start of sales, Nikita Goryainov also took SE - but in Moscow.
The most noticeable thing: they improved the camera
For those who don’t believe, I made a direct comparison - below.
I activated the iPhone right in the store so that on the way home I could take photos with a 12 megapixel camera and compare it with the iPhone 6, which has only 8 megapixels. See the results below.
The sliders on the pictures can be moved. Rotate your iPhone horizontally.
It's hard to notice the difference on the web, although it exists. Definitely in favor of SE.
Both smartphones take excellent photos, but the SE has five advantages.
Firstly, the SE has a Retina Flash for selfies when the face is backlit by the screen: the controller increases the screen brightness to three times the normal state. At the beginning of the process, the screen lights up bright white, after which it changes its hue to amber.
As a result, you get a beautiful photo with realistic color rendering and natural skin tone.
Secondly, high-speed focusing system (Focus Pixels) made easy megathing! Focuses five times faster than the iPhone 6. The difference is colossal.
Third, the SE camera produces less noise. Visible in direct comparison, as below.
Fourth, the SE camera does not stick out!!! YAHOO! Down with the humps.
What was in the box: charger, lightning cable, paper clip, headphones with 3.5 plug. Standard set.
What's in terms of performance: I see the difference with the iPhone 6, it cannot be denied. It’s no wonder that the iPhone SE beat even the iPhone 6s in tests.
With the same hardware, the smaller SE diagonal eats up fewer processor resources. This means that everything works a little faster than on flagship smartphone Apple.
My only nitpick: It's a pity that Apple did not provide a 128 GB version. I had to take it to 64. The maximum memory size is only available on board the 6s/Plus flagships. Market laws!
Love is when 5s + 6s
How I missed a 4-inch phone! It's hard to understand until you can compare it. And it’s one thing when you compare it with an old pipe. And it’s completely different when both work at the flagship level.
This is my new iPhone, and now I say goodbye to the six.
In my opinion, SE is the ideal phone with . If you want something more, I get it iPad mini 2.
There seems to be no excitement, but in reality everything is much more interesting. The first people to buy a new iPhone are real Apple fans, not random passers-by. There are fewer of us, but we know what's what.
iPhone SE in Moscow. Five impressions
Nikita: I take the French speaker from Arthur as I unpack my own iPhone SE.
He came to me literally 10 minutes ago, so I quickly finish writing these lines and go to test. The guys from Onlyphones brought it - mega respect.
I want to say right away that this phone is not intended for those who fall for gold 12-inch MacBooks and buy 100,500 dull straps Apple Watch and generally takes “Apple” only because it’s fashionable.
This smart is for those who remember what Apple was like under Jobs. No shovels, Samsung killers. Only really convenient smartphone, which can absolutely All.
1. It is very small. Whoa.
As a 6s Plus owner, I'm shocked. What a miniature keyboard, it's so easy kick-ass. How to print on it? Although…
You can’t fool muscle memory; in the end, I never missed a beat while I was entering personal data with the initial settings. The screen, by the way, due to its size seems clearer than that on the sixes.
I've been using it for about 20 minutes at the time of writing these lines. So I pick up Plus and think. Still, it was good when there were no shovels. But for two years now we have no choice; if you want a “top” smart, you have to take a huge one.
Thank you, Apple - now you have a choice There is.
2. He flies. Because inside there is a “flagship”
I have an iPhone 5s next to me for comparison. So, the difference is cosmic. My colleague Mikk described it best:
After the iPhone SE, the “old” iPhone 5s seems like a Chinese fake on crooked Android.
It turns out that desktop animation, including the search bar, may not slow down. All menus open without a single hint of lag. Applications are flying no"thoughtful" screens.
The difference is obvious. No need to look at back panel, to see which of the “fives” is new: you just take it, unlock it and understand everything without unnecessary movements.
2 gigabytes of RAM do the job. I predict iPhone SE life cycle 3-5 years without big problems for the owner. Give this deadline to current iPhone 6 users and you will hear sobbing and crunching in response.
3. One hand is enough.
First world problems, right? It’s funny how it happened: first Apple taught us to love shovels, and now it reminded us that life before was no worse.
When you can do absolutely everything on a smart phone without “throwing” it in your palm, without moving it, without stretching your fingers to the far corner - you understand why Jobs fought so hard for small screens and did not let Apple release Plus during his lifetime. This is great, and there is nothing to add here.
I don’t pretend to be true, but it seems to me that SE is doomed to become a hit not only among Apple technology connoisseurs, but also among practical girls. Small smartphone- This is damn convenient. And if also pink... well, you understand.
Unlike Arthur, I have not yet decided to make the SE my main phone. The screen is half the size, it will take some getting used to. It would be a different matter if I hadn’t initially taken Plus, I would have stayed on the once beloved “five”. Then, sorry, now there would be pure ecstasy.
4. He seems weightless.
I usually carry the 6s Plus with the branded silicone case. So, I now picked up SE and realized how much The shovel is heavy compared to the new one.
How to compare fluff and a kilogram of potatoes. Yes, you can carry a potato all day without problems, but if it weighed like a feather, no one would be upset.
The difference between the iPhone SE and 6s Plus (in the case) is exactly twofold. But at the same time, the SE can do everything the 6s can. As they said in a famous advertisement, if the result is the same, why carry more?
5. The design is not outdated. I missed.
All iPhones in the “five” case look like jewelry. Jonathan Ive spoke directly about this at one time: they say, we made this case, trying to give it the features of precious jewelry.
Gold does not age, just like silver. This aluminum brick doesn't feel thick or uncomfortable. It just digs into your hand a little - an unusual feeling after 2 years of owning a “six”.
But when you put both on the table, you instinctively think: after all SE looks more expensive. Not more expensive than gadget, like a “sophisticated thing” - but more expensive, like a good one thing.
It is clear that all these are purely visual moments, and the design of the “six” is still awesome. But there is no jewelry magic in it. It's a matter of SE.
My final opinion
This is the number one smartphone for those who stopped believing in Apple and stayed at the “A” level. Others will start thinking the same way when they hold it in their hands - and with nostalgia they will remember how it was comfortable just recently.
You can take the iPhone SE simply for what it is represents the best what the Cupertino team has achieved over the years. Breakthroughs in hardware, metal in the body, stylish and slightly “elite” design.
Yes, lovers of fashionable new spillikins will not fall for him. They won't be able to show off for another celebrity social networks. You won’t flaunt them at every turn, showing that you are “a fashionable person with a new Apple product.”
Because this smart for those in the know. He wiped away a tear and went to use it. Good luck to all.
P.S.: how Arthur “stood in line” in Paris
Remembering my time in line in Munich, I decided to spend the night at home and in the morning go to the very opening of the store.
Having passed the security of the Carrousel shopping center, turning out all my pockets, showing that I had no belts, grenades, or RPGs, promising not to put hats, hoods, bandanas, scarves on my head, I stood on the escalator - and became sad.
A line of several hundred people snaked around the hall between the columns, heading towards the Apple Store. Well, I think we've arrived. Okay, at least I’ll write a report, talk to sellers, and take photos of the happy owners of the iPhone SE.
And suddenly it turns out that this line is at one of the entrances of the Louvre.
At the Apple Store no one. Maybe I got the date wrong?
I go inside and ask, do you sell new iPhones? Yes, yes, they answer me, how old are you?
The purchase took me exactly 5 minutes. They brought me receipts for Tax Free and told me where the nearest return point was.
Sellers have payment terminals on their belts with iPhones as a computer. You can insert a card into this thing, it is also a barcode and QR code scanner, and special software allows the seller to quickly enter the data of the new owner, passport and send the information for printing.
And where queue, I ask? They answer me: it won’t happen, because the iPhone SE supposedly “ not big launch" Indeed, there is not a single poster depicting the new product hanging either in the windows or on the walls.
Apple, what are you doing? Doesn't look like you.
By releasing the iPhone SE, Apple played into the hands of 5/s accessory manufacturers. It’s hard to imagine how many previously unsold goods immediately ended up on the shelves, including cases, bumpers, and batteries.
Accessories for "fives" cost much cheaper than for subsequent generations of iPhones - what a benefit for everyone!
Any announcement Apple causes a storm of discussions, from very positive to sharply negative. And the release of the iPhone SE completely caused a resonance on the Internet: someone predicted huge sales for it and rejoiced at the appearance of an updated compact smartphone, while others, on the contrary, were perplexed as to how they dared to release such an old model with a new filling and who could it even be for? needed? The truth traditionally lies between two extremes, and now we move directly to the review itself.
Characteristics
| Specifications | |
| Class | Average |
| Form factor | Monoblock |
| Housing materials | Aluminum |
| operating system | iOS 9.x |
| Net | 2G/3G/LTE (800/1800/2600), nanoSIM |
| Platform | Apple A9 |
| CPU | Dual core, 1.84 GHz |
| Video accelerator | PowerVR GT7600 |
| Inner memory | 16/64 GB |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| Memory card slot | No |
| WiFi | Yes, a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 4.2 LE, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes, only for Apple Pay |
| Screen diagonal | 4 inches |
| Screen resolution | 1136x640 pixels |
| Matrix type | IPS |
| Protective covering | Glass |
| Oleophobic coating | Eat |
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash, 4k video recording, slow-mo |
| Front-camera | 1.2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, Glonass |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor |
| Battery | Non-removable, Li-Pol, 1624 mAh |
| Dimensions | 123.8 x 58.5 x 7.6 mm |
| Weight | 113 grams |
| Price | From 38,000 rubles |
Equipment
- Smartphone
- Charger
- PC cable (also part of the charger)
- Wired headset
- Clip
- Documentation
The smartphone comes in a traditional Apple compact box, the equipment is standard, only the headset has changed over the years. Separately, I would like to note that unpacking Apple equipment is always an aesthetic pleasure: everything is neatly folded, there are no stupid blisters, each part of the kit is easily removed and is immediately ready for use.
Appearance, materials, control elements, assembly
The design of the iPhone SE has remained virtually unchanged compared to the 5s, except for the addition of an additional pink color. This is exactly what I had on the test. No matter what anyone says, Apple has no problems with the design of its smartphones, so all of their devices starting with the iPhone 4 look really cool.
Pleasantly cooling aluminum, glass inserts on the sides, glass on the front side, neat power and volume buttons. The 5 had an excellent design, and I don’t think it’s a downside to keep it for the SE version. Remember how many years Apple has been using successful appearance their MacBooks.
Let's briefly go through the control elements, fortunately they have not changed compared to the original five.
Front side. The upper part is the earpiece mesh, front camera, light and proximity sensors
Below the screen is a fingerprint scanner
Left end. Volume buttons and mute switch
Top end. Power button
Bottom end. Speaker, 3.5 mm headphone jack and Lightning connector
nanoSIM tray
Several important clarifications. It is not indicated anywhere exactly which generation of Touch ID is used in the iPhone SE, as far as I know, it works slower than in the 6s/6s Plus, but much faster than in my iPhone 6, this is such a paradox. The speaker has excellent sound quality and volume reserve; the smartphone can be perfectly used as portable speaker. And the edges in the iPhone SE have become matte, they are more resistant to scratches; let me remind you that in the original “fives” this element was glossy. And a little fact about the assembly: I was the owner of an iPhone 5s, its power button was a little loose, unfortunately, the SE also inherited this problem.
Dimensions
Dimensions new iPhone SE is perhaps one of the most interesting parts to discuss. To be honest, I'm already unaccustomed to these compact smartphones, I don’t even remember right off the bat when I tested something of similar sizes (probably it was the iPhone 5s). You can safely write about this smartphone that it is convenient to use with one hand, and it is also much lighter than most of the five-inch models we are used to.
Compared to iPhone 6
Screen
Let's start with the positives. The display has excellent viewing angles, brightness range and excellent behavior in the sun. I also really like how it works automatic adjustment brightness, however, is the advantage of all iPhones. Of course, there are better screens, but the possibilities iPhone display SE is enough for most users.
Among the shortcomings, I will note some yellowness of the screen. If you compare it directly with the iPhone 6, you can see that the SE is noticeably yellow, but if there is no example for comparison, then you will not even notice it.
Is it convenient to use a device with a 4-inch screen in 2016? On the one hand, Apple has done everything to improve the owner’s interaction with the display: icons are arranged as densely as possible, the scale of the application interface in comparison with Android is slightly reduced to accommodate more information, etc. And with SE you can easily type text with one hand.
But it was still not possible to avoid the shortcomings with its size; they are especially noticeable when reading articles through a browser (without a separate mode, sites can only be read in horizontal orientation) and when typing. One of the reasons I didn’t like the iPhone 5s was that the display width was too small; when typing with two hands (and I prefer it this way), your thumbs almost become intertwined in a tight knot.
operating system
The device runs iOS 9.3 and is regularly updated on latest versions BY. You can find a detailed review of iOS 9 at the link below.
I would like to note that in Lately iOS works worse on devices older than a year (take my iPhone 6, for example), but on brand new iPhone SE there were no problems with speed and stability.
Performance
And although the iPhone SE looks like a complete copy of the 5s, inside it has the same chipset as in latest iPhone 6s, and the same 2 GB of RAM. And this, of course, has a significant impact on performance. In addition to the fact that the SE works much faster than the 5s in the interface, it copes much better with any, even the most productive games. However, when working with the latter, the SE gets pretty hot, so you won’t be able to play for a long time, however, the small display is not conducive to this.
Autonomous operation
One of my first iPhones was the same iPhone 5s, whose successor is the SE. There were exactly two things that irritated me about it: the small screen, which caused me to periodically miss the letters and write with typos, and the short battery life, which caused the smartphone to run out of charge by the middle of the day.
In the case of the SE, I was pleasantly surprised by its operating time; in my opinion, it lasts even longer than the iPhone 6, the difference is 10%. You can safely count on three hours of screen activity at maximum brightness with a mobile connection and synchronization enabled.
Camera
From the iPhone 6s, the smartphone inherited not only performance, but also the same camera, which, I can’t help but notice, does not protrude from the body! The quality of the images is comparable to the same 6s, this is a very good level, although inferior to the top-end Galaxy S7 or LG G4, but for most users the camera’s capabilities are enough for the eyes. iPhone cameras also have one more nice feature- this is their simplicity. You don't have to try hard to get a good shot, you just point the camera, hit "shoot" and you're done. But the front camera remains 1.2 MP, which for some will be a disadvantage. But it supports Retina Flash, when the screen acts as a flash. Below are examples of photos and videos taken on an iPhone SE and the same shots taken on a regular iPhone 6 for comparison.
| iPhone 6 | iPhone SE |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Wireless interfaces
The interfaces in the smartphone are complete gentleman's set, all new ones are supported Wi-Fi standards and most LTE bands, so even in roaming you can use fast Internet.
Conclusion
There are no complaints about the quality of speech transmission, you and your interlocutor can hear each other perfectly, there is no interference if the network is stable.
At retail, the iPhone SE 16 GB costs 38,000 rubles, the 64 GB version will cost you 48,000 rubles. For this money you get an external copy of iPhone 5s, but with the internals of the iPhone 6s. In fact, this is the very option that some users, including a number of our commentators, dream about. If you are also one of them, then I can safely recommend you to buy an iPhone SE.
I remember very well how inconvenient it was for me to use the iPhone 5s due to the small diagonal of the screen, however, I was surprised to find that I got used to the SE much faster. Honestly, I didn’t experience any particular discomfort when using this small smartphone. But after returning to the iPhone 6, I realized that I had no particular desire to use a device with a four-inch display in 2016, everything was too small, and I had never typed text with one hand.
And now a question for you, dear readers: would you buy an iPhone SE? And to be more honest, I’ll clarify: what if a similar device on Android came out, for example, a four-inch Galaxy S7 Mini with the filling of a full-fledged flagship, or a small compact Nexus/Xiaomi/Meizu?
Like many Apple announcements over the past few years, the iPhone SE announcement was both expected and unexpected. Expected - in terms of the general idea: everyone was ready for Apple to release more cheap smartphone with a small display diagonal. The surprise was that the body of the new product turned out to be exactly identical to the iPhone 5s, and the hardware characteristics, on the contrary, were inherited from the iPhone 6s, Apple’s current flagship.
Let's take a look at the characteristics of the new product.
Apple iPhone SE Specifications
- Apple A9 SoC 1.8 GHz (2 64-bit cores, ARMv8-A based architecture)
- Apple A9 GPU
- Apple M9 motion coprocessor including barometer, accelerometer, gyroscope and compass
- RAM 2 GB
- Flash memory 16 / 64 GB
- No memory card support
- operating room iOS system 9.3
- Touch display IPS, 4″, 1135×640 (324 ppi), capacitive, multi-touch
- Cameras: front (1.2 MP, 720p video) and rear (12 MP, 4K video)
- Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz; MIMO support)
- cellular: UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41
- Bluetooth 4.2 A2DP LE
- Touch ID fingerprint scanner
- NFC (Apple Pay only)
- 3.5mm stereo headset jack, Lightning dock connector
- Li-polymer battery 1624 mAh, non-removable
- GPS / A-GPS, Glonass
- Dimensions 123.8×58.6×7.6 mm
- Weight 113 g (our measurement)
For clarity, let’s compare the characteristics of the new product with the iPhone 6s, iPhone 5s (since this is what the new product is replacing), as well as with the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact - this is perhaps the main iPhone competitor SE for now.
| Apple iPhone 6s | Apple iPhone 5s | Sony Xperia Z5 Compact | ||
| Screen | 4″, IPS, 1136×640, 324 ppi | 4.7″, IPS, 1334×750, 326 ppi | 4″, IPS, 1136×640, 324 ppi | 4.6″, 1280×720, 423 ppi |
| SoC (processor) | Apple A9 (2 cores @1.8 GHz, 64-bit ARMv8-A architecture) | Apple A7 @1.3 GHz 64 bit (2 cores, Cyclone architecture based on ARMv8) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (8 Cortex-A57 @2.0 GHz + 4 Cortex-A53 @1.55 GHz) | |
| GPU | Apple A9 | Apple A9 | PowerVR SGX 6 Series | Adreno 430 |
| Flash memory | 16/64 GB | 16/64/128 GB | 16/32/64 GB | 32 GB |
| Connectors | Lightning dock connector, 3.5mm headset jack | Lightning dock connector, 3.5mm headset jack | Micro-USB with OTG and MHL 3 support, 3.5mm headset jack | |
| Memory card support | No | No | No | microSD (up to 200 GB) |
| RAM | 2 GB | 2 GB | 1 GB | 3 GB |
| Cameras | main (12 MP; video recording 4K 30 fps, 1080p 120 fps and 720p 240 fps) and front (1.2 MP; video recording and transmission 720p) | main (12 MP; video shooting 4K 30 fps, 1080p 120 fps and 720p 240 fps) and front (5 MP; shooting and transmitting Full HD video) | main (8 MP; video recording 1080p 30 fps and 720p 120 fps) and front (1.2 MP; video recording and transmission 720p) | main (23 MP, 4K video shooting) and front (5.1 MP, Full HD video) |
| Internet | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac MIMO (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), 3G / 4G LTE+ (LTE-Advanced) | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), 3G / 4G LTE | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac MIMO (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), 3G / 4G LTE+ (LTE-Advanced) | |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 1624 | 1715 | 1570 | 2700 |
| operating system | Apple iOS 9.3 | Apple iOS 9 | Apple iOS 7 (upgrade to iOS 9.3 available) | Google Android 6.0 |
| Dimensions (mm)* | 124×59×7.6 | 138×67×7.1 | 124×59×7.6 | 127×65×8.9 |
| Weight (g)** | 113 | 143 | 112 | 138 |
| average price | T-13584121 | T-12858630 | T-10495456 | T-12840987 |
| Offers Apple iPhone SE (16 GB) | L-13584121-5 | |||
| Apple iPhone SE (64GB) offers | L-13584123-5 | |||
*according to manufacturer information
** our measurement
The table clearly shows that with the exception of the screen, dimensions and battery capacity iPhone specifications 6s and iPhone SE are identical. But there is no option with 128 GB of internal memory, which, of course, is a minus (especially considering the possibility of shooting in 4K). In turn, the dimensions and screen are similar to the iPhone 5s, but all other parameters have become much more advanced. Even the battery capacity has increased, although the body is the same.
As for comparison with Android competitors, things are not so simple here. Almost all characteristics Apple devices lag behind, but, as we have repeatedly seen, this may not directly affect real performance and other user qualities. So let's proceed directly to testing.
Packaging and equipment
The packaging of the iPhone SE is much closer to the iPhone 6s than the iPhone 5s. This is evidenced by both the overall light color scheme and the picture on the smartphone screen.
The packaging of Apple smartphones has not contained any surprises for a long time. The new product is no exception. Here EarPods headphones, enclosed in a beautiful box, leaflets, Charger(5 V 1 A), Lightning cable, stickers and a key for removing the SIM card cradle.
Design
Now let's look at the design of the iPhone SE itself. The first emotion when you take it out of the box: my God, how small and, at the same time, plump!
In fact, the dimensions of the new product exactly match the iPhone 5s. Down to the millimeter. However, in the two and a half years that have passed since iPhone release 5s, we are already accustomed to a smaller thickness and, of course, a significantly larger screen. It’s not for nothing that Sony’s Compact model has a diagonal of 4.6 inches. And the Chinese have already stopped producing fewer smartphones. So four inches looks like an outright atavism.
But this is exactly the case when the opinion of technologists does not coincide with the opinion of many ordinary users, among whom the iPhone 5s is still popular. And although for some of them this is due solely to financial reasons, others simply prefer compact models. The iPhone SE is aimed at them.
Strictly speaking, there are only three design differences from the iPhone 5s. The first is the new Rose Gold color. We have seen this color in all new mobile products. Apple latest generation, and now it is available on a compact smartphone. The girls will probably be happy. Not only is it beautiful in itself, but it also emphasizes that you don’t have some kind of old iPhone 5s, and the most new thing yet. However, three other color options (gold, dark gray and silver) are also available.
The second design element that has undergone changes compared to the iPhone 5s is the branded apple. Now it is not pressed into the metal surface, but is made of glossy metal as an independent block, inserted into the body and slightly recessed - like the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. It looks elegant, but, in essence, it is such a trifle that you can hardly catch it with your eyes unless you specifically look closely.
Finally, the last detail that helps not to confuse the iPhone SE with the iPhone 5s is the letters SE directly below the word iPhone on the back of the device. However, obviously, this does not in any way affect the perception of the design. Otherwise, the smartphones are absolutely identical: the material, the location and shape of the buttons, the connectors - everything is exactly like the iPhone 5s. As a plus, we note that although the camera here is significantly better, it does not protrude above the body at all (as is the case with all iPhones with a six in their name).
An interesting question is what version of the Touch ID fingerprint scanner is installed in the smartphone. As we remember, it debuted in the iPhone 6s/6s Plus a new version scanner that works faster and more accurately. Owners of these models know that they only need to quickly touch their finger and immediately pull it away for the smartphone to recognize the owner. Since Apple doesn't give details about the version of Touch ID in the iPhone SE, we tested it with a simple comparison - pressing the Home button on the iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone SE at the same time. The result is clear: the fingerprint scanner in the iPhone SE is slower. That is, apparently, it is the same here as in the iPhone 5s.
Overall, the design of the iPhone SE can be called a time-tested classic (albeit looking somewhat archaic against the background modern devices even the middle segment). Two cosmetic innovations - a new color and a differently designed logo - do not affect the overall impression. In terms of appearance, this is just an iPhone 5s. No more and no less, no better and no worse.
Screen
Options iPhone screen SE are no different from those of the iPhone 5s: 4-inch diagonal, IPS matrix with a resolution of 1136x640. By modern standards - very little: both diagonal and resolution (less than 720p is difficult to find even in the mid-budget segment).
It is also important that the iPhone SE screen does not support 3D Touch technology.
However, specifications and the presence or absence of additional technologies is just the tip of the iceberg. A comprehensive examination of the quality of the iPhone SE screen was carried out by the editor of the “Projectors and TV” section, Alexey Kudryavtsev.
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are better than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photograph in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off (on the left is Nexus 7, on the right is Apple iPhone SE, then they can be distinguished by size):
The screen of the Apple iPhone SE is slightly darker (brightness according to photographs is 104 versus 110 for the Nexus 7). The ghosting of reflected objects in the Apple iPhone SE screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (more specifically, between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix) (OGS - One Glass Solution type screen). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, but still no better than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a slower rate than with regular glass.
When manually controlling the brightness and displaying the white field in full screen, the maximum brightness value was about 610 cd/m², the minimum was 6 cd/m². The maximum brightness is very high, and given the excellent anti-glare properties, readability will be ensured even on a sunny day outdoors. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (located to the left of the front speaker). IN automatic mode When external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness adjustment slider - the user can use it to try to set the desired brightness level for the current conditions, but we cannot predict what the brightness will be in other conditions and simply when changing and returning the level of external illumination. If you don’t touch anything, then in complete darkness the automatic brightness adjustment function reduces the brightness to 6 cd/m² (too dark), in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 400 lux) the brightness increases to 100-140 cd/m² (normal), in in a very bright environment (corresponding to the lighting of a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) is set to 500 cd/m² (this is enough). We were more satisfied with the option obtained after several attempts at brightness correction in different conditions, and for the three conditions indicated above we received 8, 115 and 600 cd/m². It turns out that the auto-brightness function works more or less adequately, and there is some possibility of adjusting the nature of the brightness change to the user’s requirements, although there are some not obvious features in its operation. At any brightness level, there is no significant modulation of the backlight, so there is no flickering of the screen (or rather, at minimum brightness there are very narrow peaks with a frequency of 50 Hz, but flickering was still not noticeable even with great effort).
IN this smartphone An IPS type matrix is used. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.
The screen has good viewing angles without significant color shift even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen and without inverting shades. For comparison, here are photographs in which the same images are displayed on the screens of the Apple iPhone SE and Nexus 7, while the brightness of the screens is initially set to approximately 200 cd/m² (across the white field across the entire screen, on the Apple iPhone SE this corresponds to a value of 60% brightness at use third party programs), and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K. There is a white field perpendicular to the screens:
Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And a test picture:
Color balance varies slightly, color saturation is normal. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:
It can be seen that the colors did not change much on both screens and the contrast remained high level. And a white field:
The brightness at an angle of the screens decreased (at least 5 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but in the case of the Apple iPhone SE the drop in brightness is slightly less. When deviated diagonally, the black field is lightened weakly and acquires a light red-violet tint. The photographs below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is approximately the same!):
And from another angle:
When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is good:
The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is normal - about 760:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 20 ms (11 ms on + 9 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 25 ms. The gamma curve, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal any blockage in either the highlights or the shadows. The power function fitting exponent is 1.93, which is lower than the standard value of 2.2, so the image is slightly brightened. In this case, the real gamma curve deviates little from the power-law dependence:
Color gamut is almost equal to sRGB:
Apparently, the matrix filters mix the components with each other to a moderate extent. The spectra confirm this:
As a result, visually the colors have a natural saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale is good, since Colorful temperature slightly higher than the standard 6500 K, and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is less than 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, color temperature and ΔE change little from hue to hue - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)
As in, the iPhone SE has a function Night Shift, which makes the picture warmer at night (the user specifies how much warmer). The graphs above show the values obtained at the middle position of the parameter slider Color temperature(by the way, the correct word is “color temperature”), when shifted all the way to Warmer and to Colder(graphs are signed in the appropriate way). Yes, the color temperature decreases, which is what is required. A description of why such a correction can be useful is given in the specified article about iPad Pro 9.7. In any case, when having fun with mobile device At night, it’s better to reduce the screen brightness to a minimum, but still comfortable level, and only then, to calm your own paranoia, turn the screen yellow with a setting Night Shift.
Let's summarize. The screen has a very high maximum brightness and has excellent anti-glare properties, so the device can be used outdoors without any problems, even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. It is also possible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works more or less adequately. The advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, the absence of an air gap in the layers of the screen and flicker, high black stability to deviation of the gaze from perpendicular to the screen plane, good uniformity of the black field, as well as color gamut sRGB and good color balance. There are no significant shortcomings. At the moment this is probably best display among smartphones with small screens.
Performance and Heat
The iPhone SE runs on the same Apple A9 SoC as the iPhone 6s. This means that there is also an Apple M9 coprocessor, which provides support for the voice unlocking function (with the “Hey Siri!” command).
It is important that the CPU frequency in the iPhone SE is not reduced. We outlined the details about the SoC in the article about the iPhone 6s, so we won’t repeat ourselves and go straight to testing. In addition to the main testing hero, we included the iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 5s in the table, since our main tasks are to understand whether there are any differences in the performance of the iPhone SE compared to other smartphones based on the Apple A9, and also how much faster the new product is than iPhone 5s. As for comparison with Android competitors, as we previously found out, the Apple A9 is still the leader, so there is simply no point in such a comparison in the case of the iPhone SE.
Let's start with browser tests: SunSpider 1.0.2, Octane Benchmark, Kraken Benchmark and JetStream. We used the Safari browser throughout.
The result is predictable: we see approximate parity between the iPhone SE and iPhone 6s Plus, as well as a huge superiority (three to four times) over the iPhone 5s. We emphasize that some error could be caused by different versions operating systems and browsers, so the slight difference between the two Apple A9 smartphones should not be confusing.
Now let's see how the iPhone SE performs in Geekbench 3 and AnTuTu 6 - multi-platform benchmarks. Unfortunately, we don’t have results for the iPhone 5s, because at the time we tested it, AnTuTu did not support iOS at all, and Geekbench was available in previous version. Therefore, you will have to be content with the results of the latest smartphones.
There are already more strange result: Noteworthy is the small but still present superiority of the iPhone SE over the iPhone 6s Plus in Geekbench, as well as, conversely, the lag in AnTuTu.
The last group of benchmarks is dedicated to testing GPU performance. We used 3DMark, GFXBench Metal (in the case of the iPhone 5s, the results are from a simple GFXBench) and Basemark Metal.
Let us remind you that Offscreen tests involve displaying images in 1080p, regardless of the actual screen resolution. And Onscreen tests mean displaying a picture in the resolution that matches the device screen resolution. That is, Offscreen tests are indicative from the point of view of the abstract performance of the SoC, and Onscreen tests are indicative from the point of view of the comfort of the game on a specific device.
(Apple A9) |
Apple iPhone 6s Plus (Apple A9) |
Apple iPhone 5s (Apple A7) |
|
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan 3.1 (Onscreen) | 58.0 fps | 27.9 fps | — |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan 3.1 (1080p Offscreen) | 25.9 fps | 28.0 fps | — |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan (Onscreen) | 59.4 fps | 39.9 fps | — |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan (1080p Offscreen) | 38.9 fps | 40.4 fps | — |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex (Onscreen) | 59.7 fps | 59.7 fps | 25 fps |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex (1080p Offscreen) | 74.1 fps | 81.0 fps | 27 fps |
As we can see, even the most resource-intensive 3D scenes do not cause any difficulties for the iPhone SE. Here, of course, the matter is not only in the SoC, but also in the low screen resolution. Hence the difference with the iPhone 6s Plus in Onscreen modes. Interestingly, in Offscreen mode, the larger model slightly outperforms the compact newcomer. But the user doesn't care about this. The main thing for him is that any games on the iPhone SE will simply fly.
Next test: 3DMark. Here we are interested in the Sling Shot Extreme and Ice Storm Unlimited subtests.
The significant superiority of the iPhone 6s Plus over the iPhone SE in the most difficult test, Sling Shot Extreme, looks rather strange. It would be logical to assume that the GPU of the cheaper iPhone operates at a reduced frequency. And this looks like a completely logical solution, since with a significantly lower screen resolution the load on the GPU becomes lower.
Finally - Basemark Metal.
And here is a similar picture, strengthening us in the assumption made above. But despite the slight loss to the iPhone 6s in points, the iPhone SE demonstrated a significantly higher number of frames per second during the test - from 38 to 45, while the iPhone 6s Plus barely jumped over the border of 30 fps. Therefore, even a game of this level will not be a problem for the iPhone SE.
One more thing to note: during testing in Basemark Metal, the iPhone SE got very hot. Below is a thermal image of the back surface obtained after two consecutive runs (about 10 minutes of work) of the Basemark Metal test:
It can be seen that the heating is localized in the upper right part of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat chamber, the maximum heating was 44 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees), this is already very noticeable.
In the same test, the iPhone 6s Plus showed significantly less heating (more precisely, it was localized in one place, so the smartphone can be held comfortably in your hands). Consequently, although the performance of the iPhone SE is more than enough for any games, and will last for another two years, playing really resource-intensive applications may not be entirely comfortable due to high heating.
Cameras
The main camera of the iPhone SE fully matches the parameters iPhone camera 6s. We decided to check whether the iPhone SE's photo capabilities are really as good as the current one. Apple's flagship! The examination was carried out by Anton Soloviev.
Like the iPhone 6s, the iPhone SE can shoot 4K video. Moreover, the quality daytime shooting- very good. With night photography, things are, of course, worse, but still not completely terrible.
| Video | Sound | |
| Daytime shooting | 3840×2160, 29.97 fps, AVC MPEG-4 [email protected], 50.5 Mbit/s | AAC LC, 84 Kbps, mono |
| Night photography | 3840×2160, 29.97 fps, AVC MPEG-4 [email protected], 52.7 Mbit/s | AAC LC, 87 Kbps, mono |
Here is a still frame from the first video, shot during the day (a screenshot in original resolution is available by clicking). And you can even see the license plate number of a passing car, not to mention the details in the background!
As a minus, we note the lack of optical stabilization (it is still only available in the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6s Plus), as well as the fact that the front camera of the iPhone SE has a resolution of only 1.2 megapixels and is of the same quality as the similar camera of the iPhone 5s.
Autonomous operation
Although the iPhone SE has more capacious battery, than in the iPhone 5s, but still it is inferior to the iPhone 6s and, especially, 6s Plus.
However, since the iPhone SE has a lower screen resolution and a smaller screen area, the iPhone SE's battery life is roughly identical to the iPhone 6s. That is, with fairly active everyday use, the device will have to be recharged every day; with moderately active use, there is a chance that by the end of the day there will still be some charge left.
conclusions
The iPhone SE is perhaps Apple's most boring smartphone, in both a good and a bad way. There is no innovation here - neither in terms of design, nor in terms of capabilities and hardware platform. In addition, there is nothing new here at all: it is simply a hybrid of previously released devices - the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6s. From the first they took the design, screen, fingerprint sensor and front camera, from the second - SoC, RAM, communication capabilities and the main camera. Well, they added a new color - Rose Gold.
However, for those who are not buying innovation, but a device for everyday use, the iPhone SE may be optimal choice, well predictable. In the sense that when buying this smartphone, you know exactly what you will get in the end. There are no pitfalls here, no surprises. The only thing that upset us a little was the overheating of the device in the most difficult 3D tests, but, in fairness, we note that these tests, in principle, would not have gone well on the iPhone 5s. So if you don’t want overheating, don’t load your iPhone SE with games of this level (although they don’t exist yet, benchmark developers are ahead of game makers).
AND main question, which you need to answer for yourself before purchasing - are you ready to use a smartphone with a small (by today's standards) screen? Some will say: definitely not - let it at least be a super-flagship inside. Obviously, the iPhone SE is not suitable for these users. And someone will say: yes, I always dreamed of a compact flagship! It is precisely for such people that the iPhone SE is made. Considering that the price of the iPhone SE is 37,990 rubles for the 16-gigabyte version, while the iPhone 6s with the same amount of memory will cost 19,000 more (one and a half times the difference!), this offer seems really attractive. For comparison, the official Sony store sells the Xperia Z5 Compact for the same 37,990 rubles, despite the fact that its performance is lower, the screen is worse (see our testing), the design is less attractive (the body is noticeably thicker, the material used is plastic, not metal). So lovers of compact smartphones, and anyone who, in principle, is not against a small screen, should pay close attention to the iPhone SE.
In conclusion, we suggest watching our video review Apple smartphone iPhone SE:
Loading...
