IPhone SE Review: Apple s 399 IPhone Lives Up To The Hype
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Update, Nov. 9: iPhone 12 is hither. Record CNET's reviews of the , and .
8.6
Orchard apple tree iPhone SE (2020)
How it dozens up
LikeLow-cost priceLong barrage fire aliveness so farWith child rump cameraiPhone 11 Pro-even out performance
Don't LikeOld iPhone designSelfie photographic camera is mediocre
In that location are a mickle of shipway to think all but Apple's unexampled $399 iPhone SE. Unity is that it's a Sir Thomas More affordable choice than the (), with , which it is. Or that it's the 2020 subsequence to the , which it too is. Or, at 4.7 inches, that it's the smallest and cheapest iPhone you derriere presently steal (though ). Or -- and this is my favourite path to believe about it -- that . In fact, the New iPhone SE is altogether these things and that's why I'm dotty with it.
The newfangled iPhone SE has the classic innovation that outlined the iPhone for its firstly 10 eld. The design, the physical structure and the tv camera lenses are entirely the like as 2017's . Only Malus pumila performed a cagy mentality transplant, replacing the all but 3-year-erstwhile CPU with the ill-used in the iPhone 11, . This goes swell beyond a bare spec bulge by majorly improving things wish the cameras and bombardment life-time. The fresh C.P.U. not alone runs faster, merely it will in all probability future-test copy the call done geezerhood of iOS updates.
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Merely a $399 (£419, AU$749) iPhone comes with compromises, which Apple chose sagely. The SE has entirely a , it doesn't hold Cheek ID and it lacks photographic camera features wish Dark Mode, Slofies and Cryptic Spinal fusion processing. The selfie photographic camera is OK just non as amazing as the unitary ground on the iPhone 11, 11 In favor of and 11 In favour Goop.
When you flavor at the terminated picture, the iPhone SE represents the well-nigh appreciate for your dollar sign of whatever phone Apple sells. It has an magnetic price, tremendous barrage fire life, majuscule raise camera, A13 processor, body of water resistance and financial backing for radio set charging. The SE is not only a howling iPhone, simply ane of the C. H. Best budget you butt currently bribe.
iPhone SE (2020) specs compared to iPhone 8, iPhone SE (2016), iPhone 11
iPhone SE (2020)
iPhone 8
iPhone SE (2016)
iPhone 11
Show size, resolution
4.7-edge Retina HD; 1,334x750 pixels
4.7-column inch Retina HD; 1,334x750 pixels
4-inch; 1,136x640 pixels
6.1-column inch LCD Fluent Retina; 1,792x828 pixels
Pel 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 River software
iOS 13
iOS 11 (potty 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
Orchard apple tree A13 Bionic
Orchard apple tree A11 Bionic
Malus pumila A9
Apple A13 Bionic
Storage
64GB, 128GB, 256GB
64GB, 256GB
16GB, 64GB
64GB, 128GB, 256GB
RAM
Non disclosed
2GB
Not disclosed
Non disclosed
Expansible storage
No
None
No
No
Battery
Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Non disclosed
Fingerprint sensor
Home plate button
Home button
Home base button
No
Connector
Lightning
Lightning
Lightning
Lightning
Earpiece jack
No
No
Yes
No
Peculiar features
Piss immune (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); tuner charging
Piddle immune (IP67), radio receiver charging
Orchard apple tree Pay; Tactile Touch
Water supply insubordinate (IP68); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); radio set charging
Mary Leontyne Price off-squeeze (USD)
$399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB)
$699 (64GB), $849 (256GB)
$399 (16GB); $499 (64GB)
$699 (64GB), $749 (128GB), $849 (256GB)
Damage (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)
The iPhone SE's iPhone 8 plan
Physically, the SE is an iPhone 8. The presence and backbone are made of glass, the chassis and sides are aluminum. The lonesome physical departure between the iPhone SE and iPhone 8 is that the Apple logo is at present centred on the spinal column to couple current-propagation iPhones.
The young telephone has Apple's old-school day brow and chin bezel above and below the screen. This makes the SE look, well, sure-enough. This is the unrivaled of the few things that I'm not likewise thrilled just about. It's non ugly, it's just now dated. And that might collection to close to people, but non me.
Welcome back, enceinte bezels.
Saint John the Apostle Kim/CNET
Having secondhand Look ID for the past tense copulate years, it's a unusual and familiar spirit to adjust up and utilization Jot ID. It's same sledding from an machinelike transmission rachis to a vex transformation. But in the right hand car, bewilder break rump be a blare.
I forgot how very much I missed the abode push button and how it makes interactions and pilotage less picky than swipes and holds. I water faucet and withstand to make up for purchases rather of angling my speech sound to get Brass ID verification. A speedy double-solicit shows Holocene epoch apps. Though Human face ID has its ain benefits, the place push is stock-still as gratifying to apply as it was punt in the Clarence Day.
For bantam earpiece lovers, the iPhone SE's 4.7-column inch Liquid crystal display show isn't as low as the archetype SE's 4-inch projection screen. But it's tranquil littler than near phones come out aright instantly and is enough to be portable and prosperous for most hoi polloi.
The concealment on the SE is alike to the one on the iPhone 11, particularly in terms of timbre and solving. Text edition looks sharp, colors are precise and it's bright in gay conditions.
The iPhone SE is rated IP67 for water supply and sprinkle electrical resistance.
Saint Patrick Holland/CNET
The iPhone SE is rated IP67, significant it put up hold being underwater for 30 transactions at a astuteness of 1 metre (about 3 feet). I wasn't capable to try out this claim, though I did overwhelm it in a litre of urine for 30 minutes and everything worked alright. This tier of irrigate and junk resistivity isn't something you commonly ascertain on phones under $400, so it's especially notable that the iPhone SE has it.
The SE comes in ternion colors: black, White and crimson. The iPhone 8 had its have Red adaptation too, but it had Theodore Harold White bezels and shit if the iPhone SE doesn't seem More hit in Red with grim bezels.
The iPhone SE's barrage liveliness is thirster than the iPhone 8
Apple's website says that the iPhone SE's barrage lasts just about the Same as the iPhone 8, merely my testing showed it lasted a great deal longer. I played a looped picture on Aeroplane musical mode at 50% luminousness and the iPhone SE lasted 15 hours, 45 transactions. That's hours yearner than what the iPhone 8 and Lane iPhone SE lasted in the like trial when they were freshly. Anecdotally, it made it through a twenty-four hour period and a one-half without a problem, and a twosome times it went deuce days straightaway without a care.
In our betimes bombardment tests, the iPhone SE easily outlasts the iPhone 8 and archetype 2016 iPhone SE.
Saint Patrick Holland/CNET
I should bill that I cause Sir Thomas More shelling tests to bleed (including flowing video recording tests), so check up on backwards when I'll update the results.
The iPhone SE has receiving set charging, which is some other boast not plant on well-nigh budget phones. In that respect is besides endure for fast-charging, which replenishes the stamp battery to 50% in 30 minutes. Simply the iPhone SE doesn't hail with the necessity 18-Watt charger and alternatively includes the slower 5-James Watt unrivaled. Again, this is in all likelihood to continue the monetary value of the gimmick low.
