New iPhone SE • Hacker News Board

Re: New iPhone SE

#131

Post by _bxg1 » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 3:34 PM UTC

jseliger wrote: post #48

bluedevil2k wrote: post #2

An upgraded iPhone 8 with a starting storage of 64 Gb at only $399. Seems like a great deal. Makes me seriously consider this model for my next phone instead of spending $1200 on an iPhone 11 Max.

A while ago I quit buying new models and switched to refurbished ones. The 7 I had did more or less what its predecessor did (car services, chat, remote camera control) and the one I have now (X or Xs?) does more or less what the 7 did. I can afford the newer ones, but I don't see the value relative to the four-figure cost.

When I got my XS ($1000) it was because I planned to keep it for a long time. It's been a year and a half and I have zero complaints of degradation in speed, battery life, etc. Still feels like new. I plan on keeping it for four years at least. Compare that to the $500 phones of the past that would limp across the two-year mark and it's really not unreasonable.

Re: New iPhone SE

#132

Post by OrangeMango » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 3:34 PM UTC

addison-lee wrote: post #7

amrrs wrote: post #3

On a different note, Isn't it weird to see companies launching new phones when the whole world is fighting a pandemic? It's not like an essential that we can't live without. OnePlus just did a few days back. Do these companies expect people to buy new phones when they're are being laid off or is it just an annual ritual or a desparate move to be the first to capture the market when things become normal? Any insights…

Plenty of people still working, and this is a budget iPhone; this is the perfect time to launch a cheap phone.

It's likely to cannibalize sales from their higher-priced phones, but better to sell a cheaper phone than to lose the customer entirely.

I noticed that if you scroll down to the bottom of the press release, they are also accepting orders for the magic iPad keyboard as of today...

Re: New iPhone SE

#133

Post by threepio » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 3:34 PM UTC

threepio wrote: post #33

"Popular design"? On the contrary. As an iPhone SE owner, this is exactly the form factor that fans of the iPhone 4/5 series (like me) rejected as being too large.

The most perplexing part has always been the positioning of the SE as the low-price iPhone.

As an SE fan, I would happily, HAPPILY pay $1000 every two years to keep getting upgraded internals in the current form factor.

Yes Apple, I'm sure it's harder to fit those parts in a smaller case. That's why you should charge me more!

It's not a matter of Ludditry. That form factor is ergonomically ideal for a certain kind of phone use. That's precisely why it was so successful for so long.

Re: New iPhone SE

#134

Post by nfellaby » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 3:34 PM UTC

threepio wrote: post #33

"Popular design"? On the contrary. As an iPhone SE owner, this is exactly the form factor that fans of the iPhone 4/5 series (like me) rejected as being too large.

Also, it's a slippery bugger.

I've had my iPhone 8 for almost 2 years and now I'm working from home I've taken it out of it's case to fully enjoy the design.

Honestly, probably easier to hold a live fish than this bloody phone.

Re: New iPhone SE

#135

Post by dceddia » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 3:34 PM UTC

I guess the size escalation is just like with cars. It seems "nobody" wants smaller phones or cars, so every time there's a new model they get bigger.

As a person who does actually prefer smaller phones and cars, it's a disappointing trend. "Buy used" or "deal with it", I suppose.

Re: New iPhone SE

#136

Post by baq » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 3:34 PM UTC

this is what i'll get when my 8 breaks, hopefully not in the next 2 years

Re: New iPhone SE

#137

Post by Lammy » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 3:34 PM UTC

aphextron wrote: post #5

RIP to Apple's single greatest design, the iPhone 5 form factor.

Maybe you should give an Xperia a shot? https://www.theverge.com/2012/7/26/3189309/apple-sony-iphone...

I'm only halfway joking since looking at their newest handset is still fairly reminiscent with the flat edges: https://www.sony.com/electronics/smartphones/xperia-1m2?cpin...

Re: New iPhone SE

#138

Post by wnissen » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 3:34 PM UTC

ivraatiems wrote: post #64

As a current iPhone SE user, here's my assessment: Pros: * Feature set in terms of processor, camera, etc., is exactly what I want * Continued presence of Touch ID is a huge plus, I don't like Face ID * Price point is, admittedly, fantastic Cons: * Lack of headphone jack is still unacceptable * Form factor is, candidly, still too big for my tiny hands * Color schemes aren't as nice as the SE's (can I contribute to CO…

You have to add $75 a year to the operating cost of these phones, for AirPods, which appear to have a design life of about 18 months, max.

I am very frustrated as the SE is really getting to end of life. I have bought 3 of them in the past month from various eBay sellers with good feedback. One fake, one had a badly degraded battery, and the other went into a reset loop after a couple weeks. There's not much out there. Apple's privacy is second to none, usability is very good (though if they introduce one more type of swiping I'm going to go mad. What's next, Force Swiping?), but the hardware is getting extremely inconvenient. Even my buddy who has large hands complains that the phone is too big and heavy.

Re: New iPhone SE

#139

Post by emerongi » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 3:35 PM UTC

tentboy wrote: post #28

I'm on a three year old iPhone SE that I recently had the battery replaced in (An incredible use of $50 if anyone is fining their phone dying all the time) I am really tempted to get this. I love the small form factor of my SE but I have large hands and the bigger screen might be a bit nice, and I really wish the camera was bit nicer on my current SE

The SE is great but my battery is quite bad now and as soon as it gets below room temperature, the battery drops from 50% to 10% and then starts turning off.

Probably will be changing the battery and keeping my current SE, the new one is not the same form factor. Agreed on the camera.

Re: New iPhone SE

#140

Post by 333c » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 3:35 PM UTC

ivraatiems wrote: post #64

As a current iPhone SE user, here's my assessment: Pros: * Feature set in terms of processor, camera, etc., is exactly what I want * Continued presence of Touch ID is a huge plus, I don't like Face ID * Price point is, admittedly, fantastic Cons: * Lack of headphone jack is still unacceptable * Form factor is, candidly, still too big for my tiny hands * Color schemes aren't as nice as the SE's (can I contribute to CO…

For me, I prefer the 4" screen but I can handle a slightly bigger screen. Touch ID is a must and I'm glad they kept it. But the loss of the headphone jack will be bad, so I'll stick with my current SE as long as it's supported.