The word ‘affordable’ is one you wouldn’t commonly associate with the iPhone line. However, Apple’s press release announcing the new iPhone SE hails it as the “most affordable iPhone”, adding that it comes with “the powerful A15 Bionic, 5G [and] better battery life”.
All of this is in comparison to the previous iPhone SE model released in 2020. So, if you are looking to buy a new smartphone for corporate purposes and are understandably cost-conscious, should you opt for the new SE? Alas, it’s not quite the most straightforward question to answer.
Corporate pedigree
Indeed it does. Before the 2022 model’s arrival in March, TechRadar cited the 2020 version as one of the best business smartphones on the market. The site said that this particular iPhone “won’t break the bank”, though acknowledged that it was “not exactly a powerhouse in all departments”.
The 2022 SE is certainly much more of a powerhouse, as it is powered by the A15 Bionic processor — the same chip used in Apple’s current flagship iPhone, the iPhone 13 lineup. Still, is this likely to make a meaningful difference in day-to-day usage?
In an opinion piece published by Notebookcheck, Sam Medley observes: “Even on my iPhone 8, apps open instantaneously. If I have to wait for something to load, it is almost always due to slow Wi-Fi speeds or a congested network. A faster chip won’t necessarily solve this problem.”
5G connectivity
It’s true to say that the 2022 SE is the first with support for 5G networks. This alone could be sufficient incentive for many business people to buy the new phone — especially if, when on the move, they are often engaged in heavy-duty work reliant on a speedy mobile connection.
Still, there could be a little practical point in you boarding the 5G ship just yet if there is relatively little, if any, 5G coverage in the particular geographic areas where you anticipate traveling in a work capacity. For now, 4G could actually provide more of the reliable coverage you need.
For corporate travelers in the UK, the Gamma Mobile service offers VoLTE. Otherwise known as ‘Voice over 4G’, this enables customers to make and receive calls and texts over 4G. Nonetheless, 5G access is available with the same service, allowing for even greater data speeds.
Should you actually buy the new iPhone SE?
The answer could depend very strongly on the nature of the work you undertake. For example, if this work involves a lot of photography, you could take comfort from the fact that, due to the inclusion of the A15 Bionic chip, the new SE has advanced camera capabilities you may have thought reserved for the iPhone 13 range.
If you already have a business smartphone, it might still suffice for your current needs — even if it isn’t a 5G-ready model. However, if you need to buy a new business smartphone in any case, the new SE could serve you well for years to come.