Apple iPhone SE (2016) review: The legacy lives on

iOS 9.3

The iPhone SE can now be upgraded to iOS 9.3, the latest version of Apple’s mobile OS. It’s every bit as good as we’ve come to expect from Apple: its smooth, slick and works brilliantly with the phone’s processor. New features include Night Shift, which tones down the blue in the display at night to hep you sleep, and password protected Notes, which you can unlock with Touch ID. 

TouchID and Apple Pay

Apple has installed an older TouchID sensor in the iPhone SE, rather than the newer, faster model in the iPhone 6S. This meant I had a couple more errors than I’m used to and had to re-adjust my grip occasionaly, but it wasn’t too much of an irritation. As well as for unlocking your phone, TouchID can be used with Apple Pay, either in app or, thanks to the built-in NFC chip, in store.

Wireless

There are all of the wireless standards that you’d expect in a modern phone, including 802.11ac Wi-Fi (up to 433Mbit/s) and 4G LTE (up to 150Mbit/s). In other words, no matter what type of network you connect to, you’ll be able to get the highest speeds.

Storage

There are only two models of iPhone SE: 16GB (£359) or 64GB (£439). By today’s standards, 16GB is really too small and I would have preferred a 32GB entry-level model. As such, I recommend buying the 64GB model. It’s still excellent value, as a 64GB iPhone 6S costs £619 by comparison.

Verdict

Apple has surpassed all my expectations for the iPhone SE. Before it launched, I was expecting a plastic handset with an older processor; instead, we’ve got a metal handset with the latest processor and a top-notch camera. In fact, the only thing that the mini phone doesn’t have, which the larger iPhone 6S does, is 3D Touch, and that’s something you can easily live without.

For anyone that didn’t want to upgrade to the larger iPhone 6S or iPhone 6S Plus but still hanker after a powerful 4in phone, the iPhone SE is an amazing choice and nothing else comes close to it at this screen size.

See all of the best iPhone SE deals on uSwitch