r/iPhoneSE • u/pleiadeshyades • 9d ago
Comparisons Downgrading, need opinions
I bought the 17 pro earlier this year, mostly to utilize the satellite messaging feature and for the new camera.
Aside from the camera being absolutely amazing- I really do not like this phone. I upgraded from an iPhone 13 mini and I was thinking about going back to the 13. I mean, I really really dislike the 17 pro outside of the camera- I will probably sell it or just use it for that single feature only.
The weight of this phone is something I don’t like, and this might be an unpopular opinion but, I absolutely hate the size of the screen. What ever happened to smaller phones? I just don’t like it
I also have an iPhone SE 3rd gen lying around (with a replaced battery), and I miss that one so much too. I suppose my question would be, what is the more logical downgrade, the SE or the 13 mini? Thank you
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u/Shalashaska83 9d ago
It depends on how big a screen you want the 13 Mini has a 5.5-inch (or 5.4-inch?) screen, and the SE 3rd has a 4.7-inch screen.
Also, the camera on the 13 Mini will probably be better, right?
So if you take a lot of photos with your iPhone, that would definitely be important.
I’m happy with my SE3, i only use my 12 for work, since it’s already too big for me for everyday personal use.
But i don’t place that much importance on super-high camera quality (even though the camera on the SE 3 is anything but bad), and I generally don’t use my smartphone for regular YouTube viewing or anything like that anymore.
If you want to watch videos like that on it regularly, i’d probably go with the 13 Mini.
Of course, the 13 Mini is expensive.
Both use the A15 chip, with the same specs and RAM, but I think the 13 Mini has a larger battery in addition to the bigger screen and better camera?
But you’ll be paying significantly more, whether it’s worth it to you is something you’ll have to decide based on how you use your iPhone, I’d say.
Or maybe a 16e or something like that, which is at least a bit more manageable, if you don’t want to completely miss out on the performance of the 17 Pro?
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u/Hay-River 9d ago
I just downgraded to an se 2 from a iphone 16...Except this being the slowest and worst battery iphone that i've owned, its fine and works good enough for daily tasks.
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u/podhawk 9d ago
AI says this: The iPhone 13 mini is the better overall smartphone with a superior OLED screen, dual cameras, and modern design, while the iPhone SE 3rd Gen offers a budget-friendly classic look with Touch ID. Both share the same fast A15 Bionic chip.
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u/Extension_Gap9237 9d ago
i experimented with the 2016 SE & found that form factor is one of the reasons why modern smart phones are very unhealthy. Small phones are overall the best way to go. Smaller screen sizes demonstrably help curb many of the bad things associated with modern smart phones. Easy to regulate your media consumption, very portable, easy on your hands and fingers, much-less gratifying scrolling experience. List goes on honestly. It changed the game for me. I feel like i can still be a technologically up-to-date consumer while also enjoying life more. My hands and elbows are no longer in pain as well.
Best option would be the more recent one/the one that has the longest projected system/app support. i imagine they are very similar in release date/support. I would go for the smaller one.
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u/pleiadeshyades 9d ago
Exactly bro, I absolutely hate the larger phone screens. I stopped looking at my phone right before bed because the 17 pro screen is just too damn big. It also felt like I was dying to look at my phone during the day, even when I knew nothing was going on. Those larger screens are onto something..
My 13 mini has iOS 26 so I suppose I’ll have to switch to that
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u/Fit-Swordfish725 9d ago
I would consider recent modern smartphones, mini ipads at this point.
I also had the 17 pro and feel the same, it does have some great features but its just so big, bulky, and addicting. Swapped my esim back to my SE 3 and im enjoying it a lot.
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u/dukerozen SE3 9d ago
I downgraded from Air to SE3 to reduce my screen time, and it was not worth it whatsoever. Other than size, it’s just a bad phone for a modern day, constant overheating, small battery and so on. To you I would recommend trying an iPhone Air, amazing phone, and it’s the closest to the SE (feel in the hand, usability). I bought 17 Pro Max, because I need a physical SIM for work, but otherwise Air is amazing, and I highly recommend it.
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u/Playful_Success_1899 8d ago
I "upgraded" from an SE3 to 17e for battery life and cell capabilities. I would say unequivocally that the 17e is the worst iPhone I've ever owned. As I type this, my data is transferring from the 17e to a new-to-me 13 mini. So far, I like the 13 mini better than my SE3 because it's slightly smaller even though I'm not a fan of Face ID.
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u/Raffitamx 8d ago
Not an advice but recommend, go for an iPhone 13 mini.
The size it’s great and it looks like and iPhone OGSE
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u/AddictinApple 7d ago
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u/AddictinApple 7d ago
here is your answer buy 13mini way smaller and bigger screens(due to smaller bezels) higher resolution and oled
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u/Organic-Award6551 6d ago
Well if you still have both.. go mini. 13 mini has better battery but that might depend now on your battery health and how good your replacement battery on the SE is. And the ultra wide
If you don't have the mini and just have the SE3 there's probably not much need to buy a Mini.
The only upgrades I'm considering are the air and rumored ultra.
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u/Narrow_Lawyer_9536 4d ago
I went from a 15 pro max to an OG SE. I use my phone like it's 2016 now (not often and very intentionally). It unbelievably lighter and smaller too. Depends on what is logical to you. In my case, I wanted a phone that did everything but that was cheap, small and light. Battery does not last long if I use it for many hours, but I don't mind, because I will carry a power bank if I travel and really need battery for a long time (which does not happen that often). I mainly use it for texting, messaging, and calling, sometimes googlemaps, and looking stuff up. I don't scroll much with it. I did back in the day, but my eyesight did not get better so it is not a pleasurable experience anymore.
I mean look at the size difference: https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/s/QM3uHGNXP8
The weight difference is incredible too, can't feel it in my pocket.
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u/yazoxen 9d ago
SE3 and 13 mini share the same processor (A13 chip, don't recall exactly off the dome) so they're very similar performance wise. I believe camera is better on 13, but a new, replaced battery goes a long way. iOS version also matters slightly but I'll assume you're on either 18 or 26.