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Anyone help me out? I need an upgrade and I'm fed up with Google, so gonna get back with Apple. I intend on keeping this handset for a good five years - any suggestions?
I’d go SE 2022 or 12/13 mini according to budget personally. All better tech.
Edit, the apple refurb store gets a 12mini closer to an SE budget
Reckon I'd get a good 4+ years from the 11? I like the fact it has a better camera system.
11
12/13 Mini
12 if you can stretch to it for 5G and nicer screen, otherwise 11 will have much better battery.
SE2022 lacks the night camera, but better longevity in terms of security updates.
So I happened to be watching the MKBHD review of the SE yesterday and he addresses this exact question.
Essentially, the SE has old-feeling hardware. Home button, small-ish screen. But then an incredible chip that's faster than any other phone except the iPhone 13 (which has the same chip). Whereas the 11 has a better screen, battery and camera but older, slower chip. I can't remember if they're both 5G (the new SE is).
My take-home was that if you're a non-smartphone kind of person and you just want a phone for simple stuff and don't really care about having an up-to-date style of phone, then the SE is a good buy. Plus, it'll probably last for 5+ years of software updates. Whereas if you're a smartphone afficionado and want to play games and tax the battery, then the 11 is a better option.
For me, touch gestures are light-years ahead of home buttons and I'd like the bigger screen, so I'd go for the 11 every day of the week. As far as I'm concerned the home button should have died completely in Oct 2017. Other opinions are available.
It's not been an actual button for many years now. Just a sensor with some haptic feedback to simulate a button. Nothing to go wrong like the home buttons of old. So it all comes down to choosing fingerprint unlock or face scanning unlock. Which is a personal preference.
then the SE is a good buy.
I'm a standard type of user and the SE does pretty much all I need it too, and it's not stupid big.
I think the SE really exists for people who can't/won't adjust to the new swipey/faceID ways. It's well summed up in the "experience" bit of Gruber's review of the last SE: https://daringfireball.net/2020/04/the_2020_iphone_se - once you've got used to the new way, you can't really go back. It's just better.
If you're coming from Android then either works I guess. You might have a preference if you often wear a facemask or gloves (the latter more for me, hence faceID being better).
fwiw, I'd take the 11 any day too. Current iOS is supported back to the 2015 iPhone 6S so you should get 5 years easily. Although consider a 12 mini if you can live with a bit less battery life.
You might have a preference if you often wear a facemask
Yesterdays iOS 15.4 update included the long awaited option to enable use Face ID with a mask.
Some really good deals on standard 12 not too big either there all good phones.
Went from an 8 plus to an 11. Camera is better, screen about the same size, phone a little bit smaller. But I do miss the fingerprint home button. Much easier for day to day unlocking and payment. Masks and glasses are not a good mix for Face ID. I also miss the slightly thinner rounded feel of the 8 plus when in an otter box clear case. It was nicer to hold. Son1 has it after killing an 8 from new. He likes the 8 plus form factor too.
I'd go SE now.
Yesterdays iOS 15.4 update included the long awaited option to enable use Face ID with a mask.
True - but only for iPhone 12 and newer.
My old style SE will be with me until it dies. I’m too tight to spend £500+ on a new phone, plus I like it’s small size.
11 pro here. Used without a case, the rounded edges make it like holding a wet bar of soap, much prefer the square edges. Most of the things I like about it are hardware: Small(ish), rugged(ish), the camera is good, it's drenched several times a week in sweat or rain and doesn't die. I am not going to be able to tell the difference between chips. It'll be kept til it dies, even though I really don't like iOS and hate the keyboard with a passion.
I am struggling with this. I want to soon replace an S10e. My work phone is a 2021 SE and I find it fine, I really use my phones for calls, texts, WhatsApp and the odd biking photo.
It’s be nice to have 5g, nice screen and length of service in the OS but minimal size for a bike jersey pocket so for that reason I was looking at a refurb 12 mini, but the bulk of the cost off contract might make a 13mini a better choice.
It all just seems like a lot of money tbh, a newer best-budget Android might be the way to go, but the rest of the family has the apple eco system wired into “family stuff”. On that basis It’s a refurb 12 at £429 or an SE at £469.
Edit, all my numbers were wrong as I want 128gb for a bit of longevity, so it’s £469 vs £579 vs £679.
Masks and glasses are not a good mix for Face ID.
Yeah, masks are annoying but I've never had an issue with glasses (even when I change from normal glasses to Oakleys for riding. Perhaps it depends on style/thickness/lens coatings etc?
An Apple watch will unlock the phone while wearing a mask and I absolutely love that feature!
Edit, all my numbers were wrong as I want 128gb for a bit of longevity, so it’s £469 vs £579 vs £679.
My son's birthday present was a 128GB 12 Mini from the refurb store for £529.
He chose that over a 'new' 11 as he didn't like the size of the 11. And 12 is one better than 11.
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/refurbished/iphone/iphone-12-mini
Can't recommend the Mini series enough, I've had my 13 Mini since November and it is by a mile the best phone I've ever had. Love the size, the screen is awesome, battery life is good and the cameras are great too. It's just about perfect as I do think Phones have just got too big. Work phone is a 8 Plus and it's a right brick. It's a shame there won't be a 14 Mini, because if they did a 14 Mini Pro with Apple ProRaw and the third camera lens it'd be beyond perfect!
I have a 2020SE - chosen purely because I use it as my primary payment device.
Apple pay with touch ID is so completely seamless. Sure, I could adapt to a system with more steps to use face ID on a 'better' phone, but why would I?
The 2022SE looks like an excellent device.
Yeah, masks are annoying but I’ve never had an issue with glasses (even when I change from normal glasses to Oakleys for riding
It’s the combination. Requires you to log multiple pairs of glasses. Presumably as not so many face contours to go on with a mask. Anyway payment by home button was much better! And I prefer the thinness of the old one. But size wasn’t really an issue.