New "iPhone SE" review
The long-awaited compact model rumored to be the "iPhone SE2" was finally updated in 2020 for the first time in four years.
The design is inherited from the old model, and each part is diverted. The concept and features of the "S" special "E" edition are the same as four years ago, such as achieving both low prices and excellent performance by updating the chipset, and you can expect long-term OS updates. SE" (2nd generation) will be reviewed.
Apple iPhone SE, 64GB, Black - Fully Unlocked (Renewed Premium)
Friendly design
Strictly speaking, the home button is not a button but just a recessed body. However, when the dent is pressed with a finger, the built-in TAPTIC ENGINE vibrates, giving the human finger and brain the illusion of a button.
The home button has a built-in fingerprint sensor. So you can unlock the screen and apps and turn on Apple Pay with a touch. Felica is also supported, so you can pay by touching the ticket gate or cash register.
The face recognition "Face ID" adopted by the upper model must be authenticated by removing the mask or shifting. Still, the fingerprint authentication "Touch ID" does not need to be done. Face authentication is convenient, but fingerprint authentication is far less inconvenient now that masks are no longer necessary due to the new coronavirus and hay fever.
Display
The 4.7-inch display is a liquid crystal, and the image quality is still one or two steps lower than that of an organic EL. The contrast ratio, which indicates the difference between light and dark, greatly impacts the image quality. Compared to the iPhone 11 Pro, the difference in shading is small, giving it a flat impression. In addition, the screen is dark, so you may feel it is difficult to see outdoors in the sunlight.
In terms of functionality, it is impossible to check LINE, email replies, and message details by long-pressing the notification on the lock screen. It's a pity because the quick reply function from the notification screen is very convenient.
Unfortunately, the earphone jack is gone. The package includes wired earphones that can be connected to Lightning, but you need to purchase a conversion adapter separately to continue using your favorite wired earphones. Apple's message is "Buy AirPods." If you're not intolerant of even a little sound delay, I think you'll be fine buying the AirPods Pro.
Speakers
The speakers just play stereo. It does not support Dolby Atmos or spatial audio playback that the iPhone 11 series supports. The speaker of the iPhone has improved dramatically as it evolved from the "XS" series to the 11 series, but the speaker of the new iPhone SE is ringing.
Camera
Behind the glass panel is a single-lens camera system. Like the iPhone 11 series, the Apple logo has moved to the center. I bought a PRODUCT (RED) which is deep red.
There are two reasons why I chose PRODUCT (RED). One is that part of the revenue will be donated for the new coronavirus countermeasures, and the other is that the bezel color is unified in black in all colors, unlike the original iPhone SE. I might have chosen white instead of red if the bezel was white.
Charging
After four years, it also supports wireless charging. Charging starts by placing it on the charging pad (sold separately). The charging speed is never fast because of the 7.5W output. However, if you prioritize speed, you can fully charge in less than 2 hours with Lightning fast charging. In either case, the charger included in the package will not charge at high speed. Therefore, it is necessary to purchase a dedicated cable and compatible charger, which are sold separately.
It is also waterproof and dustproof. Since the performance is IP67 grade, it is inferior to the iPhone 11 series, but there is no problem unless it is immersed in deep water for a long time. Water, coffee, orange juice, beer, etc., will not submerge it.
I have to say that the design of the iPhone is old compared to the Android. The iPhone 11 series, launched just a few months ago, still has a notch and thick bezels surrounding the screen. Even low-priced Android models often use the trendy punch-hole design.
The iPhone SE design is a few years behind that. But it's easy to use, and if we didn't adopt the old design, we wouldn't have been able to achieve the surprisingly low price of $330 with the latest chipset.
The fastest processor ever in a smartphone
The new iPhone SE is equipped with the same "fastest smartphone ever" chipset, "A13 Bionic," as the high-end model iPhone 11 series.
When we measured the benchmark score that quantifies the performance, we found that it was about 240 to 270% faster than the first-generation iPhone SE and iPhone 6s equipped with the A9 chip. In addition, the GPU is about 210% faster.
In the rigorous verification of the technology site AnandTech, the A13 Bionic has more than doubled its performance compared to other processors and is highly evaluated as a desktop PC class chipset with no rivals in the mobile field. I've been using the iPhone 11 Pro since last September, and I've never felt it lacking power.
Memory
The new iPhone SE has 1GB less memory (RAM) than the iPhone 11 series. However, the app never crashes when you're not there. Apple seems to have selected the optimum capacity considering the display's resolution, camera functions, number of lenses, price, etc.
Do smartphones need a chipset that powerful? I'm often asked, but it's often necessary because it's a smartphone. PCs cannot instantly synthesize multiple photographs or use AI to determine the color tone of an image and the distance to the subject or background.
The other is the provision of long-term updates, also a feature of the iPhone.
Software and OS evolve every month, but hardware cannot evolve. Therefore, updates are discontinued when the hardware can no longer meet the demands of software that has been multi-functionalized through repeated updates. For example, the original iPhone SE has been updated for four years, and the new iPhone SE will probably be available for a long time.
Enough battery for a day
The battery duration of the iPhone 11 series, which is equipped with the same A13 Bionic chip, has been highly evaluated. I had high hopes for the new iPhone SE, but my impressions after using it for the past few days are so-so.
When I checked the battery report, the screen was on for about 4 to 5 hours out of about 10 hours of use, and it went from 100% to 0%. So the breakdown of usage time is as follows for light usage. I'm a little worried about traveling with a lot of cameras.
Usage time breakdown
Safari: 45 minutes
Music: 20 minutes
SNS: 30 minutes
Game: 30 minutes
News: 80 minutes
Last fall, Apple touted the efficiency of the A13 Bionic chip, but after all, nothing beats battery capacity. Despite the processor difference, Apple describes the new iPhone SE's battery life as "almost the same as the iPhone 8." The battery limit of the iPhone 11 Expert is 3,046mAh, while the new iPhone SE and iPhone 8 are 1,821mAh, which is about 60%.
It currently has enough battery life for a day's use. Still, battery deterioration and increased power consumption due to software updates won't be enough to worry about in a few years. The battery replacement cost at Apple is $0 within the product warranty and Apple Care + period and $35 outside the warranty.
"Best iPhone Ever" Single Camera
Thanks to the powerful processor, you can take pictures like a "Pro".
"Smart HDR" takes multiple photos at various brightness (exposure) at high speed and synthesizes them instantly. Machine learning recognizes what is in the photo and relights it to prevent overexposure, even in backlight. As a result, it creates natural photos that do not lose black, even in shadows.
Of course, not everything is the same as the "Pro." The camera functions, such as portrait and night modes, were particularly unsatisfactory.
While the iPhone 11 series recognizes subjects such as people, pets, and objects for portraits that blur the background like a single-lens reflex camera, the new iPhone SE can only recognize people. In addition, as the iPhone XR was released more than two years ago, portrait mode cannot be used for pets such as dogs, cats, and food.
It doesn't even support night mode, allowing you to shoot brightly at night or in the dark. It's strange that the iPhone can't support the Pixel 3a series, which Google launched a year ago in the same price range, and can use portrait and night modes.
Video shooting is almost the same as the iPhone 11. You can also shoot 4K videos and slow motion at 120fps.
Although the front camera supports portraits, many functions are not supported, such as smart HDR, 4K video recording, slow motion video, and Animoji / Memoji (3D emoticons that work with facial movements).
The camera of the new iPhone SE is not bad, but if you are particular about the camera, you should buy the iPhone 11, which costs $200 more.
Summary:
- "4-inch enthusiasts" should buy
- It's GOOOOD!!
- affordable price
- have enough battery
- Fastest processor ever in a smartphone
- long term OS updates
- "Pro" level camera in good light
- TOUGH...
- fresh design
- camera weak in low light
- portrait mode for people
Currently, Apple sells five iPhones, but the new iPhone SE and the "iPhone 11" will be hesitant to buy. The differences between the two models are detailed in another article, but if you don't want to compromise on the camera, I recommend the "iPhone 11".
On the other hand, if you don't need an ultra-wide-angle camera, night mode, face recognition, organic EL display, etc., or you don't think it's worth $200, you should choose the new iPhone SE for $330. Likewise, you can purchase Apple Watch Series 3 or AirPods Pro for $200.
When the new iPhone SE was announced, and at the stage of rumors before that, there were many voices such as "This is not the iPhone SE," "The size was fine as it was," and "I wouldn't buy it if it was 4.7 inches". So, such people should buy a new iPhone SE.
The biggest reason is that the new iPhone SE adopted a 4.7-inch display. Apple will never remake a 4-inch iPhone again.
The options left for 4-inch enthusiasts are probably to continue using the original iPhone SE, whose support will end this fall, while worrying about security, replace it with a new safe and crisp iPhone SE, or switch to a cheap Android. Is.
But it's hard to find a cheap Android phone as good as the new iPhone SE.
Although it is impossible to compare the feeling of use because the OS is different, the performance of the A13 Bionic chip, which is the fastest in the history of smartphones, surpasses the Snapdragon 865 installed in Android's high-end model.
Expectations are high for Google's "Pixel 4a ", which is rumored to be released next month, but the chipset seems to adopt a middle range, and the performance is far behind. In addition, the screen size is 5.8 inches, and the body size is one or two times larger, so it will not suit 4-inch enthusiasts.
The point to be concerned about when considering Android is that the update warranty period is shorter than the iPhone's. Most are two years old, and even Google's Pixel smartphones are three years old. Apple doesn't guarantee when updates will be available, but the original iPhone SE has been receiving updates for four years.
Apple will discontinue OS updates for each chipset, not for each model, but since the new iPhone SE is equipped with the same A13 Bionic chip as the high-end iPhone 11 series, we can expect long-term updates.
If you buy a new iPhone SE now, you should be able to spend the same time as the previous four years.
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