Apple iPhone SE (2020) review

Wrap-up

The new Apple iPhone SE is indeed one of the most compact smartphones not only within the iPhone ranks but among the Android phones as well. It is thin and lightweight, yet powerful and dependable, with great speakers and a high-quality screen, and impresses with camera performance even if it misses a feature or two.

Recycling the iPhone 8 parts and design may be a letdown to some, though it's hardly surprising - the first iPhone SE was an iPhone 5s with an iPhone 6s chip, so it was kind of obvious the next SE would be an old iPhone (8) with a new iPhone chip (11). Still, the iPhone SE (2020) does remarkably well across the board, with Apple delivering some nice improvements in camera quality thanks to the power of A13 chip and the latest software tweaks.

And the most important part - the price is quite attractive. The base storage has grown to 64GB (up from 16GB on the old SE), and the 64GB model costs $399 in the US or €479 in the EU. These price tags are quite cheap for such a powerful phone, let alone an iPhone.

Alternatives

Being the cheapest of the iPhones there really is no alternative. If you are on the budget, the iPhone SE is your only option, but it is a great one if you can live with the bezels.

Or, you can add about €220 on top of the SE and get the iPhone XR with a larger 6.1" screen with tiny bezels and Face ID within its notch. The iPhone XR is about 1cm taller and wider than the SE, so it is not a giant. It may have the previous A12 chip, but most importantly, it offers a much better overall battery life.

For €300 on top of the iPhone SE you may as well go for the iPhone 11, which will give you the same screen as the XR, but with the new Apple A13 underneath and the iPhone 11 Pro main camera with Night Mode. You also get doubled battery life over the SE.

The first-generation SE is still available from various retailers across the globe, mostly refurbished by now, but it is still a good option if you want a decent phone with the size of a credit card.

Finally, if you aren't chained to iOS, the yet-to-be-revealed Pixel 4a looks like what many hoped for the iPhone SE to be - an all-screen phone with an excellent camera. We know Google can deliver on camera with the Pixels, and our fingers are crossed for an issue-free screen, though the Pixel 4a won't match the gaming performance of the iPhone with that rumored Snapdragon 730.

Apple iPhone XR • Apple iPhone 11 • Apple iPhone SE • Google Pixel 4a

The verdict

The small iPhone is dead! Long live the small iPhone! That is pretty much the deal with every new iPhone, and it was about time to happen with the SE generation. The second SE is a small and powerful phone, water-resistant and beautiful, with a capable camera and great iOS support.

The new iPhone SE is the cheapest iPhone right now, but also one of the cheapest flagship-like phones on the market if we are to compare bang for the buck. The only things you must do to like it is to embrace the bezels and buy a fast charger.

Pros

• Compact and lightweight, water-resistant.
• Bright and high-contrast screen.
• Outstanding performance from the A13 chip.
• Loud stereo speakers.
• Touch ID is back and we love it.
• Excellent daylight photos and good low-light ones.
• Very good video recording capabilities with proficient stabilization.
• Future proof with the latest chipset and regular iOS updates.
• The cheapest iPhone yet.

Cons

• Bezels, bezels, bezels.
• The battery capacity is uninspiring.
• Night Mode in the camera is sorely missed.
• Slow 5W charger in the box.
• The iTunes file exchange can be frustrating for many.

Pricing

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