Editor's Note: Since their debut, the iPhone SE (2020) and the iPhone XR are no longer sold by Apple. You may be able to find both iPhone models from authorized resellers or mobile carriers.
The new iPhone SE (2020) is a sleek and sophisticated upgrade from its 2016 namesake, packing the power and experience of the iPhone 11 into the popular design of the iPhone 8. Its camera, though, is almost a direct replica of that found in the iPhone XR, another affordable tech powerhouse that remains one of Apple’s most popular devices.
This begs the question: Which of these budget-friendly smartphones is worth your dollar? The iPhone XR has a larger display with Face ID, but the iPhone SE offers more power—plus the much-anticipated return of the Home button—for hundreds less. With all other features remaining more or less equal, most people looking for a budget iPhone will find choosing the SE to be a no-brainer.
iPhone XR 64GB
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Our Review | 87/100 |
| Screen Size | 6.1" |
| Available On | 0 Plans from 0 carriers |
| Available From |
|
| View Full Details |
Apple's 2018 cheaper model with single 12MP camera, 6.1" all-screen LCD display, faster Face ID, wireless charging and LTE Advanced
iPhone SE (2020) 64GB
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 4.7" |
| Available On | 17 Plans from 2 carriers |
| Available From |
|
| Priced From | $10 per month + $299 upfront |
| View Full Details |
2020 version of the iPhone SE features a powerful A13 Bionic chip, 4.7" Retina HD Multi-Touch display, 12MP camera and home button with Touch ID
iPhone SE vs. iPhone XR Specs and Features
| iPhone SE (2020) | iPhone XR | |
|---|---|---|
| Release Price | 64GB: $399 | 64GB: $599 |
| Design & Display | Glass and aluminum 4.7-inch wide-screen Retina HD 326 ppi |
Glass and aluminum 6.1-inch all-screen Liquid Retina HD 326 ppi |
| Operating System | iOS 13 | iOS 13 |
| Internal Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 128GB |
| Battery | Video: up to 13 hours Audio: up to 40 hours Wireless charging support |
Talk time: 25 hours Video: up to 16 hours Audio: up to 65 hours Wireless charging support |
| Size & Weight | 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 inches 5.22 oz |
5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 inches 6.84 oz |
| Processor | A13 Bionic | A12 Bionic |
| Rear Camera | Single-lens—12MP wide f/1.8 aperture 5x digital zoom True Tone Flash + Slow Sync Portrait Mode Depth Control 6-effect Portrait Lighting Next-generation Smart HDR |
Single-lens—12MP wide f/1.8 aperture 5x digital zoom True Tone Flash + Slow Sync Portrait Mode Depth Control 3-effect Portrait Lighting Smart HDR |
| Front Camera | 7MP FaceTime lens f/2.2 aperture 6-effect Portrait Lighting |
7MP TrueDepth lens f/2.2 aperture 6-effect Portrait Lighting Smart HDR |
| Video | 1080 HD video capture at 60fps Cinematic video stabilization Extended dynamic range at 30fps 3x digital zoom QuickTake video Stereo playback |
1080 HD video capture at 60fps Cinematic video stabilization Extended dynamic range at 30fps 3x digital zoom Wider stereo playback |
| Colors | Black White (PRODUCT)RED |
Black White PRODUCT(RED) Blue Yellow Coral |
| Features | Classic Touch ID sensor Apple Pay Haptic touch |
Face ID recognition Apple Pay Haptic touch Animojis and Memojis |
iPhone SE (2020) vs. iPhone XR: Price and Storage
The biggest draw for each of these phones is its affordability, but the iPhone SE 2 has set a new low bar—in a good way. Originally starting at just $399 for 64GB, it’s the cheapest iPhone to date, costing a cool $200 less than the 64GB iPhone XR.
Outright Debut Pricing: iPhone SE 2 vs. iPhone XR
| iPhone SE | iPhone XR |
|---|---|
| 64GB: $399 | 64GB: $599 |
| 128GB: $449 | 128GB: $649 |
| 256GB: $549 | N/A |
There’s also one additional internal memory option for the iPhone SE, 256GB, yet all three models STILL cost less than the smallest XR device. Considering the power you get for those prices (more on that in a moment), the revamped Special Edition iPhone is an excellent deal that comes at a time when many are looking for ways to tighten up their budgets.
Winner: iPhone SE
iPhone SE vs. iPhone XR: Processor and Battery
Simply put, the 2nd generation iPhone SE is a more powerful phone than the iPhone XR—period. Its A13 bionic processing chip is the same you’ll find in the iPhone 11, resulting in the fastest and smoothest experience in an iPhone. Apps launch quicker, games lag less (as long as you’ve got the right internet speed), and videos stream without a hitch.
The iPhone XR is no slouch, either, featuring the previously-top-notch A12 chip. However, it just can’t compete with the processing upgrade that the iPhone SE 2 has inherited. Where it does win, though, is in its battery longevity. You get up to 16 hours of video and 65 hours of audio on a single charge with the iPhone XR, compared to the SE’s 13 and 40 hours, respectively. Apple specifies that the iPhone SE “lasts about the same as an iPhone 8,” where the XR lasts 1.5 hours longer than the larger iPhone 8 Plus.
Overall, though, the 2nd generation iPhone SE’s raw power is a much bigger draw than the XR’s longer battery life. And with both phones offering fast charging capability, you’ll be able to power your SE back up to 50% in just 30 minutes.
Winner: iPhone SE
iPhone SE 2 vs. XR: Design and Display
The 2nd generation iPhone SE takes its design primarily from the iPhone 8, bringing back what Apple claims is its most popular phone size to date. Its compact 5.45-inch casing is a half-inch smaller than the XR’s 5.94 inches, making it more purse- and pocket-friendly; but overall, each device is a compact alternative to the much larger iPhone 11 series. Both phones are constructed of aluminum and glass, with the iPhone SE returning to the more functional slip-resistant grip on the sides found on the iPhone 8, but iPhone XR offering a wider rainbow of colors to choose from.
In their displays, though, the iPhone XR packs a way bigger punch for its petite size than the iPhone SE 2, offering 6.1 inches of edge-to-edge LCD screen area versus just 4.7 inches. Because the iPhone SE 2 resurrects the Home button in place of FaceID technology, it sacrifices a good deal of screen space. Its Retina HD display is also ever so slightly inferior to the iPhone XR’s LCD Retina HD screen, though most users won’t notice the difference—both phones offer 326 pixels per inch (ppi), resulting in sharp contrast and clear, bright colors.
That said, though the iPhone SE 2’s smaller size may be a draw for you, the tradeoff in screen size gives iPhone XR the edge.
Winner: iPhone XR
iPhone XR 64GB
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Our Review | 87/100 |
| Screen Size | 6.1" |
| Available On | 0 Plans from 0 carriers |
| Available From |
|
| View Full Details |
iPhone SE vs. XR: Camera and Video
The iPhone SE (2020) and the iPhone XR are nearly identical when it comes to their cameras. In fact, Apple took the XR’s single-camera system, placed it squarely within the 2nd generation SE, and gave it a couple slight upgrades.
Its 12MP rear lens features the pumped-up “next-generation” Smart HDR technology found in the iPhone 11, automatically creating 10-bit high-definition photos that are sharper and more natural-looking (previous Smart HDR photos were 8-bit). And instead of three Portrait Lighting effects, you get six, resulting in even more dramatically art school-worthy photos.
The iPhone XR does have the advantage in terms of its front-facing camera, offering a TrueDepth lens for beautiful bokeh-blurred selfies. However, the iPhone SE 2’s software makes up for this with Depth Control capabilities that mimic the same effect. Neither phone supports the iPhone 11’s Night Mode, and both record stellar 4K video with image stabilization to reduce bounce and shake. Yet here, too, the iPhone SE (2020) comes out on top due to the QuickTake capture feature that lets you take high-definition photos directly from video mode.
In sum, the iPhone SE has—as Apple proudly states—the best single-camera system in a smartphone.
Winner: iPhone SE
iPhone SE (2020) vs. XR: Features
Both the iPhone XR and the iPhone SE operate on the latest version of the iOS operating system. That means access to features like haptic touch, Apple Pay, and more.
Because the iPhone XR features the TrueDepth camera, though, it offers one of Apple’s biggest (and silliest) features: Animojis and Memojis. These AI-enabled emojis require facial recognition software to map the cartoon of your choice to your face—something that the iPhone SE’s front camera can’t do.
Similarly, the iPhone XR’s Face ID allows for instant phone unlocking, bill pay, app access, and more. While this is a major perk, many will also hail the return of the Home button on the iPhone SE 2, complete with Touch ID technology. This is a particular boon for those who have experienced the frequently reported performance bugs with Face ID, as well as people whose jobs require their faces to be often covered.
Really, it comes down to your preferences—whether you like FaceID versus TouchID, or whether you really care to make your face into a koala. But because the iPhone XR at least gives you the option for these features, we’re giving them the “W” in this category.
Winner: iPhone XR
iPhone SE vs. iPhone XR: Overall Verdict
Both the new iPhone SE (2020) and the iPhone XR offer features and tech galore (as well as seriously sophisticated camera systems) for relatively low prices. But the bottom-dollar affordability of the iPhone SE 2 coupled with its top-of-the-line processing power outweigh any of the slight technical or battery-life advantages you get with the iPhone XR. Our choice is clear: The upgraded iPhone SE takes the cake.
Overall Winner: iPhone SE
Popular iPhone SE (2020) 64GB Plans
|
#1
|
Gen Mobile 
|
|
|
#2
|
Page Plus 
|
Lauren Hannula
Managing Editor
Find a better phone plan
Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
.png?w=280&h=280&usm=20&usmrad=0.8&fit=crop "Best Cell Phone Deals for June 2026: Get the New iPhone 17 for Free")
