*The article is shared by writer Filipe Espósito from the site 9to5mac
Every year, Apple releases a new iPhone with a better camera and processor. At the same time, older iPhone models will still receive iOS updates, which will greatly help those who are afraid to upgrade to a newer iPhone.
But how can old iPhones still run the latest iOS versions smoothly? Well I tested the first generation iPhone SE running iOS 15 and it still works surprisingly well.
I decided to write this post after seeing a tweet comparing the iPhone 6s to the Samsung Galaxy S6. Both flagship phones were released in 2015. But while the iPhone 6s then ran iOS 9 and can still run iOS 15, the Galaxy S6 was launched running Android 5 and is no longer available. update after upgrading to Android 7.
Some might argue that while the iPhone 6s will still receive iOS updates, their performance will be affected by the latest software. So I wanted to see for myself if these old iPhones would still be in good use in 2022.
I don’t have an iPhone 6s, but I do have a first-generation iPhone SE. Many people may not remember, but the first iPhone SE launched in early 2016 as a cheaper iPhone alternative to high-end models. It has the same design and 4-inch screen as the iPhone 5s but uses Apple A9 chip and 12MP camera, supports 4K video recording like iPhone 6s.
First-generation iPhone SE and iOS 15
I won’t discuss the iPhone SE design here because the purpose of the article is to discuss how it works with iOS 15. At the time of the iPhone SE launch, Apple did not have an iPhone with an edge-to-edge design and screen size is more than 5.5 inches.
Although Apple has always claimed the iPhone SE is a “special edition” for people who like small phones, it is clearly oriented as an iPhone with a more affordable and attractive price.
I’m surprised that the first generation iPhone SE still runs pretty well even after updating to the latest iOS 15.
When using it for basic tasks like surfing the web, listening to music or opening social networking apps, it was hard to notice apps lagging or unresponsive. But of course, the low profile of this old iPhone makes the opening time of some applications a bit slower when compared to newer iPhone models. But of course it’s not the same as using an iPhone 3G running iOS 4 with an iPhone 4 running iOS 7.
Not to mention, even though it still supports the latest iOS 15 update, the iPhone SE still has to accept the fact that it cannot use some features that are only available to the latest iPhone models.
iPhone SE will still have Focus Mode, redesigned notifications, improved search results from Spotlight, new Emoji icons, and improved privacy and security after updating to iOS 15.
You can also download and install most of the apps available on the App Store. Most of these apps run fine with the A9 chip. However, there are still some hiccups in multitasking because the first generation iPhone SE only had 2GB of RAM. But the average user may not realize this deficiency. It’s a pity that a feature like Live Text that requires more computing power is not supported on the iPhone SE.
Batteries are also an issue when it comes to older phones, but they can completely replace the battery with a new one to improve the life of the device.
The point is that you shouldn’t buy a 2016 iPhone SE in 2022. But if you’ve owned this iPhone since its launch and it still works and serves basic purposes well, I’m sure Sure, it’s worth the price you paid more than 5 years ago.
Going back to the first iPhone SE running iOS 15. It really demonstrated the importance and reason why the iPhone SE still has a place in Apple’s product line. Despite its old design, the iPhone SE has a lot going for it, enough to provide users who just want a phone that’s reliable, beautifully designed, and has an affordable price tag.
Thanks to Apple Silicon and iOS optimization efficiency, users can comfortably use iPhone SE for many more years without worry.
Refer to 9to5mac