iPhone SE review: Smaller, yet as powerful as they come

SINGAPORE — For those who have gotten used to bigger screens, the iPhone SE is a strange beast. It feels so familiar, yet uncomfortable at the same time.

Having been on the 6s Plus for awhile now, it took me a fairly long time to get re-acquainted with the smaller 4-inch SE. But while its size might take some getting used to, the SE is no slouch when it comes to performance. Think of it as a jacked-up 5s with a nicer finish and more colours (including a rose gold version).

Starting from S$658, it is the cheapest iPhone that Apple has released to date, and it’s certainly value for money. In terms of hardware, it’s nearly as powerful as the 6s and 6s Plus, albeit with fewer features.

The SE’s A9 chip is the same one offered in the 6s and 6s Plus. Benchmark tests show the SE is as fast as the 6s, and nearly three times faster than the 5s. I didn’t notice any difference between the SE and 6s when playing games or surfing the web.

Other features carried over from the 6S include the SE’s 12-megapixel rear camera, resulting in fast autofocusing and incredible detailed photo quality. Unlike the 5s, you can shoot 4K videos and Live Photos. You also get the True Tone flash, which gives fairly natural looking lighting.

Selfie lovers though may be disappointed to learn that the SE’s front-facing camera is just 1.2-megapixels, unlike the 6s’ 5-megapixels. It’s passable, but it leaves you wanting more.

One major plus for the SE is its battery life, which for me, lasted more than a day on regular use.

Still, if you have been using the 6s, you might find the SE lacking in some areas.

For one, it does not have 3D Touch, where you can control your device by differing the amount of pressure you place on the screen. This feature came on the 6s, and I would have liked it on the SE, only because I have come to use it so often.

Apple also passed on upgrading the fingerprint sensor, sticking to the one used on the 5s. This means that unlocking your phone will be slightly slower compared to the 6s.

With around 30 million 4-inch iPhones sold last year, there appears to be a sizeable market for the SE. Apple CEO Tim Cook has said the SE is meant for first time iPhone buyers or those holding on to an older device with no intention to upgrade to a larger phone. For Apple’s target audience, the SE will not disappoint, offering both affordability and performance.

The iPhone SE is available in space grey, silver, gold and rose gold metallic finishes in 16GB and 64GB models. It is sold at the online Apple store and other authorised retailers.