Apple%20iPhone%20SE%20Review%3A%20A%20Superb%20Smartphone%20for%20a%20Humble%20Price%20%u2013%20The%20New%20York%20Times

via%0A%0AApple%u2019s%20recently%20introduced%20%24399%20iPhone%20SE%20marks%20a%20turning%20point%20in%20consumer%20technology.%20It%u2019s%20a%20smartphone%20that%20delivers%20all%20the%20tech%20that%20we%20care%20about%2C%20without%20making%20us%20pay%20through%20the%20nose%20for%20it.%0A%0AMany%20of%20us%20have%20been%20waiting%20for%20this%20moment.%20Long%20ago%2C%20the%20technologies%20driving%20TVs%20and%20personal%20computers%20became%20so%20commonplace%20that%20good%20television%20sets%20and%20PCs%20became%20affordable%20for%20the%20masses.%20The%20ubiquitous%20smartphone%2C%20we%20presumed%2C%20would%20follow.%0A%0AInstead%2C%20as%20the%20smartphone%20matured%20over%20the%20last%20decade%20and%20a%20bit%2C%20the%20opposite%20happened.%20The%20price%20tag%20for%20the%20iPhone%2C%20the%20most%20popular%20handset%20in%20the%20world%2C%20reached%20heights%20that%20were%20previously%20unimaginable.%20Last%20year%u2019s%20new%20iPhones%20peaked%20at%20%241%2C449%2C%20compared%20with%20%24599%20in%202007.%20Yet%20budget%20phones%20ranging%20from%20%24200%20to%20%24400%20had%20major%20shortcomings%20like%20lousy%20cameras%20and%20slow%20chips.%0A%0AThe%20new%20iPhone%20SE%u2019s%20lack%20of%20compromise%20is%20what%20makes%20it%20remarkable.%20Apple%20took%20all%20the%20best%20parts%20from%20its%20expensive%20iPhones%20%u2014%20including%20a%20fast%20computing%20processor%20and%20an%20excellent%20camera%20%u2014%20and%20squeezed%20them%20into%20the%20shell%20of%20an%20older%20iPhone%20with%20a%20home%20button%20and%20smaller%20screen.%20At%20the%20same%20time%2C%20it%20managed%20to%20include%20useful%20features%20that%20were%20previously%20exclusive%20to%20fancy%20new%20phones%2C%20like%20water%20resistance%2C%20wireless%20charging%20and%20so-called%20portrait%20photos.%0A%0AThat%20means%20state-of-the-art%20smartphone%20technology%20has%20finally%20come%20down%20to%20a%20modest%20price.%20It%u2019s%20about%20time.%0A%0AAfter%20testing%20the%20new%20SE%20for%20a%20few%20weeks%2C%20I%20can%20confidently%20say%20that%20this%20device%20is%20ideal%20for%20many%20people%20%u2014%20especially%20for%20those%20who%20think%20about%20buying%20tech%20only%20when%20they%20feel%20they%20have%20to.%0A%0AJustin%20Adler%2C%2033%2C%20is%20one%20of%20them.%20He%20owned%20the%20first%20SE%2C%20which%20debuted%20in%202016%2C%20for%20years%2C%20subjecting%20himself%20to%20mockery%20from%20his%20techie%20colleagues%20in%20San%20Francisco%20who%20had%20much%20nicer%20phones.%20He%20recently%20bought%20the%20latest%20SE.%0A%0A%u201CI%20just%20never%20wanted%20to%20shell%20out%20%241%2C000%20to%20replace%20something%20that%20was%20working%20perfectly%20fine%2C%u201D%20he%20said.%20%u201CI%20was%20the%20exact%20core%20audience%20of%2C%20if%20you%20haven%u2019t%20upgraded%20your%20phone%20we%u2019re%20going%20to%20give%20you%20the%20cheapest%20bait%20as%20possible.%u201D%0A%0AThis%20new%20iPhone%20may%20suit%20you%20as%20well.%20Here%u2019s%20what%20you%20need%20to%20know.%0A%0AZooming%20in%20on%20the%20camera%0A%0AWith%20the%20SE%2C%20Apple%20took%20the%20computing%20processor%20of%20the%20%24699%20iPhone%2011%20%u2014%20the%20fastest%20on%20the%20market%20%u2014%20and%20stuck%20it%20in%20a%20body%20that%20is%20practically%20the%20same%20as%20the%20iPhone%208%20from%202017.%20In%20the%20process%2C%20the%20company%20also%20made%20significant%20improvements%20to%20the%20SE%u2019s%20camera%2C%20which%20has%20a%20single%20lens%20but%20now%20relies%20on%20software%20and%20artificial%20intelligence%20to%20make%20photos%20look%20much%20better.%0A%0AIn%20past%20iterations%20of%20high-end%20iPhones%2C%20the%20devices%20had%20two%20camera%20lenses%20that%20worked%20together%20to%20produce%20the%20popular%20effect%20known%20as%20portrait%20mode%2C%20which%20sharpens%20a%20subject%20while%20gently%20blurring%20the%20background.%0A%0ABut%20in%20the%20iPhone%20XR%20from%202018%2C%20Apple%20used%20machine%20learning%2C%20which%20involved%20computers%20analyzing%20images%20to%20recognize%20people%20and%20properly%20sharpen%20them%20while%20blurring%20the%20background%2C%20to%20produce%20portrait%20shots%20of%20people%20using%20a%20single%20lens.%0A%0AApple%20has%20applied%20a%20similar%20A.I.-assisted%20approach%20to%20the%20SE%2C%20making%20portrait%20photos%20of%20people%20possible%20with%20a%20single%20lens%20on%20the%20cheaper%20device.%20In%20my%20tests%2C%20portrait%20shots%20looked%20excellent%20%u2014%20on%20a%20par%20with%20similar%20photos%20taken%20with%20the%20iPhone%2011.%20This%20is%20significant%20for%20a%20device%20of%20this%20price.%20%28Google%u2019s%20%24399%20Pixel%203A%2C%20my%20favorite%20Android%20phone%2C%20is%20also%20exceptional%20for%20its%20ability%20to%20take%20portrait%20photos%2C%20though%20that%20phone%20is%20much%20slower.%29%0A%0AOf%20course%2C%20Apple%20had%20to%20cut%20costs%20somewhere%2C%20so%20the%20cheaper%20iPhone%20SE%u2019s%20camera%20lacks%20some%20frills%20seen%20in%20the%20iPhone%2011%20and%20%24999%20iPhone%2011%20Pro.%0A%0ASpecifically%2C%20Apple%20limited%20its%20machine-assisted%20image%20processing%20specifically%20to%20human%20subjects%2C%20meaning%20I%20couldn%u2019t%20take%20artsy%20photos%20of%20my%20dogs.%20The%20camera%20also%20lacks%20the%20so-called%20ultra-wide-angle%20lens%20for%20taking%20shots%20with%20a%20broader%20field%20of%20view%2C%20as%20well%20as%20night%20mode%2C%20a%20feature%20to%20take%20better%20photos%20in%20the%20dark.%0A%0AA%20daylight%20photo%20taken%20with%20an%20iPhone%20SE.Credit%u2026Brian%20X.%20Chen%20A%20daylight%20photo%20taken%20with%20an%20iPhone%2011.Credit%u2026Brian%20X.%20Chen%0A%0ABut%20if%20you%20are%20a%20casual%20photographer%2C%20you%20could%20probably%20live%20without%20those%20whiz-bang%20features%20and%20be%20happy%20saving%20lots%20of%20money%20by%20choosing%20the%20SE.%0A%0AFor%20what%20it%u2019s%20worth%2C%20the%20shots%20I%20took%20in%20daylight%20of%20my%20corgi%20Max%20on%20the%20SE%20looked%20just%20as%20good%20as%20similar%20shots%20with%20the%20iPhone%2011%20and%20other%20phones%20on%20the%20market%2C%20like%20Google%u2019s%20%24399%20Pixel%203A.%20They%20came%20out%20crisp%20with%20natural-looking%20colors%20and%20nice%20shadow%20detail.%0A%0ALet%u2019s%20talk%20about%20that%20screen%20and%20home%20button%0A%0AThe%20other%20feature%20that%20makes%20the%20SE%20cheaper%20is%20the%20first%20thing%20you%20will%20look%20at%3A%20the%20screen.%0A%0AAt%204.7%20inches%2C%20the%20display%20is%20smaller%20compared%20to%20the%20jumbo%206.1-inch%20screen%20on%20the%20iPhone%2011.%20But%20that%20may%20be%20a%20benefit.%20The%204.7-inch%20size%20is%20better%20suited%20to%20one-hand%20use%2C%20so%20it%u2019s%20easy%20to%20use%20your%20thumb%20to%20reach%20from%20the%20home%20button%20to%20each%20corner%20of%20the%20screen.%20Also%20important%2C%20the%20phone%u2019s%20smaller%20body%20fits%20more%20comfortably%20in%20a%20pocket.%0A%0AThe%20SE%u2019s%20second%20big%20cost%20saver%20is%20the%20use%20of%20a%20home%20button%20for%20unlocking%20the%20device%2C%20rather%20than%20the%20face%20scanners%20seen%20on%20modern%20smartphones.%20The%20iPhone%20fingerprint%20scanners%20have%20always%20worked%20quickly%20and%20reliably%2C%20and%20so%20does%20this%20one.%0A%0AIt%20might%20be%20nice%20to%20have%20a%20face%20scanner%2C%20but%20many%20of%20us%20will%20probably%20be%20happy%20without%20the%20feature%20if%20it%20means%20saving%20some%20money.%20For%20comparison%2C%20I%20have%20given%20big%20minus%20points%20to%20%241%2C000%20phones%2C%20like%20the%20Samsung%20Galaxy%20S10%2C%20for%20a%20lousy%20fingerprint%20reader%20and%20a%20subpar%20face%20scanner.%0A%0APutting%20the%20iPhone%20SE%u2019s%20value%20in%20perspective%0A%0ATo%20fully%20understand%20the%20SE%u2019s%20value%2C%20it%u2019s%20important%20to%20note%20that%20this%20isn%u2019t%20Apple%u2019s%20first%20rodeo%20with%20a%20cheaper%20iPhone.%20Those%20past%20models%20were%20not%20as%20compelling%20when%20compared%20with%20their%20pricier%20counterparts.%20To%20wit%3A%0A%0AThe%20%24549%20iPhone%205C%2C%20introduced%20in%202013%2C%20came%20in%20colorful%20plastic%20and%20felt%20cheaper%20and%20slower%20than%20the%20iPhone%205S%2C%20the%20model%20with%20a%20sleek%20aluminum%20body%20that%20cost%20%24100%20more.%0A%0AThe%20%24399%20iPhone%20SE%20from%202016%20had%20the%20design%20of%20older%20iPhones%2C%20with%20the%20same%20computing%20power%20as%20newer%20ones%20at%20the%20time.%20Yet%20that%20SE%20had%20a%20notably%20inferior%20camera%20and%20dim%20screen%20compared%20to%20its%20%24649%2C%20bigger-screen%20counterpart%20at%20the%20time%2C%20the%20iPhone%206S.%0A%0AThis%20time%2C%20the%20new%20SE%u2019s%20trade-offs%20seem%20trivial.%20No%20face%20scanner%2C%20shooting%20photos%20in%20the%20dark%20or%20humongous%20screen%3F%20Those%20are%20minor%20inconveniences%20when%20you%20are%20paying%2040%20percent%20less%20than%20for%20an%20iPhone%2011.%0A%0AI%20will%20note%20one%20big%20downside%3A%20the%20SE%20has%20significantly%20shorter%20battery%20life%20than%20the%20iPhone%2011.%0A%0AAfter%20a%20day%20of%20shooting%20photos%20and%20juggling%20work%20tasks%2C%20the%20SE%20battery%20needed%20to%20be%20replenished%20by%20dinner%20time.%20With%20the%20more%20expensive%20phone%2C%20I%20had%20more%20than%2025%20percent%20battery%20by%20bedtime.%20So%20people%20who%20work%20long%20hours%20and%20rely%20on%20their%20phones%20would%20probably%20be%20happier%20with%20a%20high-end%20one.%0A%0ASo%20who%20is%20this%20for%3F%0A%0AI%u2019m%20not%20the%20target%20demographic%20for%20the%20SE%20since%20I%u2019m%20willing%20to%20pay%20for%20fancier%20features.%20I%20splurged%20on%20the%20%24999%20iPhone%20XS%20two%20years%20ago%20because%20I%20loved%20taking%20portrait%20photos%20of%20food%20and%20my%20dogs.%0A%0ABut%20there%20was%20something%20unique%20about%20the%20announcement%20of%20the%20SE%2C%20which%20I%20found%20striking%20in%20a%20pandemic%20that%20has%20dampened%20most%20people%u2019s%20enthusiasm%20for%20buying%20nice%20things.%0A%0AWhen%20new%20iPhones%20are%20unveiled%2C%20I%20usually%20get%20questions%20from%20friends%20who%20work%20in%20tech%20and%20are%20giddy%20about%20shiny%20new%20gadgets.%20With%20the%20SE%2C%20I%20got%20text%20messages%20from%20people%20who%20hate%20talking%20about%20tech%3A%20a%20friend%20who%20is%20in%20her%2060s%20and%20self-proclaimed%20Luddite%2C%20and%20a%20family%20member%20who%20is%20an%20environmentalist.%20Both%20are%20using%20iPhones%20that%20are%20at%20least%20five%20years%20old%2C%20and%20both%20were%20relieved%20that%20their%20next%20phone%20won%u2019t%20cost%20more%20than%20a%20month%u2019s%20mortgage.%0A%0A%u201CIt%u2019s%20a%20slow%20burner%20that%u2019s%20going%20to%20help%20Apple%20upgrade%20their%20base%2C%u201D%20Carolina%20Milanesi%2C%20a%20consumer%20tech%20analyst%20for%20the%20research%20firm%20Creative%20Strategies%2C%20said%20of%20the%20SE.%20That%20includes%20people%20who%20hold%20on%20to%20phones%20for%20three%20to%20five%20years%20and%20those%20with%20hand-me-downs%2C%20she%20said.%0A%0ACome%20to%20think%20of%20it%2C%20that%u2019s%20most%20people%20I%20know.%0A%0ASource%0A%0AThe%20post%20Apple%20iPhone%20SE%20Review%3A%20A%20Superb%20Smartphone%20for%20a%20Humble%20Price%20%u2013%20The%20New%20York%20Times%20appeared%20first%20on%20abangtech.%0A%0A%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//abangtech.com/apple-iphone-se-review-a-superb-smartphone-for-a-humble-price-the-new-york-times/%22%20rel%3D%22noreferrer%20nofollow%22%3Eabangtech.com/apple-iphone-se-review-a-superb-smartphone-...%3C/a%3E

source https://www.flickr.com/photo.gne?id=49863580448