iPhone SE (1st generation)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
iPhone SE
The iPhone SE smartphone in Silver
The first-generation iPhone SE
BrandApple Inc.
ManufacturerFoxconn[1] (on contract)
Wistron[1] (on contract) for India's market
SloganA big step for small.
Generation9th
ModelA1662 (US model)
A1723 (Sprint and in most countries)
A1724 (China Mobile model)
Compatible networksGSM, LTE, 3G, 4G, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, CDMA, EVDO
First releasedMarch 31, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-03-31) (16 and 64 GB)
March 24, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-03-24) (32 and 128 GB)
Availability by region
April 7, 2016
April 8, 2016
April 21, 2016
April 26, 2016
May 5, 2016
May 12, 2016
May 28, 2016
June 8, 2016
DiscontinuedMarch 21, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-03-21) (16 and 64 GB)
September 12, 2018; 5 years ago (2018-09-12) (32 and 128 GB)
SuccessoriPhone SE (2nd generation)
TypeSmartphone
Form factorSlate
Dimensions
  • H: 123.8 mm (4.87 in)
  • W: 58.6 mm (2.31 in)
  • D: 7.6 mm (0.30 in)
Mass113 g (4.0 oz)[4]
Operating systemOriginal: iOS 9.3
Current: iOS 15.8.2, released March 5, 2024
System-on-chipApple A9[4]
CPU1.84 GHz dual-core 64-bit ARMv8-A "Twister"[4]
GPUPowerVR GT7600 (hexa-core)
Memory2 GB LPDDR4 RAM[4][5]
Storage16, 32, 64, or 128 GB NAND connected via NVMe[4]
Battery3.82 V 6.21 W⋅h (1624 mAh) Built-in rechargeable Lithium-polymer battery[4]
ChargingLightning connector
Display4.0 in (100 mm) Retina Display, LED-backlit IPS LCD, 1136 × 640 pixel resolution (326 ppi, aspect ratio 16:9) with full sRGB standard, 500 cd/m2 max. brightness (typical), 800:1 contrast ratio (typical)
SoundMono speaker, 3.5 mm stereo audio jack
Rear cameraBacklit Sony Exmor RS IMX315 12.2 MP (4032 x 3024, 1.22 μm), dual-tone LED flash, autofocus, IR filter, burst mode, f/2.2 aperture, 4K video recording at 30 fps, 1080p at 30 or 60 fps, slow-motion video (1080p at 120 fps and 720p at 240 fps)
Front camera1.2 MP, f/2.4 aperture, exposure control, face detection, auto-HDR, Retina Flash, 720p video recording
ConnectivityNear-field communication (NFC), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, GLONASS, Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling, Lightning connector, 3.5 mm stereo audio jack
Data inputsMulti-touch touchscreen display, Apple M9 motion coprocessor, 3-axis gyroscope, accelerometer, digital compass, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, Touch ID fingerprint reader, microphone
OtherFaceTime audio- or video-calling
SARHead: 1.17 W/kg
Body: 1.19 W/kg [6]
Hearing aid compatibilityM3, T4[7]
WebsiteiPhone SE – Apple at the Wayback Machine (archived January 2, 2017)

The first-generation iPhone SE (also known as iPhone SE 1 or iPhone SE 2016; SE is an initialism of Special Edition[8]) is a smartphone that was designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. It is part of the 9th generation of the iPhone alongside the higher-end iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. It was introduced on March 21, 2016, with pre-orders beginning on March 24, 2016, and was officially released on March 31, 2016, alongside the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.[9][10][11] It was re-released on March 24, 2017, with larger storage capacities.[12]

The iPhone SE shares the same physical design and dimensions as the iPhone 5s, but has similar internal hardware to the iPhone 6s, including the newer Apple A9 system-on-chip, greater battery capacity, and a 12-megapixel rear camera that can record up to 4K video at 30 frames per second. The iPhone SE can shoot Live Photos and has features like Retina Flash and the option to have Hey Siri activated without the need to be plugged into a power source.

The iPhone SE was discontinued by Apple on September 12, 2018.[13][14][15] The A9 based SE, 6S and 6S Plus, were the only iPhones to be supported through seven major versions of iOS, from iOS 9 to iOS 15.

Its successor, the iPhone SE (2020), was announced on April 15, 2020, and released on April 24, 2020.[16]

The iPhone SE was the last iPhone to feature a dual-core CPU, a standard 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack, and 16 GB of internal storage.

History[edit]

The previous major redesign of the iPhone, the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, resulted in larger screen sizes. However, a significant number of customers still preferred the smaller 4-inch screen size of iPhone 5, 5c, and 5s.

Leaks about a smaller, iPhone 5s-like phone with newer components started circulating in 2015. Guesses included "iPhone 5se", "iPhone 6 Mini", "iPhone 6c", and "iPhone SE" (which was the correct name of the phone).[17]

Apple executive Greg Joswiak stated in the Let us loop you in event (held at the Town Hall auditorium in the Apple Campus)[18] on March 21, 2016, that they sold over 30 million 4-inch iPhones in 2015, further explaining that some people love smaller compact phones.[19] Later in the event, he announced the iPhone SE, describing it as "the most powerful four-inch phone ever."[10][20][21] With a total mass of 113 grams (or 4.0 ounces), iPhone SE is one of the lightest iPhone models released, only surpassed by iPhone 5 and 5S (both having a total mass of 112 grams or 3.95 ounces). The iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus were the last iPhone models to feature a standard 3.5 stereo headphone jack.[22]

No affordable successor to iPhone SE was announced during the September 12, 2018, Apple Special Event, and Business Insider stated that "Apple made a big mistake by removing its smallest and most affordable iPhone from its lineup", suggesting that the company was disregarding a significant number of customers who had been worried over the loss of the smaller design.[23] This was affirmed by Computerworld, who claimed that "the harsh reality is that across some of Apple's biggest markets, wage growth has stagnated, and people are feeling the pinch", further stating that there will always exist consumers in the mid-tier smartphone markets.[24]

In relation with the discontinuation of iPhone SE, Quartz mentioned on September 22, 2018, that women and other smartphone users with smaller hands had reported "pain from holding, scrolling, and swiping on phones, and a review of research on the ergonomics of handheld devices concludes that bigger products, like large phones and tablets, often result in overextension of the thumb and wrist", hinting to repetitive strain injury, and that oversized iPhones and smartphones in general can be physically unusable for some users.[25] The technology website Gizmodo shared the same concern, hoping that "there will be a return to smaller phones", and expressed a desire "to hold one's phone in a single hand, and be able to use it fully."[26]

On January 19, 2019, iPhone SE was back on sale as a clearance item for $249.[27][28] However, by January 20, 2019, stock was sold out.[29] On February 20, 2019, TechRadar announced that iPhone SE once again was on sale as a clearance item with a $100 price reduction. The price for the 32 GB version was $249, while the price for the 128 GB version was $299. The iPhones were unlocked, with AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon as optional SIM card carriers. It was available in all original colors, including Space Gray, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold.[30][31][32][33][34] On March 25, 2019 Gizmodo reported that iPhone SE was back in Apple's clearance shop, and added, "it's likely the last of Apple's stock that the company has finally put on clearance."[35]

On April 15, 2020, the second-generation iPhone SE was announced as the successor to the original first-generation iPhone SE.[16] The second-generation iPhone SE was released on April 24, 2020.[16] However, the 2020 iPhone SE has a larger 4.7-inch screen size, leaving the original iPhone SE as the last iPhone to have the smaller 4.0-inch screen size.[16][36]

Specifications[edit]

Design[edit]

The rear of an iPhone SE in Rose Gold color finish

The exterior design of iPhone SE is nearly identical to that of iPhone 5 and 5S, with the exception of matte-chamfered edges and an inset stainless steel rear Apple logo. The iPhone SE shares the same physical sizes and dimensions, so cases designed to fit the 5 and 5S will also fit an iPhone SE.[37] iPhone SE was available in the colors Space Gray, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold.[38]

Color Name Front
Space Gray Black
Silver White
Gold
Rose Gold

Hardware[edit]

iPhone SE incorporates the Apple A9 system-on-chip (SoC) with an M9 motion coprocessor and supports near field communication for Apple Pay. It was originally released with 16 GB or 64 GB of internal storage. It features a 12 megapixel rear-facing camera with the ability to record 2160p (4K) video at 30 frames per second and slow motion with 1080p at 120fps and 720p at 240fps options. The camera lacks optical image stabilization.

Unlike iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the SE does not include 3D Touch, nor the updated faster second-generation Touch ID sensor from the 6s and 6s Plus,[39] or its barometer.[40]

Still photos with resolutions up to 6.5 megapixels (3412×1920) can be captured during video recording.[41]

On March 21, 2017, Apple announced that it would double the storage for these models at the same launch prices. The upgraded models were released on March 24, 2017, with 32 GB or 128 GB of internal storage.[42][43]

Software[edit]

iPhone SE originally shipped with iOS 9.3, supporting iPhone 6- and 6S-exclusive features such as Apple Pay, Live Photos, Retina Flash, and always-on Siri voice activation.[38][40][44] The SE is compatible with iOS 15.[45] During the WWDC 2019 Keynote, Apple announced, that iPhone SE, 6S, and 6S Plus would support most of the main features of iOS 13. This includes the new dark mode (which aims to reduce eye strain), and Low Data Mode[46] for restricting background network (both Wi-Fi and mobile network) usage.[47] Along with iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, iPhone SE is the oldest iPhone to support iOS 13, iOS 14, and iOS 15.[48] It does not support iOS 16.

Reception[edit]

CNET considered the iPhone SE to be a "great choice at the small end, with no compromises",[43] and lauded Apple for adapting iPhone 6S's hardware to three different form factors[49][43] while "consumers loved the battery life and that it still had a headphone jack.”[31]

The Verge considered iPhone SE to be much-improved and well-designed with great battery life, and its screen size the only hindrance to multitasking and certain apps. Giving the device 8.7 out of 10, The Verge said the iPhone SE is "today's tech in yesterday's phone body" and warned not to overly praise something just for doing its job.[50]

TechCrunch said it was "the best phone ever made", appealing to people who prefer a smaller, highly pocketable phone.[51]

GSMArena wrote that iPhone SE "struck the right balance between size, cost and performance", helping Apple beat sales expectations, and that it was strategic in India and China where Apple struggles to match its Western markets.[52]

Tom's Guide acclaimed iPhone SE for being an affordable and compact smartphone with a headphone jack, saying it can be both held comfortably and slipped into a jeans pocket and almost forgotten, unlike a big-screen device however thin. There was praise for the ability to listen to music and charge the phone at the same time.[53]

The Next Web described Apple's iPhone SE as “the best looking phone it's ever made”, citing the beautiful satin finish bead-blasted aluminum body and classy chamfered edges.[54]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "iPhone SE: Apple begins assembly of iPhone SE in India through Wistron, Telecom news, ET Telecom". ET Telecom (indiatimes.com). August 25, 2020. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  2. ^ iPhone SE 4/7開賣 5大電信公布預約日 | 重點新聞 | 中央社即時新聞 CNA NEWS. Central News Agency (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2016-03-25. Archived from the original on 2016-08-13. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  3. ^ "iPhone SE, 8 Nisan'da Türkiye'de satışta..." Milliyet (in Turkish). March 28, 2016. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Apple iPhone SE – Full phone specifications". GSMArena. 2019. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  5. ^ Miller, Chance (March 30, 2016). "First iPhone SE teardown reveals mainly 5s/6s parts inside, but a few surprises too". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  6. ^ "Legal – RF Exposure – Apple". Archived from the original on 2020-11-08. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  7. ^ "About Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) requirements for iPhone – Apple Support". Apple Support. September 12, 2018. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  8. ^ "What the iPhone SE stands for – and what we think it should stand for". TechRadar. 22 March 2016. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  9. ^ "Apple Introduces iPhone SE — The Most Powerful Phone with a Four-inch Display – Apple". Apple. March 21, 2016. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  10. ^ a b Apple iPhone SE Announcement. New Rising Media. March 21, 2016. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2018 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ Vlad Savov (March 21, 2016). "iPhone SE announced: iPhone 6S specs, iPhone 5S size, $399 price – The Verge". The Verge. Archived from the original on March 28, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  12. ^ Chris Welch (March 21, 2017). "Apple doubles iPhone SE storage to 32 GB and 128 GB – The Verge". The Verge. Archived from the original on November 5, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  13. ^ Benjamin Mayo (September 12, 2018). "iPhone SE and iPhone 6s no longer sold by Apple (and iPhone X gone too)". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  14. ^ Avery Hartmans (September 13, 2018). "Apple just quietly killed off a bunch of older iPhone and Apple Watch models — here are the products that are gone forever – Business Insider Nordic". Business Insider Nordic. Archived from the original on September 30, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  15. ^ John McCann (September 13, 2018). "The iPhone SE and iPhone 6S are dead, and that's not good for the iPhone SE 2". TechRadar. Archived from the original on September 30, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  16. ^ a b c d "iPhone SE: A powerful new smartphone in a popular design – Apple". Apple Newsroom. April 15, 2020. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  17. ^ "iPhone 5se: A new 4-inch phone for 2016". MacRumors. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  18. ^ Michael Calore (March 10, 2016). "Apple's Spring 2016 Event Will Be Held on Monday, March 21". Wired. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  19. ^ Apple – March Event 2016 – YouTube. Apple. March 23, 2016. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2018 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "With the iPhone SE, Apple Returns to a Masterpiece of Design". Wired.com. March 22, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  21. ^ "iPhone SE Reviews: Apple's Strange Case Of Jekyll And Hyde". Forbes.com. March 26, 2016. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  22. ^ Adnan Farooqui (September 17, 2018). "Apple Discontinues The iPhone 6S And iPhone SE As Well". Ubergizmo. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  23. ^ Dave Smith (September 18, 2018). "Apple made a big mistake by killing the iPhone SE, its smallest and most affordable smartphone – Business Insider Nordic". Business Insider Nordic. Archived from the original on September 23, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  24. ^ Jonny Evans (February 20, 2019). "People like iPhone SE, but Apple doesn't seem to care". Computerworld. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  25. ^ Jane C. Hu (September 22, 2018). "Apple's iPhone XS, XR, and XS Max are bad news for women—and anyone else with smaller hands — Quartz". Quartz. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  26. ^ Logan Booker (October 1, 2018). "Why I Just Bought An iPhone SE". Gizmodo Australia. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  27. ^ Jon Fingas (19 January 2019). "iPhone SE goes back on sale as a $249 clearance item". Engadget. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  28. ^ Andrew Liptak (19 January 2019). "Apple is once again selling its iPhone SE — for now". The Verge. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  29. ^ Joe Rossignol (19 January 2019). "Apple Begins Selling iPhone SE Again on Clearance Store, Starting at $249 Brand New [Sold Out]". MacRumors. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  30. ^ Mackenzie Frazier (February 20, 2019). "The iPhone SE is back at Apple and it's on clearance for $100 off". TechRadar. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  31. ^ a b Steven Musil (March 7, 2019). "The iPhone SE is once again available from Apple -- for $249". CNET. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  32. ^ Alex Wagner (March 8, 2019). "Apple selling iPhone SE with T-Mobile SIM, clearance pricing starts at $249 – TmoNews". TmoNews.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  33. ^ Ricky (March 8, 2019). "iPhone SE on clearance at Apple's website starting at $249 in the US – GSMArena.com news". GSMArena. Archived from the original on March 9, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  34. ^ Anton D. Nagy (March 9, 2019). "Apple iPhone SE back in stock on Apple's Clearance website". Pocketnow.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  35. ^ Adam Clark Estes (March 25, 2019). "iPhone SE Returns to Apple Store for as Little as $250". Gizmodo.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  36. ^ Stephen Shankland (April 24, 2020). "iPhone SE outclasses all Android phones thanks to Apple's A13 chip". MSN News. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  37. ^ "Yes, your old iPhone 5s case will fit on the new iPhone SE". Macworld. IDG. 2016-03-21. Archived from the original on 2016-03-23. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  38. ^ a b "Apple shows off 4-inch iPhone SE, iOS 9.3". Geek.com. 2016-03-21. Archived from the original on 2019-05-17. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  39. ^ H., Victor (March 21, 2016). "Apple iPhone SE TouchID is the same as in 5s, same as the iPhone 6s fingerprint sensor". PhoneArena. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  40. ^ a b "5 features you don't get with the iPhone SE". CNET. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  41. ^ "Snap Photos and Record Video on an iPhone at the Same Time". Lifewire. 2020-01-22. Archived from the original on 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  42. ^ "Apple doubles iPhone SE storage to 32 GB and 128GB". The Verge. 2017-03-21. Archived from the original on 2017-03-21. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  43. ^ a b c "Minor iPhone bump turns the 7 and 7 Plus red, gives iPhone SE more storage". Ars Technica. 2017-03-21. Archived from the original on 2017-03-21. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  44. ^ "iPhone SE vs. iPhone 6 and 6S: which Apple smartphone should you get?". The Verge. 2016-03-21. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  45. ^ "iOS 13: More power to you". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  46. ^ "Use Low Data Mode on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch – Apple Support". Apple Support. September 25, 2019. Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  47. ^ WWDC 2019 Keynote — Apple. Apple. June 4, 2019. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2019 – via YouTube.
  48. ^ June 2020, John McCann 22 (22 June 2020). "Will your iPhone get the iOS 14 update?". TechRadar. Archived from the original on 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2020-06-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  49. ^ "Apple iPhone SE review: Small wonder". CNET. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  50. ^ Goode, Lauren (2016-03-25). "iPhone SE review: today's tech, yesterday's design". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2016-09-29. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  51. ^ Devin Coldewey (September 14, 2018). "The iPhone SE was the best phone Apple ever made, and now it's dead". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on September 30, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  52. ^ Paul (September 23, 2018). "RIP Apple iPhone SE – GSMArena.com news". GSMArena. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  53. ^ Philip Michaels (January 21, 2019). "Why I'm Still Using the iPhone SE". Tom's Guide. Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  54. ^ Abhimanyu Ghoshal (January 22, 2019). "I'm kicking myself for not buying an iPhone SE last weekend". TNW (The Next Web). Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
Preceded by
None
iPhone SE
9th generation
Succeeded by