Why the New iPhone SE is the Perfect Phone for Those Who Want to Stay Off their Phone

Yesterday, I received my new phone — the base model of the iPhone SE 2020. Aside from the reasonable price tag and solid build quality that Apple products are known for, Apple has constructed a smartphone that strikes the right balance between utility and passivity. In other words, it allows me to do everything that I need to do but its constraints make it much easier for me to put the phone away after I’ve completed specific tasks. This is the perfect phone for digital minimalists.

I estimate that the iPhone SE 2020 has about 90% of the functionalities of the iPhone 11 Pro for less than half the price. This is tremendous value. You can easily make calls, send and receive text messages, listen to podcasts and audiobooks, capture beautiful photos, and access all the other standard applications that you rely on. Unless you need night sight capabilities (which, unless you’re a professional photographer, no one needs) or a few other niche offerings only available in the top tier smartphones, the iPhone SE 2020 will more than suit your needs.

As someone working towards decluttering their digital life, the few limitations of the phone are actually useful. Some critics have touted the mediocre battery life but in my limited usage of the phone, I’ve found that it can easily last a whole day. For digital maximalists who play games or stream media on their smartphones for hours on end (e.g. Candy Crush or Youtube), you will likely need to plug it into a charger within 4 or 5 hours. But for digital minimalists, — even fellow lawyers who have multiple phone conversations throughout the day — the battery life is not a concern.

Another stated limitation is that portrait mode only works on people, not pets or inanimate objects. But there’s an easy solution: download the Focos App. It’s a free computational photography application that uses machine learning to create real bokeh effects after you take a picture.

The argument to purchase the iPhone 11 or iPhone 11 Pro at more than double the price to simply to take photos of your pet in portrait mode is now moot.

Finally, the physical size of the iPhone SE 2020 is a positive rather than a negative. No longer do you need to carry the phone in your hand when you’re running errands or leave it on the table when you’re out at a restaurant because it’s too big to comfortably fit in your pocket. The smaller dimensions means you can put it away and forget about it.

Further, for those who don’t love the classic bezels (I personally don’t mind them), this will gently encourage you to refrain from using it as mindless consumption device.

By purposefully selecting this model of the iPhone I’ve been able to:

• Remain unfazed about the dent it has on my wallet;
• Remain unfazed about how delicate I need to treat it;
• Rest assured it will satisfy all my personal and professional needs and continue to receive updates over the next few years.

As you can tell, I’m absolutely satisfied with my purchase. For digital minimalists due for a phone upgrade, the iPhone SE 2020 is one worthy of consideration.