Filipe Espósito
Every year, a new iPhone is released with better cameras and faster
processor. At the same time, the older iPhone models are still there
receiving iOS updates, which is great for people who dont upgrade their
phones every year. But how decent are these old iPhones running the latest
version of iOS? Well, I tested a first-generation iPhone SE with iOS 15, and
its still surprisingly good.
I decided to write this article after seeing a tweet comparing the iPhone
6s with the Samsung Galaxy S6. Both flagship phones were introduced in 2015,
but while iPhone 6s came with iOS 9 and runs iOS 15,
Galaxy S6 was released with Android 5 and was completely discontinued two
updates later with Android 7.
Some may argue that although iPhone 6s will still receive iOS updates, their
performance will be compromised by the latest software so I wanted to see
for myself if these old phones are still usable in 2022.
I dont have an iPhone 6s, but I do have a first-generation iPhone SE. For
those who dont remember, the first iPhone SE was introduced in early 2016
as a cheaper alternative to high-end iPhones. It features the same design
and four-inch display as the iPhone 5s, but with the same A9 chip and 12
Megapixel 4K camera as the iPhone 6s.
By comparison, the first iPhone SE was priced at $399 in the US, while the
Galaxy S6 was launched at $599. So how is the first-generation iPhone SE six
years later?
I wont discuss the iPhone SE design here since the point of this article is
to discuss how it performs with iOS 15. This phone was introduced when Apple
had zero iPhones with a borderless design, and the biggest iPhone you
could get back then had a 5.5-inch 1080p display, so keep that in mind.
While Apple has always claimed that the iPhone SE is a special edition for
those who prefer small phones, it has always been very clear that this phone
is designed to be a more affordable iPhone for those who dont need
everything that a high-end smartphone has.
To my surprise, the first-generation iPhone SE is still quite usable even
with iOS 15. When using it for basic tasks like surfing the web, listening
to music, or opening social networking apps, its hard to notice apps that
are unresponsive or running slowly. Some things take longer to open when
compared to newer iPhones, but its nothing like using an iPhone 3G with iOS
4 or an iPhone 4 with iOS 7 (if youre old enough, you know what I mean).
Having access to the latest version of iOS on a six-year-old phone means
that you can get at least some of the same features available on the latest
iPhone 13. The iPhone SE has Focus Mode, redesigned notifications, rich
Spotlight results, new Emojis, and all the latest privacy and security
improvements that come with iOS 15.
You can also download and install most of the apps available on the App
Store, which run just fine with the A9 chip. There are a few hiccups in
multitasking since the first-generation iPhone SE has only 2GB of RAM, but
regular users may not even notice them. Unfortunately, features like Live
Text, which require more computing power, are not available on this phone.
The battery can be a problem when it comes to an old phone, but those who
still have one of these at home can replace the battery with a new one to
give the device a new life.
Wrap up
The thing is, you probably shouldnt buy a 2016 iPhone SE in 2022. But if
you bought this phone when it was released, it still works well for basic
things, and it can serve as a good backup iPhone for emergencies and Im
sure it was definitely worth the price you paid for it five or six years
ago.
This is what happens when you have a phone built with the best chip
available on the market, and when the same company makes the hardware and
software inside it.
Going back to the first iPhone SE with iOS 15 also makes me see why the
iPhone SE still has a place in Apples lineup.
Despite its old design, the iPhone SE still has a lot to offer for people
who just want a reliable smartphone for a more affordable price.
Thanks to Apple Silicon and the iOS optimizations, users can enjoy their
iPhones for many years to come.
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