Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Not Apple ’s good iPhone , but its good time value by a sea mile . The iPhone SE is a huge gift to those who ca n’t afford or do n’t desire to yield $ 700 or more for a new iPhone .
The newiPhone SEis tricky to review not because it incorporate a draw of interesting new technology to test and explain , but because it does the opposite .
Literallynothinghere is new . One could write a fairly comprehensive and accurate review in a single short sentence : Apple took an iPhone 8 , gave it the iPhone 11 ’s processor , and is charging only $ 399 for it .
Physically, the iPhone SE (center) is nearly identical to the iPhone 8 (left), and much smaller than the iPhone 11 (right).
And yet it ’s that last part , the low-cost price , that makes it so interesting . For many millions of likely customers , a trade name - new iPhone has remained out of reach . For so many others , their eld - old iPhone is delinquent for an raise but the fresh iPhones give them gummed label shock .
This phone offer nothing at all to anyone who has an iPhone released in the last twain of long time , but for its intend audience of iPhone 6 upgraders and “ I got this basically free from my carrier ” customers , the young iPhone SE is the most great note value since , well , theold iPhone SE .
iPhone history
This iPhone has been replaced with a newer model . happen links below to our reviews of all iPhone models , including the latest generation.iPhone 16is expect to launch in September 2024 ( seewhen is the best time to buy a new iPhone ) , whileiPhone SE ( fourth generation)andiPhone 17are likely to appear in 2025 . rule out aboutApple ’s September event detailsandhow to watch the Apple September event live flow ; or for other Apple products , learn more about all thenew Apple products coming this yearandwhen is the next Apple upshot . You might also like ouriPhone purchasing guide , good iPhone dealsandcomparison of every iPhone that is useable to corrupt today .
iPhone 8 redux
At a coup d’oeil , it ’s hard to severalise the iPhone SE from aniPhone 8 . They’reexactlythe same size with precisely the same release positioning — iPhone 8caseswork just all right on the iPhone SE . There are small changes , like the path the iPhone SE ’s front is all black no topic the back glass color , or the now - centered Apple logotype on the back . In meat , though , this is an iPhone 8 on the exterior .
Physically , the iPhone SE ( center ) is nigh very to the iPhone 8 ( left ) , and much little than the iPhone 11 ( right hand ) .
It ’s just like the iPhone 8 in most other direction , too . Both have IP67 water resistivity . Both support wireless charging . The young phone has the same 4.7 - column inch Retina HD ( that ’s approximately 720p ) LCD showing , too .
Physically, the iPhone SE (center) is nearly identical to the iPhone 8 (left), and much smaller than the iPhone 11 (right).
The iPhone SE supports wireless charging , as the iPhone 8 did . But if you ’re coming from an older iPhone , it ’s new to you .
You wo n’t really remark that the resolution is a number determine by today ’s standards , but you will point out it ’s not quite as bright as newer phone . We quantify a maximal brightness of 750 nit , which is n’t bad for a $ 400 telephone set , but the iPhone 11 zigzag out 900 nits . In bright day , that makes a big conflict .
If you ’re a fan of small phones , you ’ll savor the relatively diminutive size and featherlight free weight of the iPhone SE . Every iPhone since the iPhone 8 has been big , and the rest of the smartphone industry has followed the same trend . Three age ago when it was new , we did n’t think of the iPhone 8 as peculiarly low , but it ’s one of the smaller phone today .
The iPhone SE supports wireless charging, as the iPhone 8 did. But if you’re coming from an older iPhone, it’s new to you.
I hope you wish Touch ID , because at these prices you do n’t get Face ID .
And of form , the iPhone 8 was the last iPhone ( until now ) to have a nursing home button and Touch ID instead of an edge - to - edge video display and Face ID . The last brace years of iOS development have centre on gesture ascendancy for Home - button - gratuitous iPhones , and it feels really uncanny to go back to using one .
If every iPhone you have ever owned has had a Home button , you ’ll feel properly at , well , homewith the iPhone SE . It ’s graspable that Apple would precede the expensive TrueDepth faculty and border - hug display on a telephone set mean to be only $ 399 , but it still feels like a step back .
I hope you like Touch ID, because at these prices you don’t get Face ID.
Unnecessarily high performance
The biggest divergence between the iPhone 8 and the iPhone SE is the processor . The A13 Bionic in the iPhone SE is dramatically debauched than the A11 in the iPhone 8 .
bench mark for the iPhone SE show it to execute essentially the same as the iPhone 11 . exclusive - thread and multithreaded C.P.U. execution are both about 30 to 40 percent quicker than the iPhone 8 in most bench mark . Our Geekbench 4 and 5 mental test results show just what we have a bun in the oven : the iPhone SE performs precisely on par with the iPhone 11 , a speech sound that costs hundreds more . It ’s faster than than nearly all Android phones in these tests , regardless of toll .
In Geekbench 4 , the iPhone SE is tied with the iPhone 11 , as expected . It earnestly outclass the iPhone 8 .
In Geekbench 4, the iPhone SE is tied with the iPhone 11, as expected. It seriously outclasses the iPhone 8.
The newer Geekbench 5 bench mark usher the same story . You get the performance of the ripe iPhone at half its price .
Graphics performance takes a bountiful step up , too . Depending on the program , it can be anywhere from 40 to 60 percent faster than the iPhone 8 . Interestingly , while the old 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited test fork out the result we expect ( equal to the iPhone 11 ) , the new Sling Shot trial were quite a bit slower , though still quicker than the iPhone 8 . We ’re not sure what causes this discrepancy ( hardware or computer software ? ) , but we ran the tests multiple meter to confirm it . No matter — with a display settlement of only 1334×750 , the GPU in the A13 is total overkill . It ’s going to bunk any modern graphics - intensive biz or app beautifully .
For some reason we ca n’t nail , the 3DMark Sling Shot tests are obtuse on the iPhone SE than the iPhone 11 .
The newer Geekbench 5 benchmark shows the same story. You get the performance of the best iPhone at half its price.
But other computer graphic tests , including other 3DMark test , show equal execution between the iPhone SE and iPhone 11 .
motorcar encyclopedism is a whole sight quicker , too . While the A11 Bionic in the iPhone 8 present Apple ’s first Neural Engine , newer processor are several fourth dimension faster at perform Machine Learning job . The A13 here is accompanied by 3 GB of RAM — up from 2 GB in the iPhone 8 , but down from 4 GB in the iPhone 11 .
If you ’re coming from an onetime speech sound , like an iPhone sestet or even the previous iPhone SE , you ’re going to see a night - and - day difference in performance . Everything is going tofly . allow this sink in for a moment : Apple ’s $ 400 phone is , in most respects , quicker than the fast Android phone you’re able to buyat any price .
For some reason we can’t pinpoint, the 3DMark Sling Shot tests are slower on the iPhone SE than the iPhone 11.
If there ’s a shortcoming in the iPhone SE hardware , it ’s that it has the same electric battery capability as the iPhone 8 , and basically the same battery life . Our Geekbench 4 run - down trial ( with the video display set to 200 nits ) run for 3 hour 37 minute , just 20 minutes longer than the iPhone 8 .
Battery living is barely any dependable than the iPhone 8 . Not bad for a $ 400 telephone , but not nearly as great as other new iPhones .
Mind you , this is running an intensive benchmark in a continual cringle , and your actual twenty-four hour period to day battery life story will be a lot longer . I did n’t have problem getting through a full day of regular use . On the one hand , it ’s impressive to see the same battery capacity last just as long with such dramatically improved carrying into action . On the other handwriting , the other iPhones , while more expensive , will last alotlonger on a care .
But other graphics tests, including other 3DMark tests, show equal performance between the iPhone SE and iPhone 11.
A good enough camera
The iPhone SE has the same camera sensors as the iPhone 8 — we suppose . Apple would not do a direct head to corroborate that , though it does have identical specs : the lone rear camera is 12MP with an f1.8 aperture and visual image stabilization , the front is a 7MP sensing element with f2.2 aperture . TheiFixit teardownseems to confirm that the iPhone 8 and iPhone SE tv camera modules are indistinguishable .
Apple prefers to focus on the “ camera organisation , ” which include the image signal C.P.U. and neuronal railway locomotive of the A13 chip . It ’s a legitimate level , as so much of smartphone range of a function timbre reckon on the picture processing handled by a variety of specialised part of the central processor .
In good lighter , the iPhone SE is capable of sharp , colorful , detailed photos with good dynamic range , nearly on equality with the iPhone 11 professional .
Battery life is barely any better than the iPhone 8. Not bad for a $400 phone, but not nearly as great as other new iPhones.
As a result of the bump from the A11 to the A13 , the iPhone SE bring forth much higher quality image than the iPhone 8 , despite using what we trust are the same sensors and lenses . It can draw the iPhone XR ’s trick of single - camera Portrait Mode on the rearward photographic camera , and for the first time ever on an iPhone , on thefrontcamera as well . The iPhone X and late models do Portrait Mode selfies using the TrueDepth module that ability present ID , but the iPhone SE is the first to do it with just a single received front - facing camera .
The iPhone SE can do Portrait Mode with its front photographic camera , and the results are quite good .
It should be noted that both the front and back camera only do Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting in the Camera app when they find a human boldness . Portrait Mode shots of your pets or nonliving target are not available . But the phoneisproducing an estimated profundity map , which means that third - company tv camera apps could conceivably give you portrait - like effect on any subject .
In good light, the iPhone SE is capable of sharp, colorful, detailed photos with good dynamic range, nearly on par with the iPhone 11 Pro.
sample to take a Portrait Mode shot without a human face present and you ’ll get an erroneous belief substance : No person detected .
While the iPhone SE has the same potent image processing as the latest iPhone 11 , because it does n’t have the same sensors it does n’t grow consequence that are quite as good . Notably , it ’s not as sound in low-toned light . The Night Mode and Deep Fusion feature of the iPhone 11 are totally absent . In skilful light , the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE take remarkably similar picture . As the lightness gets worse , the iPhone 11 ’s favourable position is clear .
If you need Portrait Mode crack of your pets , you ’ll have to give more for an iPhone with twofold rear photographic camera .
The iPhone SE can do Portrait Mode with its front camera, and the results are quite good.
you’re able to take fantastic telecasting with the iPhone SE , too — up to 4 kB at 60fps , or 1080p at 240fps . The detail , dynamical range , and limpidity of video is far superior to any other phone in this price grasp .
Another fast one of the iPhone 11 you wo n’t find in the SE : Night Mode . These shots were produced under identical conditions .
The best feature is the price
The new iPhone SE is perhaps the least interesting iPhone to introduction in years . It ’s just the latest processor stuffed into an old iPhone 8 , correct ? There ’s nothing new to see here , and that give it boring to Apple partisan always athirst for the next insanely corking matter .
But it ’s preciselybecauseApple recycle existing parts that it is able to sell such a thoroughly nice new iPhone for only $ 399 . you could pay $ 50 more to jump from 64 GB of storage to 128 GB , which is a good value and recommended . Years from now , you ’ll be glad you did . A 256 GB interlingual rendition is $ 549 , which is not worth the cost .
This is a brand - new iPhone that be about half of what an iPhone 11 does , or a third of the top - oddment iPhone 11 Pro Max . It ’s cheap enough that many drug user will get one by pay something like $ 5 a calendar month more on their mail carrier bank note , or get it “ gratuitous ” with the purchase of another telephone and a two - twelvemonth accord .
Try to take a Portrait Mode shot without a human face present and you’ll get an error message: No person detected.
The value is off the charts . With the A13 inside , it ’s faster than Android phones that be twice as much . Photo and image calibre is fantabulous for this price reach . It will get software update for years where likewise - priced Android telephone set will be golden to get a undivided major Android update .
This clearly is n’t Apple ’s inviolable best iPhone , but it ’s the salutary pick for many millions of users . It is Apple ’s least interesting iPhone in years , and at the same time , perhaps , the most important . It ’s intemperate to hyperbolise how big the market is for those who just want an affordable novel iPhone that will last another four or five years , even if it does n’t have every new fancy feature . We can only hope Apple does n’t hold off another four years to produce another new iPhone SE model .
If you want Portrait Mode shots of your pets, you’ll have to pay more for an iPhone with dual rear cameras.
Another trick of the iPhone 11 you won’t find in the SE: Night Mode. These shots were produced under identical conditions.
