Speed, 5G, only $429, but old look

Apple$429 new iPhone SE launches on Friday.

I’ve been testing it for the past few days and it’s a good option for people who just need an iPhone without all the fancy stuff you’ll pay for. iPhone 13″such as better screens and better cameras.

The iPhone SE is $30 more expensive than the identically named model launching in 2020 for $399. It offers a lot more than that model, including faster 5G cellular support, more powerful glasses, and the same high-speed processor found in the pricier iPhone 13 (starts at $699 for this model). Mini image). But it seems likely that inflation and supply chain constraints may also play a role. I think Apple could really have increased its appeal by lowering prices a bit, as consumers are being squeezed into prices everywhere else right now, from groceries to gas pumps.

The iPhone SE is not as popular as other Apple phones. According to Counterpoint Research, the 2020 version of the iPhone SE accounted for 12% of all iPhone sales from launch until Q4 2021. The addition of 5G could make it an attractive option in markets, however. such as Europe and China, where Apple still doesn’t have a low-cost 5G phone to compete with low-cost Android devices.

Here’s what you need to know about it.

5G also works well. It doesn’t support some of the fastest mmWave networks that other iPhone and Android devices can, but those aren’t widely available anyway. More importantly, it supports the new C-band networks being rolled out by Verizon and AT&Tas T MobileSolid 5G network across the country. So while 5G still isn’t a must for most people, it’s great if you need to download a large playlist or a few TV shows before boarding. In my tests, T-Mobile’s 5G network hit about 300Mbps at home, faster than Wi-Fi in areas of my home.

The camera is good but it’s definitely an area where you can feel the cost savings. It has the same lens as the 2020 model but still takes slightly better photos thanks to the image signal processor that comes with the latest A15 chip. Can take portrait photos, blur your subject’s background nicely, can capture people, but it doesn’t detect pets for those photos. There’s no night mode, which means photos taken in the dark aren’t as clear as on Apple’s pricier phones. But it did take nice, clean pictures and captured the deep reds of some of the tulips well. The front-facing camera is solid for selfies with nice and balanced colors and tones.

Finally, while it’s not as water-resistant as Apple’s other iPhones, it can still survive a dip in a bathtub or spill without worry, and has a glass that’s as strong as the originals. Another iPhone helps prevent breakage if you drop it. It doesn’t feel as cheap as some cheap Android phones, which often use plastic instead of glass and metal.

Look same iPhone SE from 2020look like iPhone 8 from 2017. It looks old and there are a lot of phones with better screens on the top and bottom of the phone.

The screen is sufficient, but won’t make you like the brighter and faster screens on Apple’s more expensive phones.

I love that it supports wireless charging if you have a Qi charging dock around the house, but it doesn’t support Apple’s newer MagSafe pucks, which magnetically attach to the back of the phone and charge wirelessly even faster. .

Finally, while most people are looking for a cheap phone that might be fine with 64GB of storage, I’d recommend spending $479 for the 128GB model if you plan on downloading and saving a lot of apps. , movies and games more.