iPhone SE 2020 specs: How it stacks up to the old iPhone SE and other recent phones
Apple’s fans who love small phones can now tick an item off their wishlist — the new iPhone SE for 2020 is here ( though Apple could have gone even smaller). Starting at $399 (£419, AU$749), it’s positioned as a “budget phone,” and it’s now the most affordable iPhone you can buy. (Compare it to other budget phones, such as the Pixel 3A, Galaxy S10E and Galaxy A51.) At this price, Apple hopes to lure in customers who aren’t willing to splurge $1,000 or even $700 on, say, an iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11.
Read more: How the new iPhone SE compares to the iPhone 11.
The next-generation iPhone SE retains many of the features people have come to know and love about the original iPhone SE, such as a physical home button and compact size. Although the new iPhone SE is slightly larger at 4.7 inches, compared to the original iPhone SE’s 4-inch screen, it’s still considered a small phone by today’s standards. Like the 2016 version, the latest iPhone SE features a single camera on the phone’s rear. According to CNET’s Andrew Hoyle it’s most similar to the 11 Pro’s standard zoom lens. Here’s a deeper look into how the new iPhone SE’s camera compares to the iPhone 11 Pro’s camera system along with some cool camera tricks you can do with the less expensive iPhone.
Aside from upgraded internals, one conspicuous change to the new iPhone SE is the absence of a headphone jack, a feature Apple has opted to leave out since 2017’s iPhone 7.
The new iPhone SE (left) with the iPhone 11 phones.
Apple
Apple released the original iPhone SE in 2016 and featured the same A9 processor as the iPhone 6S (Apple’s flagship at the time), before it was discontinued in favor of the iPhone 8. For more on how the brand-new iPhone SE stacks up against its predecessor and the pricier iPhone XR and iPhone 11, check out CNET’s specs chart below. We also have a more in-depth comparison of the new iPhone SE and iPhone 11 if you’re trying to figure you’re out which of the two phones to buy. My colleague Lexi Savides didn’t feel like she missed out on all that much when she switched over to the less expensive iPhone. You can read more about her thoughts here. But if you’ve already made up your mind and want to bring home the 2020 iPhone SE, here’s how to do just that.
iPhone SE 2020 spec comparison
| Apple iPhone SE 2020 | Apple iPhone SE | iPhone 8 | iPhone XR | iPhone 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 4.7-inch Retina HD; 1,334×750 pixels | 4-inch; 1,136×640 pixels | 4.7-inch; 1,334×750 pixels | 6.1-inch LCD Retina Display; 1,792×828 pixels | 6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina; 1,792×828 pixels |
| Pixel density | 326ppi | 326ppi | 326 ppi | 326ppi | 326ppi |
| Dimensions (Inches) | 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in | 4.87 x 2.31 x 0.3 in | 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in | 5.9 x 3.0 x 0.33 in | 5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in |
| Dimensions (Millimeters) | 138 x 67 x 7.3 mm | 123 x 58 x 7.6 mm | 138 x 67 x 7.3 mm | 150 x 76 x 8.38 mm | 151 x 76 x 8.3 mm |
| Weight (Ounces, Grams) | 5.22 oz; 148g | 3.99 oz; 113g | 5.22 oz; 148g | 6.8oz; 194g | 6.84 oz; 194g |
| Mobile software | iOS 13 | iOS 9.3 | iOS 11 | iOS 12 | iOS 13 |
| Camera | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide) |
| Front-facing camera | 7-megapixel | 1.2-megapixels | 7-megapixel | 7-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | Apple A13 Bionic | Apple A9 | Apple A11 Bionic | Apple A12 Bionic | Apple A13 Bionic |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 16GB, 64GB, 128GB | 64GB, 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| RAM | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Expandable storage | No | No | No | No | No |
| Battery | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Fingerprint sensor | Home button | Home button | Home button | No | No |
| Connector | Lightning | Lightning | Lightning | Lightning | Lightning |
| Headphone jack | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Special features | Water resistant (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging | Apple Pay; Haptic Touch | Water resistant (IP67); wireless Qi charge compatible | Water-resistant (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging; Face ID; Memoji | Water resistant (IP68); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging |
| Price off-contract (USD) | $399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB) | $399 (16GB); $499 (64GB) | $699 (64GB), $849 (256GB) | $599 (64GB), $649 (128GB) | $699 (64GB), $749 (128GB), $849 (256GB) |
| Price (GBP) | £419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB) | £359 (16GB) £439 (64GB) | £699 (64GB), £849 (256GB) | £629 (64GB), £679 (128GB) | £729 (64GB), £779 (128GB), £879 (256GB) |
| Price (AUD) | AU$749 (64GB), AU$829 (128GB), AU$999 (256GB) | AU$679 (16GB); AU$829 (64GB) | AU$1,079 (64GB), AU$1,329 (256GB) | AU$1,049 (64GB), AU$1,129 (128GB) | AU$1,199 (64GB), AU$1,279 (128GB), AU$1,449 (256GB) |
*Prices and iOS versions listed are at launch.
Watch this:
iPhone SE reminds us how much we missed the home button
12:32
