By Akriti Rana and Nimish Dubey
It is a given that when Apple launches a product, logic and debate will follow. Some would accept the product as the best thing since sliced bread, while others would call it an overpriced thing. So it is hardly surprising that when the brand launched the iPhone SE in India a few days back, opinions about the device fluctuated wildly. There were many people who felt that at Rs 43,900, the phone was priced too high and was too much of a heft in broad daylight, given that it had a design and even hardware that was fine from 2017. was appearing. However, some others pointed out that even at that price, while still providing the same processor and software experience, it was still well below the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini. So, is the iPhone SE making high-end displays more accessible or is it just a plain rip-off?
This design, display and cameras in 2022? You must be kidding us!
It’s very easy to criticize the new iPhone SE. In fact, all that many people have to do is take a look at it to get the criticism flowing. This is because in terms of design and appearance, the latest iPhone is actually an exact copy of the iPhone SE 2020, which in turn was an exact copy of the iPhone 8, which was released much earlier in 2017. There will be some who will like it. Compact form factor (it’s only slightly larger than the smaller iPhone 13 mini and a lot smaller than the iPhone 13), but let’s face it, those who love the design of the new iPhone SE are accused of being nostalgia fans. can be imposed. This is because the phone looks exactly like the iPhone 8 in that the case and display protector of one device also fits snugly on the other device.
We are not saying that the iPhone 8 was a bad looking device. far from it. It was sleek and very light, and the new iPhone SE is all those things too. Thin at 7.3mm and at 144g, it’s one of the thinnest and lightest phones around. And its red, black and white colors look very smart. However, it also comes with elements that are considered completely outdated. There are large bezels all around the display – in an era where phones are becoming “all display affairs”. Another relic of the past is the large fingerprint scanner under the display that also doubles as a home button – we can’t think of any other phone that has a scanner on the bezel below the display, not just in this price range , rather even a third of the price.
The fact that the display itself isn’t Full HD (it’s 1334 x 750 pixels), has a “normal” refresh rate of 60 Hz and is an IPS LCD display, rather than an AMOLED display is another sore point. End it with the fact that the iPhone SE only comes with a 12-megapixel rear camera, and no charger in the box, and the “Apple is robbing consumers” argument seems to be gaining ground. There are phones that cost half as much as the iPhone SE that come with Full HD+ AMOLED displays with high refresh rates, multiple cameras (some with 108-megapixel ones), snazzy in-display fingerprint scanners, and fast chargers. We can sympathize with the “how did Apple even try it in 2022” outrage in some quarters.
But then, that processor, that OS
But it’s not all doom and gloom on the iPhone SE front. The regular looking frame appears to be home to one of the most powerful processors in the mobile phone world, the A15 Bionic. This is the same processor that is available in the iPhone 13 series, whose price starts at Rs 69,900. Apple also claims to have used “the toughest glass on a smartphone” on the front and back of the iPhone SE. This “ceramic shield” may not be the much talked about, but it certainly makes the iPhone SE one of the toughest phones out there. It’s also worth mentioning that the phone comes with IP67 dust and water resistance, a feature that remains rare at its price point (the OnePlus 9RT doesn’t have it). Also rare at this price is support for wireless charging, which is a feature of the iPhone SE.
The importance of that processor in terms of performance cannot be overstated. Its presence makes the iPhone SE a flagship-level performer, capable of handling everything from Call of Duty to video editing, just like the iPhone 13 series. Not only this, it also means that the iPhone SE will get the software update almost as long as the iPhone 13 series. Unlike Android, Apple has a decent software update record – in fact, the latest iOS 15.4 update was also rolled out to the first iPhone SE which was released in 2016. What’s more, believe me, that the original iPhone SE still works rather well, given its age. The reason for this is Apple’s hardware and software integration, which keeps older devices working for a long time. The newer your processor, the longer the lifespan of your iPhone!
The impact of the processor was told to us by a colleague, who said, “Imagine you get a notebook with the latest Core i7 processor, but an HD display and a slightly dated design, which costs about forty percent less. The same A premium device with a chip? That would be quite a proposition for anyone looking for long-term, top-level performance on a budget. You end up with a device that might not be the latest in all respects, but out of it The date won’t be the most important aspect for long.” In short, the iPhone SE may not look like a new iPhone, but it will certainly function like one.
An entry point to the Apple ecosystem?
Apple seems to be the target segment with the iPhone SE – users who want good performance over the long run. Apple claims that the device’s camera performs well and its battery life has been greatly improved, but make no mistake about it, the real star of the iPhone SE is the processor. With assured updates and excellent hardware and software integration from Apple, there is a good chance that the new iPhone SE will work smoothly for some time.
While the Rs 43,900 might seem a bit high when compared to Android devices at the same price, it is almost Rs 26,000 less than the iPhone 13 Mini and Rs 36,000 less than the bestselling iPhone 13. This really makes it a great entry point. Many in the Apple ecosystem. Do the math: You can buy a new iPhone SE and an Apple Watch Series 3 and a pair of AirPods; Or a new iPhone SE and a new iPad for less than the price of an iPhone 13.
So… deal, or steal?
So is the new iPhone SE Daylight Robbery or a Good Deal? It really depends on where you’re coming from and what you need. If you’re looking for a big, high-resolution display, multiple cameras, and an insanely fast-charging battery, the iPhone SE really shouldn’t come into the picture. On the other hand, if you want a compact and tough phone that can handle everything you throw at it, it will get timely and regular updates for at least five years (a major pain point in Android, where we still Looking at devices on Android 11) being released, although Android 12 is around from late 2021), and will continue to work smoothly for some time, the iPhone SE is probably your best option. The IP67 rating and toughened glass on the front and back add to its longevity. This is something that is completely up-to-date and something that may not be the latest in all respects, but certainly heck it won’t be obsolete anytime soon.
The price of the iPhone SE may seem extraordinary at first glance, but only if you compare it with its Android counterparts. Keep other iPhones in mind, especially the newer ones that share the same powerful processor, and it certainly starts to look affordable. Relatively inexpensive, ie. We are not going to call the iPhone SE a super affordable or even a budget bargain. For Rs 43,900 you can get a pretty decent Android flagship like OnePlus 9RT, Asus 8Z or Xiaomi 11T Pro. But if it’s the performance and long-lasting assurance of a new iPhone that you want, and are willing to sacrifice photography and display size for a very low price, then the iPhone SE could be a good option for you. Is.