Design and Build

The iPhone SE comes with a small-sized, easily recognizable design that includes an aerospace-grade aluminum frame, a glass front, and a glass back, which is the same as in the iPhone 8. Measuring 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 inches (138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm) and weighing 5.22 ounces (148g), the phone is light and one-handed use is very convenient. It is available in three colors – Black, White, and Red – and operates using only the Home button with a Touch ID, it does not have Face ID. Also, it uses a Lightning port and in most regions, it works with a physical nano-SIM and eSIM at the same time.

• Aerospace-grade aluminum frame
• Glass front and back
• IP67 rating (water and dust resistance up to 1 meter for 30 minutes)
• Home button with Touch ID (no Face ID)
• Lightning port for charging and data transfer
• Physical nano-SIM + eSIM

iPhone SE Display

The iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD screen with a 1334 x 750 pixels resolution (326 PPI), HDR10 support. A main aspect of the display is that it does not have OLED, and the 60 Hz refresh rate is not up to date anymore. It can go as high as 625 nits typical brightness, which is enough for indoors and dark environments but is not so bright outdoors. The whole design also maintains thick bezels plus no ProMotion or Always-On Display, which are modern phone features, are found on the phone.

• 4.7-inch LCD (Retina HD)
• 1334 x 750 resolution, 326 PPI
• HDR10 support
• 625 nits (typical)
• Glass protection
• 60Hz refresh rate (no ProMotion or Always-On Display)

Performance and Software

The iPhone SE has the A13 Bionic chip that is made on a 7nm+ process, which enables the phone to execute solid performance with a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 8-core Neural Engine. Alongside 3GB of LPDDR4X RAM, this phone's performance is capable for basic tasks but lags behind newer models like the iPhone 13. Storage options are 64GB (for $399), 128GB (for $449), and 256GB (for $549). The phone shipped with iOS 13 and can be upgraded to iOS 18, although the display is LCD, which means there will be no ProMotion or Always-On Display as advanced display features.

• A13 Bionic chip with 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 8-core Neural Engine
• 3GB LPDDR4X RAM
• Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
• iOS 13 (upgradable to iOS 18)
• Optimized for everyday tasks and photography

The A13 Bionic offers excellent performance for its price, matching the iPhone 11, but the 3GB RAM and base 64GB storage limit its appeal for heavy users. Reviewers praise its speed for budget users, but the dated design hampers its competitiveness.

Camera System

The iPhone SE is equipped with a single 12MP Main camera (f/1.8, 28mm, OIS), and it does not have any ultra-wide or telephoto lenses. It uses computational photography for decent shots but lacks advanced modes like Cinematic Mode.

• Rear: 12MP Main (28mm, f/1.8, OIS)
• Front: 7MP (f/2.2)
• Video: 4K 60 fps
• Modes: Portrait, Smart HDR
• LED flash

Battery and Charging

The iPhone SE includes a 1821mAh battery that can last for about 13 hours of video playback. Without a doubt, the real use scenario of about 9-11 hours. The phone can be charged at 18W (50% in 30 minutes) with a cable and at 7.5W on a Qi wireless charger, but it doesn’t support MagSafe. A charger is not given, only a Lightning cable. The battery life is mediocre because the phone’s size is small, so for heavy users, it would be a daily charge.

• 1821mAh battery
• Up to 13 hours video playback, ~9–11 hours real-world
• 18W wired charging (50% in 30 min)
• 7.5W Qi wireless charging (no MagSafe)
• No charger included (Lightning cable only)

Connectivity

The iPhone SE has a 4G LTE modem, which means this device cannot connect to 5G networks, limiting its speed compared to newer models. It supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.0. NanoSIM comes in a physical slot, while the embedded SIM (eSIM) is also there. The U1 chip is omitted, therefore, the locator can't cover the vast empty areas to hunt down AirTag, which still works as a regular item finder with sound. If overtaken by urgent situations, the Emergency SOS feature can't use the satellite connection to send a text message. GPS then is as versatile as before with the support of multiple systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS).

• 4G LTE modem (no 5G)
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Physical nano-SIM + eSIM
• No U1 ultra-wideband chip
• No satellite connectivity
• GPS: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS

Pricing and Availability

The iPhone SE has a starting price of $399, with 64GB of internal storage, which could be expanded to $449 and $549 to buy 128GB and 256GB upgrades respectively. The first date to make a reservation was April 17, Norr2020, while the actual sales followed a week later, April 24, 2020, through official Apple stores, as well as some carriers like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and some retailers like Best Buy. It was discontinued in March 2022 after the iPhone SE (3rd Generation) launch, but limited stock may remain in refurbished markets and can be supported by appealing trade-in programs, so that you no longer need to fork out the whole amount of the product or accessory you are ready to buy.