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There are a lot of ways to think about Apple's new $399 iPhone SE. One is that it's a more affordable option than the iPhone 11 ($699 at Amazon), with surprisingly similar camera specs, which it is. Or that it's the 2020 sequel to the original SE from 2016, which it also is. Or, at 4.7 inches, that it's the smallest and cheapest iPhone you can currently buy (though it's not that small). Or -- and this is my favorite way to think about it -- that it's an iPhone 8 with the brains and power of an iPhone 11. In fact, the new iPhone SE is all these things and that's why I'm enamored with it.
Like
- Affordable price
- Long battery life so far
- Great rear camera
- iPhone 11 Pro-level performance
Don't Like
- Old iPhone design
- Selfie camera is mediocre
The new iPhone SE has the classic design that defined the iPhone for its first 10 years. The design, the body and the camera lenses are all the same as 2017's iPhone 8. But Apple performed a clever brain transplant, replacing the nearly 3-year-old processor with the A13 Bionic processor used in the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. This goes well beyond a simple spec bump by majorly improving things like the cameras and battery life. The new processor not only runs faster, but it will likely future-proof the phone through years of iOS updates.
Read more: iPhone SE 2020 is proof that Apple won't actually bring back the tiny phone
But a $399 (£419, AU$749) iPhone comes with compromises, which Apple chose wisely. The SE has only a single rear camera, it doesn't have Face ID and it lacks camera features like Night Mode, Slofies and Deep Fusion processing. The selfie camera is OK but not as amazing as the one found on the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max.
When you look at the complete picture, the iPhone SE represents the most value for your dollar of any phone Apple sells. It has an attractive price, fantastic battery life, great rear camera, A13 processor, water resistance and support for wireless charging. The SE is not only a wonderful iPhone, but one of the best budget phones you can currently buy.
iPhone SE (2020) specs compared to iPhone 8, iPhone SE (2016), iPhone 11
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iPhone SE (2020) | iPhone 8 | iPhone SE (2016) | iPhone 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 4.7-inch Retina HD; 1,334x750 pixels | 4.7-inch Retina HD; 1,334x750 pixels | 4-inch; 1,136x640 pixels | 6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina; 1,792x828 pixels |
| Pixel density | 326ppi | 326ppi | 326ppi | 326ppi |
| Dimensions (Inches) | 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in | 5.45x2.65x0.29 in | 4.87x2.31x0.3 in | 5.94x2.98x0.33 in |
| Dimensions (Millimeters) | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm | 138.4x67.3x7.3 mm | 123x58x7.6 mm | 150.9x75.7x8.3 mm |
| Weight (Ounces, Grams) | 5.22 oz; 148g | 5.22 oz; 148 g | 3.99 oz; 113 g | 6.84 oz; 194g |
| Mobile software | iOS 13 | iOS 11 (can update to iOS 13) | iOS 9.3 | iOS 13 |
| Camera | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide) |
| Front-facing camera | 7-megapixel | 7-megapixel | 1.2-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | Apple A13 Bionic | Apple A11 Bionic | Apple A9 | Apple A13 Bionic |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 256GB | 16GB, 64GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| RAM | Not disclosed | 2GB | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Expandable storage | No | None | No | No |
| Battery | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Fingerprint sensor | Home button | Home button | Home button | No |
| Connector | Lightning | Lightning | Lightning | Lightning |
| Headphone jack | No | No | Yes | View More