iPhone SE (2020): A Look at Apple’s Latest Handset
Apple today announced the new iPhone SE (2020) affordable phone that starts at just $399.
The first iPhone of the decade has been announced and will begin arriving in mailboxes soon. The 4.7-inch iPhone SE (2002) replaces the iPhone 8 in Apple’s handset lineup. Though it includes many of the same features as pricier models, the iPhone SE (2020) is the company’s latest budget device, starting at just $399.
Officially the second-generation iPhone SE (for Special Edition), the new model includes the same A13 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 11 series alongside a third‑generation Neural Engine. Apple says the A13 Bionic is the faster chip ever in a smartphone. It’s been designed to handle photography, gaming, and augmented reality experiences. The dedicated 8-core Neural Engine is capable of 5 trillion operations per second, two Machine Learning Accelerators on the CPU, and a new Machine Learning Controller to balance performance and efficiency.
The A13 Bionic chip also supports extraordinary battery life. Apple promises video playback up to 13 hours, video streaming playback up to eight hours, and audio playback for up to 40 hours. The new phone supports wireless-charging capability with Qi-certified chargers and provides fast-charging as well; a 50 percent charge is achievable after just 30 minutes. The iPhone SE (2020) also offers Wi-Fi 6, Gigabit-class LTE, and dual SIM with eSIM support.
In announcing the new iPhone, Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing explained:
The first iPhone SE was a hit with many customers who loved its unique combination of small size, high-end performance and affordable price; the new second-generation iPhone SE builds on that great idea and improves on it in every way — including our best-ever single-camera system for great photos and videos — while still being very affordable.
It’s About the Camera
When Apple announced the iPhone 11 series last fall, much of the discussion focused on the improved cameras. Where the iPhone 11 offers dual 12MP Ultra Wide and Wide cameras with Night mode, the iPhone 11 Pro/Pro Max includes Triple 12MP Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras with Night mode. If you’re not impressed with either of those configurations, the iPhone SE (2020) is perhaps the Apple device for you.
Priced at $300 less than the least expensive iPhone 11, the iPhone SE (2020) comes with a single 12MP Wide camera. It also comes with a less robust front-facing FaceTime HD camera versus the TrueDepth camera found on the other models. Less hardware, not surprisingly, means fewer camera features.
For example, the iPhone SE (2020) doesn’t offer a Night mode, or Auto Adjustments found on the iPhone 11 models. Also absent is Audio Zoom for video-recording. The 4.7-inch device is also lacking popular Apple features like Animoji and Memoji.
More for Less
And yet, Apple has brought many of the iPhone 11 camera features over to the less expensive model. These include optical image stabilization, digital zoom up to 5x, True Tone flash with Slow Sync, Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting with six effects (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High‑Key Mono), and next-generation Smart HDR for photos.
Video recording options are also similar between the iPhone SE (2020) and previous models. These include:
- 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
- 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps
- Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps
There’s also extended dynamic range for video up to 30 fps, time-lapse video with stabilization, QuickTake video, and stereo recording.
About the Front Camera
No doubt, most who criticize the iPhone SE (2020) will do so by noting its single 12MP Wide back camera. However, it’s perhaps the front-facing camera that deserves the most recrimination.
The 7MP FaceTime camera is missing critical features associated with the TrueDepth on the iPhone 11 series, including an extended dynamic range for video at 30 fps, cinematic video stabilization (4K, 1080p, and 720p), and 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps. The newer device is also missing slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps.
The front-facing camera does, however, offer some of the features found on the more expensive iPhone models. These features include ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash, Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, and Portrait Lighting with six effects (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High-Key Mono).
The Display and Other Measurements
At 4.7-inches diagonal, the iPhone SE (2020) has the smallest screen size among current iPhone models. The iPhone 11 (6.1-inches), iPhone 11 Pro (5.8-inches), and iPhone 11 Pro Max (6.5-inches) don’t just have larger displays. They also have better screens.
You’ll find a Retina LCD HD display on the newest iPhone, versus the all-screen OLED Multi‑Touch display found on the others. The difference between LCD and OLED is most noticeable when it comes to pixel resolution and the contrast ratio. The iPhone SE (2020), for example, offers 1334-by-750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi with a typical 1400:1 contrast ratio. The iPhone 11 offers a 2436-by-1125-pixel resolution at 458 ppi and 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
Weighing 148 grams, the iPhone SE (2020) is the lightest Apple handset now available. It measures 138.4 mm-by-67.3 mm-by-148 grams.
Other Key Differences and Similarities
The iPhone SE (2020) also comes with Touch ID versus the Face ID found on the iPhone 11 models. It also has less water resistance (up to a depth of a meter for up to 30 minutes only) and doesn’t come with Dolby Atmos support.
Other similarities between the iPhone SE (2020) and iPhone 11 models include Apple Card and Apple Pay support, video and audio calling Siri, and more.
If you’ve been waiting for a less expensive or smaller iPhone, Apple has rewarded today, April 15.
Pre-orders for the iPhone SE (2020) will begin this Friday, April 17, in over 40 countries with the first shipments arriving on April 24. You can purchase the iPhone SE (2020) in black, white, and PRODUCT(RED) with 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB.
