Apple's New iPhone SE Costs Less Than $400, and It’s Still a Great Phone
Apple’s second-generation iPhone SE has followed the same winning formula as its legendary predecessor — a familiar, compact design, up-to-date specs, and accessible price. But it's brought with it futureproof hardware and exciting features.
The new iPhone starts at $399 — the same as the original— making it Apple’s most affordable smartphone available today. There are three colors to pick from: black, white, and red.
Key Specs
• 4.7-inch Retina display with 326 pixels per inch
• A13 Bionic chip with neural engine
• Up to 256 GB of storage
• 12 MP camera with optical image stabilization
• 7 MP front-facing camera
• Touch ID fingerprint sensor
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Fast wired and wireless charging
• IP67 water-resistant
• Wi-Fi 6-compatible; dual-SIM capable
I spent a week testing the new iPhone SE and it's been well worth the long wait. Here’s why it’s the best smartphone in its price range — and well beyond.
It's Compact and Durable
With a 4.7-inch Retina display, the new iPhone SE is noticeably bigger than the first generation, yet still compact by today’s smartphone standards. It was effortlessly easy for me to use the phone with one hand — from checking different apps to typing up a work email.
The device’s high-quality Retina display is a familiar sight — it's the same as the screen of the iPhone 8. It’s plenty sharp and equipped with True Tone tech, which ensures that users will view accurate colors regardless of the ambient lighting.
Thanks to Haptic Touch, the screen is compatible with handy iOS and app shortcuts. The Touch ID button underneath it is as convenient and dependable as it has always been. It instantly felt familiar using the fingerprint sensor, even though I haven't used a phone with a home button in years.
Just like the iPhone 8, the new SE is made using scratch-resistant glass and aircraft-grade aluminum. It’s also water-resistant with an IP67 rating, so users can depend on it well beyond a standard upgrade cycle.
It's as Powerful as the iPhone 11
The iPhone SE packs the same A13 Bionic chip with a neural engine as the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. It’s the most powerful chip on any smartphone available today, offering massive leaps in graphics and processing power over the A9 chip of the original iPhone SE, as well as the A11 chip of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.
During my testing, it wasn't surprising that the iPhone SE was fast and responsive. From switching between countless open apps, to browsing through furniture in augmented reality, all the way to hours’ worth of Apple Arcade gaming, the small iPhone performed on par with its pricier relatives from the iPhone 11 family.
Thanks to the addition of the A13 Bionic chip, the new iPhone SE's hardware is tailor-made for machine learning and augmented reality tasks. This ensures that the smartphone will be up for any new apps and experiences the future brings. I tip my hat to Apple for offering it in this price point.
The wireless connectivity features of the iPhone SE are as up-to-date as its chipset. With Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and dual-SIM compatibility on board, the device is as capable as any luxury smartphone on the market.
During my testing, the iPhone SE easily made it through a full day of heavy use. The device is compatible with fast wired and wireless charging, so replenishing its battery is effortless.
It Provides a Top-Tier Camera Experience
If you're looking for a phenomenal camera setup but don't have $1,000 to spend, the iPhone SE is it. The 12 MP main camera is capable of snapping photos with vibrant colors and excellent dynamic range even in scenes with challenging lighting.
I was impressed by the 4K video that the iPhone SE captures as well. The clips have superb video stabilization, immersive stereo sound, and exceptional dynamic range. You can capture UHD content at up to a brisk 60 frames per second — a remarkable feat for a sub-$400 phone.
Along with powering the phone, the A13 Bionic neural engine also provides some pretty cool camera features. You can capture stunning portrait shots with adjustable lighting effects and depth of field, and both are available on its main and selfie camera.
Like every iPhone, the SE has an instinctive camera interface and a vast selection of intuitive tools for editing your photos and videos. My favorite bit is the Quick Take feature, which allows you to begin recording video by long-pressing the shutter button. It helped me quickly capture funny clips of my cat.
Wrap-Up
Every iPhone SE will come with years’ worth of iOS updates. Combined with the device’s processing power, this will ensure that budget-conscious buyers will always experience the platform's latest features, apps, and games to the fullest.
If you own an iPhone older than the iPhone XR and are looking to upgrade on a tight budget, the new iPhone SE is a fantastic option. The same goes for buyers who are looking for a compact iPhone that doesn't compromise on performance and available features.
The iPhone SE is available with 64, 128, or 256 GB of built-in storage, with the last two options priced at $449 and $549 respectively.
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