First smartphone

[lakefront]

I am getting my first smartphone, bumping this thread for info. I am on ATT with the family, someone said I should get an unlocked phone then bring it to ATT for sim card. Partly to avoid apps from ATT that can not be removed. I have not even decided between apple or android. If I pick android there are a ton of phones to pick from. It is overwhelming. I still plan to use my laptop for things like quicken, SJ, Quickbooks. I want the phone for info on the go type of things. I want it to remind me of non routine events. I want to be able to text more of a response than "ok". (flip phone)

I got an unlocked galaxy 8s, coral blue. Now, on to the owners manual.

 

[expendable]

I just jumped from a 6plus to an X. I’m having trouble dealing with the reduced size of the phone (not screen). I can’t feel it in my pocket, so it sets off a panic.

 

[Azrael]

On the other end of things, if you need a small phone that fits a pocket, or doesn't ruin the line of a suit, the iPhone SE is a good choice. Same guts/camera as the 6S.

 

[The Big Ragu]

On the other end of things, if you need a small phone that fits a pocket, or doesn't ruin the line of a suit, the iPhone SE is a good choice. Same guts/camera as the 6S.

I got one of these for a second line a few months ago. I actually prefer the smaller screen size. Love it. I really loved the iPhone 5s and held onto one of them for as long as I could. Even opened it and replaced the battery myself. The SE has a faster processor, more memory, more storage and a better camera. The only difference between it and the 6S, is the smaller screen, which I really prefer, and a crappier front camera, which is fine by me because I don't use the phone to facetime much. The back camera is the same, and they are still quite good. I found one that was barely used, good battery, unlocked, for $130. Same phone they are still selling new for $349. At $349, I think it makes way more sense for the people who are buying phones they can't afford than spending $700 or $1,000. It will meet the needs of most people and it actually gets a ton of battery life because of the smaller screen. At $130, I thought it's a ridiculously good value.

My ultimate phone. ... If they put the A11 chip that's in the X and 8, into a phone with the 4 inch screen. I don't need the OLED screen and hate the bulky phone. Oh, and I prefer the headphone jack. However, I'll take the power, more memory and the best camera possible, even though it isn't the biggest deal in the world to me. And the smaller phone gets you better battery life.

 

[Buck]

I loved my 6SE, but it got damaged and the home button doesn't work now.
I have to use touch enhance only, and it is a pain in the @ss.
A shame because the smaller size is the best.

Hey, Ghost of Steve Jobs, more small iPhones please!

 

[Azrael]

I got one of these for a second line a few months ago. I actually prefer the smaller screen size. Love it. I really loved the iPhone 5s and held onto one of them for as long as I could. Even opened it and replaced the battery myself. The SE has a faster processor, more memory, more storage and a better camera. The only difference between it and the 6S, is the smaller screen, which I really prefer, and a crappier front camera, which is fine by me because I don't use the phone to facetime much. The back camera is the same, and they are still quite good. I found one that was barely used, good battery, unlocked, for $130. Same phone they are still selling new for $349. At $349, I think it makes way more sense for the people who are buying phones they can't afford than spending $700 or $1,000. It will meet the needs of most people and it actually gets a ton of battery life because of the smaller screen. At $130, I thought it's a ridiculously good value.

My ultimate phone. ... If they put the A11 chip that's in the X and 8, into a phone with the 4 inch screen. I don't need the OLED screen and hate the bulky phone. Oh, and I prefer the headphone jack. However, I'll take the power, more memory and the best camera possible, even though it isn't the biggest deal in the world to me. And the smaller phone gets you better battery life.

I had the 5 and the 5S as well. The SE is great if you carry the phone in a front pocket rather than a back pocket, or in the pocket of a suit jacket. I don't feel the smaller screen size is a bad trade for me, as I upload my phone photos to my desktop pretty regularly, and almost never stream entertainment on the phone.

It's less conspicuous in lots of settings, and doesn't look quite so ridiculous when held to the ear for a call. Some of that last generation of phones, like the 6+, look like you're holding an iPad to your ear.

Which I see plenty of people doing now, too.

 

[The Big Ragu]

I loved my 6SE, but it got damaged and the home button doesn't work now.
I have to use touch enhance only, and it is a pain in the @ss.
A shame because the smaller size is the best.

Hey, Ghost of Steve Jobs, more small iPhones please!

I've tooled around with a bunch of different iPhones, and that is the one thing that is a pain to fix. I am not sure what happened to your home button, but let's say you have one of the phones that uses the fingerprint sensor home button, and you rip the touch ID / home button cable somehow, which is very delicate, not very long and is attached to the logicboard with a socket connector. ... there isn't a perfect fix. Your home button and fingerprint sensor won't work, which I am guessing is what you are dealing with?

If the issue with your home button is that cable having gone bad, and it likely is, you can replace the cable, and even though doing it is delicate work, it's really not that hard. But those flex cables are tied to the logic board. They did it as a security measure. So once you swap out the cable with a new one (and you can find one for very little money), you will lose the touch ID functionality. But the home button will work at least. If you want to know what I am talking about, you should google it and you'll find how-to videos.

 

[The Big Ragu]

I had the 5 and the 5S as well. The SE is great if you carry the phone in a front pocket rather than a back pocket, or in the pocket of a suit jacket. I don't feel the smaller screen size is a bad trade for me, as I upload my phone photos to my desktop pretty regularly, and almost never stream entertainment on the phone.

It's less conspicuous in lots of settings, and doesn't look quite so ridiculous when held to the ear for a call. Some of that last generation of phones, like the 6+, look like you're holding an iPad to your ear.

Which I see plenty of people doing now, too.

Same here. That SE sits on a desk a lot, but when I do carry it with me, it's in my front pocket really comfortably. I really prefer that.

 

[Buck]

I've tooled around with a bunch of different iPhones, and that is the one thing that is a pain to fix. I am not sure what happened to your home button, but let's say you have one of the phones that uses the fingerprint sensor home button, and you rip the touch ID / home button cable somehow, which is very delicate, not very long and is attached to the logicboard with a socket connector. ... there isn't a perfect fix. Your home button and fingerprint sensor won't work, which I am guessing is what you are dealing with?

If the issue with your home button is that cable having gone bad, and it likely is, you can replace the cable, and even though doing it is delicate work, it's really not that hard. But those flex cables are tied to the logic board. They did it as a security measure. So once you swap out the cable with a new one (and you can find one for very little money), you will lose the touch ID functionality. But the home button will work at least. If you want to know what I am talking about, you should google it and you'll find how-to videos.

I took it in for repair, and it is determined to not really be fixable.
It makes me very sad because using the touch enhance rather than home button is a hassle, including the lack of touch ID.
Meanwhile, I have a larger 7 I must carry at all times for work.

I loathe having two phones, but it is necessary for me.
I don't want to buy a new personal phone because I don't like the larger phones.
I will probably get a 6SE refurb or even second-hand pirated one in the next few months for personal use. We have some large burdens on the household budget so spending $100-$400 on a new personal phone has to wait.
And in the meantime I just have to deal with the hassle of my less functional, once beloved 6SE.

 

[The Big Ragu]

I took it in for repair, and it is determined to not really be fixable.
It makes me very sad because using the touch enhance rather than home button is a hassle, including the lack of touch ID.
Meanwhile, I have a larger 7 I must carry at all times for work.

I loathe having two phones, but it is necessary for me.
I don't want to buy a new personal phone because I don't like the larger phones.
I will probably get a 6SE refurb or even second-hand pirated one in the next few months for personal use. We have some large burdens on the household budget so spending $100-$400 on a new personal phone has to wait.
And in the meantime I just have to deal with the hassle of my less functional, once beloved 6SE.

Not sure why a home button issue wouldn't be fixable on an SE. Unless, maybe it is a problem with the logic board? But that would usually affect way more functionality than just the home button.

If it is just the home button, though. ... You can buy a replacement home button with the flex cable for around $5, if you are willing to DIY. Just go to eBay. It's a bit of a delicate job, but it's totally doable.

Here is a video I just found: iphone se replace home button - Google Search

For a slightly easier job, you can just buy the whole assembly for an SE -- the touch screen with the digitizer, home button and the front camera. ... for less than $20 on ebay. It's mostly the same job, but you don't have to remove the home button itself and reattach. You'd just swap out the screen.

It may be worth a try. ... for $5. The only thing is that with the new cable that doesn't match up with your logic board, the home button will work, but the touch ID won't. It's still better than having no home button.

 

[justgladtobehere]

I see people with phones in their back pockets and don't get it. Don't people sit on them and crush them?

 

[Buck]

Not sure why a home button issue wouldn't be fixable on an SE. Unless, maybe it is a problem with the logic board? But that would usually affect way more functionality than just the home button.

If it is just the home button, though. ... You can buy a replacement home button with the flex cable for around $5, if you are willing to DIY. Just go to eBay. It's a bit of a delicate job, but it's totally doable.

Here is a video I just found: iphone se replace home button - Google Search

For a slightly easier job, you can just buy the whole assembly for an SE -- the touch screen with the digitizer, home button and the front camera. ... for less than $20 on ebay. It's mostly the same job, but you don't have to remove the home button itself and reattach. You'd just swap out the screen.

It may be worth a try. ... for $5. The only thing is that with the new cable that doesn't match up with your logic board, the home button will work, but the touch ID won't. It's still better than having no home button.

I might check it out. I couldn't tell you really why it is not fixable. The guy at the repair shop talked at length and in detail.
To me, that kind of stuff sounds like I'm listening to Charlie Brown's teacher.

As for attempting anything myself, no way. Over the year's I've come to accept that I am incapable of such things.
We just moved a couple weeks ago, and I had to call a friend to help me hook up the washer and dryer.
Several years ago I tried to put in hooks to hang my guitars and I ripped large chunks out of the walls.
I can barely hang a picture without f*cking it up.

 

[Spartan Squad]

I see people with phones in their back pockets and don't get it. Don't people sit on them and crush them?

Well some of us don't have buns of steel and there is some cushion when we sit ...