When I tried the iPhone 11, it was quite clear to me: it was a round phone in many aspects and, with a more affordable price, it could easily be considered "the iPhone of the masses." At that time I did not know, of course, that some time later the protagonist of this analysis would come into our lives, the iPhone SE 2020, whose price does not exceed 500 euros. If you have not had the opportunity to try it, you may be wondering if it is really possible, for that price, to enjoy an "iPhone with all its letters." Well, after trying it for a while, today I'm going to get you out of your doubts. At the end of the post we will also talk about the most recent iPhone SE model, the 2022 one. We will make a comparison and also discuss its technical aspects to decide if the most affordable model of the bitten apple is still a smart purchase.
What is really important in the iPhone SE (2020)
I admit that when I heard about the iPhone (SE 2020) it did not convince me at all. A phone with an old design, small HD screen and only one camera? As you well know, all these features are actually present in this new iPhone and are, in fact, the worst of this smartphone. The issue here is that this model it's something more than these three qualities that you just named.
The engine of this iPhone and its greatest attraction lies in its processor. We are talking about a chip A13 Bionic of the house, the same that gives life to the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro. This guarantees you very good fluidity when moving around the equipment, a raw power worthy of the most advanced phones and in short, a tremendously resolute team that He knows how to do everything and he knows how to do it well.
During the time that I have been testing I have not had any problems in this regard, with a device capable of all kinds of tasks, which is guaranteed the same cycle of software updates as its high-end older brothers and has been capable of to offer myself fairly the same user experience that you already had on the 11 Pro.
Even so, it must be borne in mind that it is not a phone aimed at users who carry out very demanding activities. That is, it has a small screen (with short resolution, in HD) and that limits the experience, so that you will not spend long hours watching movies on it or playing games -although you could perfectly at the performance level. Therefore, you will hardly put him in a compromise and this also concerns his short battery life.
La autonomy of this iPhone SE is fair, without more. Making an average use of the phone, without exploiting it too much, you can reach the end of the day (and even the next), but as soon as it is used much more thoroughly, you will notice that the battery is somewhat low. It is true that it comes with wireless charging, a very convenient feature that I did not expect to find in a mid-range phone like this, but in this case it would have been much more useful if it had a power plug instead. fast charge in the box (it supports 18W but you have to buy it separately) to help better compensate this problem of energy expenditure.
As to its designLittle to say that you are not imagining. The iPhone SE looks the same as the iPhone 8, with the same build quality (and that's always a guarantee coming from Apple) but in a more compact size. I must admit that it had been a long time since I had so much fun with a phone that fits so well in the hand, but that does not mean that it continues to look somewhat out of phase, with a screen whose black stripes (and huge) could well have saved them Apple would have gained a lot from just this. The only good thing about this back to the past? well his touch ID, which is still as fast, efficient and convenient to use as ever. Seriously, I didn't realize how much I missed him until I met him again.
¿And what about their cameras?? Well, there are only two so, for better or for worse, you won't have much of a loss. On the front we have a 7 MP sensor, with which you can take very correct selfies, while on the back there is also a single 12-megapixel lens. Is it good? Yes Enough? At this point... I'm afraid not.
It is true that the iPhone offers a good daytime catch, with a good approximation of color, good detail and a pretty good portrait mode, thanks to the work of its processor - you have several example images in the video that you have at the beginning of this article. However, if we take it out of these favorable conditions… there is little to scratch. Here there is no night mode or optical zoom or a wide angle that allows you to capture other types of scenarios, so the possibilities in this regard are very limited when taking photos with this iPhone.
Should you buy the iPhone SE 2020?
After this review, it is likely that you will be more clear about whether or not this iPhone is for you.
Without a doubt, if you have a tight budget and you want the iPhone experience above all else, you certainly do. It is a phone with very good build quality, responsive in terms of performance and camera (in the conditions described) and very easy to use, thanks to a system, iOS, which is well known for how intuitive and comfortable it is. A true "iPhone for the masses" with a price starting at 489 euros.
View offer on AmazonOf course, in case you aspire to have an advanced iPhone on the screen, in photography and/or in battery... my bet continues to be, undoubtedly, the iPhone 12. If you want to know my experience with this model, you can take a look at the video analysis on our YouTube channel:
That you don't want to spend more than 500 euros but you don't care about the brand or the "iPhone experience"? So you should keep in mind that there are very versatile options (on screen, number and type of cameras and battery) within Android that surely they leave you the same or happier than this iPhone SE.
iPhone SE (2020) vs. iPhone SE (2022). comparative
The third generation iPhone SE arrived at the beginning of 2022, although as many of us already imagined, on a physical level it does not have many new features. Apple considers that it has hit the nail on the head with the design of this input iPhone, so from now on, it is possible that the new arrivals of this model are only inside.
aesthetically identical
The new iPhone SE of 2022 has the same outward appearance than the previous model. This includes both the 4,7 inch with a resolution of 1.334 x 750 pixels as the start button with Touch ID to identify us with our fingerprint, which will also serve to authorize purchases in the App Store or carry out transactions with Apple Pay. Its IP67 certificate is also maintained, which makes it resistant to both water and dust. Visually, both terminals do not have too many differences. This has caused many people to feel a little disappointed with the terminal, since it seems that it has not evolved in all this time.
The important thing is inside
In this case, the new model has the Apple A15 Bionic processor. Yes, the same as the iPhone 13 Just for this detail, it already deserves enough to get hold of this new model. We are talking about buying a terminal with a high-end processor at a much lower price. In addition to having a better processor, this new device has 5G connectivity. The storage options do remain the same: 64, 128 and 256 GB.
Differences regarding the camera?
The main camera is also maintained, even with the same 12 MP sensor. However, the 2022 iPhone SE has a new image processing chip. Therefore, the device is now capable of Smart HDR photography. You can also use Deep Fusion mode and Portrait mode that was exclusive to standard iPhones until now.
Regarding the front camera, the 7 MP sensor that we already had in the 2020 model is maintained.
Other major changes (price is one of them)
In addition to these improvements, the new iPhone SE is also compatible with the Qi wireless charging as well as fast charging —if we connect a compatible transformer—. Another change that this model has undergone is in the price. The 2020 GB 64 model started at 479 euros. Now, the 2022 model has surpassed that barrier, since it is worth about 50 euros more expensive as standard. The iPhone SE 2022 starts at 529 euros, while the most expensive model with 256 GB of storage goes up to 699 euros. Is it still a cheap model or has Apple already lost the psychological price barrier? Here it already depends on the needs of each user and the money they are willing to spend.
Obviously, for these prices we already find quite a few high-end Android models that have more advanced cameras. However, if a user wants to have an iOS device yes or yes, but is not going to use all the features of a standard model or a Pro model, the iPhone SE is there as an option. It's also a great handset for anyone looking for an Apple phone who doesn't want to spend four figures.
View offer on AmazonComparison table: iPhone SE 2020 vs. iPhone SE 2022
If you have doubts and want to compare these two Apple terminals point by point, here we leave you one comparative table with all its specifications so that you can compare each of its technical aspects.
| iPhone SE 2020 | iPhone SE 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Panel | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Screen size | 4.7 inches | 4.7 inches |
| Litigation, Arbitration | X | X |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| screen density | 326 ppi | 326 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| maximum brightness | 625 nits | 625 nits |
| Response time | 29 ms | 38 ms |
| Contrast | 2457:1 | 1655:1 |
| High jump | 138.4 mm | 138.4 mm |
| Ancho Steak: | 67.3 mm | 67.3 mm |
| Thickness | 7.3 mm | 7.3 mm |
| Water resistance | IP67K | IP67K |
| Back case | Crystal | Crystal |
| Chassis | Metal | Metal |
| Colours | White, Black, Red | White, Black, Red |
| Fingerprint scanner (Touch ID) | Yes (Home Button) | Yes (Home Button) |
| Processor | Apple A13 Bionic | Apple A15 Bionic |
| SoC Frequency | 2650 MHz | 3223 MHz |
| CPU cores | 6 (2 + 4) - 4 cores at 1.6 GHz: Thunder - 2 cores at 2.66 GHz: Lightning | 6 (2 + 4) - 4 cores at 1.82 GHz: Blizzard - 2 cores at 3.24 GHz: Avalanche |
| RAM | 3 GB LPDDR4 | 4 GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 64, 128, 256GB | 64, 128, 256GB |
| Battery | 1821 mAh | 2018 mAh |
| Quick charge | 18 W (55% in 30 min) | 20 W (61% in 30 min) |
| Camera Resolution | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
| Flash | Quad-LED | Quad-LED |
| Stabilization | Optics | Optics |
| 4K video | up to 60fps | up to 60fps |
| 1080 Video | up to 60fps | up to 60fps |
| slow motion video | up to 240fps | up to 240fps |
| Opening | f / 1.8 | f / 1.8 |
| selfie | 7 megapixel f/2.2 32mm | 7 megapixel f/2.2 32mm |
| Bluetooth | 5 LE | 5LE, A2DP |
| 5G | No | Yes |
| Product | April 2020 | March 2022 |
Is it worth buying the 2022 iPhone SE?
It is true that the last couple of years of Apple has been slightly disappointing at the level of mobile telephony. Those from Cupertino have been quite conservative with their smartphones for some time now, and we could say that they have only focused on improving some technical aspects of their devices, but without making major revolutionary modifications.
If you've been using iOS for years and don't want to switch to Android, the current iPhone SE makes it quite easy for you. Although its price has increased, it is still an affordable terminal. It's powerful, and if you don't need the best camera in the world, it will do the trick. Our thorn will always be the fact that Apple has not chosen to innovate in this model, but the truth is that it has its audience, and it is appreciated that the company has somewhat more affordable products for those who do not want to pay 800 or 900 euros on a terminal that they are not going to take full advantage of.
What type of user is the iPhone SE for?
Apple has gone around a lot until it came up with the iPhone SE. The origin of this terminal is found in the iPhone 5C, a terminal that attracted a lot of attention, but which was not fully convincing in terms of specifications or quality.
However, the iPhone SE has changed everything. In essence, it is an iPhone. Something more affordable, without some features, but an iPhone nonetheless. Therefore, the SE is a device designed for all those users who enjoy the iOS experience, but do not want to spend almost a thousand euros that the current generation iPhone costs.
When Apple releases a new model in this line, it's quite normal to see comparisons with Android phones that cost more and offer much more hardware. However, none of the iOS experience. Therefore, the SE is nothing more than a simple mobile, but of quality, for all those users who do not want to give up the operating system.
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