Well I certainly didn’t expect Apple to go backwards in size. That’s exactly what happened with the Apple iPhone SE. Such an interesting direction. Apple stuffed some of the same specs such as the processor and RAM that’s found in the iPhone 6s into the newly announced iPhone SE. The suggested retail is extremely competitive. I can see this appealing to people who prefer smaller phones but want better performance.
The 4″ display comes in at 1136 x 640 and will work well with GPS applications such as Waze.
If you like the size of the Apple iPhone 5s, you will love the Apple iPhone SE because the size is nearly identical. Measuring 4.87 by 2.31 by 0.30, that’s the exact measurement of the old Apple iPhone 5s. There are some subtle differences in terms of form factor as the iPhone SE has more rounded corners so custom cradles and cases that fit the iPhone 5s may or may not fit. Most universal cradles that you may have from an older iPhone 5 or 5s should work just fine.
As of the date of publishing this article, there are no custom cradles available for the Apple iPhone SE, so we are just discussing universals which I recommend when using a case or skin on your phone. Speaking of a case or skin, definitely get one. It’s going to protect your phone in case of an accidental drop and is way less expensive than a phone repair.
A lot of the mounts that we have recommended for the past two generations of iPhone will work quite well with the iPhone SE. The most popular location for mounting your phone remains the windshield. The Arkon Windshield and Dash Mount continues to be my favorite for this location. That’s the one that is found in the photo that accompanies this article. The included holder opens to 3.4 inches so it’s large enough for the Apple iPhone SE with or without a case or skin. The included suction cup mount features a vacuum grip that’s activated by pressing the lever at the base. Landscape or portrait are supported as the mount has a swivel feature built-in. There is an included adhesive dash disk to facilitate mounting to your dashboard. This is a great addition for drivers in states that do not permit windshield mounting.
While the windshield is very popular, there are a lot of other locations in a car that I think are even better locations for your Apple iPhone SE. The Arkon SmartPhone Vent Mount is a great mount for placing your phone on the air vent. This mount features the same cradle as the previously mentioned mount. It will attach to your vent slats using a pair of arms that grab onto the slats and works best in cars with horizontal vents. I like these because it places the device near the eye level of the driver yet it’s not as visible as a windshield mount so it stays out of the view of potential thieves plus these are great solutions for those living in those states where windshield mounting is not allowed. Like the prior mount, this also can swivel into portrait or landscape.
Ever notice that your CD player isn’t used any longer? That’s because everything is loaded to your phone and it’s now streaming via Bluetooth to your car’s audio system. Why not use that worthless CD player slot as a mounting point for your phone? The Satechi Universal Smartphone CD Slot Mount features a universal cradle that will fit your Apple iPhone SE quite well. Included are 3 pads of varying thickness which are used to ensure the mount fits into your CD slot. The accompanying cradle has padded arms to grip your phone firmly.
On the motorcycle, the RAM X-Grip Motorcycle Handlebar Mount combines a well made universal holder with a metal motorcycle mount that fits up to 1.25 inch handlebars and features two adjustment points with the ability to pivot and swivel at the base and tip. The cradle is expandable so it will fit your Apple iPhone SE with or without a case or skin. The RAM X-Grip cradles have been a favorite of mine for a long time and you can read our overview of this series. These are heavy-duty mounts that are mostly constructed of metal. The mount has gone through some rigorous shake tests and holds up well on a motorcycle.