Apple iPhone SE (2020)

Apple iPhone SE (2020) Review

Design

The iPhone SE (2020) adopts a classic, familiar design, reminiscent of the iPhone 8. It measures 138.4mm in height, 67.3mm in width, and 7.3mm in depth, with a weight of 148 grams. The construction includes an aluminum frame and a glass back, available in Black, Red, and White color options. It retains the physical home button with an integrated fingerprint sensor, a feature absent in many modern iPhones. This design choice offers a compact form factor, appealing to users who prefer smaller phones.

Display

The device features a 4.7-inch Retina IPS LCD display with a resolution of 750 x 1334 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 326 ppi. The screen has a 16:9 aspect ratio and a typical brightness of 625 nits. It incorporates features like Wide Color display (P3), True Tone, and is scratch-resistant, with capacitive multi-touch functionality. The display offers a contrast ratio of 1400:1, but lacks HDR support. Refresh rate isn't specified, implying a standard 60 Hz. This display performs adequately for everyday use, although it does not match the visual quality found in newer OLED screens.

Performance

Under the hood, the iPhone SE (2020) is powered by the Apple A13 Bionic chip, built on a 7nm+ process. This hexa-core CPU combines two 2.65 GHz Lightning cores and four 1.8 GHz Thunder cores. Graphics are handled by an Apple-designed 4-core GPU. This chipset, while not the latest available, provides substantial processing power, comparable to the iPhone 11 series at the time of launch. The device comes with 3GB of RAM and is available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options. The device has a reported AnTuTu v10 benchmark score of 843,971, placing it in a high performing tier for its time. Notably, there is no SD card slot for expandable storage.

Camera

The phone incorporates a single 12MP rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture, utilizing an Apple iSight Camera (8) sensor with a pixel size of 1.20µm and a 1/3" sensor size. It offers optical image stabilization (OIS) and 4K video recording capabilities at 24, 30, and 60 fps, with stereo sound. The camera includes features like HDR, autofocus, touch focus, and digital zoom and can record slow-motion video at 1080p at 120 or 240 fps. The front-facing 7MP selfie camera has an f/2.2 aperture. The DxOMark selfie score is 110, comprised of a photo score of 103 and a video score of 122.

Battery Life

The iPhone SE (2020) is equipped with a 1821mAh Li-Ion battery. It supports 18W fast charging and wireless charging, although it ships with a 5W charger. There is no wireless reverse charging. Battery life is generally considered adequate for a full day of light to moderate use, though heavy users may require midday top-ups.

Software

The phone launched with iOS 13, and is upgradable to iOS 18. This ensures access to the latest features and security updates from Apple. The iOS ecosystem provides a fluid and user-friendly experience, complemented by Apple's suite of apps and services.

Pricing

The iPhone SE (2020) was positioned as a medium-priced device. Prices vary according to storage configuration, as reflected in the available prices for the 3GB/128GB and 3GB/256GB variants, these varying from $99 to $190 based on the vendor. These prices reflect a device that is considered affordable for an Apple product, allowing users access to Apple's ecosystem at a lower barrier to entry.

Overall Verdict

The Apple iPhone SE (2020) offers a powerful processor in a compact, familiar design. It benefits from the A13 Bionic chip, a decent camera, and access to the iOS ecosystem. However, the small screen, lower resolution, and modest battery life may be limitations for some users. It is a good option for individuals who appreciate a small form factor and prefer a physical home button, while not demanding the cutting-edge features of newer, more expensive iPhones.