iPhone SE (2020) Features and Specs

Editor's note: Apple stopped manufacturing and selling the iPhone SE 2020. You may still be able to find the defunct iPhone from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, or select carriers. The pricing below represents the original MSRP. 

Apple’s revamped special edition phone, the iPhone SE (2nd generation),  is one of the most sophisticated—yet cheap—iPhones to date. It features the same powerful A13 Bionic processor found in the iPhone 11 series, a seriously upgraded single-camera system, and the sleek body of the fan-favorite iPhone 8, all at an extremely attractive price.

We’ll take you through all of the iPhone SE (2020)’s new features—including how much you can score it for—and compare it to both its predecessor, the 1st generation iPhone SE, and its most recent cousin, the iPhone 11.

Priced affordably to meet tightened budgets amid the coronavirus outbreak, the 2020 iPhone SE is Apple’s most affordable smartphone release to date, starting at just $399 for the 64GB model. Even with the 256GB version is priced under $600—practically unheard of in the world of elite smartphones. Considering Apple’s iPhone 11 starts at $699, the iPhone SE is an absolute steal. All of the major carriers offer the iPhone SE (2020) for purchase on monthly installments for under $20/month. So you could get the most recent (and powerful) iPhone for less than your monthly Starbucks budget!

iPhone SE: Key Features

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The 2020 version of the iPhone SE is a sophisticated mashup of a variety of Apple’s previous iPhone releases. It carries the processor of the iPhone 11 and the camera system of the iPhone XR, all housed in the smaller, lighter body of the iPhone 8. Let’s take a deeper dive into some of these features.

Processor, Storage, and Battery

The 2nd generation iPhone SE has gotten a major upgrade from its predecessor’s A9 processor, instead sharing the same A13 Bionic chip found in the flagship iPhone 11 series. According to Apple, the A13 Bionic offers the most power of any smartphone chip currently on the market, giving the iPhone SE (2020) the best processor in all the (smartphone) land.

The iPhone SE comes in the same three storage capacities that Apple offered with its last few iPhone models: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. Though Apple has yet to provide any concrete details on the iPhone SE 2’s battery or talk time, the company claims the phone offers 12 hours of internet on a single charge. It’s thought that the phone has the same 1,821mAh battery as the iPhone 8, due to its smaller size.

Design and Display

Many who find the ever-growing size of the iPhones to be cumbersome will be glad for the iPhone SE’s petite package. The device has the same casing as the iPhone 8, albeit with the rounded edges of later iPhone models (no straight-edged metal casing this time). Though significantly larger than its 2016 predecessor, the 2nd generation iPhone SE measures just 4.7 inches, making it much easier to slip into purses and pockets.

The 2nd-generation iPhone SE also ushers in the return of the Home button—an especially helpful feature for those wary of (or constantly confounded by) Face ID technology. A Retina HD display provides bright colors and clear contrast, and includes Apple’s ambient lighting sensors and TrueTone technology, which help alleviate a blindingly harsh screen by automatically dimming it based on the light levels around you.

Camera and Video

The iPhone SE (2020) returns to a single-camera system—but, according to Apple, it’s the best one you’ll find. Taking technology from the iPhone XR, the phone includes a 12MP rear camera and 7MP selfie camera, along with Smart HDR, portrait mode, and depth control for your Instagram-worthy shots. With up to 5x digital zoom, you can get close up to your subjects, while still remaining a socially distanced six feet away.

The 2020 iPhone SE also offers 4K video recording with image stabilization (so chase after your pets and kids without bounce!), along with QuickTake photo capture, allowing you to capture the perfect action shot while remaining in video mode.

iPhone SE (2020) vs. iPhone SE (2016)

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Though they bear the same name, these two “Special Edition” iPhones are worlds apart. The second-generation iPhone SE got a major upgrade, as evidenced by its more powerful processor, high tech camera system, and crystal-clear display.

Released in 2016, the original iPhone SE combined many iPhone 6 components with the design and size of the iPhone 5s. At the time, it was a breakthrough in budget iPhones, offering some of Apple’s latest and most sought-after tech: an HDR camera with True Tone AI software, a haptic touch display, and proprietary features like Apple Pay, all packed into a pocket-sized 4-inch casing at a more affordable price than other contemporary iPhones. Yet the new iPhone SE 2 is still a better deal—for the same storage capacity, it costs $50 less than the original 2016 model (which had debuted a now-unthinkably-small 16GB option at the lower $399 price point) with every one of those features getting a major boost.

They do have a few similarities. The 2020 model brings the Home button back to the phone’s front, though this time with the addition of Apple’s Touch ID technology. They also feature the same 12MP/7MP rear/front camera lenses, with the iPhone SE 2 offering wider apertures and enhanced software to make the most out of those megapixels.

iPhone SE (2020) vs. iPhone 11

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As mentioned, the iPhone SE contains the ultra-powerful A13 Bionic processor that debuted with the iPhone 11. Apple claims it’s the fastest processing smartphone chip on the market—meaning that you’ll get the same iOS experience using your iPhone SE for a cool $300 less.

The new SE is smaller than the iPhone 11, and steers clear of all-glass casing—welcome news to those who found the larger, slipperier iPhone to be more accident-prone. Yet a larger phone also equals a larger display, making the iPhone 11 slightly better for reading, streaming, and gaming.

Both the iPhone SE and the iPhone 11 feature 326 pixels-per-inch (ppi) displays, making them equally sharp, and most users won’t be able to differentiate between the iPhone SE’s Retina HD and the iPhone 11’s Liquid Retina HD. In all, both phones’ displays are bright, clear, and user-friendly.

The biggest difference between the two devices is in their camera systems. The iPhone 11’s dual rear camera combines wide-angle and ultra-wide angle lenses, offering the capability to capture majestic landscapes and highly-detailed macro shots. It also has 2x optical zoom without any degradation in image quality, whereas the iPhone SE (2020) supports digital zoom only. With the addition of Night Mode for clear, bright low-light photos and a superior 12MP selfie-camera with slow-mo video recording capability, the iPhone 11 is the all-around winner for anyone whose eye is consistently behind the lens (or, in this case, screen).

iPhone SE (2020) Cell Phone Plans

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With all of the iPhone SE 2’s bells and whistles, you’ll want to make sure you have a cell phone plan that can help you get the most out of this budget-friendly powerhouse. All of that browsing, streaming, and photo-sharing requires plenty of data—ideally, an unlimited amount to ensure you’re never left offline.

Here are some of the most popular unlimited cell phone plans to go with your shiny new iPhone SE (2020).