6 reasons you should buy an iPhone SE instead of any of the fancy new iPhones

Technology

4. At 4 inches, the iPhone SE is a normally sized phone.

The new iPhone X is a massive hunk of glass, metal, and silicon. We're talking about a phone that comes in a single size — nearly six inches tall and three inches wide.

The iPhone SE, by comparison, seems tiny. Here's the thing: It isn't. The iPhone SE seems tiny only by comparison, as we've all gotten used to smartphones getting bizarrely larger every year. Some folks love this embiggening, choosing to purchase "Plus" versions of the iPhone. I am not one of those people, and you may be like me. If that's the case, the "small" iPhone SE is right up your alley.

BONUS: The iPhone SE easily fits into, say, a small clutch, while many of the hulking "Plus" models of iPhone won't. Something to consider!

3. It's got a killer camera, on par with any other iPhone and all major Android phones.

Don't worry: Everything from 4K video to HDR photos is built into the iPhone SE. And yes, you can do Live Photos on the iPhone SE just like you would on any other recent iPhone.

Most importantly, though, you can easily snap crisp, beautifully detailed photos using the iPhone SE's 12-megapixel rear camera. Like the A9 chip at the heart of the iPhone SE, the same camera from the iPhone 6S is built into the iPhone SE.

2. The iPhone SE is shockingly powerful.

The chip that powers the iPhone SE also powers the iPhone 6S and the most recent iPad. It's called the Apple A9, and it's more horsepower than you need in a smartphone — Apple calls it "the most powerful 4‑inch phone ever," specifically due to that chip.

More than just a zippy device, the A9 powers 4K video recording, high-definition games, and pretty much everything else you want to do with your iPhone. Most importantly, the A9 makes the iPhone SE feel like a modern phone in terms of everyday use.

1. The iPhone SE is remarkably affordable at just $350 to start.

Assuredly, millions of people will excitedly plunk down a full stack for the iPhone X. It's more than just a phone — it's a status symbol. I get it. It's a much more affordable version of a Ferrari. Fine. But I'm a Honda Civic kinda guy.

I want something affordable, powerful enough, and long-lasting. I'm not trying to impress anyone, nor am I the kind of person who lives on the bleeding edge of tech gadgets. That's why I was excited to see that, alongside the announcement of the iPhone X, Apple quietly made the iPhone SE $50 less expensive.

At $350 to start, with 32 GB of storage and the internals of an iPhone 6S, the iPhone SE is the perfect Honda Civic of smartphones.