Apple se analogs comparison. If it's time to buy a new smartphone, choose a replacement for old models
This was not an impulse purchase. I've been thinking about him for a long time.
Whatever you say, iPhone SE – absolutely unique smartphone. Not only among other iPhones, but also in the market as a whole. A one-of-a-kind small flagship with unique advantages and no real disadvantages.
Even an iPhone X owner may want to buy an iPhone SE. The desire is absolutely normal. So I couldn’t resist.
I hold the 128 GB model in my hands and have no regrets. As many as five things in it cannot be found in any other iPhone.
1. This case is PERFECT
No matter how much I like the steely “remnant” of the iPhone X, not a single Apple smartphone has reached the perfect style of the iPhone 5, 5s and SE.
Sharp sharpened edges. Organic glass inserts at the back. Ideal shades of colors without a single bad one - you want any, even pink. Brushed aluminum.
Yes, this is a “block”, and now this design seems to be out of fashion. But every time I see the iPhone SE on the table, it's hard not to let myself pick it up. Like this beauty machined from a single piece of metal.
I admit that I am in the minority. That the majority would prefer some 6s for a similar amount. But for me they are incredibly boring compared to the SE. Neither the iPhone 6 nor the iPhone 8 causes such sensations.
The only complaint is that the edges cut into your hand, but you get used to it. Yes, and you can buy a cover. And I don’t want to, Apple once produced such a stylish thing.
2. He is very FAST. Fulminant
Let me remind you that the iPhone SE is equal to the iPhone 6s in terms of characteristics: A9 processor and 2 gigabytes of RAM. In the Android world, two gigabytes can only make you laugh. But in the Apple world, this is enough for great performance.
2 years after the announcement, iPhone SE continues to amaze with its speed of operation. Between it and the iPhone 5s there is an abyss of possibilities. When the 5s is dumb, the SE doesn't even stutter. And all modern applications and games are compatible with SE, including advanced ones or Fortnite.
There is one more important thing. I’ve never been a fan of the trend of putting cosmic resolution screens into smartphones. Are pixels difficult to distinguish? Great, that's enough.
The iPhone SE's relatively small display gives it lethal advantage over the iPhone 6s, which has similar characteristics. It’s not for nothing that the benchmarks are worse. When fewer resources are spent on maintaining extra pixels, even iOS system menus simply open faster. I speak from experience testing iOS 11.3 beta 6.
As a result, the owner of an iPhone SE enjoys instant opening of all applications, smooth animation, quick startup and other joys of life that are easy to forget about as the owner of a technically more advanced, but still unfinished iPhone X.
3. This is the MOST CONVENIENT iPhone ever
The first days after the purchase, I caught myself thinking: I’m trying to use this small device with both hands, and it turns out so-so. You can’t just get a few years out of using the iPhone Plus, and the X can’t be called fully “one-handed.”
In the world of large smartphones, the iPhone SE is an anomaly. After all, it can be never take it with your second hand. Type messages on the go, open and interact with notifications, and reach the edge of the screen opposite your hand. It's strange, pleasant and definitely cool.
The iOS interface is absolutely normal and looks organic on a small scale. I would even say that iOS 11 looks better on the SE screen than on the iPhone X: the clumsy minimalism of Cupertino’s people suits it there.
The text scale seems too large for some, but this can be easily corrected in Settings. Personally, I like the setting one notch lower than standard - within the limits of my usage habits (and the distance of the screen from my face), I don't lose anything and simultaneously see more on each screen of the system.
The overall size makes the iPhone SE an ideal second smartphone for those who aren't ready to switch to Android. Especially considering the next trick.
4. iPhone SE lasts a MAGICALLY LONG time
Once upon a time, Apple did not strive to reduce the body for the sake of battery life. Therefore, the iPhone SE manages to last longer than most other, expensive iPhones.
iPhone SE lasts 2 hours longer than iPhone 6s with similar hardware – 9 and a half hours with moderate continuous load versus 7 and a half hours. The solution is a relatively large battery, a small energy-efficient screen and a minimum of useless bells and whistles.
The SE's survivability means you don't have to worry about using it as a backup smart phone. I threw it in my bag and forgot it for a day or two. And when you need it, it will be discharged by a maximum of 20%, and the remainder will definitely be enough for a whole day of battery life.
Less than a week after the day of purchase, my iPhone SE has already saved me twice when the battery on the main iPhone X died.
Then why buy a “dialer” or a “bucket” if you can stay in the Apple ecosystem with one of the company’s most successful devices at a low price? So I decided the same.
5. It costs practically NOTHING
For months in a row, the iPhone SE has been selling out left and right. I saw prices in the area 12 thousand rubles for a new smartphone! Not restored. In the store, and not from hand or from gray trucks.
You can go ahead and take the 128 gigabyte model. Or you can search a little longer and find a 16-gigabyte version that has already been discontinued for relative pennies. This will definitely be enough if you use the device as a secondary one.
I sincerely don’t know of a single smartphone in Russia that will provide the same level of performance, battery life, ease of use, support for top applications and games. Oh yes, another cool design, which is now not found even on flagships without a magnifying glass and the game “find 5 differences”.
With him impossible compete, so no one even tries. Yes, you can buy a “Xiaomi” the size of a shovel, fantasize about its coolness in the comments on the site, but secretly sit your pants on the 4PDA forum in search of a solution to the next proprietary problem of Chinese Androids.
But we’ll be smarter here, right?
The moral is simple. Get the iPhone SE. Do not wait . Even when it comes out, you’ll sell yours for a similar amount and won’t really lose anything.
Respect to those people at Apple who made this smartphone. There would be more of these.
Everything is pragmatic. 6s owners, sorry.
Today, pre-orders for the new 4-inch Apple smart phone open in the country. The official delivery times are not encouraging; you will have to wait at least 7-10 days.
1. It's more powerful than 6s
I still don't believe it. But tests and first reviews will not let you lie. The iPhone SE has outpaced Apple's current flagships in terms of pure performance. The difference is only 5-8%, in practice it should not be noticeable without direct comparison.
But what a punch on the nose to everyone who has already shelled out 50-60 thousand for 6s, tired of waiting for something less! The dream mini-smartphone is coming out, which is both faster and cheaper.
The main advantage of the highest performance of the iPhone SE is the fact that the smartphone will have a long and happy life even on the newest versions of iOS. When iPhone 6 owners start complaining about the slowness and lack of features in some iOS 11, the SE buyer will look down on them. Tro-lo-lo from Apple that no one expected.
2. It fits more comfortably in the hand
I don't think anyone can argue with this. The iPhone 5/5s were the last ones that you can use with one hand without difficulty. Typing texts on the go, and generally using the device was much faster. Now we have adjusted to the “sixes,” but it is a fact that life was simpler before.
Yes, the display fits noticeably less information. But it is readable no worse - the long history of iOS is reflected in a much smaller screen size than it is now. It’s just not so convenient to watch the video, no one argues here.
By the way, not only your hands, but also your pockets will thank you for the SE. There was no place for shovels there, no matter how hard we tried.
3. It lasts longer than 6s
Everything good in this world comes at a price. The large screen on the iPhone 6/6 Plus and increased resolution consume battery power one and a half times more actively than on older models. When I used the “six”, I often noticed: my wife’s iPhone 5s lasts longer than my flagship smartphone.
Foreign publications have conducted dozens of tests of the battery life of the iPhone SE. Conclusion? iPhone 6s absolutely fails. At maximum load, the new mini-model works 2-3 hours longer.
As a result, the owner of an iPhone SE will need to charge their iPhone one and a half times less often. With the same habits. Eh. Smaller display means less energy needed, it’s simple.
4. It is much stronger than the six
I remember with warmth how cool, far, and powerfully my five flew. I didn’t wear covers as a matter of principle, and I never regretted it. After 2 years, the display was in wonderful condition, with minimal dents on the sides. It's a brick phone, which I wasn't worried about at all.
Why did the iPhone 6/6s disappoint in this regard? It's a matter of design. The display in them is rounded and raised. When you drop it, the chances of hitting the glass corner are incredibly high. In the iPhone 5 case, a moderately hard metal rim protected from such situations. He took light blows.
It also seems to me personally that the iPhone 6s has noticeably weakened the screen protection against scratches. None of my iPhones have ever been scratched as badly as the new models - despite the fact that now I wear a case 24/7. Still, the old building was good. Not Nokia 3310, but definitely better than Apple’s “flagship”.
5. Accessories for it are cheaper
iPhone 5 came out in 2012. Since then, hundreds of thousands of accessories have been made for this case. The choice is mind-boggling: name out loud any combination of functions, materials, shapes - it’s done, it’s already been done and is being sold inexpensively. Anyone will fit the iPhone SE thanks to the same size and shape of the case.
In addition to selection, the SE boasts cheap prices on the same accessories. For the last six months, cases, docking stations, and other small items for the “A” case have been sold in stores much cheaper than their analogues for the iPhone 6/6s. This is very cool, because junk for newly released iPhones is usually exorbitantly expensive.
Personally, two months ago I stupidly threw away about 12 cases for the “five”. Oops. But new ones are so cheap that if I wanted, I could fill the entire collection back for just a couple of thousand.
My smartphone is an iPhone 6s Plus, and I can't say I'm delighted with it. It is obscenely huge, thanks to the wide frames around the display. The big screen is great, but I periodically hate this shovel that doesn't fit into any pocket. And nothing can be done about it, because Apple has no alternatives. It's either an iPhone 6s with the same design, but a smaller screen and battery, or a tiny one in a 2013 body... Hmmm.
At the same time, in the world of Android smartphones such a problem simply does not exist. The screen diagonal does not limit itself to the notorious 4, 4.7 and 5.5 inches. You can take a compact smart phone with a large screen. There are countless variations on the design and materials of the case. Glass, wood, plastic, even ballistic nylon.
Unlike iPhone owners, for whom everything has already been decided, Android device users have the right to choose.
Reason 2. Features that the iPhone will never have
Maliha Mannan/unsplash.com The iPhone lacks many cool features that have long been commonplace on Android smartphones. Waterproof case, normal NFC support, after all. I can already pay using my Android smartphone, rather than waiting for Apple Pay to come to Russia. And it’s not a fact that he will come. You will say that Apple only introduces important features and not just technology for technology's sake. On the one hand, this is true, on the other hand, who would refuse fast charging or a waterproof case?
You look with sadness at the new flagship of some Samsung and realize that many cool features are simply passing you by.
Reason 3. iPhone in Russia is not as cool as in America
Vladimir Kudinov/unsplash.com The third reason follows from the second reason, but this is relevant mainly for our country. Every year Apple introduces a new iPhone and iOS with interesting features that again will not work in Russia. We've been waiting for Russian for five years (!!!), Spotlight offers still haven't started working and the Beats 1 radio station is unavailable. On Apple TV 4, by the way, Siri has never mastered Russian, which is generally strange. Apple Pay also does not work, although they promise that it will happen soon, but it is unknown when this will happen.
Many people criticize Android: they say updates take a long time. But iPhone owners in Russia are in the same situation. Essentially, for the same money we get a stripped-down version of iOS. So is it worth paying more?
Reason 4. Android is freedom
Kate SERBIN/unsplash.com Many people choose Android because it is an open system and, in fact, you are free to do whatever you want. You can completely redesign the entire system, customize the interface to suit you, and there are plenty of tools for this. This is not iOS, where at most you can change the wallpaper and arrange icons by color. If you have purchased a stylish, powerful smartphone, but the interface is not pleasing, everything is in your hands. Change the appearance of icons, install third-party launchers, fonts - the customization possibilities in Android are almost limitless.
One of the important advantages of Android over iOS is its open file system. You can download an archive of music in FLAC format directly to your smartphone and listen without any dancing with a tambourine. Yes, you can use third-party file managers on the iPhone, but this is a crutch that still won’t work properly. Therefore, if you want freedom and individuality, your choice is.
Reason 5. Android can be found for any wallet
Patrick Tomasso/unsplash.com If you need to buy an inexpensive smartphone, Apple is definitely not the place for you. The only “cheap” one right now is the iPhone SE, which will cost 37,990 rubles. Or a used iPhone 5s, but this is not an option for everyone. But thanks to our Chinese comrades, we have the opportunity to buy a good smartphone in the area.
Now stylish mid-rangers like the Samsung A5 are gaining popularity, which have an attractive appearance, good hardware, but will cost no more than 25 thousand rubles. An excellent option for those who don’t need the hassles of flagship devices, but still want a beautiful and functional device. The iPhone can't offer that.
These are the five reasons I came up with in favor of Android smartphones. In the next article we will look at this situation from the other side, and I will talk about the advantages of the iPhone over Android smartphones, the pros of iOS and the cons of Android.
If for some reason (screen resolution, old design) you are not pleased with the iPhone SE, you could look at the available alternatives, among which there are some very good smartphones that can beat the younger iPhone. Let's look at the competitors.
iPhone 7
Want the latest and greatest iPhone? Apple's iPhone 7 is the best on the market right now, and offers a significantly better design than the iPhone SE.
The problem is that you'll lose the useful 3.5mm headphone jack if you choose the iPhone 7, and it'll cost you a lot more than the iPhone SE.
The phone comes with the latest Fusion A10 processor, a 4.7-inch screen and an upgraded camera, which makes the new product much more attractive.
iPhone 6S
If you want a cheaper iPhone, the 6S becomes the obvious choice - it offers similar performance, as well as a larger (ie sleeker) body, with curved edges that fit nicely into your hand.
However, screen sharpness hasn't improved (though the panel is brighter and sharper), and you'll have to pay more for the privilege - but screen size is important to many people.
More details: .
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
Just because it's not an iPhone doesn't mean the smartphone will be inferior in performance. Well, if you are a user of the Android ecosystem, we recommend the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact.
It has almost all the same impressive specs as the 'normal' Z5 - minus the 720p panel - meaning you can take great photos and get likes for them.
The phone is a little older - no older than the iPhone 6S, though - but it's the only compact option that's waterproof.
The Nexus 5X feels like a standalone phone that's suffocating in the shadow of the larger Nexus 6P. It was released to be more accessible for one-handed use.
However, with a 5.2-inch display, it's a far cry from the compact nature of the iPhone SE - but it offers similar performance and, as a pure Nexus smartphone, it offers the same slick OS experience as Apple phones.
It's also the cheapest phone among iPhone SE rivals, which have dropped significantly in price since the Google Pixel launched, so if you're looking for pure Android, you should consider the Nexus 5X.
Ok, we've come to him. You want an iPhone, but you're looking for a compact model. The only problem is the high price. Well, in that case, perhaps you could take a look at the iPhone 5S - it is still sold in many stores despite being launched in 2013.
It shares the body and screen technology with the iPhone SE, but in the performance and battery life department, the iPhone 5S falls seriously short - again, unless you're going to load your smartphone with apps and use them all day, you'll probably be fine.
You can get it even cheaper if you're willing to buy a used iPhone 5S, but you have to understand that Apple will stop supporting the phone very soon.
This phone doesn't fit into any of the above categories: it's not an iPhone, it's not a small phone, and it certainly isn't a cheap phone. But it's one of the best phones on the market right now, with an excellent camera, excellent performance, battery, and wireless charging if you're lucky enough to have one.
The rather attractive design extends to the back of the device, thanks to an eye-popping “3D thermoforming” process.
In fact, we think the Galaxy S7 Edge is the best phone for late 2016 and early 2017, until we get some phone reviews from the show anyway.
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Over the past year, only one Android flagship with a diagonal of less than five inches has been released in the world. Pavel Gorodnitsky explained who is to blame for this dubious trend and why everything will only get worse.
Steve Jobs bequeathed: the phone should be of such a size that it can be conveniently operated with one hand. Dot. There can be no compromises. That is why, until the death of its founder, Apple produced smartphones with a 3.5-inch screen. They coped with the display of all information and easily fit into any palm - be it a woman’s, a man’s, or a child’s.
In 2007, the 3.5-inch display of the first iPhone seemed huge. In 2008 - simply big. In 2009 - relatively large. In 2010 - average. In 2011 - a bit small.
Why did this happen? Because Apple's competitors quickly reached a dead end. At first they released devices with comparable screen sizes (Nokia 5800, Samsung WiTu), but these releases ended in failure. Then manufacturers switched to other operating systems (Android, Windows Phone) and began to frantically improve the characteristics.
Five or six years ago, mobile processors became obsolete faster than they went on sale. Eight-megapixel cameras seemed backward - everyone set at least 12 megapixels (anything less is undignified). The volume of RAM was growing rapidly. The batteries were being pumped.
But the main thing is that displays have evolved. Poor resistive screens were replaced by capacitive ones, and their size increased every month. In 2011, the standard diagonal in an Android flagship was four inches, a year later - 4.5 inches, in 2013 - 5 inches, and in 2014 no one was surprised at all by devices with 5.2–5.5 inches. inch displays.
All this was done only in order to switch the attention of buyers from the iPhone to Android devices: apparently, marketers thought that people, seeing two smartphones on the shelf, would choose the one that is larger in size. This logic is primitive and superficial, but there were still no alternatives, so all brands (with absolutely no exceptions) relied on giant displays.
This trend did not affect sales - Apple conquered the market with the four-inch iPhone 5s. But in the end, Tim Cook still had to adapt to his competitors and expand the screen. True, in Cupertino this mutation took place very smoothly: in 2014, the diagonal of the main iPhone grew only to 4.7 inches - the limit at which a smartphone can still be controlled (albeit with difficulty) with one hand. At the same time, Apple presented a 5.5-inch Plus version for those who are ready to hold the gadget with two palms.
The sizes of iPhones have frozen again - the diagonals of the screens have frozen in development. But Android manufacturers no longer looked at Apple and began to compete with each other.
Alas, their war is completely meaningless - to be convinced of this, just go to Yandex.Market and study the product lines of all popular brands.
So, four-inch Android smartphones can only be bought for 5–6 thousand rubles - they will definitely have a terrible processor, an oak screen in terms of sensitivity and a dead battery. For 8-9 thousand they will give you a 5-inch device, which again cannot be held in one hand. The funniest category is 10–15 thousand rubles: one gets the feeling that a massive conspiracy was organized in China. 70–80% of smartphones from the middle price segment are 5.5-inch monsters for two palms.
laptop" even in order to take a regular photo, the woman on stage had to connect her second palm. This is ergonomics. Bravo.
The conclusion is very simple: being frameless does not in any way solve the problem of hypertrophied screens. The average finger, in any case, will not reach the corner of a 6-inch screen.
It is not surprising that in Russia (and not only in Russia) the 4-inch iPhone SE has become one of the most popular smartphones - convenient, powerful and affordable.
Something else is striking: why was this news leaked so mediocrely by Apple’s competitors? Where is the Galaxy S8 mini? Where is the compact flagship from LG? Where is a copy of SE from Xiaomi or Meizu? They don't exist. In fact, there may be several reasons for rejecting the smaller format.
Firstly, fear for sales of its main flagship.
Secondly, fear of losing to Apple: it is important to remember that the SE is much cheaper than standard iPhones, so it cannot be defeated by banal dumping.
Third, own conviction that buyers only need large screens - after all, as a rule, they now consume content from them.
hardware" (Snapdragon 835), the device will cost around 600 euros - this starting price automatically drives the mini-flagship into the coffin.
Predicting the future is not difficult - there is no room for small devices at all.
Apple will bury the SE line and will inevitably increase the screen diagonal in the new iPhones. Xiaomi is unveiling the 6.3-inch Mi Mix 2. The Samsung Galaxy S9, which launches in January or February, is sure to be huge. There is also very little hope for LG, HTC and other manufacturers.
The smartphone market has clearly taken a wrong turn: you can either get used to the monstrous size, or use old iPhones, hoping that they will disappear no sooner than a compact trend is announced in the mobile world.