Rose gold iPhone SE... unboxed!

By Rene Ritchie, Mark Guim
last updated

This is the rose gold iPhone SE. This is the rose gold iPhone SE in a box. This is Rene and our videographer, Mark Guim, taking the rose gold iPhone SE out of the box, comparing it to an iPhone 5, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus, and otherwise putting it on display for your information!

iPhone SE

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Rene Ritchie
Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.

48 Comments
  • A little disappointed it has the last generation Touch ID sensor. Sent from the iMore App
  • Your right , there is a huge difference in the 1st gen & 2nd gen touch ID... 2nd is MUCH Better
  • Isn't it in it's 3rd generation right now?
    1st gen = 5S, 2nd gen = 6, 3rd gen = 6S
  • 6 and 5s both had 1st gen. Sent from the iMore App
  • Wow the rose gold is pretty!
    Looking at it makes me want to be a sucker for it, really, even though silver would be safer.
  • Wow I think the pink phone looks really you know what should I say a little feminine.... Right up your alley so to speak! Sent from the iMore App
  • I think I must buy this phone. 64GB White and Silver. its a better "look" that the 6 series.
    ( I think all the 6 series are ugly )
    it will be nice to have a 1 handed, FAST device with a great camera.
  • Nice. I wonder why it doesn't have 3D Touch, other than that it's awesome. Sent from the iMore App
  • Perhaps these will be in the SE (S) edition...or SE Plus.
  • keep the price down maybe ?
  • It doesn't have 3D Touch because the Taptic Engine would take too much space away from the battery which would result in significant decrease in battery life. As it is now configured, the SE gets better battery line in most categories than the 6/6s.
  • In a thicker device than the 6 / 6s? Makes sense...
  • I'm half tempted to trade my 6s in for this phone.
    With my small hands it would be nice to be able to use one hand with my phone again. Sent from the iMore App
  • I know what you mean, the 6/6s is a almost too big, but, I would have preferred Apple had made the 6/6s 4.3", it would have been a bit bigger, but still one-hand-able. As it is, my old iPhone 5 just looks tiny now, so, I don't think I could go back, even though I miss being able to one-hand it. If apple were to come out with a 4.3" iPhone, that would be the ultimate size IMO.
  • OMG whats inside!? I bet like all Apple devices its new and unique and not built for generic users.
  • OMG, you're a real....Dane Cook....
    Great insights BTW (not).
  • Honestly,seems like an refurbished iPhone 5S,with better specs..
    Probably Apple trying to resale all the trade-in's and leftovers from the successful iPhone 5 series.
  • You are incorrect, you cannot take an old 5 or 5s and make it the new SE. Just because it looks the same on the outside does not mean the inside is at all similar. Refurbished means old device refurbished to be in like-new condition, as it was when it was new, not improved in any way, this is not that at all, it is entirely a different machine except for the outside looks, which are only similar, not exactly the same. The main advantages in same size/shape is some (only some) of the 5s manufacturing machinery can continue to be used, and also the same cases and screen protectors that fit the 5/5s fit the SE. It also gives what many customers want, the smaller iPhone with better specs.
  • Really, a 4inch phone they could at least changed the design made it thinner. I love apple but they are becoming back dated. Step out of the box and thrill us with completely new looks please. I hate android phones but at least they wow you with innovative products.
  • wow'd? not been wow'd in a while by android either in some time.. mostly just a quick follower.. I think people confuse 'Innovation' with just being different. Might want to look up the definition .. That word doesn't mean what you think.. Change for the sake of change doesn't mean much and it doesn't mean innovation.
  • Is your complaint that the SE looks like the 5 or 5s? if so, you must hate the fact that Apple has kept the same aesthetic for their laptops for so long. You do realize that the internals of the SE is completely new, right? It sounds like you want change for changes sake.
  • How else will people know he bought the newest one???
  • Spoken like someone who doesn't remotely grasp what this phone is for. We WANT it to look that way. WANT it to feel that way. Take your giant android contraption and go away.
  • Neat device
  • Its nice.....good for people who are not really a fan of large phones like me...
  • John Oliver summed up the Rose Gold color perfectly last week. Like somebody vomited salmon all over it.
  • Women seem to like it. I'm suspect of any man who does.
  • So a color choice makes you suspect? That is what makes me suspect of you....
  • Reminds me more of the In Utero album art. It's a cool color. Sent from the iMore App
  • Actually it's the only color that will probably differentiate, if you have a 5S or the all new SE. It would certainly make people look at your phone twice, regardless of who is carrying it. In 6s the color looked really dull and out of place. SE totally nails it. Heck I will totally buy that color if given a choice, that certainly isn't feminine.
  • Umm, OK. But the next time I use a phone because I want somebody to "look at (my) phone twice," or to get some other sort of other reaction will be the first time. I could give a s**t what people think about my phone.
  • Snoozefest...
  • "...it is everything that is cool and powerful about the iPhone 6s..." ... sorry if this seems like nitpicking, but, since it does not have 3D Touch, that statement is not really true, should have mentioned "...except for 3D Touch...". And, to all who are wondering why 3D Touch is not included: to save costs, and so the 6s/6s+ have some marketing advantage besides just screen size. ...The next iPhone is still six months away.
  • Note that I haven't used 3D Touch, but it sure seems superfluous to me. Not a feature I care about. Of course, your mileage definitely seems to vary from mine.
  • Aside from the my-little-fashion-victim colour, looks good. Always liked the 5/5S chassis, though the space black 5 was the best looking by far. Shame Apple never brought back that shade.
  • Rose Gold, somehow I'm not shocked.
  • Thanks for the video, SE is looking great!
  • This will be my next phone.
  • I still prefer the power button on top. Wish the 6's were on top.
  • I love the design of the new SE! I'm glad they didn't change a thing from the 5S design!!
  • my next.. Sent from the iMore App
  • i'm still using my iPhone5 until now and i always wanted a 6 or 6s because i want a bigger screen. now with the SE, it think i want it too because of what they put in it and i wouldn't care much about the screen size. of course, retaining the 5/5s design, it's perfect for my hands and pocket. just the right size, thickness, and weight. not the best dimensions for a smartphone, but just right.
  • Sooo amazing!
  • Did Apple ever said that "SE" means special edition?
  • Power button on top is actually good news. It means one side of the new iPhone is flat and you can use it to measure level unlike the newest iPhone 6/6s which has buttons on both sides.
  • The only good thing about rose gold is that it makes the conventional gold look so much better. Beyond that, I prefer the industrial design of the new SE better than the 6/6s. I think it's the flattened sides and chamfered edges. Still wish Apple could reduce the size of the top and bottom bezels. With the flat sides, they could move the home button/fingerprint scanner to the side or back.
  • Should of done this video two years ago or maybe just pull the old one.... Agree a small iPhone isn't a bad idea. For business it's really good with a good price. However but even apple wants to make a cheap phone but at least with another casing.
  • This is a perfect phone for someone who has small hands like me. Plus the improved specs inside. The one-handed usability is important for productivity. For me, iPhone 5S/SE is still the most beautiful design of iPhone devices. Its edges makes you feel that you are holding a premium phone.