iPhone SE: A Complete Overview
O n April 15, Apple announced their brand new iPhone SE and entered the lower-end smartphone market that consists of devices such as Google’s Pixel 3a (priced at $399), Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro (priced at $312 on Walmart), and Motorola’s Moto G8 Plus (priced at $250). This is a relief for all iOS users, as with smartphone prices increasing rapidly every year, it has become far more difficult to afford the latest iPhone with the most flagship features. When the original iPhone was released in 2007 by Steve Jobs, the base model cost $499, but Apple’s most recent flagship, the iPhone 11 Pro Max, costs $1,099 for the base 64 GB model, a whopping 120.2% increase over 12 years! Here is a complete overview of Apple’s latest and potentially most important iPhone.
Specifications
The new iPhone SE is built on a glass and aluminum chassis and boasts a 4.7-inch screen (1344 x 750 resolution), a measly figure when compared to the colossal screens of the iPhone 11 Pro Max (6.5-inch screen) and the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (6.9-inch screen). The physical structure of this phone is essentially an iPhone 8 with updated internals and a new camera. This updated iPhone SE includes a single 12 MP rear camera with a 5x digital zoom, Apple’s portrait mode and portrait lighting, and optical image stabilization. Its video capabilities include 4K video recording up to 60 fps, video optical image stabilization, and 1080p video at 240 fps. It also has brought back Touch ID to replace Face ID. The phone has an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, meaning it can survive a meter deep in water for 30 minutes. The device has a decent battery life, with up to 13 hours of video playback and Qi wireless charging capabilities. A key feature of this new iPhone is that it contains the same CPU as the flagship iPhones released last year. Both the new iPhone SE and the iPhone 11 lineup contain Apple’s A13 Bionic chip, widely considered to be the fastest mobile processor in the smartphone industry.
Why It’s Important
The iPhone SE is priced at $399 and is available for purchase at most cell phone retailers. The processor it contains is unheard of at this low of a price point, as the Apple A13 Bionic chip is capable of powering graphics-intensive mobile games, power-demanding augmented-reality apps, and other arduous applications that are unable to be run on Android phones with less powerful mobile CPUs and GPUs. For small-phone and/or cheap-phone lovers, this is a dream come true. Now, Android users who cannot afford the $700+ iPhones have a cheaper entry into the Apple ecosystem.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Great CPU
- Low price
- Great camera with portrait mode
- IP67 water and dust resistance
Cons:
- Average battery life (13 hours of video playback, whereas iPhone 11 gets more than 17 hours)
- Average screen (barely over 720p)
- Very small screen (4.7 inches), although to some, this may be a great feature
- Bezels (does not have updated design of iPhone 11)
Is the iPhone SE Worth It?
This device may have its drawbacks, but I must admit: this phone is a tremendous value. For $400, you get great internal components, a great camera with all of the necessary features to capture the best pictures for Instagram, and an entry into the renowned Apple ecosystem. It may not have some of the features that the more expensive iPhones boast, but it has everything you need in a smartphone in 2020.
Along with great features, it is future-proof for at least a couple of years, with a powerful yet power-efficient CPU, wireless charging, and water and dust resistance. For those who are on a tight budget or do not like the gigantic phones of today, this device is a great option that is sure to deliver a great mobile experience.
