We are certainly living in unprecedented times. Stuck inside, many of us are working remotely or not working at all. Never in recent memory has our ability to stay connected been tested to such an immense degree.
For the adults who are trapped at home in isolation and have switched to fully remote work, this means having to adjust to an entirely new approach to employment. Collaboration that once was simply a matter of visiting a coworker’s desk or booking a conference room for a meeting has become much less straightforward. Now, everything has to happen online.
For many companies, this means using a premium Zoom account. The free version of Zoom only allows video conferences with a maximum time limit of 40 minutes (given that it has more than two participants), so any meeting which needs to run longer than that needs to be hosted by an upgraded account. If you have a job that only requires one-on-one calls, however — perhaps you work as an empowerment coach and are advising clients remotely — you may not need to upgrade.
When it comes to the number of participants, most business are unlikely to run up against the limit. According to the Zoom FAQ, by default, you can have up to 100 people in a single call, all with two-way audio and video. However, if you work for a particularly sizeable organization, or one that runs large events such as seminars with many outside participants, you may need even more capacity than that. You can achieve this by upgrading to a Large Meeting plan. This comes in three tiers: one that allows up to 200 participants, one with a cap of 300, and one that allows as many as 500 people on a call.
However, it is entirely possible that your computer simply lacks the capability to handle such calls. After all, high-occupancy conference calls can be incredibly taxing on a machine’s processor, using a significant amount of the available ram. This means that, though the call might be able to run, you will be unable to complete any other tasks while it is ongoing.
If you have a somewhat older computer but still need to be able to multitask while on video conferences — you need to be able to give an update on the status of your entrepreneurship blog or a series of reports that you have been working on, for example — then it’s time to start exploring ways to increase your technological capacity. The most elegant solution is often to get an additional device to handle some of these processor-intensive tasks.
If you are concerned that this means buying another computer, something which will leave a huge dent in your wallet, fear not. You can easily handle extra tasks by getting something that you probably already need: a new phone.
Which phone should you get?
These days, few industries are as oversaturated with seemingly identical products as the cell phone market. Ever since the first generation iPhone came out in 2007, companies all over the world have strived to make a device similar both in aesthetic and in capability.
The Google Pixel, the Samsung Galaxy, the OnePlus, Huawei’s sleek line, the Moto G-Series — the list of smartphone competitors goes on and on. With any of these phones, there are certain elements that come standard. You’re going to get a fast processor, a large amount of storage, and impressive camera, and a beautiful screen. Some even come with a stylus that you can use for handwritten notes.
If you find yourself in the market for a new phone in the midst of this period of global quarantine, it is completely understandable to feel a bit overwhelmed by this abundance of choice. Aside from a few standout features such as styluses and curved (or even folding!) screens, many of these phones offer have specs and features that can blend together. This can make it very difficult to discern which phone is right for your specific needs.
Another common issue many folks are currently reconciling with is price. While most of the top-tier smartphones available today truly are remarkable, they tend to come at a hefty cost. Some of the most recent releases exceed $1,000 — for the same price, you could get a high-performance laptop!
These prices are particularly prohibitive at this specific point in time. With the extreme economic slowdown the U.S. (and the rest of the world) is experiencing right now, it is becoming increasingly hard to budget for large purchases. Even with the economic stimulus checks that are being sent out, we all need to remain responsible when it comes to managing our funds.
As of the time of writing, unemployment in the U.S. has surpassed 20%. That means a whopping 27 million people are now out of work due to the pandemic. This means that for many Americans, projects such as buying new houses or dealing with a crisis such as smoke damage in their current home are being navigated with a much tighter wallet.
Fortunately, a product was just released that checks off all of the major requirements that most people look for in a smartphone. And it manages to do this at a cost that is far more accessible than virtually any other top-quality smartphone on the market. It’s time to get into the advantages of the iPhone SE.
What are the advantages of the iPhone SE?
As we hinted earlier, working from home can seriously tax your workhorse computer. Between video conferences, having to pull up files and check spreadsheets, editing documents in word processing applications, and especially using photo and video editing software, we tend to push our devices to their absolute limit. Most of us need an extra machine to share the burden.
Now, obviously the top-of-the-line phones available tend to have the beefy specs necessary to take over some of this workload. As we mentioned, though, these phones come at a hefty price tag. If you are finding yourself wondering how a budget phone can be of any help, let’s get into the specs and the advantages of the iPhone SE to see just how capable it is.
What are the specs of the new iPhone SE?
Dimensions and screen specs
This is the second iteration of the iPhone SE, and has some key differences from the first gen which was released in 2016. The first iPhone SE had a 4-inch screen, while the new SE has a larger 4.7-inch screen. When it comes to form factor, of the subtler advantages of the iPhone SE’s upgrade is a slightly slimmer body. The first generation was 7.6mm thick, while the update comes in at 7.3mm. While this may seem like a small difference, your pocket will thank you.
The two generations have the same pixel density — Apple’s standard 326ppi, which is the same on all current phones in the lineup. However, the iPhone SE 2 does lack the Super AMOLED display that the iPhone X, iPhone XS and XS max, and iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max all boast. So while you will have an extremely detailed display with the same resolution as the top iPhones, you may notice on very colorful photos of floral arrangements or sunsets get colors quite as vivid as the more expensive models. The advantages of the iPhone SE’s display lie in its clarity, not in its contrast.
The new iPhone SE isn’t just great for viewing images; it’s great for capturing them as well. While Apple improves its camera each year, the megapixel count on the rear camera of the new iPhone SE actually matches the 12MP of the first generation. However, one of the key advantages of the iPhone SE 2nd gen lies in its front-facing camera. From the 1st gen to the next, this camera has been upgraded from 1.2MP all the way up to 7MP. This means that selfies will look more crisp and clear than ever before.
Look and feel
If you value having a phone that doesn’t weigh down your pockets, you should be aware that the new iPhone SE’s larger screen comes with an increase in mass as well. The first model came in at a very light 113g, while the SE 2 is a significantly heavier 148g. Still, this is much lighter than some of the other smartphones out there that boast massive screens, such as the Galaxy Note line; the Note 10+ weighs in at nearly 200g. Thus, in the scheme of things, size does remain one of the advantages of the iPhone SE.
Another factor which probably won’t be a deal-breaker for most, but is something to be noted, is the different color options for the second generation of the iPhone SE. The first generation had the classic Apple colors that some might consider to be more classy and elegant: silver, gold, rose gold, and grey. The new iPhone SE comes in more basic tones: black, red, and white. Though if you’ve been hoping to get an Apple product that supports the (RED) campaign, this can be considered one of the advantages of the iPhone SE 2.
In addition, the advantages of the iPhone SE gen 2 truly stand out when it comes to its performance.
iPhone SE processing power
This is one of the greatest advantages of the iPhone SE. This new model punches well above its weight when it comes to speed and raw power. Just as the iPhone SE before it, this model has the same chip as Apple’s flagship phone line: the brand new A13 bionic processor. This means that, even though you’re paying a fraction of the “pro” level phones, you still have a future-proof model that will be able to keep up with any software updates and new features yet to come.
This means that when you have to access a screenshare or large seminar for a remote learning program, you can do so on your phone without straining the device’s processor. This is perfect for high school or college students in quarantine who are having to attend classes remotely to finish up their degree or get their diploma.
Of course, you can also use the new iPhone SE for any one-on-one meetings you may have. These days, while the novel coronavirus crisis is ongoing, everything but the most essential appointments is happening online. That means that, whether you want mental health services or you need to talk to your vet about the benefits of spaying your pet, you will likely need to schedule a remote video appointment.
IPhone SE storage capacity
For those who work in an industry such as law or academia which requires the storage of numerous large files, the iPhone SE can still be an effective workday device. This is because the storage has been greatly increased since the last SE model. The 2016 SE came in 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB options. The new SE comes in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB options — a big step up and one that will allow many people to rely on their phone for keeping important work documents.
And this extra memory is useful for more than just storage. Extra gigabytes means being able to store more music and download more TV shows and movies onto your phone. This is key since while everyone is stuck in quarantine, internet providers are having their bandwidth pushed to its absolute limit. By downloading content directly you can circumvent these bottlenecks, enjoying your content seamlessly without interruptions.
In Conclusion
Apple has managed to provide the perfect device for this moment. We are all stuck inside, with many people trying to work remotely, and all of us making an effort to conserve funds. They have released a phone that can perform virtually any task we might require at a cost that is more accessible than any other device with comparable specifications.
If you are concerned that the current crisis will disrupt the production and shipping of this product, don’t worry. Most supply chains have remained intact despite the disruptions of the coronavirus, and new york ports remain in operation. If you or a loved one needs that extra capacity to take on the new challenges that remote work has placed upon us, the new iPhone SE just might be the answer.
