By Akriti Rana and Nimish Dubey
It is a given that when Apple launches a product, arguments and debate will follow. Some folks will hail the product as the coolest thing since sliced bread, while others will call it an overpriced gizmo. So it is hardly surprising that when the brand launched the iPhone SE in India a few days ago, opinions about the device fluctuated wildly. There were many who felt that at Rs 43,900, the phone was extravagantly overpriced and pretty much daylight robbery, given that it had a design and even hardware that seemed right out of 2017. However, there were others who pointed out that even at that price, it was still well below the iPhone 13 and 13 mini, even while offering a similar processor and software experience. So, is the iPhone SE making high end performance more accessible or is it a plain rip-off?
This design, display and cameras in 2022? You gotta be kidding us!
It is very easy to be critical of the new iPhone SE. In fact, all many folks have to do is just cast a glance at it to get the criticism flowing. This is because in design and appearance, the newest iPhone actually is an exact copy of the iPhone SE 2020, which in turn was an exact copy of the iPhone 8, which was released way back in 2017. There will be some who will love the compact form factor (it is only slightly larger than the tiny iPhone 13 mini and much smaller than the iPhone 13), but let's face it, those who love the design of the new iPhone SE can be accused of being nostalgia fans. This is because the phone looks so exactly like the iPhone 8 that even the cases and display protectors of one device fit the other snugly and perfectly.
We are not saying that the iPhone 8 was a bad-looking device. Far from it. It was sleek and very lightweight, and the new iPhone SE is all those things too. At 7.3 mm slim and 144 grammes, it is one of the most slim and light phones around. And its shades of red, black and white do look very smart. However, it also comes with elements that are considered totally outdated. There are large bezels around the display - an eyesore in an era where phones are becoming "all display affairs" in front. Another relic of the past is the large fingerprint scanner below the display which also doubles up as the home button - we cannot think of any other phone with a scanner placed on the bezel beneath the display, not only in this price range, but at even a third of the price.
The fact that the display itself is not full HD (it is 1334 x 750 pixels), has a "normal" refresh rate of 60 Hz and is an IPS LCD display, rather than an AMOLED display is another sore point. Round that off with the fact that the iPhone SE comes with just a single 12 megapixel camera at the rear, and has no charger in the box, and the "Apple is robbing consumers" argument seems to gain ground. There are phones that cost half as much as the iPhone SE that come with full HD+ AMOLED displays with higher refresh rates, multiple cameras (some with even 108 megapixel ones), snazzy in-display fingerprint scanners, and fast chargers. We can almost empathise with the "how DARE Apple even try this in 2022" outrage in some quarters.
But then, that processor, that OS
But it is not all doom and gloom on the iPhone SE front. For within that seemingly routine-looking frame comes one of the most powerful processors in the mobile phone world, the A15 Bionic. This is the same processor that is found in the iPhone 13 series which starts at Rs 69,900. Apple also claims to have used "the toughest glass on a smartphone" on the front and back of the iPhone SE. This might not be the much-talked-about "Ceramic Shield" but it certainly puts the iPhone SE among the tougher phones out there. It is also very notable that the phone comes with IP67 dust and water resistance, a feature that remains rare at its price point (the OnePlus 9RT does not have it). Also rare at this price is support for wireless charging, which the iPhone SE features.
The importance of that processor cannot be overstated in terms of performance. Its presence makes the iPhone SE a flagship level performer, capable of handling everything from Call of Duty to video editing, just like the iPhone 13 series. What's more, it also means that the iPhone SE will get software updates for almost as long as the iPhone 13 series. Unlike Android, Apple does have a great software update record - in fact, the latest iOS 15.4 update was also rolled out to the first iPhone SE which had been released way back in 2016. What's more, believe us, that original iPhone SE still works rather well, considering its age. The reason for this is Apple's hardware and software integration, which keeps older devices working for quite a while. The newer your processor, the longer the lifespan of your iPhone!
The impact of the processor was spelt out to us by a colleague who said, "Imagine you get a notebook with the latest Core i7 processor but an HD display and a slightly dated design, for a price that is almost forty per cent lower than a premium device featuring the same chip? That would be quite a proposition for anyone looking for long term, top-level performance on a budget. You end up with a device that might not be the latest in all respects, but will not be out of date in the most vital aspect for a long time." In short, the iPhone SE might not look like a new iPhone, but it sure will work like one.
An entry point to the Apple ecosystem?
That seems to be the segment that Apple is targeting with the iPhone SE - users who want a good performance over a long period of time. Apple does claim that the camera of the device performs well and that its battery life has improved considerably, but make no mistake about it, the real star of the iPhone SE is that processor. Combined with assured updates and Apple's excellent hardware and software integration, there is a fair chance that the new iPhone SE will be working smoothly for some time now.
While the price tag of Rs 43,900 might seem a little high when compared to Android devices at a similar price, it is almost Rs 26,000 below the iPhone 13 mini and Rs 36,000 below the bestselling iPhone 13. That actually makes it a great entry point for many into the Apple ecosystem. Do the math: you can buy a new iPhone SE and an Apple Watch Series 3 and a pair of AirPods; or a new iPhone SE and a new iPad, for less than the price of an iPhone 13.
So…deal, or steal?
So is the new iPhone SE daylight robbery or a decent bargain? It really depends on where you are coming from, and what you need. If you are looking for a large, high-resolution display, multiple cameras and an extremely fast charging battery, the iPhone SE literally should not even come into the picture. On the other hand, if you want a compact and tough phone that will handle everything you throw at it, will get timely and regular updates for at least five years (a major pain point in Android, where we are still seeing devices on Android 11 being released, although Android 12 has been around since late 2021), and will continue to keep working smoothly for a while, the iPhone SE is perhaps your best option. The IP67 rating and tough glass on front and back simply add to its longevity. It is a bit like choosing between something that is utterly up-to-date and something that might not be the latest in all regards, but sure as heck will not get obsolete soon.
The price of the iPhone SE might seem extravagant at first sight, but only when you compare it with its Android counterparts. Bring other iPhones into consideration, especially the new ones which share a similarly powerful processor, and it certainly starts appearing affordable. Relatively affordable, that is. We are not even going to call the iPhone SE super affordable or a budget bargain. Rs 43,900 can get you a very good Android flagship like the OnePlus 9RT, the Asus 8Z or the Xiaomi 11T Pro. But if it is the performance of a new iPhone and the assurance of a long lasting device that you seek, and are willing to sacrifice photography and display size for a much lower price tag, the iPhone SE might be a good option for you.