Uses for Old iPhones as the Music Player Like the iPods

A most obvious but very effective way of keep using your old iPhone can be this. That is to say, you can use iTunes on your old iPhone and store the music you love there. Your old iPhone will work as an excellent iPod with an additional big touch display. It does not matter if you are using old models like the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, or the iPhone 5S. In any of those old models, you can get all the best features to enjoy amazing songs through wired headphones or AirPods.

Uses for Old iPhones as Apple TV Remote

If you have an Apple TV then you might love your old iPhone as a TV remote. All you will have to do is to use the Apple TV Remote App. You will definitely love this newly improvised remote over your physical TV remote. As there will be enough functionality to help you with your desired action on Apple TV. Moreover, it will offer a smooth keyboard function to search or find anything from the internet.

Though the charge will not last much longer like your actual TV remote. So, you will need to find a suitable place in your drawing room to keep it on the charge. Specially when you are not using that.

Uses for Old iPhones as Car Appliance

Nowadays, it is kind of a trend to mount your phone on the car dashboard. It can help you with the direction by using the MAPS & the GPS. Also, you can use the phone to control the music system in your car. Many times, it can be a hassle to mount and unmount the phone from the car dashboard. Even in times of hurry, you even might forget to pick up your phone.

Your old iPhone can come to your rescue. You can just keep your old iPhone in the car for these purposes only. You will not need to mount or unmount the phone anymore from your car every time.

Uses for the Old iPhones as Your Bike Companion

Similar to the Car, many mount their phones to bikes for the GPS and direction. Also, you can use your old iPhone as the Go-Pro camera on the bike. Though the video quality will not be as premium as the modern age-built super stabilized Go Pro cameras. But if you just don’t want to spend that much money right now, old iPhones can be an option. You can track your movement or distances through various tracking apps used for biking. And the option to use as the music buddy wherever you go is always there anyway.

For the phone or bike applications, you might want to consider getting a data-only SIM. That will allow you to use the up-to-date mapping data and stream the music while you’re on the go. Downloading everything ahead of time on your home Wi-Fi will only get you so far.

Use The Old iPhones as Your Home or Kitchen Companion

You can use your phone for controlling your home appliances as well. The latest electronics have these remote controlling abilities using Wi-Fi connections. You can use your old iPhones for this purpose dedicatedly. Also, you can use Siri’s simple alarm-setting capabilities and other basic activities like calculators or reminders for your favorite shows and events.

Also, you might wish to use a phone for recipes or to watch a cooking tutorial video on the internet. For that reason, you might wish to use a phone in the kitchen. By using your old iPhone in the kitchen for these purposes, you can be less stressed about the danger of your phone. Also, you can use the old iPhone as the music buddy in the kitchen anyway.

Can Be Used as Kid’s Entertainment Device

Here is another interesting way the old iPhones can be used. It does not matter if the model is as old as iPhone 4 or 4S even. You can just add some kids-friendly games and gift it to your kids at home. You should give the phone without a cellular connection. So, all the content you need to preload in the device before. You can even add your favorite cartons or other programs that the kids like to the device. So, the kids can use that device for easy games or cartoon watching.

Sell Or Donate the Old iPhone

As the last option, you can decide to sell your phone or donate it. It is much better than just holding on to a phone that you will never gonna use again for anything. Also, the infatuation with the phone you used for a long will fade away soon and by that time the phone will lose its ability to function in any direction. So, it is better to sell straight after you update to another version rather than wasting a running phone inside a drawer.

Also, there are many other organizations that collect old phones to donate to someone who needs that support. Some organizations collect and sell old phones to collect money for donations too. Below are some of the organizations working in the USA that collects used phones and donates to various noble causes. You can check the details of their activities by clicking on their website links below –

• Secure The Call – Recycling cellphones for a safer community
• Cellphones for Soldiers – Give Hero a Lifeline
• NCADV – Donate a Phone

Release Date of iPhone 7 & 7 Plus

Both the iPhone 7 & the 7 Plus were announced on September 7, 2016, in San Francisco by Apple CEO Tim Cook. Both the iPhone 7 & 7 Plus were released on September 16, 2016, as the 10th generation flagship device in the iPhone series. Apple released these together in numerous countries worldwide throughout September and October 2016.

One year later they were succeeded by the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus on September 22, 2017. And finally, iPhone 7 & 7 plus was discontinued on September 10, 2019.

Display And Design of iPhone 7 Series

Apple is using a display in the iPhone 7 that’s 25 percent brighter than the display in the iPhone 6s. So it’s going to look brighter and clearer outdoors, especially in full sunlight. The display is also using a cinema-standard wide color gamut and end-to-end color management, for more vivid, saturated colors.

Apple has used a 4.7″ Retina HD display. And for iPhone 7 plus a bit bigger size 5.5″ Retina HD display. Resolution is 1334X750 & 1920X1080 respectively for iPhone 7 & the iPhone 7 plus.

Apple is proud of the bold move of removing the audio jack. But in pretty much every other aspect they’ve seemingly taken the conservative route. On the outside, the new iPhone looks basically the same as the iPhone 6/6s.

Another new feature found on the iPhone 7 would be IP67 certification. This protects the device against dust and water (limited protection). You can let your iPhone fall into the toilet or bathtub without having it drown. Another fact that the mechanized Home button is not there anymore. Rather it is a digitized version that delivers haptic feedback at different levels of sensitivity.

The overall design of the iPhone 7 is actually very impressive when you consider the changes that have taken place. The waterproofing always adds thickness, as the seals will need some space within the device.

The new dual speakers, which fire out of the earpiece and the bottom of the phone took space too, which starts to explain why the iPhone 7 is 7.1mm thick, the same as the iPhone 6S, and 0.2mm more than the iPhone 6.

Also to give space for the dual speakers and the other slight changes iPhone 7 is 7.1mm thick. The same as the iPhone 6S, and 0.2mm more than the iPhone 6.

Performance & Capability of iPhone 7 Series

Apple improves the processor in each iteration of the iPhone. In the iPhone 7, Apple added some impressive features for the best chip performance for that time. The A10 Fusion chipset has a four-core CPU (the first in an iOS device). It combines power and efficiency in a unique way. It is “incredibly thin” and was made on TSMC’s 16 nm FinFET+ process.

There are two high-performance cores in the iPhone 7 series. These are 40 percent faster than the A9 chip in the iPhone 6s. Even twice as fast as the A8 chip in the iPhone 6. There are also two high-efficiency cores that run at 1/5th of the speed of the high-performance cores. These preserve battery when doing tasks that aren’t system intensive.

An Apple-designed performance controller switches between the two core systems. It makes sure the correct processes are running for maximum performance and maximum battery. When doing something that requires a more powerful CPU, such as gaming, the high-power cores run. When something doesn’t require a lot of power, the high-efficiency cores get turned on to draw less power. So activities like sending a message or an email would consume very less power.

Along with the four-core CPU, the iPhone 7 features a six-core graphics chip. It is 60 percent faster than the A9 and three times faster than the A8. At the same time, it draws one-third less power than the A9 and half as much power as the A8.

There is an embedded M10 motion coprocessor in the A10 Fusion chip. It captures motion-based data from the compass, accelerometer, and gyroscope to power Apple’s health and fitness capabilities without significant power drain.

RAM of iPhone 7 & 7 plus

Due to the increased demands of a dual-camera system and the software necessary to process images, Apple has equipped the iPhone 7 Plus with 3GB RAM.

The iPhone 7, which uses only a single-lens camera, continues to have 2GB RAM like the iPhone 6s.

The camera of iPhone 7 & 7 plus

The iPhone 7 includes a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera with a quad-LED “True Tone” flash. It has a wide aperture of f/1.8. Also, the standard-size iPhone 7 model adds optical image stabilization – a feature that was previously exclusive to Plus models.

The iPhone 7 Plus includes a second 12-megapixel telephoto lens, which can be used to achieve 2× optical zoom, and up to 10× digital zoom. However, the telephoto camera lacks optical image stabilization.

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus record video with single-channel mono audio. Still, photos with 6.5 megapixels (3412×1920) can be captured during video recording. The front-facing camera was upgraded to a 7-megapixel sensor with automatic image stabilization. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus were the first iPhones to be able to record 1080p video using the front camera.

You can check some of the amazing photography by this iPhone 7 series in this link

Battery Life Of iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus Compared In 2022

As always Apple releases a bigger version for each model with a bigger display and battery. The iPhone 7 Plus has a bigger battery than the iPhone 7. The iPhone 7 Plus has a 2900 mAh battery while the iPhone 7 offers a 1960 mAh battery capacity. The larger display and higher resolution of the Plus do eat up some of the advantages. But it still lasts substantially longer. You can see the comparison clearly from the below chart. By checking the below specs you can decide if the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus is worth buying in 2022.

Key features of the iPhone 7 Series

• Water-proof metal unibody with redesigned, less-obtrusive antenna strips
• 4.7″ 16M-color LED-backlit IPS LCD of 750 x 1334px resolution, 326ppi, wide color gamut, 3D Touch tech
• Pressure-sensitive Home key powered by a brand new Taptic Engine
• Quad-core (2+2) 64-bit Apple CPU, Hexa-core GPU, 2GB of RAM, Apple A10 Fusion SoC
• 12MP F/1.8 camera with a quad-LED flash, optical image stabilization, phase detection autofocus, wide color capture, 2160p@30fps video recording
• 7MP F/2.2 front-facing camera with BSI sensor and HDR mode, 1080p@30fps video
• Comes in 32, 128, and 256GB of built-in storage
• Second-gen Touch ID fingerprint sensor
• 4G LTE Cat.12 (600Mbps); Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth 4.2; Lightning port; GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS; NFC (Apple Pay only)
• 1,960mAh battery

Main Shortcomings of iPhone 7 Series! What are Common Problems With iPhone 7 Plus?

• There is no 3.5mm audio jack (ships with a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter)
• microSD slot is not there as all the other iPhones
• NFC functionality limited to Apple Pay
• Still no fast or wireless charging, no IR port or FM radio
• No user-replaceable battery
• Scratch-prone Jet Black model
• Screen resolution, not flagship-grade

iPhone 7 FAQ: What Else Should I Know?

You may have even more questions about the iPhone 7 before taking the final decisions. So we have gathered a few –

Is the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus a good phone for 2022?

It still offers good features like water resistance, a quad-core processor, and a decent starting storage capacity. The overall performance will do the needful at least till 2022 without any difficulties.

When will iPhone 7 be Obsolete? How Long will iPhone 7 Plus be Supported?

The straight answer would be – No!

Apple traditionally offers support for older models for 5 years but is extending that now to 6 years. The latest iOS 15.4.1 still works on models as old as the iPhone 6S, so the iPhone 7 is far from obsolete. When will iPhone 7 stop updating? That said, Apple will continue support for the iPhone 7 through at least the Fall of 2022, which means users can invest in it as both the iPhone 7 & 7 Plus is worth buying in 2022. iPhone 7 in 2022 will not be such a bad idea if you feel confident as long as Apple keep supporting the phone.

Is the iPhone 7 Series battery life good?

The batteries for both models are impressive: the iPhone 7 had a 1960 mAh battery, while the 7 Plus had a 2900 mAh battery. According to Apple, the greater size was meant to increase the 7’s charge time by two hours from the 6s.

Though the iPhone 7 barely makes it out a whole with medium use. But the iPhone 7 Plus will easily make out the whole day with medium usage. Both iPhone 7 & 7 Plus is worth buying in 2022 if you consider the battery capacity.

Does iPhone 7 break easily?

With the iPhone 7, it is water-resistant, but if you drop it, it can break or crack. Most reports state that it can survive short drops, like when it falls from your hand into the floor or off the table/counter onto the floor. It can survive falls to carpeted floors, vinyl floors, even wood floors. However, there is the inner and outer screen, so if you do drop it and see signs of damage, you need to be careful. Damage to the outer screen won’t interfere with benefits like water resistance, but if you damage the inner screen, it won’t be water-resistant anymore and you will need to get the screen replaced. 

Is the iPhone 7 better than 6S?

The iPhone 7 has better features than the 6s, like the longer battery life of about 2 hours. Better chipset and the quad-core processor makes the iPhone 7 a much better phone than iPhone 6S. But you will find less difference is outside and the performance gap is not that that visible to understand in general use.

Is the iPhone 7 waterproof?

It is water-resistant. Now, most people assume that means waterproof, and if, for example, you are texting in the rain for a minute, it’s safe to assume the phone will still work just fine. But tests for waterproofing mean that splashes, water, and dust won’t bother the phone and if you drop it in the sink or in the lake, it can survive being submerged 3 feet deep for up to 30 minutes. Obviously, don’t leave your phone in the water if you can help it, and if it goes overboard, catch it before it sinks too far down. 

Is iPhone 7 or 7 Plus better?

That really comes down to what features you like best. If, for example, you want a camera for its camera experience, then the iPhone 7 Plus is better because it has the dual-camera system that is faster than previous models and more energy efficient. If you aren’t as worried about that, and prefer the ease of use, storage, and lower cost, then the iPhone 7 is just fine. 

How much does the iPhone 7 cost?

Since Apple doesn’t sell these models anymore, there are various stocks with different suppliers. You can get the 32 GB variety at around $200, and the 128GB version at around $250. The 7 Plus starts at around $250 for 32GB and around $300 for 128GB. But you can always get used phones at much cheaper rates.

Is iPhone 7 Plus Worth Buying In 2022?

In one word both the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus is worth buying in 2022 if you can crack a good deal. But the worthiness much depends on the purpose of you. If you wish to have a regular phone for your everyday work and to be that occasional heavy user then iPhone 7 series cracks you the best deal.

Since this series is almost 4 years old there are quite a lot of used phone stock is available in various online stores. Also, many offering excellent offers for even new copies of this model. If you want to start using an iPhone with a minimum amount spent then the iPhone 7 series can be your best choice. This phone was an amazing release with quite a lot of excellent features which are still being used in the latest iPhones.

This old flagship can still amaze you with its speed and camera performance. Though the outcomes are in no way comparable with the latest releases of the iPhones. And you have to tolerate the thick bezels and other shortcomings like the slow charging, missing the wireless charging features, and many other latest tech advancements which you can get on the majority of 2022 phones.

But as there are other competitive models like the iPhone SE (2020) and the refurbished or renewed version of the models like iPhone 8 or iPhone XS or iPhone XR will be available in the market, it would be a hard choice to select buying an iPhone 7 series.

So, for the existing users or recommendation is, “Keep using your iPhone 7 or 7 plus till 2022 without any performance issue.” And for those who are interested in buying a new iPhone 7 series in 2022 or in the later 2022, we recommend, “Look out for the price difference of the later models of iPhones and then decide if you are really securing the best deal or not. If the price is not much attractive then it might be better to go for the later version of iPhones with more value for money options.”

What Apple Said About The S On the iPhones

After releasing the iPhone 3G, Apple released the sequel iPhone 3GS. People asked about the meaning of that S. As of October 2011 when this was first asked, there was no official answer to that question. But after releasing the iPhone 3GS, Apple officially stated, “the S is for speed.”

The same question arose after releasing the iPhone 4S. However, in an interview at the All Things D Conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook said, “some people might say it stands for Siri or speed. We were thinking of Siri when we did it.” So the official answer from Apple is that the S in iPhone 4S stands for Siri.

After that, there were the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 6S series. But Apple never confirmed anything specific for these models. So what is the meaning of S on the iPhone 6S can not be confirmed. But there are many theories based on the guess of the mass.

Like for the iPhone 5S, fans say the “S” is for “Security“. As there was added security by the inclusion of the touch ID.

What is the Meaning Of S On The iPhone 6S Or 6S Plus

As we said there are no concrete answers from Apple. So, all the possible answers are the guess by the fans or the media.

Some say the “S” always stands for “Successor“. Like the iPhone 6S makes great improvements from the iPhone 6 in many aspects. But the design was the same. Since it doesn’t have a new design, Apple didn’t really call it the iPhone 7. Rather named it by adding one S after the iPhone 6.

Since the “S” in the iPhone 6s is still largely debated. Many believe the meaning of the S on the iPhone 6S or 6S plus stands for Sensitivity. As there was this inclusion of the 3D Touch feature for the first time.

For many, it is just an added symbol to show that this model has improvements (Superiority) upon its predecessor, but is not altogether different. So, for them, S stands for Superiority. Though that does not change anything or does not help humanity, at least now many can sleep in peace after knowing what is the meaning of S on the iPhone 6S or 6S Plus.

Why Need Apple Support For iPhones

First, we need to understand what is Apple’s support for the iPhones. Let’s check how they help the users or how much it is important. All the iPhone users might have noticed Apple release iOS updates every now and then for each of the models. There are quite a few reasons for these updates.

Bug Fixes

After each iOS upgrade, there are some minor bugs are found. Thousands of Beta users and Apple experts keep checking and trying to solve those bugs. Some bugs cause security issues, some might cause a disturbance in some specific features or functions. Apple identifies them and solves them in the next iOS update.

New Features

Sometimes Apple adds some features to help out users in some specific cases. They add some new features and publish a new update with the bug fixes. For example, Apple is releasing an alternative option for the users of the latest models of iPhones who are facing difficulties with the Face ID feature.

Performance Upgrade

Some iOS updates are for some tweaks with the process management to improve the performance. Some updates help with battery efficiency, some with the camera or other functions’ performance.

Major iOS Upgrade

This brings the major change in the interface, performance, bug fixing, features, and many more. The last major iOS release is iOS 15.1. Minor updates are identified by adding some dots and numbers like the iOS 15.1 (which is the latest beta release for the iPhone 6S series).

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Will iPhone 6S Still Work in 2022

Since we know what the apple support means for iPhone 6S Plus. Now it is time to check how long will iPhone 6s be supported and how long the iPhone 6S Plus will be supported by Apple. As we mentioned, iPhone 6S was released in 2015 with the iOS 9, to begin with. Before that, all the models of the iPhone received at least 5 major updates. So, it is expected that iPhone 6S & the 6S plus will receive apple support till iOS 14. But interestingly, iPhone 6S & 6S Plus is supporting iOS 15 as well. That means your iPhone 6S series phones are supported till 2022 until the iOS 16 is released in September 2022. So the question is when will Apple stop supporting iPhone 6s plus.

How Long the iPhone 6S Plus Will Be Supported For Use

Considering the previous history of all the models of the iPhone, iPhone 6S should still be worthy through the whole of 2022. If you check you will find the iPhone 6S is still performing just fine. Though Apple support is stopped in 2018 still the phone is just doing fine. But if you consider it with the latest 2022 phones, you might expect more features that are definitely missing in iPhone 6S which was released in 2013.

Considering the hardware and the superior built quality of the iPhone 6S (released in 2015), the phone will keep performing whole through 2022 without any struggle. But it would be an injustice if someone still expects all the features of 2022 phones to be still there in iPhone 6S Plus. Still, many strong games and heavy apps will support iPhone 6S series with the latest iOS 15. But the restrain would be the 2 GB RAM that is preinstalled. The majority of the latest high graphics-based games will leave out the old phones like the iPhone 6S or 6S plus.

Finally, if we consider all the facts together, it is expected that iPhone 6S & 6S plus will be supported by Apple until 2022. And as a regular phone, you can keep using the phone for much longer even if Apple stops supporting iPhone 6S series. But not sure if you can keep the phone secured from any physical damage for so long. Good luck to those who are still using the iPhone 6S series in 2022 and have the plan of continuing.

iPhone SE (2nd Generation) Or iPhone SE 2020 Or iPhone SE 2

Apple named this model also as iPhone SE too as the old model. If required they compared this model as the new iPhone SE vs the old iPhone SE. But some forums and tech websites are very adamant to use the name iPhone SE 2020. Some even used iPhone SE 2. Whatever the name, the phone is released in 2020 and the model is the successor to the old iPhone SE without any doubt. Apple is recommending this phone as an update even over the iPhone 8 or 8 plus. So, you already can guess the exciting features of this phone. We will share the interesting facts of iPhone SE 2020 in detail.

Compact Design And Color

Though the old iPhone SE was with just 4″ display and was in the same dimension of iPhone 5S. The new iPhone SE took a similar dimension of the iPhone 7 or iPhone 8. The front panel consists of a 4.7″ display that was a bit unexpected for recent phones. But what made a big surprise is the thick bezels on the top and bottom of the display. Right from the 2016 smartphones brought into 2020 by iPhone SE. This is considered as a big set back by many.

The top & bottom bezel is identical to iPhone 8. The top bezel features a cut out for the front camera, speaker, and the light sensor. Home button integrated with second-generation Touch ID covered in the sapphire crystal is added in the bottom bezel. It’s all-glass body like the iPhone 8 used a seven-layer ink process to give that rich depth of color. A matching aluminum band holds together the glass display with the glass body. The look and the feel are so compact that they will please you instantly. Colors available for now are White, Black and the Product (Red)

The back panel of the iPhone SE has a single-lens rear camera, a secondary microphone, and a single LED flash. The right side of the phone has the sleep/wake up button. And on the left side, there is this regular mute switch and the volume buttons. At the bottom, there is the lightning port and the speaker holes. No audio jack as the recent phones and you have to rely on lightning or Bluetooth headphones.

Interesting Facts Of iPhone SE 2020 Dimensions & The Weight

Though It is one of the smallest of recent iPhones, but still much larger than the old iPhone SE. The new iPhone SE shares a design similar to the iPhone 8. Even the cases designed for the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 8 will work for the new iPhone SE. The new iPhone SE dimensions are as below –

• Length 138.4mm (5.45 inches)
• Width 67.3mm. (2.65 inches)
• Thickness 7.3mm (0.29 inches)

The Weight of the new iPhone SE is only 148 g (5.22 oz) which is the same as the old iPhone 8. Even with its specs similar to the iPhone 11 to weight the same as the old iPhone 8 is really amazing. Those who don’t like to feel the weight on the pocket would definitely love this lighter weight phone with heavy performance.

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Interesting Facts Of iPhone SE 2020 Display

As we described, the new iPhone SE is identical to the iPhone 8 because of its dimensions and the 4.7-inch display with thick bezels at the top and bottom. This same structure actually saved a lot of manufacturing costs for Apple. That might have helped with the price of this 1st ever budget iPhone.

Retina IPS LCD Display, 16M colors

Though the expectation was a bit higher for the resolution it’s 4.7″ Retina IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen. But the resolution is 750 x 1334 pixels with a 16:9 ratio. Which is equivalent to 720p whereas expectation was for 1080p view.

Still, iPhone SE can play HDR10 and Dolby Vision content. Though it does not have an HDR-ready display. But it can down-convert the HDR content to fit the display while still having some enhancements to dynamic range, contrast, and wide color gamut compared to standard content.

True Tone

But the good thing is Apple doesn’t frustrate. The iPhone SE does support the feature True Tone. This feature can detect the lighting ambient in the room by using the light sensor. By adjusting the color temperature and the intensity it can match the light for a more natural paper-like viewing experience. That helps to reduce eye strain.

Haptic Touch

Though this new iPhone SE has the dimensions of the iPhone 8. But there are so many features from the high rolling iPhone 11 series. While the iPhone 8 supported 3D Touch, the iPhone SE offers the same Haptic Touch functionality available in the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max.

This Haptic Touch has the functions much like the 3D Touch and for many of the similar tasks. You can access Quick Actions on the Home screen, expand the notification options, activate the flash on the Lock screen, preview the links in Safari, and many more. You can even access extra features in Control Center.

Water and Dust Resistance

The iPhone SE includes the IP67 dust and water resistance rating. That means it is entirely dustproof and able to withstand one meter of water (3.3 feet) for up to 30 minutes.

Interesting Facts Of iPhone SE 2020 A13 Bionic Chip

The biggest selling point of iPhone SE (2nd Generation) is the inclusion of A13 Bionic Chip. The same chip that is used in all the iPhone 11 series phones. This lightning-fast A13 bionic processor is capable of delivering the fastest experience possible. It is much faster than the A11 chip used in iPhone 8 or earlier phones. A13 Bionic chip will also provide you with such exclusive camera experience that can only be possible from flagship phones.

There is an 8-core Neural Engine in the blazing fast A13 Bionic chip. That provides the fastest real-time photo and video analysis capability. A pair of Machine Learning Accelerators allow the CPU to run up to six times faster. And delivers more than 1 trillion operations per second.

The Neural Engine can power the camera system, augmented reality apps, and more. Additionally, there is a new Machine Learning Controller to balance performance and efficiency. That will ensure heavy performance with efficient battery management.

Interesting Facts Of iPhone SE 2020 Camera

Considering Apple’s price strategy, this iPhone SE (2nd Generation) is a low budget phone without any doubt. But the features they mixed up are no way close to cheap. Though for the price they could afford only one camera at the back same as the iPhone 8. But with the A13 Bionic chip, the performance of this camera is very close to the performance of the iPhone 11 series. The only limitation is the resource as iPhone 11 series phones had 3 cameras at back.

Rear Back Camera

At the rear back panel, the 12-megapixel wide-angle camera with f/1.8 aperture has optical image stabilization, wide color capture, and next-generation Smart HDR for improved highlights and shadow details. Apple says with that combination of hardware, it is the best single-camera system ever in an iPhone.

For example, it is possible to take portraits using both the back and front camera on the iPhone SE. You can take a portrait with Portrait Lighting effects and the ability to control the depth of field because of the performance boost by the A13 Bionic chip. The iPhone SE also performs with Smart HDR for bringing out the highlights in faces.

The new iPhone SE can shoot 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. And the 24 frames per second and 30 frames per second are also available options alongside 1080 and 720p shooting modes. Extended dynamic range support is available in the iPhone SE for video up to 30 frames per second. Optical image stabilization is also available in this mood.

Apple’s 2019 flagship iPhones first introduced the feature named QuickTake Video. This feature is also included. So the users are allowed to capture quick videos by holding down on the camera button when in photo mode.

Existing regular modes like slo-mo videos (1080p at 120 or 240 fps) and time-lapse videos are also available on the new iPhone SE.

Front Facing Camera

In the iPhone SE (2nd Generation) it’s 7-megapixel front-facing camera features an f/2.2 aperture. Also with Portrait Mode and Depth Control support system generates the perfect selfie despite the lack of a TrueDepth camera system. To cultivate this feature, Apple uses machine learning and monocular depth estimation with the power of the A13 Bionic chip.

This front-facing camera of the new iPhone SE supports QuickTake. It is the first front-facing camera to offer the feature on any iPhone. Even 1080p HD video can be recorded at 30 frames per second. There are many more features like Retina Flash, auto image stabilization, Burst Mode, Auto HDR, and wide color capture, etc.

iPhone SE Brought Back The Touch ID

Though the latest iPhones are now offering all-glass design with the Face ID detection. But for this budget-oriented model, Apple opted for the home button with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The home button is covered with an impervious sapphire crystal. You can use this button for unlocking your phone, approving the payments or the app purchases in the apple store, filling in the passwords, and for confirming the Apple play transactions.

Though the Touch ID button was brought back to cut down the cost. But it has a very interesting and unexpected benefit considering present situation. Because of COVID 19 situation, many are being ordered to wear face masks in public. You can still easily unlock your new iPhone SE without having to take off your mask at all. Whereas your Face ID won’t work with masks.

Moderate Battery Life Of The iPhone SE 2020

Because of its smaller dimension like the iPhone 8, the battery size is also small and the capacity is the same as the iPhone 8. With this non-removable Li-Ion 1821 mAh battery (6.96 Wh) you can survive through your day you are a sedate user. Considering the general situation, the iPhone SE’s battery lasts for up to 13 hours of video playback, up to eight hours of streaming video playback, and up to 40 hours of audio playback.

But considering its heavy performance ability because of its supreme A13 bionic chipset, there could be so many heavy apps you can use in this device. Hence, that will drain out the battery faster.

Fast Charging

The new iPhone SE supports fast charging. That means you can charge it to 50 percent battery life in just 30 minutes. Fast charging requires a USB-C power adapter that offers at least 18 watts and a 29/30W power adapter from Apple.

The new iPhone SE ships with a standard 5W power adapter and USB-A to Lightning cable. The USB-C power adapter and USB-C to Lightning cable that is needed for fast charging must be purchased separately. That will cost you an extra $49.

Wireless Charging

The iPhone SE has a glass body with a built-in wireless charging coil. It supports Qi-based wireless charging and compatible with any 5W or 7.5W Qi-based wireless charging accessories.

Interesting Facts Of iPhone SE 2020 Connectivity Features

Dual-SIM Support

Considering the need to maintain the work-life balance the new iPhone SE supports Dual-SIM. So you can use both your personal sim and the official sim together on the same phone. For this Dual-SIM functionality, there is one physical nano-SIM slot. For another sim, you have to use the eSIM option.

The eSIM feature is available and becoming popular in many countries around the world. You can get the full list of carriers that support eSIM on the website of Apple.

Dual-SIMs work with select carriers in Austria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, India, Spain, the UK, and the United States.

Bluetooth and WiFi

The iPhone SE supports the latest Bluetooth version 5.0. It offers a much longer range with faster speeds for larger broadcast messages. It also offers better interoperability with all other wireless devices if compared to the previous Bluetooth version 4.2.

This phone also supports WiFi 6 with 2×2 MIMO, aka 802.11ax WiFi. And WiFi 6 is the latest WiFi protocol that lets you download up to 38 percent faster than the previous version WiFi 5 (aka 802.11ac).

Gigabit LTE

The new iPhone SE supports the Gigabit-class LTE with 2×2 MIMO and LAA like the iPhone 11. As the iPhone 11 it also supports the same LTE bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 66, and 71 FDD‑LTE bands and 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, and 48 TD‑LTE bands.

NFC and GPS

NFC with reader mode is included in this phone. And there’s a background tag feature added that allows the iPhone SE to scan NFC tags without the need to open an app first. This phone also supports Express Cards with a power reserve. So, it can be used in the absence of any transit card on public transit. Surprisingly it will continue to function even if the battery is dead.

iPhone SE includes support for GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS location services with the latest version of the applications.

Sensors- No Surprise

There is a Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted) to help you with all the locking and unlocking features. As usual, there are other sensors like the accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, and barometer. It also includes Siri natural language commands and dictation the same as the iPhone 8.

Unboxing

In the box you will get the below accessories with the phone –

• iPhone SE with iOS 13
• EarPods with Lightning Connector
• Lightning to USB Cable
• USB Power Adapter
• Documentation

Release Date And Price Of iPhone SE 2020

This new iPhone SE directly replaced the iPhone 8 series as the 13th generation of the iPhone. Apple announced the release on April 15th. Pre-orders began on April 17, 2020, and the phone was subsequently released on April 24, 2020. Apple launched the iPhone SE in the United States and more than 40 other countries and regions as the start. It released 3 versions for different markets.

A2296 for Global market
A2275 for the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
A2298 for China

The iPhone SE starts with 64GB of storage for $399. But if you upgrade to 128GB of storage it will be $449 and if upgraded to 256GB it will be $549. 

iPhone SE (2nd Generation) customers can also get it for $9.54 a month or $229 with trade-in from Apple.com. AppleCare+ is available for the iPhone SE for $79 or $3.99 a month, and Apple also offers an upgraded $149 plan that adds coverage for theft and loss.

iPhone SE 2020 is The Best iPhone For The Beginners In 2020

Especially for those who still have not started using iPhones, this could be there best choice to start with a budget iPhone. With this budget iPhone of moderate price but extreme performance would definitely make you a fan of iPhones. If you are an Android user and don’t know for sure if you should start using an iPhone you can check the Reasons to Use Apple Phones. And if you are convinced, you can buy this best iPhone for the beginners in 2020.

And if this $399 budget iPhone is still an expense that you can not afford for a new phone, you can choose to buy a 2nd hand or refurbished iPhone 6S or 6S plus that worth your money. You might even get a 2nd hand or refurbished iPhone 6S plus less than $250 dollar.

The iPhone 5S maintained almost the same external design as its predecessor, the iPhone 5. but the iPhone 5S had upgraded the internal hardware significantly. It introduced the A7 64-bit dual-core system-on-chip. And It was the first smartphone with a 64-bit processor. Also, It was accompanied by the M7 “motion co-processor”.

A redesigned home button with Touch ID, a fingerprint recognition system. That can be used to unlock the phone and authenticate App Store and iTunes Store purchases. The camera was also updated with a larger aperture and a dual-LED flash optimized for different color temperatures.

The iPhone 5S was discontinued on March 21, 2016, and succeeded by the iPhone SE, which continues the same form factor but features vastly upgraded internals similar to the flagship iPhone 6S. If you’re in the market for an iPhone that fits comfortably into the palm of your hand you either have to go for the slightly newer iPhone SE from 2016 or settle for the cheaper 5S.

Is the iPhone 5S Still Good?

Design

The iPhone 5S maintained a similar design to the iPhone 5, with a 4 inch (10 cm) LCD multi-touch Retina display and a screen resolution of 640×1136 at 326 PPI. This display quality will amaze the viewers till today. Its home button had been updated with a flat design using a laser-cut sapphire cover surrounded by a metallic ring. The phone itself is 7.6 mm thick and weighs only 112 grams. The phone uses an exclusive aluminum composite frame. Compared to something like the Galaxy S5 or LG G3, the iPhone 5S is miles ahead when it comes to design.

General Performance

With its powerful chipset and the processor, iPhone 5S is still pretty good for all the regular works we do with our smartphones. You can use the majority of the apps on your phone. You can use this phone for texting, calling, web browsing, listening to music or any other works you need for your daily life. But don’t even think about playing recent heavy games. Anyway, those will not support it. With the last 12.4.5 update, iPhone 5S is still pretty much alive.

Pictures and Videos

Smartphone cameras have come a long way in recent years. But considering the price, the iPhone 5S still gets the job done with good results. It has an 8 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3″, 1.5µm, AF and a 1.2-megapixel front (selfie) camera, both with LED flash. Furthermore, it can shoot HD video at 1080p. It is the first iPhone with both a low light mode and a panorama mode.

These camera specs might not mean much nowadays, but what it means it is a camera that can still shoot pictures and videos that you won’t be embarrassed to post on Instagram.

A wide Range of Available Apps

Since the iPhone 5S got the update to iOS 12, most of the interesting apps from Apple Store will run perfectly on it. This includes professional apps like those for banking and transportation. You can use all the entertaining apps in your iPhone 5S and manage social media needs. This small device with just a 4-inch display will allow you to do all the regular works you do with your phones.

Limitations Of iPhone 5S In 2020

iOS Updates is Discontinued

Because of its 64-bit chipset and powerful processor, it supported updates till iOS 12. It was the longest (6 major updates) for any iPhone model to continue receiving iOS support. As there will be no update for this model anymore, it would be difficult to continue using this phone. Over time, many of the Apps will be obsolete and will not work on this phone.

The iPhone 5S is packed full of great features, but there are also a number of things that you’ll get on newer phones that aren’t available. You’ll have to do without Touch ID, 3D Touch, stereo speakers, live photos, wireless charging, and much more.

Battery Back-Up

With its Non-removable Li-Po 1560 mAh battery (5.92 Wh) you can not expect to go long. As you will most probably use the high-speed internet and this old phone will drain out battery like nothing. So, iPhone 5S in 2020 will make you struggle with the battery.

In Brief: iPhone 5S is Still Good In 2020

As long as you considered the price, the iPhone 5s is the best you can do. If you’re only looking for something to just start on with iPhone. Or if you want something to last you for a while until you upgrade to another model which is more current, it’s a great choice.

Though the exclusive design structure of this device makes it look pretty modern. But it really is not. Seven years is a very long time when it comes to smartphones. If you’re in the market for a phone for rough use or just to use for regular works like chatting, browsing, emailing, listening to music or the other features, You can think of buying an iPhone 5s in 2020.

But as this is no longer sold by Apple, you might buy a refurbished phone or 2nd hand phone. As long as the quality is good you can go for a 2nd hand phone or the refurbished version of this phone. You can manage an iPhone 5S by $50-$100 based on the condition of the phone. This is really a very cheap price considering the exclusive features it is providing.

This update might introduce even in the next update to iOS 14. Users will get the chance to select third-party apps as default apps. This will ensure the freedom for the users. That freedom was not there for long. After a lot of criticism Apple finally thinking about to change the situation. Some of our sources confirmed this news from Apple inside. But Apple did not publish anything confirming that yet.

With iOS, Apple may also open up its HomePod speaker to third-party music streaming services like Spotify and Pandora. Apple had to face a lot of criticism and even lawsuit also. The company has long been scrutinized for locking in its native apps as default without giving users the ability to change the default app on the iPhone.

Music streaming company Spotify even filed a complaint with the European Commission last year. They complain about Apple’s anti-competitive practices while operating the App services. Instead of trying to make their products better than the competition, they just pushing their products by using the unfair advantage of their platform. Apple also faced charges by the US House of Representatives antitrust panel in a hearing last year.

Late is better than never. If Apple decides to free the Apps for the competitive environment based on quality, It will be really great news for the existing and the new iPhone and iPad users. For many users, It could be another reason for using Apple Phones.

That news is according to the sources speaking to Fast Company. They could confirm that Apple wants to build its own 5G antenna rather than relying on the Qualcomm equivalent. Apple thinks it will be able to make the phone thinner as a result.

Apple also trying to reduce its dependence on third-party component developers from last year. The tech giant already develops its own processor chipsets for the iPhone with the A13 Bionic chip fitted inside the iPhone 11 range of handsets.

Challenges for Custom-made Apple 5G antenna

There are other risks of making its Custom-made Apple 5G antenna. As the custom-made Apple antenna, it fitted inside the iPhone 4 caused some users having problems with the network to receive calls. Another fact with the latest 5G tech, it is really important for Apple to make it right the first time.

Based on the report from Fast Company, Qualcomm’s antennas (QTM 525 mmWave) is too big for Apple’s slim industrial design they planned for the next model. Though, Apple yet not finalized that it will actually use its own 5G antenna for the 5G iPhones of 2020.

Apple doesn’t want to go with the Qualcomm antenna for two possible reasons. Qualcomm’s thick antenna would result in a thicker iPhone than Apple wants and also Apple will have to pay more royalties to Qualcomm if it uses those parts from Qualcomm.

As a result, Apple is working on the 5G antenna design for two possible outcomes – whether it goes with Qualcomm’s QTM 525 for a thicker iPhone or Apple’s own design for the slimmer model.

How Custom-made Apple 5G Antenna Would Work

A custom-made Apple 5G antenna would use a “phased array” antenna that uses two parts to form a signal beam. This beam would be able to be steered electronically. The challenge with creating a 5G antenna for mmWave is that they are more difficult to design due to the higher frequencies. And also there are tighter tolerances for manufacturing.

Time will say how Apple decides to go forward. But either way, Apple will not want to make any mistake while entering the new 5G technology market. So, they are super careful about every approach they make on this.

Cost savings with Refurbished Phone

The primary benefit of considering a refurbished phone is cost savings. You can get a phone almost new with much less money than the new one. Hence there are grades for refurbished phones, you can easily check the quality of the phone. If the price considering the quality is reasonable, you can buy the phone.

If you choose the newer models, the price difference between a new phone and a Grade A refurbished phone will be very less. But if you choose an older model of phones like iPhone 6S you might get a very good deal. Price could differ at around $100.

Warranty for Refurbished Phones

Surprisingly “warranty” will still be there depending on who carried out the refurbishment process. Either the brand or the professional repairers. In most cases of manufacturer refurbishment, the phone is thoroughly tested for defects, the defects fixed, maybe even the cosmetic parts such as front and rear panels replaced, it is reboxed and sold as refurbished.

Seller refurbished phones are sometimes unreliable but you can’t go wrong with a manufacturer refurbished phone. In almost all manufacturer refurbished phones, they will offer you a three to six-month warranty.

Tests carried out by the seller typically include whether the battery charges and checking the buttons and cameras work. The seller will also verify audio quality and screen responsiveness, as well as how the phone connects to Wi-Fi and 3G/4G. Some refurbished phone sellers update the handset to the latest version of the operating system that powers it.

Updated Version OS

Sometimes, the renowned refurbished retailers do even offer the updated version OS with the refurbished phones. As the older models might face some limitations over time and newer version operating systems might even make those old models much alive. These retailers even offer updated OS services for a longer period than the original retailer.

Conscious Effects of Refurbished Phones

Seems like it has become a trend for the latest generation to change their mobile phone regularly. They try to stay updated with the latest technology. So, they prefer changing phones regularly with newer ones. So, every year millions of old phones find their way to the waste dumps. These old electronic devices spread radiation to nature. It is a very complicated process to neutralize the old phones for nature.

So, if we can reuse the old phones after refurbishing by the manufacturer this can have a much better impact in reducing these highly hazardous electronic waste dumps.

Should You Buy Refurbished Phone

If you’re on a budget, I think refurbished phones are a good idea to get a high-end phone at a low price. Just make sure it is a manufacturer refurbished phone with a warranty. Seller refurbished phones are sometimes unreliable. You have to check the trustability of the seller.

For example from Apple-certified retailers, you will receive a “like new” device that has been thoroughly cleaned, with a new battery and outer shell, and genuine Apple parts (if needed). The device will come with all accessories, cables, and operating systems. All Apple Certified Refurbished products are packaged in a brand new white box and will be sent to you with free shipping and returns.

When Refurbishing is Needed?

1. If anything is faulty and completely not working.
2. When something is completely outdated and requires to be renewed.
3. When the phone is used for a short period on a trial basis or for some other purposes

To make you clearly understand the concept we will discuss these facts below in detail. Many returns their phones during the warranty period. Some of those phones are returned after service. Some might even get a new phone as a replacement.

Why such Problems Arise that need Refurbishing?

Sometimes during the manufacturing process, some problems could arise. Maybe the phone is not performing as it should be. Or maybe some of the functions are acting weird. Faults arise for many reasons including below –

1. No proper attention at the time of mass production
2. Loose parts and connections.
3. Improper handling during transportation of goods from one place to another which leads to breakage of parts.
4. Synchronization between the parts not proper
5. Maybe the QC checking was not up to the mark

These are the most probable reasons due to which the functionality of a device gets affected. And users return their phone with a complaint. Big deal for those who just paid their hard-earned money for a faulty good, but these goods can be easily replaced by the company and customer usually gets replacement within a week with a similar warranty.

What Happens to Faulty Phones?

These goods undergo a simultaneous process so that specific fault can be detected and using suitable tools the fault is rectified properly with all caution. This prolongs the life of the device. But It is not guaranteed that all the faults will be ok from now. But at least now it is a faultless phone ( refurbished phones ) with all problems rectified. And equivalent to a new phone produced out of a production plant. Even a new phone is prone to various kinds of faults depending on how the user handles and takes care of it.

Who does the Refurbishing?

Talking about refurbishment activity, these activities are not carried out at any local repair centers, it is either done by the professional repairers to whom the brand (company, OEM’s) sell these faulty goods OR in few cases by the brand(company, OEM’s) itself if they have such facilities available within the country (varies from brand to brand).

Warranty for Refurbished Phones

Surprisingly “warranty” will still be there depending on who carried out the refurbishment process. Either the brand or the professional repairers. In most cases of manufacturer refurbishment, the phone is thoroughly tested for defects, the defects fixed, maybe even the cosmetic parts such as front and rear panels replaced, it is reboxed and sold as refurbished.

Seller refurbished phones are sometimes unreliable but you can’t go wrong with a manufacturer refurbished phone. In almost all manufacturer certified refurbished phones mean, you will be offered a three to six-month warranty, with some offering warranty extensions for a fee.

Tests carried out by the seller typically include whether the battery charges and checking the buttons and cameras work. The seller will also verify audio quality and screen responsiveness, as well as how the phone connects to Wi-Fi and 3G/4G. Some refurbished phone sellers update the handset to the latest version of the operating system that powers it.

Not all Refurbished Phones are the Repaired Ones

Not all refurbished phone means they were at one stage faulty, though. Some networks and retailers classify ‘refurbished phones’ as handsets that were returned by customers who changed their minds within the 30-day cooling-off period after they signed up for a contract. Before being put on sale, all refurbished phones have been thoroughly checked and tested to ensure they’re in full working order. Certified refurbished phones mean they are authorized by the manufacturer and guaranteed for quality.

But be cautious sometimes people may trick you to buy a refurbished phone calling it to be a new one OR sometimes they don’t mention that the product is a refurbished one which is unethical. It is mandatory to label the good as “refurbished” if it undergoes such processes.

Grading of Refurbished Phones

All refurbished phones are given a grade that reflects their condition. There’s no universally applied standard for grading, so it’s best to check before buying.

But as a rule of thumb, the grades range from A-D and break down like this:

• Grade A. This is as nearly new gets. At best, it’ll be a phone returned within the 30-day cooling-off period, so it is to all intents and purposes still a brand new phone. At worst, it’ll show negligible signs of wear.
• Grade B. Expect the odd chip or scratch, but nothing too unsightly.
• Grade C. Refurbished phones graded ‘C’ will have perhaps up to five blemishes and will look like they’ve been used.
• Grade D. A grade D refurbished phone will be broken in some way, will look second-hand and will have been well used.

Most networks will only sell grades A-C. You can get grade D phones from some refurbished phone traders on eBay, but even they’ll typically recommend you only buy one if you’re able to repair phones yourself.

To complicate things further, some networks use their own grading system. O2, for instance, favors the grades ‘Perfect’, ‘Almost Perfect’ and ‘Perfectly Fine’. But where networks do use their own system, you can usually find key explaining grades on their site.

Sounds interesting? If you plan to buy a refurbished phone you must check Refurbished Phone a Good Choice or a Dire Mistake? – before proceeding for purchase.