Apple iPhone SE 2016 (2016)

Can’t Fault This iPhone – I’ve been really happy with my iPhone SE & not had a single issue with it to date. Purchased in June 2016 via the Apple store online and still as perfect as the day I purchased. Colour: Rose Gold. 64GB. Photo quality is great, and video quality is also great. Images are nice and sharp. Low light photos turn out well whether inside or… Read more

outside.

The iPhone records sound very well when recording videos. Nice and clear playback.

I’ve been using my iPhone to take photos of my artwork to upload to Instagram and the quality is always impressive.

I also love the photo editing tools in iPhone. Very handy if you took the photo in a room with very little light & you want to increase the exposure a little. Perfect.

Apps work without a problem.

Surfing the internet, watching YouTube or streaming is effortless & I’v not had buffering issues.

Using the SE for social media is also never an issue for me.

Uploading and downloading is great.

Good battery life too! And the screen brightness is perfect, plus you can adjust the screen brightness to a lower level or higher level depending on what you want.

This is my 2nd iPhone and I will definitely continue with the Apple brand when purchasing Or upgrading again.

My only complaint is that this model if accidentally dropped will slightly dent on the aluminium looking part of the phone edges if that’s where the first point of impact happened.

Not as tough on the exterior like my previous iPhone 3GS model.

My SE slipped out of my hand once and it caused a small flat dent on the corner as described above earlier. The screen area wasn’t affected.

Overall I love this phone and continue to be really happy with it.

Would I recommend? Yes most definitely.

About as nice as a public toilet – I'm a regular user of a smartphone. Calls, texts, music, maps, calendar, maybe some social media, and the odd photo along the way. Definitely not trying to run 10 apps at once or hack the operating system. Overall it's like visiting a public toilet - you undoubtedly leave with your basic needs met, but it's hardly a comfortable or dignified… Read more

experience along the way.

pros:

-apple tech support for the first 12 months (shouldn't need this but here we are)

-decent camera for what it is

-nice aluminium sides

cons:

-undeletable, useless stock apps (compass, tips, findfriends?)

-stock software tries to insert itself and take control of everything

-airdrop, airplay, photos, safari, and mail all SUCK and work about 30% of the time

-constant trickery to make you subscribe to extra services or buy something (apple iCloud is a repeat offender)

-no removeable storage

-no removeable battery

-no split screen functionality

-doesn't work with gloves on

-user unserviceable, needs special tools to disassemble

-my charge port was corroded after 12 months 15 days - so warranty was 15 days out of date - apple advised phone had to be replaced for $330 - friend replaced it with ebay parts for $25

-apple is currently subject to... 32? class action lawsuits for purposely slowing down these phones

-stupid proprietary charge port is only used by apple

If this was a $200 huawei it'd be forgiveable. For a $460 phone or whatever they're charging these days... not even close to good enough. The intrusive software seems to have been designed by Dr Evil, and the mediocre hardware and external design struggle to make any kind of case for why this phone deserves market share. I unfortunately got suckered in by the "it just works" apple branding this one time, but once burnt twice shy. My advice is to at least read some reviews of other devices in this price range before you commit your hard earned $$.

Excellent practical phone – Stupidly wrecked my iPhone 5S by trying to change the battery myself after it had swollen and partially lifted the screen. This was the second time this had happened and Apple had replaced my first phone under warranty and it was the replacement phone whose battery had swollen. I had got about four years use of the two phones after the initial… Read more

purchase of the first one. When I contacted Apple I had to take it in for inspection which presumably would have involved a repair charge so, after watching some YouTube videos of the repair, I thought I would try to replace it myself which was a big mistake. I really liked the smaller 4 inch screen form factor of the 5S plus I already had a Mophie battery case for it. The obvious replacement choice was the iPhone SE which has the same form factor with the updated features found in the iPhone 6s. I bought the iPhone SE outright from Apple who delivered it the day after I ordered it and it has performed perfectly. It is obviously very similar to the 5S and I haven’t yet made great use of its upgraded camera because I don’t do much photography but it’s good to know it’s there. I only hope the battery does not swell up again on this phone but at least it is under warranty. I recommend taking out Apple Protection.

Don't be unimpressed. Its small but powerful – Yes the iPhone SE is small and that's part of its beauty....in the era of huge smartphones this little beauty fits comfortably in the pocket. I use it as a tracker whilst jogging and you hardly know it's there. It just as powerful as it's larger iPhone siblings but tiny. Apple no longer sell it but you can still buy it new or used from Apple resellers Show details

Love this little phone. Highly recommend – The battery life has not been great and had to replace just after warranty expired. Apart from that it is fast, small and fits easily in my pocket. People think I have an old phone because of the size but it’s still fairly new Show details

Good phone, excellent value – Good phone with more features than I need. Love the Apple environment even if data sharing is inconvenient and at times defeats me. Good range of apps, most free or minimal cost. Seems reliable except I changed the battery after 15 months use. Keep it in a protective case and so survives daily, normal use. Show details

A dud. Don't buy apple iphones – Bought an Iphone se new 17/12/17. So at the time of writing, it is 1 month out of warranty. Callers report my voice breaks up and is faint. Battery is also dying. Talking to non apple repairers it seems there is a problem with the microphone and battery. Quote $120 to fix. Apple want more than $450 to repair, more than I paid for the phone.… Read more

They seem to be totally uninterested in standing behind their product or their customers.

My previous iphone only lasted 2 years.

I can't be without a phone so I have had to buy a new phone. Not apple needless to say.

In my experience apple iphones are easier to use than android, but they are unreliable and seem to be designed to only last a short time so you are forced to buy another.

You can get better value and more reliable phones elsewhere.

Small and cheap – Camera is okay, battery is alright. The camera doesn't work well at night, and the battery can last all day sometimes which is good. The screen is small for someone with big hands (like me) which caused me to drop it. I recommend buying a phone case if you're probably gonna drop it  Show details

This is just a beautifully made and functioning device, even in 2025, and I believe it would be for another 5-10 years. However, the tech overlords are slowly having their way and apps are requiring higher OS versions than this phone is allowed to have installed. I don't imagine anyone will be thinking to buy this phone in 2025 because of the… Read more

limitations imposed by the manufacturer, and software manufacturers in general. Limitations which will be, no doubt, for our own safety....

I have used this model (not the same phone) for around 10 years on and off, and have been impressed by its quality. Beautiful looking device, nice and small, and this particular 128GB version has hardly had a hiccup in terms of hardware/software functionality for the four or so years I've had it. I should probably be taking away stars - but I'm so impressed by the quality of this device I'm not going to. And although I see it as an outstanding example of high build quality, nice design and great reliability, slowly more and more apps/software services are requiring higher OS versions than the highest version allowed to be installed on this phone. Then again if reducing the number of apps you have/use is a good thing, which in many cases it could be thought to be, this might be a gift in disguise.

So its 10 stars for the phone itself and minus 5 for such a speedy, reliable, great looking & feeling item with many years of life left, being intentionally phased out of existence.

Excellent Just brought another in 2020 – Ive had this phone for 4yrs, Ive just purchased another identical :) in preparation for when it is needed, but to be honest, this old one hasn't yet skipped a beat, even though it has hit the concrete even without a case, many times, it is still cheaper to buy new than a Iphone6, even though the operating system Is equivalent to a 7, It has been heaven compared to the prior POS refurbished iPhone 5S that virgin mobile sold me as new. Show details

Small form a factor a plus – Fits in one hand easily. Fast and zippy. Well built phone, timeless design. Battery isn’t the best, but it charges very quickly. It’s a great daily driver. Runs iOS13. No signs of slowing down. Perfect little iPhone. Show details

Great pocket size and versatile – This phone is perfect for those who are looking for an everyday phone with not much trouble behind it. A great compromise between something that fits into your pocket and functionality. Show details

It’s been the best iPhone I’ve had sofar – The camera is brilliant apps run smoothly everytime the screen brightness is adjustable and I use it for work and play it never faults power is brilliant and recharging is quick Show details

I love having the latest features on a phone of this size. Perfect for me! – The camera quality is good when taking photos in good light. If looked after, the product is very durable, but as with all electronics, if you drop them, they suffer. Battery life has been great!

Functions like a 6 or 7, but not so bulky – Have had this phone for years now as I didn’t want a larger phone such as the iPhone 6 or 7, but it functions just as well in my opinion. Still functions very well, fast and reliable, 2.5 years later. Battery now needs to be charged each night if I’ve used it much through the day, but could still easily make it 1.5days with light use only Show details

Good all rounder phone – The camera isn’t amazing it’s an older phone but I personally really like this one the size it perfect as I find all the newer phones are so large. Really runs smoothly I’ve had my phone for almost 2 years now and have even dropped it a couple times thankfully without any screen breakages. Very happy with this phone. Show details

Best value for price iPhone out there – Awesome phone, still fast and very usable, apps are all fast and I have no troubles. I love how small it is and it encourages me to use my phone less. Only thing that feels slightly lacking is the camera but that's expected in a pretty old phone. Show details

Very good phone – I bought iphone SE in 2017, still it’s going very good. I always wanted to buy an iPhone but I can’t afford it. This iPhone got all the features and within the budget. This phone is very easy to use and have less confused settings. Excellent phone for any age.  Show details

Good basic iPhone small & compact – 1 of the smallest iPhones available at the moment. Does all the basic things. Easy to use. Plenty of apps are available to be used with this model. Battery life is ok as long as you dont run too many things at the same time. Good choice if you can't afford a newer model. I have included a picture I took using the iPhone SE  Show details

It’s good – Have been using the iphone SE around 2 years . It’s golden rose color which I quite like . Everything is fine about the phone. The camera quality is very good. I use the phone take a lot of photos and use the map a lot besides messaging and calling. Not bad overall.  Show details

Great phone – I purchased this phone 3 months ago as my partner has the same model. I really like this model. It has a good camera and the processing system is quick. I prefer the size of this iPhone as it’s small and fits in my wallet. It runs smoothly and I am happy with my purchase  Show details

Best-valued iphone – This iPhone is a great little companion which is generally reliable. With the processor chip of an iPhone 6S, it is faster than the 6, cheaper than the 6, and has a better camera than the 6. The only downside is the size of the phone which is considerably smaller than any iPhone currently available for purchase. So if you have larger fingers or… Read more

are on the older side of things and your eyesight is not as good as it used to be, then I suggest a newer model.

This iPhone SE is perfect the cameras got high is high and brilliant and the IOS is high, and thebSE – The apps run extremely fast and so do the games where the primary single usage or online multiplayer also you can download and update the apps at appstore. I like the size of the iPhone SE it's a nice manageable size and you can make the internal storage high or low... Well done apple well done. Download the game 8ball pool it's a fun and fast played pool game, and the graphics and sound are outstanding  Show details

small, cheap, but it's a iOS – The phone is working smoothly in 2018, with iOS 10, 11 and 12. The durability is, however, limited. My screen has some pressure mark on the left corner. I went to Apple Brisbane for a check, they said it might be eligible for a free replacement. But finally they called me to pay for A$385 because the water mark is red. It's probably caused by… Read more

rain drops or sweat when I ride a bike. So I took the phone as it is without repairing.

Any way I was a bit disappointed.

But for $449, I am happy to say it worth the money.

It's somewhere between OK and good.

Love this phone – This phone is fantastic - love that it is small but still fairly new. I don’t like the bigger phones and I loved my old iPhone 4. iPhone SE is the size of iPhone 5. Fits well in pocket and tucks in car pockets etc. Screen is good if you turn it but I’m happy with portrait view. Easy to buy online and delivered soon. Cheap and outright with no plan.  Show details

Great phone, love the size and the speed – Have owned the se for about 2 years, and have loved it. Great camera, good speed, the Touch ID is a fantastic addition. Durability has been really good with this phone also.. I don’t use a protecting cover and it has all but a few scratches. Given it’s constantly floating around in my handbag this is a pretty good indication of its strength  Show details

This phone came out in 2016 so it’s a 2 year phone not 3 you fool – For those who said they have own this phone for 3 years ....... correction needed ...... this phone came out in March 2016 so it’s 2 and half years and counting up to this point of time Basically it’s an iPhone 6s in an iPhone 5/5s body minus the 3D Touch and is the most bang for your buck iPhone to date Out of all phones I’ve used I would say… Read more

this and iPhone 6s are the most bang for bucks iPhones today and most bang for bucks phones right now are Oneplus phones and google pixel original

Battery easily last a full day and make sure you don’t update to iOS 11 and you’ll be just fine .......

basically does everything I want a smartphone to do ....... what else can you ask more ??

Durable – The phone is very good. I had it for over 3 years now. It is not glitchy. It is also the perfect size since it is not too small or big. The camera reseloution is just amazing. The only bad thing is throughout time the battery drains faster. It can last you about 4 hours if you are using it non stop  Show details

Great value – You can get these phones for 200 on ebay now which is pretty awesome since they're only 3 years old. They are as fast as a 6s so they do fine, not laggy at all. I got a huge case on mine and it's still smaller than most of the new phones.  Show details

Best mix of value and features – I am still very happy with this but its probably where I get off the iPhone train. The SE has the balance of features, screen, camera and size that I want but there's no way I am paying the prices for the newly release iphones. Its still just an object in your pocket that you can drop or forget. The SE is "it" for me  Show details

Light and powerful – Camera takes clear shots without fuss, can easily capture moments and events. The display is bright and clear, although the smaller screen means you need to manipulate the entire image. I keep apps for banks on the phone so I can track spending and like social media and taking photos so this is a handy model.  Show details

Probably won't buy an iphone again – Honestly this isnt a review of just the SE, but every apple iphone I have owned seem to have similar issues. Though i like the small size and the sleek design, the actual tech just isnt great. Phone performs great for the first few months then performance just dramatically decreases over time. Constantly experiences freezes, black screens, and not to mention the battery life just cannot last the whole day.  Show details

Great iPhone – This is an excellent iPhone. My husband really enjoys his, and everything is great about this phone. Not only is it cheap, the performance is well higher than other budget phones. Apple has a really good way of incorporating so many good qualities of a phone into a small compact device. It"s amazing!  Show details

Small and smart – This phone has great functionality. I particularly like the email settings which let me access all my email accounts from the one place and easily reply from whichever email address is most appropriate. Security is easy with my thumbprint on the home button being all that's needed to open the phone usually. Apps are easy to download from itunes… Read more

and to organise onto different pages and folders. The only problem is sometimes people tell me that they find it hard to hear me when they call me. I have taken to holding the phone horizontally so I can speak directly into the speaker in the bottom, which is fine when I'm at home and can put the caller onto the speaker but won't work when I'm out. I'm going to change the case to see if it makes it any better. If that doesn't work, I'll take it into the Apple store and ask them to look at it.