March 31, 2016
The new four-inch iPhone is here. The iPhone SE combines the look of the 2012-era iPhone 5, with the performance and (most of) the features of last year’s iPhone 6S. That’s an attractive proposition for fans of smaller phones, who prefer an ergonomic advantage at the expense of a more constricted view. The SE is poised to become one of the most popular phones of the year, with in excess of three million pre-orders in China alone. The reviews are starting to come in — here’s what the critics are saying.
Reviewer: Lauren Goode
“Yes, the iPhone SE is a smaller phone, but it’s not a weak phone. It’s actually a much-improved, well-designed, small phone with great battery life. For people who like a small phone or for people who have been holding onto their 4s or 5s phones, the iPhone SE will feel like a kickass little upgrade.”
Reviewer: Chris Velazco
“Apple squeezed flagship-level performance and the best battery life we’ve seen from an iPhone in years into a familiar (and relatively inexpensive) frame. The phone lacks some of the6s’s niceties and its screen is just too small for some, but the iPhone SE is the best compact phone Apple has ever made.”
Reviewer: David Pierce
“Put it all together, and the SE sounds like the perfect smartphone. Great battery life, fast performance, really good camera, all in a pretty package that helps you do stuff without demanding you devote your life to gazing upon its wonders. And, indeed, I really like this phone… [but] I’m not going back to a small phone.”
Reviewer: Scott Stein
“Packs nearly every worthwhile feature (processor, great camera, Apple Pay, always-on Siri) from iPhone 6S into a smaller, more affordable 4-inch phone. While the rest of us wait for the iPhone 7 later this year, the iPhone SE is a great choice for small phone fans looking for an ‘iPhone 6S Mini.'”
Reviewer: Rhiannon Williams
“Good things come in small packages, and if you happen to love both smaller screens and iOS, they don’t come much better than the iPhone SE.”
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