I upgraded only because the speakers on my 12 Mini were failing making it nearly impossible to have a phone call.
(1) This phone is too big, heavy, and slippery and uneasy to grasp with one hand.
(2) The camera bump is ridiculously large. It’s laughable how much it rocks on the counter as you type on it. Not in a good way.
(3) The Camera button is in the worst place (accidentally clicking it constantly) and too confusing so I disabled it forever.
(4) I also disabled the action button. This seems too easy to disable silent mode which I have enabled 99.9% of the time.
(5) The screen is noticeably worse and has a blue cast. It’s not as sharp and the contrast is dull.
(6) I love the material used on the back, even though it makes it difficult to hold.
I fully understand the hardware is significantly more advanced but the iPhone 16 genuinely feels like a downgrade from the iPhone 12 Mini. I’m not happy at all.
I’m going to stop by the Apple Store this weekend and look at getting the SE.
Update:
After a couple weeks, I can confirm that I still hate how gigantic this phone is. I had to get a case so that I can use it laid flat. It’s like packing a laptop in my front pocket so I either put it in my back pocket or carry a bag. It STILL wobbles.
I have to use two hands to do most things. Shockingly, web sites and apps still don’t properly fit on the screen. The camera is just ok. Speakers are pretty good. I have no use for Apple AI other than the occasional image edit (which other apps do).
I’ve replaced the shitty Apple camera app with Halide. I access this from Control Center. I swipe left from the home screen to access the default video camera. I found a cool trick to utilize the Action button - use it to access a menu built in Shortcuts (basically mimicking Control Center). I would one thousand percent prefer to get rid of the camera button entirely.
I guess I’ve adjusted to the screen though it still seems too blue to me.
I really can’t think of one reason anyone would choose to upgrade to this phone.
This phone would be perfect if (1) Apple shifted more of the weight towards the bottom, (2) removed one camera, (3) recessed the camera entirely, (4) made the back from smooth (sticky) glass that wasn’t nano-textured, (5) reduced the height and width dimensions by 10mm, (6) got rid of the camera button.
- New SE is in the spring.
- Camera bump: look at a small case, there are a couple that allow you to place it flat. And the case can solve the grip problems too.
- Action button: then have it do something else. Mine turns on the flashlight on if I press it once, takes a screenshot and offers to send it to a list of friends, if I press twice.
- Screen: look at color filters in the Accessibility settings. you can change it some. But it should be exceedingly close (476 vs 460). Might you be running a matte screen protector by any chance?
I don’t want buttons to do anything. In previous generations, the volume up and down buttons were somewhat useful and the power button would just turn the screen on and off. Now these buttons are open in apps, taking pictures, turning on lights, doing things. In your pocket. I’m very happy they’ve added the option to disable them entirely. I’d be happier if it were the old toggle mute button which made sense.
I have owned an iPhone since the very first one. Never have I used a case. I should not need to purchase an accessory to use my phone. The option should be to add things to the phone to increase functionality, not to resolve a bug.
No color filters. No screen protector. It’s brand new out of the box. It’s blue. Honestly, I’m shocked this hasn’t been reported. Maybe I got a dud.
If it’s that blue, yeah, take it in. Could be a dud. My idea on the color filters was to make it better for you.
There are dozens of us. Dozens! I think I may buy it just so I can finally stop thinking about it…
The next gen SE will be virtually exactly as large—which is too large—so there seems to be no getting around it. I mostly don’t care about the newer features, so for me it comes down to patience & price, and frankly I have the money to blow and would like to stop thinking about it.
Hopefully it will be my last iPhone, because I’d like to escape both the Apple & Google platforms for something FOSSy.
Your comments on the display are surprising, because I’ve not seen anyone else say the screen looks dull on the newer iPhones
If you’re still looking for an upgrade (because the SE will be a significant downgrade even from the 12 mini), the 13 mini is basically the same as the 12 mini, but with a bit better battery life and slightly improved marketing. it’s also possible they will have a 13 mini in stock as a refurbished model
You should get a Fairphone or a Pixel and install GrapheneOS on it. It would be cheaper than your current option, and provide you much more software freedom, including system wide ad blocking, Firefox with uBlock Origin, LibreTube, the ability to run AI models offline with more than 4GB RAM, the ability to run custom launchers, home apps and SMS apps, and ability to install apps without logging into a megacorporation.
It would be cheaper than your current option, and provide you much more software freedom, including system wide ad blocking, Firefox with uBlock Origin, LibreTube, the ability to run AI models offline with more than 4GB RAM, the ability to run custom launchers, home apps and SMS apps, and ability to install apps without logging into a megacorporation.
What if you don’t care about any of those?
Then run Android in case you care about any of those in the future, to prevent lock in. Unless there is something specific that iOS does better than Android, of course, but to my knowledge there is none.
