Buying a smartphone that will be used for the next few years is a rather serious and responsible event. Apple technology lovers have the largest selection in a decade of the iPhone this year. Apart from the aftermarket, where you can find the old 4S, there are eight models on sale at the same time. If the Android phone does not suit you exactly, we will figure out which iPhone is better to buy this year.
It has been produced since 2016 and is the most compact in the line of Apple smartphones. The SE uses a body from the iPhone 5 with a seriously updated electronics. By the way, a common mistake is connected with this. Users often add the number "5" to the name, resulting in 5 SE or 5 CE. The official name of the model sounds like iPhone SE.
Main technical characteristics:
- Screen - Retina, 4-inch diagonal;
- Dimensions - 123.8x58.8 mm, with a thickness of 7.6 mm;
- Weight - 113 grams;
- RAM - 2 Gigabytes;
- Memory - 32/128 GB;
- Cameras (main / front) - 12 / 1.2 Mp;
- Battery - 1624 mAh;
The smartphone has a 3.5 mm jack for EarPods headphones, is equipped with a fingerprint scanner and an NFC chip. As a result, the owner of this device can use almost all modern technologies, including contactless payment.
The body is made of aluminum. Antenna inserts at the top and bottom are covered with tempered glass for dark Space Gray and glass ceramics for other colors. The main feature that maintains high popularity is the ability to operate a smartphone with one hand.
iPhone
The basic type, since 2014, has been the iPhone with a screen diagonal of 4.7 inches. In 2018, it is represented by three models at once: 6S, 7 and 8. Their appearance does not differ much, and the dimensions differ by several millimeters.
It has been produced since 2015 and has the following specifications:
- Screen - Retina, 4.7-inch diagonal;
- Dimensions - 138.3x67.1 mm, with a thickness of 7.1 mm;
- Weight - 143 grams;
- RAM - 2 GB;
- Memory - 32/128 GB;
- Battery - 1715 mAh;
- Processor - Apple A9 with a frequency of 1.8 GHz.
Uses a second generation Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The display module is the first to use 3D Touch pressure sensing technology. The tactile feedback, simulating vibration of different frequencies, is modulated in the settings using the Taptic Engine.
Produced since 2016. The main innovation is the protection of the device according to the IP67 standard. Complete impermeability to dust and the possibility of short-term stay in a non-aggressive liquid at a depth of one meter. The rest of the changes affected the following parameters:
- Weight - 138 grams, the smartphone is 5 grams lighter than its predecessor;
- Cameras (main / front) - 12/7 megapixels, the front camera has a new enlarged matrix and the ability to shoot in Full HD mode;
- Battery - 1960 mAh, capacity increased by 245 mAh;
The color gamut is expanded with two shades of black. The device has lost the 3.5 mm headphone jack familiar to users. Comes with an EarPods model that connects to the Lightning charging port. The Home button with a built-in fingerprint sensor has become touch sensitive. The tap effect is simulated by vibration adjusted by the Taptic Engine.
The model was released in 2017. The main difference was the replacement of the body material. Tempered glass is used for the back panel instead of the usual aluminum. Thanks to this solution, Apple was able to implement support for wireless charging using Qi technology in the device. In addition, the following characteristics have changed:
- Screen - Retina HD, 4.7-inch diagonal. Added support for True Tone adaptive color temperature change. Brightness increased from 500 to 625 cd / m 2;
- Dimensions - 138.4x67.3 mm, with a thickness of 7.3 mm;
- Weight - 148 grams;
- RAM - 2 GB;
- Memory - 64/256 GB. The minimum and maximum volumes are doubled in relation to the models of previous years;
- Cameras (main / front) - 12/7 Mp;
- Battery - 1751 mAh;
- Processor - Apple A11 Bionic, 2.53 GHz fast cores.
The device has become a little heavier and has lost some of its battery capacity. The latter is compensated by the increased energy efficiency of the SoC and did not affect the battery life.
The color gamut has been reduced by eliminating two shades of black and pink. The phone was released in red at the end of winter and is presented in a limited edition.
iPhone Plus
Since 2014, simultaneously with the base model, a model with an increased screen diagonal has been produced, which receives the "Plus" index to the number.
It has minimal differences from its younger brother in the following number of parameters:
- Screen - Retina, 5.5-inch diagonal;
- Dimensions - 158.2x77.9 mm, with a thickness of 7.3 mm;
- Weight - 192 grams;
- RAM - 2 GB;
- Memory - 32/128 GB;
- Cameras (main / front) - 12/5 Mp;
- Battery - 2750 mAh;
- Processor - A9 with a frequency of 1.8 GHz.
For the Plus index, the user gets a larger battery capacity and a larger screen. The rest of the characteristics, not counting the dimensions at the base level.
The main difference between this model is the dual module of the main camera and the increased amount of RAM.
- Weight - 188 grams;
- RAM - 3 GB;
- Memory - 32/128 GB;
- Battery - 2900 mAh;
- Processor - A10 Fusion with a frequency of 2.34 GHz.
In this model, Apple continued the tactic of dividing devices according to the capabilities of the main camera, making it the main difference between the Plus versions.
- Screen - Retina HD, 5.5-inch diagonal;
- Dimensions - 158.4x78.1 mm, with a thickness of 7.5 mm;
- Weight - 202 grams;
- RAM - 3 GB;
- Memory - 64/256 GB;
- Cameras (main / front) - 2x12 / 7 Mp;
- Battery - 2689 mAh;
- The processor is A11 Bionic, the frequency of the fast cores is 2.53 GHz.
When used with a MacBook charger, the smartphone is capable of fast charging. 50% of the battery capacity is recovered within 30 minutes.
For the tenth anniversary of the first iPhone, Apple, in addition to Series 8, has released another model equipped with the most modern technology of owner identification - Face ID. Recognition is performed using a 3D heatmap of the face, which allowed the company to completely abandon the fingerprint scanner. The novelty was named iPhone X and impressive characteristics:
- Screen - Super Retina made using OLED technology;
- Dimensions - 143.6x70.9 mm, with a thickness of 7.7 mm;
- Weight - 174 grams;
- RAM - 3 GB;
- Memory - 64/256 GB;
- Cameras (main / front) - 2x12 / 7 Mp;
- Battery - 2716 mAh;
- Processor - A11 Bionic.
Occupying an intermediate position between the Series 8 models in terms of dimensions, the iPhone X is closer to the Plus in terms of characteristics. The dual camera has a unique set of functions that allows you to take photos with studio lighting effects.
Criterias of choice
We will not consider the pricing policy, which is constantly changing and differs from store to store, sometimes quite significantly. Price as a selection criterion is not the main thing, since you can arrange an installment plan and stretch the buyback for a whole year. Some retail chains are implementing the Trade in program.
Using it, you can exchange an old device for a new one with a surcharge. In addition, any iPhone that you decide to purchase will work on iOS 11. Therefore, there will be no software difference in capabilities as on Android between them. Everyone gets the same set of software from the beginning.
The choice between Rostest certification (PCT or EAC) and Eurotest (CE) is not so straightforward. The first has advantages in terms of the warranty period, but loses in terms of price. If desired, on the Internet, you can find and compare both options by studying customer reviews.
An unpleasant trifle of Eurotest will be a non-standard plug or a limitation of the volume of the sound transmitted to the headphones. If the Chinese adapter copes with the first, then nothing can be done with the second.
Tentatively, you can offer the following scheme:
- SE, suitable for lovers of classic design, one-handed operation or as an initial evaluation option.
- The iPhone 6S, 7 or 8 will satisfy any non-mobile photography user. The device must be held in hands. Some people don't like the feeling of glass, while others don't like metal. Accordingly, the newer the model, the longer it will receive OS updates.
- iPhone Plus excluding 6S will suit fans of photos and mobile games.
- The latest model X will suit both the quality of the shooting and the hardware stuffing. If you want to be at the forefront of progress, you can safely buy.
Separately, it should be said that Series 8 smartphones received the same SoC as the iPhone X. They are inferior in terms of display quality and identification system, but they definitely did not lose in the quality of "hardware" and are a good option for a purchase.
Finally
Customer satisfaction with Apple products is higher than that of the competition, and there are very few people willing to return to Android after switching to the iPhone. You will only make the correct choice of the model by correctly assessing the tasks to be solved with the help of a smartphone and holding it in your hands.
Video
The overview video below will help you better understand the characteristics of the described models.
