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iPhone SE (2016) Any iPhone SE OG user out there? This thing is insane
- Thread starter aespana
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The 13 mini is larger than the SE. It’s noticeable sometimes, for me when I’m riding a bike with either phone in my jeans’ back pocket.
It’s also 25% heavier, which is quite noticeable.
I have it, I love it and I NEVER want to replace it. Once security becomes a big issue and app support fades out, I'll "upgrade", or as I would say: "downgrade but with newer software and hardware". I wish Apple would do another edition with current chips, in this size that can run for 5-8-10 years or so.
The first picture has the OGSE next to a 12 Mini. There isn’t too much of a difference but the Mini is definitely larger.
The second and third pictures have the OGSE next to my regular 13. It took me a while to get used to the size difference as the 13 felt more like a phablet than a phone and was much more challenging to get in and out of my pockets.
Both phones are also considerably heavier than the OGSE.
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The iPhone SE OG is the best. I loooove the headphone jack and tiny size. Absolutely incredible phone. I would go back to mine if the battery was just a little better. It wasn't great, even when new.
Our two household iPhones are the 2016 iPhone SE. They replaced our two iPhone 4s. (That's iPhone 4 plural, not 4S. 😎)
They're going strong, do all we need them to do, and work well. Long battery life, decent camera, and great form factor.
If we're crazy, we're crazy as a fox! ✅ 💫 📱
They're going strong, do all we need them to do, and work well. Long battery life, decent camera, and great form factor.
If we're crazy, we're crazy as a fox! ✅ 💫 📱
Fixit used to get good reviews but from what I hear, it's also a hit and miss now. Theoretically, you should get better service when something goes wrong but it's on you to realize something is wrong.
Personally, I went with apple to replace my 8+ battery. Runs like new and lasts several days between charges. The peace of mind alone is worth the extra cost. I replaced my 5S battery manually and it lasted about a year before it started acting up - for 1/3 the cost of apple. My 8+ battery lasted 5 years before it started struggling. The math just doesnt add up for these 3rd party knock off batteries.
You both raise a good point. I forgot to mention that my memory of using both phones includes using both of them with OtterBox cases. You might not believe me, but the 2016 iPhone SE in a 2016 OtterBox case was the same size as a 2021 iPhone 13 mini in a 2021 OtterBox case. So I suppose part of the reason why my iPhone 13 mini ended up being the same size was partly due to OtterBox cases becoming so much smaller!
I have the 2022 SE. If the original SE form factor had still been available, I would have purchased it instead. I like for my phone to be a companion device. A little sidekick for my life. These small, one handed phones are just that. Go too big and you lose that feeling.
I recently played around with my old iPhone 5 (same form factor as the original SE in the OP) and yearned to have a full time phone that size. I love it.
I agree that there is less of a desire to stay on your phone too long because of the size. That’s a HUGE positive in my book.
Prior to this SE, I had a Nexus 6P. Large phone. Originally, I could not wait to go back to Android after purchasing this SE. I held out all year for the Pixel 7. I bought the Pixel and then… returned it. Why? Solely because I realized wasn’t ready to abandon this one-handed form factor yet. For me, that really said something. A TRUE one-handed phone. Imagine that. All the more true in your case with the original SE.
I recently played around with my old iPhone 5 (same form factor as the original SE in the OP) and yearned to have a full time phone that size. I love it.
I agree that there is less of a desire to stay on your phone too long because of the size. That’s a HUGE positive in my book.
Prior to this SE, I had a Nexus 6P. Large phone. Originally, I could not wait to go back to Android after purchasing this SE. I held out all year for the Pixel 7. I bought the Pixel and then… returned it. Why? Solely because I realized wasn’t ready to abandon this one-handed form factor yet. For me, that really said something. A TRUE one-handed phone. Imagine that. All the more true in your case with the original SE.
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37%?!
I met a girl that had an SE and her battery bank was basically perma-attached to that phone. Like when she’d hand me the phone to show me something, she’d hand me the phone and the battery bank together.
Ugh, indeed, same here. I wonder though, is it mostly iOS that is to blame or the aging battery? Sometimes I feel it would be fun to give it another go with a fresh battery, but if the improvements are minimal then it is not worth the investment.
Bought a 32gig OGSE off of swappa just now for $78. What the heck; I’ll give it a shot for a few days. I’m sure I’ll notice some sort of a performance difference between the OG and my 13 mini.
Wow, didn't excpect this amount of comments! Also, this amounts of OG users.
After 4 days of using mine, I can just say that is a little hard to use it. Battery is affected by the iOS and his capacity but well, if you use the phone with 2 hours of screen it last. The storage only allows me to have like 10 apps.
The performance is good for his old processor but definitely is not like the iPhone 13 Mini.
The size is a love/hate. Love because is really really small, you barely feel it in your pockets but so small that makes typing a hard experience.
Thank you guys for tell your stories with this phone. I envy those with the whit bezels.. just look so beautiful.
I'll try to use mine for a little longer and see. If not I'll just buy an SE 2020 second hand that are really inexpensive these days.
After 4 days of using mine, I can just say that is a little hard to use it. Battery is affected by the iOS and his capacity but well, if you use the phone with 2 hours of screen it last. The storage only allows me to have like 10 apps.
The performance is good for his old processor but definitely is not like the iPhone 13 Mini.
The size is a love/hate. Love because is really really small, you barely feel it in your pockets but so small that makes typing a hard experience.
Thank you guys for tell your stories with this phone. I envy those with the whit bezels.. just look so beautiful.
I'll try to use mine for a little longer and see. If not I'll just buy an SE 2020 second hand that are really inexpensive these days.
It’s iOS. Had my mother’s iPhone 7 Plus battery replaced at the Apple Store. Even after the battery replacement, if only gets two hours SOT before it needs to be charged. Maybe three. Disgusting.
Ask me why I’m still on iOS 15.7 on my 2022 SE. Go ahead.
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The battery life on the 2022 SE is killer. Highly recommend, if you can stretch the budget. This is my experience on 15.7. I’m sure they ship with iOS 16 now. On a full charge I’ll get 6+ hours screen on time. It’s a two day phone for me.
I have a space grey one sealed in a box. Used a white 5 for many years and I’d say it’s been my favourite iPhone to date (3GS, 4, 5, 6+,7+,X, SE (6 body), and 13 Pro).
My daughter just grudgingly gave up her original SE last week. She had the battery replaced by Apple a year ago but the SE was long in the tooth and she needed some work apps that wouldn't work on it. Sooooo... she got the new SE3. A little larger than the original, but not egregiously so. She's loving it now, especially that old school home button.
I enjoy finding so many folks in this thread still using such a small and old (!) phone as the 2016 SE… awesome… personally I have no desire for the headphone jack, so much time lost for me fiddling with the tangled up cord several times a day, when Airpods came out it was a no-brainer for me to go that way. Still, more power to those who have corded headphones, definitely one less battery to worry about charging.
Like several other posters, I’m on the 13 Mini, after several years with the larger SE (2020 I think)… both of those have been great and are the “next best thing” to having a size like the 2016 SE. Here’s hoping the smaller options will stick around! — I suspect Apple won’t go back to as small as the old SE anytime soon, given they have 3 versions of the SE now, I feel like the chances of _some_ smaller option will always be around.
Loving the size and features of my 13 Mini, just wish for USB C to have one less cord type to deal with… and of course the battery is nothing special, but most days it suffices for me. I wish Apple would figure out how to let phones use Maps w/o such extreme battery drain, that and streaming web radio stations are my 2 main battery killers.
Agree with OP that the 2016 size, shape, and more is really close to perfect!
Like several other posters, I’m on the 13 Mini, after several years with the larger SE (2020 I think)… both of those have been great and are the “next best thing” to having a size like the 2016 SE. Here’s hoping the smaller options will stick around! — I suspect Apple won’t go back to as small as the old SE anytime soon, given they have 3 versions of the SE now, I feel like the chances of _some_ smaller option will always be around.
Loving the size and features of my 13 Mini, just wish for USB C to have one less cord type to deal with… and of course the battery is nothing special, but most days it suffices for me. I wish Apple would figure out how to let phones use Maps w/o such extreme battery drain, that and streaming web radio stations are my 2 main battery killers.
Agree with OP that the 2016 size, shape, and more is really close to perfect!