Earlier this week Apple introduced the iPhone SE (2022) the third era mannequin in the collection that spans 7 years. We have already talked at size about the authentic iPhone SE from 2016, however in reality the new mannequin isnt actually a sequel to that one. No, each the second and third SE fashions are primarily based on the design of the telephone that we’ll discuss at present.
And that is the Apple iPhone 6, which (sarcastically) is older than the authentic SE the 6-series arrived in 2014. Of course, the SE itself was primarily based on the iPhone 5 from 2012, a game-changing telephone in its day. If you take a look at the iPhone 5 and the iPhone SE (2016) aspect by aspect, you’ll barely be capable to discover any variations.
iPhone 6 on the left and that iPhone SE (2022) on the proper
The similar goes for the iPhone 6 and the iPhone SE (2022). It has the similar rounded silhouette and virtually the precise dimensions the variations are lower than a millimeter. The telephone still has a 4.7 show, still with 750 x 1,334 px decision (and 326 ppi pixel density to make it a Retina Display, one thing the 4 introduced).
The chunky bezels above the beneath the show stay, the backside one among which holds the sole remaining Touch ID fingerprint reader on iPhone. iPads have entrance or side-mounted readers too, however Apples telephones have lengthy since moved on to Face ID. Since the iPhone X (from 2017), in reality, a hated however influential design determination. One that Apple could by no means undo as analysts predict the firm will flip the notch into a punch gap after which push the Face ID module below the show. An below show fingerprint reader doesn’t sound probably.
Fingerprint readers do have their makes use of. For instance, you cant confuse one by carrying a masks and that is one thing that Face ID has been fighting. Also, if youre nimble sufficient, you may put your thumb on the FP reader whereas pulling the telephone out of your pocket and it is going to be unlocked by the time it’s in entrance of your eyes. This works particularly nicely when it’s a bodily reader that you may really feel by contact somewhat than one thing hiding below the glass show.
To be truthful, some issues have modified since the iPhone 6. In reality the change occurred on the iPhone 8 did you discover the antenna strains on the again of the 6? Those are there as a result of the iPhone 6 had an aluminum again, which blocks indicators. More current Phone fashions (since the 8 and X era) have glass backs, which simplifies antenna placement.
Other issues have modified too, the SE telephones now have IP67 rankings for mud and water resistance (they will final for half an hour below 1m of water). The new SE additionally gained a Ceramic Shield glass for the entrance, which is extra sturdy than typical glass (extra sturdy than even Gorilla Glass, should you consider Apples advertising and marketing). The iPhone 6 had Ion-strengthened glass as an alternative.
The iPhone 6 didn’t arrive alone in reality, 2014 was the first time Apple supplied two completely different sizes. The iPhone 6 Plus had a bigger 5.5 show and a bigger battery (2,915 mAh vs. 1,810 mAh) and that was virtually the solely distinction.
There was a single digicam on the again (it was the iPhone 7 Plus that added the second digicam), however the 6 Plus was the first iPhone to supply Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). That was its one digicam benefit over the vanilla 6. However, each the 6 and the 6 Plus might shoot 1080p video at 60 fps, whereas the 5s from the 12 months earlier than might solely do 30 fps. Phase detection autofocus was one other improve over the 5s, which solely had distinction detection AF.
Some may need hoped for a second digicam on the iPhone SE (2022), however Apple actually didnt stray too removed from the iPhone 6 design. The new SE has a significantly better digicam, in fact. It has a greater decision sensor (12MP vs. 8MP), a brighter aperture (f/1.8 vs. f/2.2) and OIS, to not point out an Apple A15 chipset that has a lot, rather more quantity crunching energy to throw at picture processing.
Also, the selfie digicam was bumped as much as Apples previous 7MP unit. Thats higher than the 1.2MP cam that the 6 had, which actually was solely ok for FaceTime video calls. Newer iPhones (since the 11 collection) have 12 MP entrance cameras with wider lenses. But even the newest fashions dont have Center Stage, Apples intelligent system that makes use of the wide-angle lens to all the time maintain you in the middle of the body whilst you progress round.
Having talked about the Apple A15, we should always word one other main change the SE mannequin now provides 5G connectivity. 4G was a comparatively recent function for Apple when the 6 got here out, it was introduced with the iPhone 5 in 2012. As we talked about earlier than, steel and antennas dont play nicely with one another, one thing that Apple came upon the arduous means with the 4 and the entire antennagate scandal. The correct design was discovered earlier than the iPhone 6 got here out, although.
The iPhone 6 collection introduced NFC to Apples line-up. It was still fairly locked down in comparison with the performance supplied by Androids – devoted solely to Apple Pay.
The iPhone 6 era had its personal gate scandal. The means that the all-aluminum physique was designed created weak spots round the buttons, which made the telephones simpler to bend should you sit on them or apply power on them in one other means. A associated problem was that the contact display might turn out to be disconnected type the motherboard. There had been different issues too, ones associated to the flash storage and the irritating Error 53 that plagued the Touch ID fingerprint reader.
Going again to the chipset for a second, the Apple A8 was the companys second chipset with a 64-bit CPU (the A7 inside the iPhone 5s was the first). However, even these chips cant run the newest iOS (assist for them ended with iOS 12). Newer fashions (e.g. iPhone 6s, the authentic SE) do presently run the newest iOS 15.
(*6*)
Before we wrap up, a few audio-related issues we wished to notice. The iPhone 6 had a 3.5mm headphone jack, one thing that the iPhone 7 collection took away two years later. However, it additionally solely had a single speaker, whereas newer fashions (SE included) have stereo audio system.
It wasnt excellent, however the iPhone 6 collection reached a record-breaking 10 million gross sales over the weekend after launch. Per week later the quantity rose to 13 million models. And this was earlier than the collection reached some main markets (e.g. China).
Its secure to say that superficially the design of the iPhone SE (2022) is sort of equivalent to that of the iPhone 6, which shall be eight years previous quickly. Looks may be deceiving, a lot has modified since 2014s most interesting iPhone. Most importantly, the flaws of the authentic design have been fastened and lots of enhancements have been carried out. Looking old school will not be one thing that may be fastened with out shifting ahead a few years to the iPhone X derived designs.
PS. we brushed previous the iPhone 6 Plus too rapidly. We need to spend extra time on the historical past of iPhone sizes in one other installment. Here we’ll simply point out that the iPhone 6 Plus lineage ends with the iPhone 8 Plus from 2017.
