iPhone SE 2 — Do you really need a Flagship?
Apple is back with the 2nd Generation of the ever-popular iPhone SE and it now is powered by the latest A13 Bionic. For those of you who don’t know, the A13 Bionic is also what powers Apple’s iPhone 11 series. so it’s the best chip that Apple makes for its smartphones. But how does iPhone SE 2 hold up and are you getting a cheap phone with a lot of compromises for the lower price you pay?
The idea behind the first generation of the SE was to sell to customers, a cheaper iPhone option but one which could also be as powerful as the best phones they could make. So they took the best chip they had and put it in an old familiar design. The iPhone SE came out after the iPhone 6S and was housed in a body that was similar to the iPhone 5S. The compromises you made were that you didn’t get the 3D touch, the newer faster fingerprint sensor, and you got a dated design with a much smaller screen. Even the selfie camera was bad. But it was a hit. I went on a trip to Italy in 2017 carrying nothing but an iPhone SE in my pocket and I loved it. I loved the nostalgic design. Sure, the battery didn’t last as long as my friend’s 7 Plus but it was okay. And even though I didn’t have the amazing Portrait mode that my friend had on his 7 Plus, my little SE kept up with its larger cousin by taking some great shots. I didn’t notice the compromises unless I watched a YouTube video. Content consumption on that teeny screen is just not great. But 4 years later, I still have the phone and I still love it to bits. It is running the latest iOS version, and feels like a light feature phone but with all the powers of a good mid-range smartphone even 4 years later. Sometimes, I just enjoy this lighter, handier, 4-inch version as compared to my bulky and heavy iPhone 11 Pro.
So how does the 2nd Generation hold up?
Let’s first talk about what you’re missing when compared to an iPhone 11.
There is no Ultra Wide Camera on this one. Just the single 12MP shooter on the back and the 7MP one on the front. So if you love getting the perfect shot, you won’t on this one. There’s also no Night Mode on this one, which is surprising because I thought most of the credit for Night Mode processing goes to that A13 Bionic. So despite having that chip, Apple is just pushing you to buy the more expensive iPhones by deliberately dropping that feature on this one. But having said that, there’s still the portrait mode and Smart HDR and you get some really good shots with this phone. It is as good as the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro but again, just without the versatility. You also still get to record Video at 4K up to 60FPS and that’s fantastic. This should be more than enough if you are more into capturing pictures for the memories rather than the one who obsesses over getting the perfect shot.
With the outdated design and the huge forehead and chin, comes the outdated 4.7-inch screen. In a day and age where one of the smallest screens was the 5.8 inch iPhone 11 Pro, this now is the smallest with 4.7 inch LCD Retina HD Display. But it has the same PPI and the contrast ratio as the iPhone 11. It isn’t great as the OLEDs you get with the 11 Pro series, but you know what, this is still a great screen. Colors look fantastically vibrant. Content consumption isn’t a pain like it was on the 1st gen SE. More than sufficient for a YouTube Video and an occasional movie. It doesn’t get as bright or dim as the iPhone 11 Pro and that’s why it doesn’t look great on a bright sunny day, but if you can live with it, it’s great. Also, since we’re speaking about the design, this comes with the TouchID as compared to FaceID. Personally, I missed the FaceID, but then you can get used to going back to TouchID.
The Battery life is average as compared to the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro. I averaged a screen time for about 3.5–4 hours as compared to 5.5 hours on my iPhone 11 Pro. You will need to charge it every night if you use it moderately but will run out of charge by evening if you use it heavily.
So should you buy this iPhone?
It depends. If you can live with the compromises I mentioned above, then definitely yes. If you’re dependent on the Apple EcoSystem like I am and want a cheap, future proof, fast iOS phone, then this is the phone for you. I would suggest you buy the iPhone SE 2 over the iPhone XR because, except the newer design and form factor with a bigger screen on the XR, you’re getting all features and the faster chipset on this one. If you’re due for an upgrade and are coming from either the 6, 6S, 7, or an 8, this phone comes to you like an old familiar friend who is a lot better and more fun now. This is also great for parents who want to buy their kids their first smartphones, or people who want to buy their parents a new smartphone. And finally, it is perfect for people who love smaller phones and love a sense of nostalgia in their daily lives instead of the flashy new age phones that are on the market.
But having said that, you will find good Android options for the same price range. In India, the iPhone retails at Rs. 42,500 but you can get a OnePlus 8 for Rs. 44,999, and that’s a much better buy. In the US market, iPhone SE retails for $399 but you can get a Pixel 3A for the same price and the Pixel 4A is due for a release. So it might be worthwhile to wait.
The iPhone SE 2 has now made a change in Apple’s iPhone lineup. It now becomes really difficult for anyone to suggest an iPhone XR as a good buy. Why would you? Also, you need to ask yourself if it’s worth it to pay an extra $300 for the 11 (Rs. 25,800 in India) or the extra $600-$700 for the Pro Series (Rs. 64,000 — Rs. 75,000 in India), or will you save a huge chunk of money and live with those compromises. It is a choice you need to make. But all I have to say from a personal point of view is, you’ll be happy and love this phone if you decide to buy it.
