Apple iPhone SE (2022) review

06 April 2022


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AndroidAuthority, 11 Apr 2022 the 2020 version currently costs £279, £419 for this one. ... moreA difference to be sure and you wouldn’t be incorrect doing so, the irony here is that if Apple were still offering the 2020 version at a discounted price, then that’s what the target audience would probably go for anyway.

But Apple have discontinued it, and as I said before the type of customer this device is aimed towards is looking for minimal fuss during the whole process of securing a new iPhone. That means a quick trip to their local Apple store or phone dealership.

The murky waters of the used smartphone market are likely going to be just too much hassle for such people to willingly navigate. And that time will be better spent doing anything else other than looking up smartphone specs and pondering over used handset conditions.

This SE, as with its predecessor, is for the person who frankly just doesn’t give a sh*t about all this smartphone stuff. They have an old iPhone and want new iPhone, and they don’t want to spend any more time or money than they absolutely have to in order to get one.

    DaFink, 11 Apr 2022I don't understand, in one post you say this phone is ... more the 2020 version currently costs £279, £419 for this one. Considering the minimal upgrades I would suggest the previous version to most people.

      Rotciv Ikias, 11 Apr 2022Pls WORD OF ADVICE but if anybody that is invested in Apple... moreI don't understand, in one post you say this phone is a disaster due to battery life, then in another suggest people should instead look to the 2020 SE....which has even worse battery life?!?!?

      The 2020 SE is no longer being sold by Apple, and you are not going to save life changing money by considering it on the second hand market. As for the iPhone 11, that is a physically much larger device that doesn't appeal to all.

      Look this is going round in circles now, but just understand this, people on here can post all day long about how they think the 2022 SE should be avoided, but you are talking to no one as the kind of customer who is likely to consider it wouldn't be reading a site like this in the first place.....

        Rotciv Ikias, 11 Apr 2022Can u say this support speech to an Android because if an ... moreMy apologies as I don't quite get your post here. Do you mean to say that no other brand could ever release a device like this SE, one that seems on paper to be so behind the times?

        If so, then I fully agree with you, they could not. This however being primarily down to fact that not only are android oem's facing the uphill battle of trying to coax users away from Apple, but they also have the added burden of competing with other Android producing brands.

        In short if you want to use Android, then you have to choose between a plethora of different devices from competing brands, each trying desperately to get you to decide their own particular take on an android device is where you should be looking to put your money.

        However if a person is iOS all the way, then it's Apple or nothing. This gives Apple the freedom to produce a device like the SE.

          DaFink, 08 Apr 2022Why? To what end? A ton of costly R&D, purchasing of ne... moreCan u say this support speech to an Android because if an Android brand did this it would be crucified

            DaFink, 09 Apr 2022Right, if by ‘research’ you mean some simply go off their p... morePls WORD OF ADVICE but if anybody that is invested in Apple ecosystem and doesn't care about bells and whistles then the best offer is SE(2020)(except it's out of stock🤔which I don't think yet) even the iphone11 is there.

            The thing is the 2020 SE made sense this one doesn't make sense😕

              This phone is a disaster not because it is totally bad but because of the BATTERY - TIME and PRICE

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • GTn
                • 11 Apr 2022

                Whatever... Always 4 stars

                  77, 10 Apr 2022Answer his question, don't go off topic. He spoke off... moreHe basically insinuates I’m some dumb child and you demand I give him the time of day? I don’t need to justify his bad attitude with a response thank you. I’m in my 40’s and have children of my own, one of which has the 2020 SE and is very happy with it.

                  When this person learns to grow up and talk like somebody over the age of 6, I’ll treat them as such, till then they can jog on.

                    • 77
                    • mXr
                    • 10 Apr 2022

                    DaFink, 10 Apr 2022Cost mainly. But also as has been pointed out here repeated... moreTrue

                      • 77
                      • mXr
                      • 10 Apr 2022

                      DaFink, 10 Apr 2022We can discuss who’s dumb or not when you learn how to spel... moreAnswer his question, don't go off topic. He spoke off truth. Indenial at it's finest.

                        Xzy, 10 Apr 2022That's the question..what parent is stupid to get ipho... moreWe can discuss who’s dumb or not when you learn how to spell properly kiddo.

                        Until then something about those in glass houses not throwing stones comes to mind…..🤔

                          Anonymous, 10 Apr 2022Even the iPhone 12mini is better than this. Why and who wou... moreCost mainly. But also as has been pointed out here repeatedly but some still somehow fail to grasp, there are those out there that even now prefer the older design.

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                            • Xzy
                            • Dky
                            • 10 Apr 2022

                            DaFink, 09 Apr 2022Right, if by ‘research’ you mean some simply go off their p... moreThat's the question..what parent is stupid to get iphone for their children with such poor specs(no child wants outdated specs, design n size) for such hefty price wen thers better options in the market?
                            I mean u r a kid n tryinna justify ur blind fascination for apple but no..parents r not as dumb as u kids these days who only think the half eaten apple tossed in the garbage(users' lap for 5x price) is evrythng..get a life..not battery life..that really sucks..i meani kno u brag false fantasies to look good but wat u really expect with 2000maH?

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • mXr
                              • 10 Apr 2022

                              Jaya, 08 Apr 2022It's rubbish, battery life is very short and it is not... moreAbsolutely true.

                              Better off with 12mini.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • mXr
                                • 10 Apr 2022

                                Even the iPhone 12mini is better than this. Why and who would want this over 12mini?

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                                  • Mdeidris
                                  • XZx
                                  • 10 Apr 2022

                                  Ok

                                    Anonymous, 09 Apr 2022Argue what? I simply explained to you how people do when th... moreRight, if by ‘research’ you mean some simply go off their prior experience. Look you seem to have trouble grasping this very simple concept so I’ll go back to my original points, and don’t worry I’ll try to make them as clear as possible for you.

                                    The SE is not, I repeat not aimed at those who frequent sites like this, neither is it for anyone who wants HRR displays, multi cameras, or the has the slightest inclination to look through a 1000 plus Android options that all sound to such a person like they pretty much do the same thing anyway.

                                    It is for somebody who is familiar with iOS, invested in that ecosystem, but doesn’t care for all the bells and whistles of the latest (and most expensive) top of the range iPhone models. They just want something that will allow them to continue to use iMessage, FaceTime, use safari to browse the web, link with their Apple Watch if they have one, and all that Apple stuff they know and trust.

                                    You can ramble on to this person about the 30+ Motorola’s, the 100 or so Xiaomi’s, or the dozens of Samsung’s and so on for as long as you are willing to waste your own time. Once they learn it doesn’t do what they know how, the way they know how, they will loose interest then and there.

                                    Parents who use the iOS ecosystem and want to get their children iPhones at as little cost as possible in order to share their investment in said system are another good example. Or those wishing to get their elderly parents a phone for the same reasons being another.

                                    For such people the SE will be just fine. For everyone else, by all means shop around.

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                                      • Anonymous
                                      • 70d
                                      • 09 Apr 2022

                                      DaFink, 09 Apr 2022It’s interesting that for years the Android faithful nonsto... moreArgue what? I simply explained to you how people do when they want to buy something not trivial. People who walk into a phone shop and say that they want to buy a specific phone are people who did some research regardless of whether they call it that or not.

                                        Anonymous, 09 Apr 2022People who are interested to buy phones don't necessar... moreIt’s interesting that for years the Android faithful nonstop on this site have been arguing that iPhone fans (or iSheep as they like to call them) will just blindly buy another iPhone no matter what. Now I’m here saying such as person is exactly who this SE is perfect for, and now the story is people always do their research!

                                        I honestly can’t keep up with how much you all keep changing your tune 🤦‍♂️

                                        I never said people will walk into a store and ask for any phone, I said the type of customer for whom this device is perfect will walk in and ask for the cheapest iPhone, guessing you missed that part though eh.

                                        Look you can argue till your blue in the face, but I’m not wrong here. The SE was never intended to set the tech world on fire, or convert the already Android faithful. It’s a product that’s meant to be both cheap to produce and sell, intended for a specific type of customer, and that customer ain’t interested in the 50,000 or so other Android options available, all their dazzling (and very likely confusing to such a person) specs be dammed.