iphone SE

iphone SE

The new 4in iPhone SE officially ships on Thursday, but those journalists deemed worthy by Apple have already gotten a chance to play around with the new device. Of course, to be calling it “new” is a bit of a stretch. After all, the 4in iPhone form factor has been around for years and the body of the iPhone SE is much the same as the body of the iPhone 5. Yet inside it packs in killer specs: an A9 chip, a 12MP rear camera, 2GB of RAM—specs that were once reserved for Apple’s bigger iPhones.

According to a report from analysis firm Slice Intelligence, Apple's iPhone SE may not have caused mass hysteria or the frenzied opening of billions of wallets, but what it has done, allegedly, is tap into a new crop of buyers. Yup, apparently the kind of people buying the iPhone SE are largely NOT returning Apple fans but instead first-time Apple buyers.

The first weekend of iPhone availability typically sees a huge rush of purchases and record sales, and this occured with the iPhone 6s series. However, the iPhone SE sales were 94% lower than equivalent iPhone 6s sales for the device's debut weekend sales period. But these mega sales may not have been the intention of the iPhone SE at all, as it seems the handset had been positioned to bring in new blood - according to the report only 35% of iPhone SE buyers had bought an iPhone in the last two years, while 16% were switching from Android devices.

"By comparison, 49 percent of iPhone 6S buyers upgraded from a previous iPhone, and 10 percent replaced an Android device they bought online within the past two years," states thereport findings.

The survey also goes on to point out that the iPhone SE is appealing to new demographics - on the whole the iPhone SE buyer-base is much older than the flagship models, and a higher proportion of buyers are male than with other devices.

"More than one fifth of SE buyers are in the 45-54 age demographic, versus 18 percent for all iPhone buyers; and 77 percent of SE buyers are men, versus 69 percent," it said.

So just what are the audits saying about Apple’s mixture of old and new? Here’s a roundup of their reviews (we’ll have our own iPhone SE review shortly, btw).

Engadget:

“If you loved the iPhone 5s — as I and apparently many others did — the iPhone SE will feel like a compelling blend of old and new. For once, we’re getting a small iPhone that doesn’t feel like a second-class device. (I’m looking at you, iPhone 5c.) In fact, the SE might in some cases run even better than the 6s and 6s Plus since the A9 has fewer pixels to move — the SE’s screen runs at 1,136 x 640.”

The Daily Mail:

“Although we've only been using the phone for a few days, one thing is clear - it's blazingly fast. Playing several high intensity games show that this really is as powerful as the current flagship, the 6s. 

It's powered by the A9, the same chip found in the iPhone 6s, and Apple says the iPhone SE has 2x faster CPU and 3x faster GPU performance compared to the older iPhone 5s - and this is something you notice right away, with a far snappier feel the the handset even when its not playing games.”

TechRadar:

“The exterior is svelte and sleek — every inch an iPhone, as we’re surmising Apple would say. The same exemplary precision found on the high-end iPhones is also found on the iPhone SE. At last, you don’t have to feel as if you’re settling just to get a phone that’s easier to handle.

Handling the iPhone SE is a lovely affair, particularly if you’re coming from the iPhone 6s Plus. It’s dainty — cute, even — and though it obviously feels exactly as if you’re handling the iPhone 5s, there’s something extra novel about it now. It’s no longer the norm; the 4-inch form factor is now the exception.”

Mashable:

“The best thing about the iPhone SE might just be its price. Selling for just $399 for a 16GB version and $499 for a 64GB version, this is a tremendously competitive phone. Most $400 phones are not going to give you the latest-generation processor and camera technologies. I really can't underscore how well I think this product will do, simply based on its price. 

Consider that the iPhone 6S starts at $649 for a 16GB version. Yes, it has more features -- including 3D Touch, a better front-facing camera and a larger display -- but the price point Apple has set will be very compelling.”

SlashGear:

“This device feels by all means to be a clone of the iPhone 5s – even its weight feels similar. You’d be forgiven for seeing one and mistaking it as the other. That’s not the point here. The point is that you’re getting a classic design with a set of innards that’s prepared for the future.

It’s snappy. The iPhone SE feels significantly faster than the iPhone 5s, and not just from years of use. We’ve used a newly manufactured iPhone 5s just last week – it’s not quite ready to roll with this iPhone SE. They’re in different leagues.”

Business Insider: 

“The logo designs have been slightly tweaked from the iPhone 5S with new materials. Apple says it’s less likely to scratch now… The edges also have a matte finish instead of the shiny finish from the iPhone 5S. It’s a good look.”

The Wall Street Journal:

“The standout news is battery life. Unlike many other recent Apple products, the iPhone SE's is a significant improvement over its predecessors'. In my lab stress test, which cycles through websites with uniform screen brightness, the SE lasted 10 hours--more than two hours longer than both the iPhone 6s and iPhone 5s, and nearly three hours longer than the Galaxy S7. [...] 

The iPhone SE is a win for ergonomic choice, but Apple doesn't score any points for originality. The new phone is nearly indistinguishable from the three-year-old iPhone 5s, which is a hair thicker and less pleasantly rounded than Apple's more recent designs.”

The Independent:

“Apple claims this is the most powerful four-inch screened phone anywhere, and it’s hard to disagree (even if part of the reason for that is the company’s rivals have been focusing near-exclusively on phones with a bigger display). The styling is compelling, a gentle refinement of an already elegant design. And much of the rest is the same tech that you’ll find in a handset like the iPhone 6s or 6s Plus – and they’re both much pricier. If small is beautiful as far as you’re concerned, this is a highly effective, appealing smartphone at a great price.”