PSA: iPhone 6, 6s, 7 and 8 Users’ Guide To Upgrading To iPhone SE 2nd Generation

Image via Apple 

Today is the day that the 2nd generation iPhone SE is released. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, customers can not line up at their local Apple Stores to pick up their iPhones but if they preordered it online, then their iPhone SEs should come today with the no-contact delivery from the Apple Online Store. The new, small iPhone SE features the same size and 4.7” Retina HD display as the iPhone 8 and 7 models, with a similar design to the iPhone 8 but with all of the 3 colors with a black bezel and in black, white and red.

iPhone users owning older iPhones such as the iPhone 6s, 6, or 7 will find the iPhone SE 2nd generation a considerable upgrade without breaking the bank. The iPhone SE 2nd generation has the Touch ID home button and the bulgy bezels that are the reverse of the current iPhone design, which is not the type of iPhone that an iPhone 11 Pro user would have. Like the iPhone 8 and 7, the home button is solid-state, utilizing the Taptic Engine for haptic feedback from button presses. On the contrary, large iPhone users owning an iPhone 7 Plus, 8 Plus or 6s Plus will not consider upgrading as the screen is the size of standard-sized iPhone 7 and 8 models, at 4.7 inches. At least with its single camera, it can record 4K video and capture images in Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting on the front and rear cameras, without the need for a dual-camera system and a TrueDepth frontal camera. iPhone 6s and SE (1st generation) users should put into consideration that there is no headphone jack on the iPhone SE 2nd generation models, as it shares most of the design and features with the iPhone 8.

The iPhone SE 2nd generation shares a smaller portion of the iPhone 11. The glass back originated from the iPhone 8 design has an iPhone 11-inspired look with a centered Apple logo, without the “iPhone” wordings etched on the glass back. iPhone SE gets the same processing power as the iPhone 11, which is the A13 Bionic. There is fast charging and dual SIM, but please note that the 18W USB-C adapter and USB-C to Lightning cable is not included in the iPhone SE box. iPhone SE 2nd generation models have a water and dust resistance rating of IP67, which can be water-resistant up to a meter of water for half an hour. It is the same water resistance rules to the iPhone 7 and 8, but the iPhone SE gets dust resistance as well.

As the iPhone SE 2nd generation is mainly composed of the iPhone 8’s counterparts, with a few characteristics of the iPhone 11, it is still a budget iPhone at a price from $399. Especially for the original, 2016 iPhone SE users looking forward to the transition to the latest iPhone but without paying a lot, a slightly larger screen and a lot of features from iPhone 8 and 11, it is the ideal iPhone to upgrade from the iPhone 5s, 6, 6s or the iPhone 7. iPhone 8 or 7 users can also reuse the cases on the second-generation SE, as it can fit both sizes. Keep in mind that iPhone 7 and 8 cases with an Apple logo cutout will not look as great on the SE due to the centered Apple logo on the back glass, but all iPhone 7 and 8 cases should fit exactly the same on the SE as well.