The iPhone SE 2020 basically just killed the Pixel 4a and other value flagships...

[the_boon]

LED notification lights are pretty much a thing of the past and I don't see them returning any time soon.

Another awesome feature that didn't hurt anyone and yet was still killed off (like the IR blaster, rubber back, removable battery, headphone jack, slider design)

 

[the_boon]

Apple is more simplified. No pkb’s, no notification light, etc. They keep it aesthetically light. Just my thoughts.

I think that's why they were so successful.

They banked on those who didn't want to have to tinker one little bit with their device. Oversimplified OS.

 

[Morty2264]

Yep, flat edges had been a thing of the past since...Steve passed.

What's old is new again!

Finally a good design decision from Apple

Yeah, I too enjoy flat edges more than curved as far as finding appropriate protection is concerned. That was one selling point the S10e had when I was having to choose between that and the S10.

 

[vzwuser76]

Yep, flat edges and rubber back is how a company should design a phone if they care about ergonomics.

The Moto X didn't have a rubber back, at least mine didn't. I do recall looking at one in a store before I got it and it seemed that the back was textured rubber, but the one I got was the same texture in plastic.

Another curious thing was that the in-store models had 2 different backs, the black had rubber and the white was plastic. I assumed that was because if the white one was rubber it'd be a devil to clean.

 

[the_boon]

Yeah, I too enjoy flat edges more than curved as far as finding appropriate protection is concerned. That was one selling point the S10e had when I was having to choose between that and the S10.

The S10e's edges are indeed flatter than most slabs, including all the iPhones since the SE 2016.

It's not AS flat as said SE or the BlackBerry's though.

Not gonna complain though lol

 

[the_boon]

The Moto X didn't have a rubber back, at least mine didn't. I do recall looking at one in a store before I got it and it seemed that the back was textured rubber, but the one I got was the same texture in plastic.

Another curious thing was that the in-store models had 2 different backs, the black had rubber and the white was plastic. I assumed that was because if the white one was rubber it'd be a devil to clean.

I never even heard of the Moto X until now but if I was looking to buy one back then, I'd 100% have gotten the black one just to have the rubber.

 

[vzwuser76]

Another awesome feature that didn't hurt anyone and yet was still killed off (like the IR blaster, rubber back, removable battery, headphone jack, slider design)

Eliminating the removable battery, IR blaster, and headphone jack freed up a lot of space inside the phones. And since space is a premium, they had to look at whether it was worth it to keep those features or not, ie were they wildly popular or was it only important to a small group of customers? Of those, I'd say the headphone jack was the only one that would meet that criteria. Unfortunately it probably took up the most space out if the three, which is why it got axed.

While I wasn't happy with companies ditching headphone jacks, I've since moved on, and not having wires in the way is nice. The only issue is having to worry about if the headphone's battery is charged or not.

 

[vzwuser76]

I never even heard of the Moto X until now but if I was looking to buy one back then, I'd 100% have gotten the black one just to have the rubber.

But as I said, only the store's display model had it, the one I ordered (same color as the rubber back display model) didn't have it, and it wasn't an option when ordering it. I assumed it would just have it but it didn't. Maybe they had production issues, or it didn't hold up well, I don't know. The only other option that was close was to get a leather back, but I don't like the look of them on phones.

 

[mustang7757]

Eliminating the removable battery, IR blaster, and headphone jack freed up a lot of space inside the phones. And since space is a premium, they had to look at whether it was worth it to keep those features or not, ie were they wildly popular or was it only important to a small group of customers? Of those, I'd say the headphone jack was the only one that would meet that criteria. Unfortunately it probably took up the most space out if the three, which is why it got axed.

While I wasn't happy with companies ditching headphone jacks, I've since moved on, and not having wires in the way is nice. The only issue is having to worry about if the headphone's battery is charged or not.

Dongle to use the headphones in usb c port , i leave them on the wired headphones

 

[vzwuser76]

Dongle to use the headphones in usb c port , i leave them on the wired headphones

I've got them, and they're ok, but I seem to get better sound out of my BT headphones. They have a 3.5mm jack so they can also be used wired, and I tried that once when it's battery was dead. Unfortunately it screwed something up inside the headphones and afterwards only one side worked when using them wirelessly.

 

[mustang7757]

I've got them, and they're ok, but I seem to get better sound out of my BT headphones. They have a 3.5mm jack so they can also be used wired, and I tried that once when it's battery was dead. Unfortunately it screwed something up inside the headphones and afterwards only one side worked when using them wirelessly.

Oh wow , now the only time I use wired with dongle if the Bluetooth is being charged up , but I have 2 Bluetooth headphones so its rare I use wired anymore.

 

[the_boon]

While I wasn't happy with companies ditching headphone jacks, I've since moved on, and not having wires in the way is nice. The only issue is having to worry about if the headphone's battery is charged or not.

The only reason I haven't invested in wireless buds is health related. I don't want something emitting a Bluetooth signal right by my head all day long.

Having to charge it is another story.

Not having a 3.5mm jack also means you can either charge your phone or plug in headphomes, but not both at the same time (unless someone out there makes a splitter?)

 

[stevenjb2020]

The only reason I haven't invested in wireless buds is health related. I don't want something emitting a Bluetooth signal right by my head all day long.

Having to charge it is another story.

Not having a 3.5mm jack also means you can either charge your phone or plug in headphomes, but not both at the same time (unless someone out there makes a splitter?)

Exactly why I use AirTube type earbuds. No magnetic or electrical signals around my head.

 

[the_boon]

Exactly why I use AirTube type earbuds. No magnetic or electrical signals around my head.

You mean someone out there has invented earbuds in which the casing blocks all the emitted waves from going in the direction of the user's head?

 

[stevenjb2020]

You mean someone out there has invented earbuds in which the casing blocks all the emitted waves from going in the direction of the user's head?

It uses the technology that airlines used decades ago with audio head sets - a rubber tube with a resonator that went into the ears - the business (speakers) end is away from the ears.

 

[eve6er69]

The only reason I haven't invested in wireless buds is health related. I don't want something emitting a Bluetooth signal right by my head all day long.

Having to charge it is another story.

Not having a 3.5mm jack also means you can either charge your phone or plug in headphomes, but not both at the same time (unless someone out there makes a splitter?)

I have a wireless charging pad and that charges while I used wired headphones. I’ve since purchased the AirPods and they are by far my favorite pair of headphones I’ve owned for wireless. Wired I’d have to say Bose qc20

 

[Mike Dee]

And I find Samsung's edge lighting to be kind of distracting with the animations glowing all around the screen.

I just want a simple small colored dot flashing every 2.5 seconds!

The edge lighting is very customizable and I don't find it any more distracting then a notification light. If there was a high demand for a notification light they would implemented that change already.

 

[Mike Dee]

The only reason I haven't invested in wireless buds is health related. I don't want something emitting a Bluetooth signal right by my head all day long.

Having to charge it is another story.

Not having a 3.5mm jack also means you can either charge your phone or plug in headphomes, but not both at the same time (unless someone out there makes a splitter?)

Yes someone makes a splitter. I didn't buy one because I don't see the real need. I was given one to review and honestly I never use it based on my charging am listening habbits.

 

[customshopkv1]

The edge lighting is very customizable and I don't find it any more distracting then a notification light. If there was a high demand for a notification light they would implemented that change already.

I can't get edge lighting to work with Google Messages, Outlook or Gmail. Tried every "trick" I could find and no luck. It does work on WhatsApp and Snapchat for me but 2 out of 5 lead me to shut it off.

 

[Mike Dee]

I can't get edge lighting to work with Google Messages, Outlook or Gmail. Tried every "trick" I could find and no luck. It does work on WhatsApp and Snapchat for me but 2 out of 5 lead me to shut it off.

I don't use Outlook on mine but I get Google message and Gmail notifications.