There are loads of methods to consider Apple’s new $399 iPhone SE. One is that it is a extra inexpensive choice than the iPhone 11 ($699 at Apple), which it’s. Or that it is the 2020 sequel to the unique SE from 2016, which it is also. Or, at 4.7 inches, that it is the smallest and most cost-effective iPhone you may at present purchase. Or (and that is my favourite manner to consider it) that it is an iPhone 8 with the brains and energy of an iPhone 11. In truth, the brand new iPhone SE is all these items and that is why I’m enamored with it.
LikeAffordable priceLong battery life so farGreat rear cameraiPhone 11 Pro-level efficiency
Don’t LikeOld iPhone designSelfie digital camera is mediocre
The new iPhone SE has the traditional design that outlined the iPhone for its first 10 years. The design, the physique and the digital camera lenses are all the identical as 2017’s iPhone 8. But Apple carried out a intelligent lobotomy, changing the practically 3-year-old processor with the A13 Bionic processor used within the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. This goes properly past a easy spec bump by majorly bettering issues just like the cameras and battery life. The new processor not solely runs quicker, however it is going to probably future-proof the telephone by means of years of iOS updates.But a $399 (£419, AU$749) iPhone comes with compromises, which Apple selected correctly. The SE has solely a single rear digital camera, it would not have Face ID and it lacks digital camera options like Night Mode, Slofies and Deep Fusion processing. The selfie digital camera is OK however not as superb because the one discovered on the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max.
When you have a look at the whole image, the iPhone SE represents essentially the most worth in your greenback of any telephone Apple sells. It has a beautiful worth, incredible battery life, nice rear digital camera, A13 processor, water resistance and help for wi-fi charging. The SE will not be solely a beautiful iPhone, however the most effective finances telephones you may at present purchase.Current iPhone fashions and costs in contrast
Model and storage
US worth
UK worth
Australia worth
iPhone SE 64GB
$399
£419
AU$749
iPhone SE 128GB
$449
£469
AU$829
iPhone SE 256GB
$549
£569
AU$999
iPhone XR 64GB
$599
£629
AU$1,049
iPhone XR 128GB
$649
£679
AU$1,129
iPhone 11 64GB
$699
£729
AU$1,199
iPhone 11 128GB
$749
£779
AU$1,279
iPhone 11 256GB
$849
£879
AU$1,449
iPhone 11 Pro 64GB
$999
£1,049
AU$1,749
iPhone 11 Pro 256GB
$1,149
£1,199
AU$1,999
iPhone 11 Pro 512GB
$1,349
£1,399
AU$2,349
iPhone 11 Pro Max 64GB
$1,099
£1,149
AU$1,899
iPhone 11 Pro Max 256GB
$1,249
£1,299
AU$2,149
iPhone 11 Pro Max 512GB
$1,449
£1,1499
AU$2,499
From left to proper: iPhone SE (2016), iPhone 8, iPhone SE (2020).
Patrick Holland/CNET
iPhone SE cameras have Portrait Mode, Smart HDR The rear digital camera on the SE has the identical specs because the iPhone 8, however when mixed with the A13 chip and iOS 13 it transforms the digital camera into one thing that may compete with the perfect telephone cameras, and even go toe-to-toe with the primary rear digital camera on the iPhone 11. It has a slew of options, together with Smart HDR for images, Quick Take filming and Portrait Mode — these are spectacular options and a primary for a $399 iPhone.The iPhone SE has a single rear digital camera that has SmartHDR and Portrait Mode for images.
John Kim/CNET
The rear digital camera on the SE has a 28mm f1.8 lens whereas the iPhone 11 has two rear cameras: a foremost wide-angle digital camera with a 26-mm f1.8 lens and an ultrawide-angle digital camera with a 13mm f/2.4 lens. I do benefit from the ultrawide-angle on the iPhone 11 however I did not miss it throughout my time with the iPhone SE.
When I evaluate images taken with every telephone, it is laborious to tell apart between them until you carry them onto a bigger display screen and even then the variations are delicate.In good gentle, images from every are related when it comes to picture high quality. Look on the photos under of a tree I took in my yard. Can you inform the distinction? You see my level. The most blatant distinction is that the iPhone SE photograph is framed tighter than the iPhone 11. Here are just a few different images from the iPhone SE.The iPhone SE is nice at capturing correct colours.
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Smart HDR is spectacular in conserving the sky from blowing out and the shadows comparatively freed from picture noise.
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In this photograph of wooden slats, have a look at the quantity of element and texture the iPhone SE captured.
Patrick Holland/CNET
A pleasant snap of my breakfast taken beneath medium lighting.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Both telephones have portrait mode and produce wonderful outcomes. The 11 can seize portrait mode images of each folks and pets. The iPhone SE, just like the iPhone XR ($599 at Apple), can solely do folks. It’s not till you look very intently on the images under you can see that the iPhone 11’s portrait mode captures only a bit extra element and fewer noise.In the image under of my shoulder, you may discover the standard of the falloff from in-focus to out-of-focus areas seems extra pure on the iPhone 11 than on the iPhone SE. Below are images of my bike coach taken indoors in medium lighting. The most blatant distinction right here is the framing is tighter on the iPhone SE. But the iPhone 11 captured extra element, which you’ll see on the wall outlet. And when you have a look at the underside proper facet of the coach, you may discover the iPhone SE suffers from noise within the shadows. That mentioned, there is not an enormous distinction between the images. For indoor and medium gentle images, the 11 has a skinny edge.As for video, each telephones are related. The iPhone SE and 11 can shoot 4K 60fps video, however solely the 11 takes benefit of the prolonged dynamic vary at that decision and body charge. The SE has prolonged dynamic vary for video, however solely as much as 4K 30fps. Take a have a look at my iPhone SE evaluation video to see samples of movies captured with the iPhone SE.The one place the place there is a huge distinction between the 2 telephones are the selfie cameras. The iPhone 11 has a wider front-facing digital camera, and it is able to taking pictures 4K and slow-mo movies. The iPhone SE solely shoots 1080p video and no Slofies. Both have Portrait mode for selfies, however images from the iPhone 11 present extra element in my pores and skin.The iPhone SE’s battery life is longer than the iPhone 8Apple’s web site says that the iPhone SE’s battery lasts about the identical because the iPhone 8, however my testing confirmed it lasted for much longer. I performed a looped video on Airplane mode at 50% brightness and the iPhone SE lasted 15 hours, 45 minutes. That’s hours longer than what the iPhone 8 and iPhone SE lasted in the identical check once they had been new. Anecdotally, it made it by means of a day and a half with out a downside, and a pair occasions it went two days straight with out a cost.In our early battery exams, the iPhone SE simply outlasts the iPhone 8 and unique 2016 iPhone SE.
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I ought to observe that I’ve extra battery exams to run (together with streaming video exams), so verify again when I’ll replace the outcomes.The iPhone SE has wi-fi charging, which is one other function not discovered on most finances telephones. There can also be help for fast-charging, which replenishes the battery to 50% in 30 minutes. But the iPhone SE would not include the mandatory 18-watt charger and as a substitute contains the slower 5-watt one. Again, that is more likely to hold the price of the gadget low.iPhone SE has A13 Bionic processor efficiencyThe longevity of Apple’s iOS help for “older devices” is a quiet however vital enchantment of proudly owning an iPhone. The iPhone 8 and its A11 processor are actually two-and-a-half years previous and can probably cease receiving iOS software program updates a pair years earlier than the iPhone SE and its newer A13 Bionic processor.In efficiency exams, the iPhone SE was constantly higher than the iPhone 8 and (no shock) the unique iPhone SE. It scored related outcomes to what we received on the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max.In actual life that meant app launches had been peppy, enjoying video games like Sky: Children of Light and Doomsday Vault had been a breeze. Editing images was straightforward and I may even use graphics-heavy AR apps equivalent to Wonderscope, which remodeled my bed room right into a coaching floor for ghosts.Geekbench v.5.0 single-core
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Geekbench v.5.0 multicore
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
3DMark Slingshot Unlimited
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
The iPhone SE’s iPhone 8 designPhysically, the SE is an iPhone 8. The back and front are fabricated from glass, the chassis and sides are aluminum. The solely bodily distinction between the iPhone SE and iPhone 8 is that the Apple brand is now centered on the again to match current-generation iPhones.The new telephone has Apple’s old-school brow and chin bezel above and under the display screen. This makes the SE look, properly, previous. This is the one of many few issues that I’m not too thrilled about. It’s not ugly, it is simply dated. And which may enchantment to some folks, however not me.Welcome again, massive bezels.
John Kim/CNET
Having used Face ID for the previous couple years, it is a unusual and acquainted feeling to arrange and use Touch ID. It’s like going from an computerized transmission again to a stick shift. But in the correct automobile, stick shift generally is a blast.I forgot how a lot I missed the house button and the way it makes interactions and navigation much less fussy than swipes and holds. I faucet and maintain to pay for purchases as a substitute of angling my telephone to get Face ID verification. A speedy double-tap exhibits current apps. Though Face ID has its personal advantages, the house button continues to be as satisfying to make use of because it was again within the day. For tiny telephone lovers, the iPhone SE’s 4.7-inch LCD show is not as small as the unique SE’s 4-inch display screen. But it is nonetheless smaller than most telephones out proper now and is sufficient to be transportable and cozy for most individuals.The display screen on the SE is much like the one on the iPhone 11, particularly when it comes to high quality and determination. Text seems sharp, colours are correct and it is vivid in sunny circumstances.The iPhone SE is rated IP67 for water and mud resistance.
Patrick Holland/CNET
The iPhone SE is rated IP67, which means it could possibly face up to being submerged for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter (about 3 toes). I wasn’t in a position to check this declare, although I did submerge it in a liter of water for 30 minutes and the whole lot labored high quality. This degree of water and mud resistance is not one thing you usually discover on telephones beneath $400, so it is notably noteworthy that the iPhone SE has it.The SE is available in three colours: black, white and pink. The iPhone 8 had its personal pink model too, nevertheless it had white bezels and rattling if the iPhone SE would not look extra hanging in pink with black bezels. iPhone SE (2020) specs in comparison with iPhone 8, iPhone SE (2016), iPhone 11
iPhone SE (2020)
iPhone 8
iPhone SE (2016)
iPhone 11
Display measurement, decision
4.7-inch Retina HD; 1,334×750 pixels
4.7-inch Retina HD; 1,334×750 pixels
4-inch; 1,136×640 pixels
6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina; 1,792×828 pixels
Pixel density
326ppi
326ppi
326ppi
326ppi
Dimensions (Inches)
5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in
5.45×2.65×0.29 in
4.87×2.31×0.3 in
5.94×2.98×0.33 in
Dimensions (Millimeters)
138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm
138.4×67.3×7.3 mm
123x58x7.6 mm
150.9×75.7×8.3 mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams)
5.22 oz; 148g
5.22 oz; 148 g
3.99 oz; 113 g
6.84 oz; 194g
Mobile software program
iOS 13
iOS 11 (can replace to iOS 13)
iOS 9.3
iOS 13
Camera
12-megapixel
12-megapixel
12-megapixel
12-megapixel (extensive), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide)
Front-facing digital camera
7-megapixel
7-megapixel
1.2-megapixel
12-megapixel
Video seize
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
No
Special options
Water resistant (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wi-fi charging
Water resistant (IP67), wi-fi charging
Apple Pay; Haptic Touch
Water resistant (IP68); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wi-fi charging
Price off-contract (USD)
$399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB)
$699 (64GB), $849 (256GB)
$399 (16GB); $499 (64GB)
$699 (64GB), $749 (128GB), $849 (256GB)
Price (GBP)
£419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB)
£699 (64GB), £849 (256GB)
£359 (16GB) £439 (64GB)
£729 (64GB), £779 (128GB), £879 (256GB)
Price (AUD)
AU$749 (64GB), AU$829 (128GB), AU$999 (256GB)
AU$1,079 (64GB), AU$1,329 (256GB)
AU$679 (16GB); AU$829 (64GB)
AU$1,199 (64GB), AU$1,279 (128GB), AU$1,449 (256GB)