I recently re-activated my iPhone SE as I missed the device’s small form factor and exquisite build quality. After updating to the latest version of iOS and installing my favorite apps and services, I marveled at how this two-year-old device still rocks.
A lot of it is can be attributed to iOS 12, which runs smoothly on older hardware. The iPhone SE’s small 4-inch display and lower resolution is less demanding on the hardware and I found performance and battery life to be outstanding.
The iPhone SE is basically a souped-up iPhone 5 with iPhone 6s specs and an improved 12-megapixel camera. The iPhone SE, like the iPhone 5s before it, is impeccably balanced and precisely engineered. It really stands above other iPhone designs—solid stainless steel and glass enclosure, a headphone jack, and no unsightly camera bump.
If Apple wants to increase profits and entice buyers in the midrange of the market, a revamped 4-inch smartphone along the vein of the iPhone SE could be a big hit. The iPhone SE’s design is timeless. Just look at the latest iPad Pro, it shares the square and beveled design of the iPhone SE.
Apple could spruce up the look with an all-glass back, add improved cameras and the processor and RAM of an iPhone 8, as well as boost the quality on the display to approximate what’s on the iPhone XR but in a smaller size. Moreover, iOS was designed to be optimized for smaller screens and doesn’t look or feel awkward on a 4-inch display.
A smaller iPhone will satisfy millions of users who want a reliable and pocketable device that’s manageable with one hand. It can be for users who are trying to cut down on screen time but who also want a modern smartphone or for users who want to combine a small iPhone with their tablet or laptop to get work done.
I plan on holding on to my iPhone SE as long as I can and if Apple decides to re-enter the 4-inch smartphone segment, I’ll be all over an updated iPhone with the classic iPhone SE form factor.
