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The SE was released as a cheaper alternative to the flagship iPhones around. You can pick it up for Rs.40,000 island-wide. Considering its price and features, we think it’s worth it.
The SE was released five years ago. How do you feel about owning a handset from 2016? You might’ve heard that a newer SE was released in 2020. But we’re reviewing the OG.
Here’s the deal:
It doesn’t look or feel modern. Manufacturers are all about making units big these days. It has a 4-inch front. If you have larger hands, holding it would be hard.
It’s thin, though. This helps it feel rich. Its dimensions are 123.8 mm x 58.6 mm x 7.6 mm.
We’re fans of handsets with a bit of weight. They feel solid and better built. Unfortunately for the device, it’s only 113 grams.
It’s made of aluminum. Newer iPhones are made from Gorilla Glass along with aluminum. Due to its full aluminum build, you might find it slippery.
Know that there is Gorilla Glass on its front, though. Good luck trying to dent it.
If you’re expecting a MicroSD slot, you’ll be disappointed. Not even newer Apple devices come with expandable storage. However, the ROM it comes with is pretty decent.
Unlike newer iPhones, it has a 3.5 mm headphone jack. We’re happy with this.
There is a fingerprint sensor but it isn’t on its rear or under its display. It’s part of the home button. The SE unlocks in the blink of an eye. It’s great that there is facial recognition as well. You wouldn’t expect this from a mobile released years ago.
You can’t pick it up in many colours. To be honest, the choices available are rather basic. How do you feel about Rose Gold, Silver, Gold, and Space Grey? We like the Rose Gold option the most, it oozes luxury.
On its front, there is a IPS LCD panel but it doesn’t produce the most vibrant colours. Remember that the device’s display is also small. This means you won’t be able to immerse in whatever you’re watching that well.
The SE doesn’t come with a good screen-to-body ratio. It is 60.8%, which is why there’s significant bezel action going on.
That being said:
Its display is sharp. It is 640 x 1136 pixels. Considering how its front is so small, the resolution makes the viewing experience pin-like.
The OS it runs is IOS 9.3.2. Don’t fear, you can upgrade it to the latest IOS 14.4. Apple is a brand that updates its handsets for generations.
There is a A9 Bionic chip inside. It is a powerful unit. But the chipsets Apple currently has released run laps around it.
As mentioned, there is no microSD slot. You’ll be able to pick it up with 16, 32, 64, or 128 GB of space. RAM-wise, there is 2 GB available. If more RAM were present, its systems would be snappier. Apps would load faster too.
Considering how it’s so thin, it’s no surprise that there’s a small battery inside. It is 1624 mAh. Expect the SE to fully drain in around a day. Of course, its battery is nonremovable. You’ll be plugging a lightning cable to charge it. The former flagship goes from 0-100% in 2 and a half hours.
If you’re expecting reverse and wireless charging, get ready to be disappointed. It doesn’t come with these.
We’re fans of Apple’s cameras. We think the company produces some of the best. Although the SE is old, its camera gives newer alternatives a run for their money.
There is a single 12 MP shooter on its rear that takes colour accurate and vibrant pictures. It performs well in low-light too.
Speaking of dim settings, the SE has a powerful dual LED flash. You, unfortunately, won’t be getting the feature on its front.
In terms of the set-up on its selfie camera, there is a single 1.2 MP shooter. It’ll leave you Instagram-ready.
