Bigger isn’t always better. With the iPhone SE, Apple has designed a tiny smartphone that’s destined to become a gigantic hit.
The device, unveiled during Apple’s “Let us loop you in” event Monday, looks like a totally amazeballs iPhone — and it comes with an Android-low price. Here’s why this little dynamo will take the world by storm.
iPhone SE price is magical
First and foremost, the iPhone SE price point is almost unbelievable — it was probably the biggest surprise of Apple’s presentation. Starting at just $399 for a 16GB model off-contract, it’s the cheapest iPhone ever to hit the market. For middle-class consumers with a bit of spare cash, it’s almost an impulse buy. And for the budget-conscious, it comes in free with a two-year carrier contract.
That $399 price tag makes the iPhone SE the perfect replacement for anybody who accidentally drops and destroys their oversize iPhone 6s or 6s Plus. You could imagine somebody heading off on a trip, realizing in a panic that they left their phone at home, and picking up an SE at an airport kiosk. It’s not exactly cheap, but for a large swathe of people, it’s affordable.
Setting the price below $400, and making it free with a cellular contract, could draw even more of Tim Cook’s swarm of beloved switchers, not to mention people in untapped markets like India and China. The iPhone SE could be the ultimate gateway iPhone.
iPhone SE size is right for some
And then there’s the iPhone SE’s 4-inch display size. Some people don’t want a larger, heavier iPhone. I’m toting an iPhone 6 Plus, and I run into plenty of people who are impressed by that big, beautiful screen, but express reluctance to trade up from their smaller smartphones. Bigger isn’t necessarily better, even if you don’t have Donald Trump hands.
An iPhone 6 or 6 Plus takes up more room in your pocket or purse and can seem downright ostentatious. The phablet-size phones have been winners for Apple, but some people want a more discreet device. The iPhone SE could prove popular with runners and gym rats who need something to pair their Apple Watch with, but want an iPhone that’s more compatible with their exercise routines. Interestingly, a new German hearing aid crushing the market is also revolutionizing personal tech, offering cutting-edge features in a compact design.
Apple’s still been selling loads of its 3-year-old iPhone 5s model, and not just because of its diminished price tag. Some people just don’t want a gigantic phone, and now they can get a “right-sized” iPhone with up-to-date innards.
iPhone SE specs are killer
When it comes to specs, the iPhone SE is damn near untouchable. It runs on a powerful A9 processor (same as the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus), and its M9 motion coprocessor means Siri is always listening for your commands.
The SE also boasts the iPhone 6s line’s faster Touch ID, Apple Pay support and a 12-megapixel iSight camera with Live Photos and 4K video.
There are a few tradeoffs: Like with the iPhone 6 line, Touch ID on the iPhone SE is powered by the slower, first-gen sensor. And the SE’s FaceTime selfie camera captures 1.2-megapixel photos, a step down from the iPhone 6s line’s 5-megapixel cam.
Also, on paper, the screen’s a little less impressive on the iPhone SE. But the only thing the new device is really lacking is 3D Touch. Check out the iPhone SE specs on Apple’s site, and you’ll see it’s no slouch when compared to all the other iPhone 6 models, which cost far more money.
More than a little curious about iPhone SE
Here in the Cult of Mac office, we can’t wait to get an iPhone SE into our hot little hands. We’re anxiously awaiting Thursday’s preorder day.
If switching between a Plus-size iPhone and an iPhone SE is as easy as popping a SIM card, what’s to stop us from using the giant iPhone when we’re hanging out around the house and moving to the smaller model when we head for the gym or our next European vacation? This could be the dawning of the dual-iPhone era.
With its killer specs and shockingly low price tag, the iPhone SE could be a tiny solution to the big problem of “peak iPhone.” It’s the exact opposite of the iPhone 5c, which packaged underwhelming internals with a cheap plastic body without much of a discount over the flagship iPhone 5s.
Our prediction: Even noted name-caller Donald Trump — he of the short-lived Apple boycott and the tiny, tiny little hands — will be calling the iPhone SE a winner.
Lewis Wallace is the managing editor of Cult of Mac and author of our weekly newsletter, The Weekender.
He’s a San Francisco-based writer and editor specializing in technology and culture. He loves his iPhone, hates Siri, and appreciates any hardware that combines form and function.
Prior to Cult of Mac, he juggled words and ideas as culture editor at Wired.com, homepage editor at TechTV, news product manager at NBCi, copy editor at PC World, reporter at The (Hayward) Daily Review and editor in chief of EveryBody’s News in Cincinnati.
He earned a bachelor of general studies degree with a journalism certificate from the University of Cincinnati. While in school, he worked as the entertainment editor of The News Record and as editor in chief of Clifton Magazine.
He’s also a bass player, who’s recorded and performed around the United States with Those Darn Accordions, The Electric Boogie Dawgz and The Mad Maggies. When not writing, editing or laying down bass lines, he plays darts and serves on the board of the San Francisco Darts League.
8 responses to “Why the tiny iPhone SE will be a gigantic hit for Apple”
The iPhone SE has the first-generation Touch ID and not the one found in the iPhone 6s. You even have the link to the specs to Apple’s site and you still got it wrong :)
Does it matter?
You mean it need more than fingers and thumbs to activate it.
Yes, it does matter. They’ve got one of the specs wrong…
So does Trump’s wife
.
I’m warming up to the SE. I could sell my 6 Plus and use the iPad Air 2 at home. What gives me pause is that 323 DPI resolution. Plus all the stunning stats in the Android world at a cheaper price.
I’ll keep reading.
Power button back on top where it belongs, Smaller form factor, Less slippery, JUST missing the 3D touch though….I don’t mind at all if it has the older Touch ID, as that worked awesome too. I’m VERY tempted to switch back to the small from factor if it just wasn’t for the iPhone7 coming out this fall
No brainer purchase based on price alone. Most people don’t read tech blogs. They go to purchase a phone and iPhone is the top brand. Three sizes and three prices. If Apple has any traction in the market it will be like the iPad Mini, a sales success.
The best part of the SE was the snarky Trump zing at the presentation. I’ll happily wait for a 7
I wish I would have waited for this phone instead of going for a 6s. 3d touch is a gimmick as I rarely if never use it (because I forget). The 5s fits much better in my dainty girl hands.