It's apparently the format of the 6~8 (which incidentally is likely why the 8/8+ was discontinued at the same time).

So it's quite a bit bigger than the original SE, though the biggest issue I had with the design (on a 6S anyway) was that the metal back and rounded edge made it much slippier than the old 4/5/SE design, much harder to hold securely.

Anyway the SE/2016 was 123.8mm x 58.6mm x 7.6mm and 114g with a 4" display, the 8 was 138.4mm x 67.3mm x 7.3mm and 148g with a 4.7" display.

Significantly heavier (+30%), noticeably wider (+12%) and taller (+15%) and about the same depth (-4%).

Thanks for the numbers. That is bigger.

Are there any Android phones for sale that are smaller than 138.4mm x 67.3mm though? (That are 'standard' phones, not gimmicky super small ones like the unihertz).

Some of the Android phones that seem to be known for being 'compact' are the Samsung Galaxy S10e (142.2 x 69.9). Google Pixel 4 (147.1 x 68.8) (slightly smaller Google Pixel 3, 145.6 x 68.2).

I'm having trouble googling to figure out the smallest 'reasonable' android phone available, I'm not super familiar with the market.

Aha! Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact is only 135mm x 65mm. Found one! Few mm smaller.

But I think the new SE may still be one of the smallest phones out there, even if it's bigger than the old SE. The market seems to have moved... larger.

There are certainly people (including me) who would prefer it be the old SE size... but it's not like there's really anywhere else for us to go. Except experimenting with the specialized 'oddballs' like unihertz.

With the new SE, Apple has still put out one of the smallest phones on the market, so is still serving the smaller end of the market. Which, yeah, that is weird.

I had a work issued 6s and kept it in my left front pocket.

When I would get into the car, it would eject out of my pocket, as I closed the door.

So, it can definitely handle being smashed in a car door, but it did bend it, and it still worked.

Still have and use an SE w 128MB size for personal use.

> 128MB

Surely you mean 128 GB? ;)

Oops. Yes.

Can’t remember the last time I’ve seen any iPhone in the wild without some kind of armor.

Anecdotal; I never see anyone with a phone case these days, aside from my partner who has a screen protector + thick case because she is very clumsy.

I hate screen cases. But I bought one for iPhone 8 because this thing is not made to be used without case. I dropped it first day, it's just not convenient to hold. I had 4S for 6 years before and never dropped it.

iPhones went downwards as Jobs died.

FWIW I firmly believe that the protruding camera array is a confirmation that they intend for phones to be in cases. There's no way it lies flush on a desk without a case.

It feels like really poor design unless that was the express intent.

The design is fine, if ugly on a phone, but it’s utterly bonkers on an iPad, which you put down on a table to write on and doesn’t even see that much camera usage…

Had the same experience with a 6S, coming from a 4s.

Don’t know if it’s the phone or me but the 11 is fine so far.

I think it’s a mix of the 6-8 design being too thin for rounded borders and the metal back being super slippery compared to glass.

The 6/6s/7 had an aluminum back, but the 8 and now the new SE have a glass back, presumably to support wireless charging.

Just to add a different perspective: I never used a case for any of my iPhones or iPads. I refuse to hide that mostly beautiful body in a cheap, or even high quality, permanent case.

And yet I have still sold all of those dozen devices in flawless, virtually pristine condition when it became time to upgrade. I think the secret is to use a lightweight, thin textile sleeve [1] during transport, in your pocket or bag. Plus, it also serves as a soft bedding when your device is resting on a table or other hard surfaces. It also has a microfiber inner lining, which combined with the snug fit keeps the display clean.

Sorry for sounding so ecstatic about a sleeve, but I always wondered why temporary sleeve usage wasn’t more popular compared to those dreadful permanent cases.

[1] https://shop.fitbag.de/jive-grau-handytasche-nach-mass.html

edit: I thought I was replying to the grand parent. Well, it’s not a different perspective then.