iPhone SE Review: Budget Performance Unpacked

iPhone SE

Definition

The iPhone SE is a line of affordable, compact smartphones developed and marketed by Apple Inc., positioned as a cost-effective alternative to the company’s flagship iPhone models. The “SE” stands for Special Edition, emphasizing a blend of premium core performance and a retro, user-friendly design tailored for consumers who prefer one-handed operation, seek budget-friendly options, or want to upgrade from older iPhone generations without paying flagship prices. Since its debut in 2016, Apple has released three generations of the iPhone SE, each retaining key legacy features while integrating modern hardware like flagship-grade chips and 5G connectivity.

Generational Overview

Generation	Release Date	Price Positioning	Flagship Chip Equivalent	Key Design Basis
iPhone SE (1st Gen)	March 2016	Entry-level budget	iPhone 6s (Apple A9)	iPhone 5s (4-inch form factor, Touch ID home button)
iPhone SE (2nd Gen)	April 2020	Mid-budget	iPhone 11 (Apple A13 Bionic)	iPhone 8 (4.7-inch display, glass-and-aluminum chassis)
iPhone SE (3rd Gen)	March 2022	5G-enabled budget	iPhone 13 (Apple A15 Bionic)	iPhone 8 (identical design to 2nd Gen)

1. iPhone SE (1st Generation, 2016)

Core Specifications

Design & Display
- Replicates the iPhone 5s unibody anodized aluminum chassis (123.8 × 58.6 × 7.6 mm, 113g), one of Apple’s most iconic compact designs.
- 4.0-inch Retina Display with 1136×640 resolution (326 ppi), 16:9 aspect ratio, and 500 nits peak brightness—ideal for one-handed use.
- Color options: Space Gray, Silver, Gold.
- Physical Touch ID home button (fingerprint sensor) for biometric authentication—no Face ID support.
Performance & Storage
- Powered by the Apple A9 dual-core chip (same as the iPhone 6s) with 2 GB LPDDR4 RAM, delivering 2x faster CPU and 3x faster GPU performance than the iPhone 5s.
- Storage options: 16 GB / 64 GB non-expandable flash storage (no microSD card slot).
- Software support: Launched with iOS 9; supported up to iOS 15 (2021), offering a 6-year update window—unmatched for a budget smartphone at the time.
Camera System
- Rear: 12-megapixel iSight camera (f/2.2 aperture, 1080p video at 30 fps, autofocus, LED flash). Lacks optical image stabilization (OIS).
- Front: 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera (720p video recording).
- Key features: Live Photos support, HDR photography, and basic portrait effects via software.
Connectivity & Battery
- Cellular: 4G LTE (no 5G), GSM/CDMA support; single-SIM (eSIM not available).
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS, NFC for Apple Pay.
- Port: Lightning connector (replaces the 30-pin dock connector of older models).
- Battery: 1624 mAh non-removable lithium-ion battery, delivering up to 14 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby time. Supports 10W wired charging (no wireless charging).
Legacy & Discontinuation: Filled the gap for compact iPhone users after Apple phased out 4-inch models in flagship lineups. Discontinued in September 2018.

2. iPhone SE (2nd Generation, 2020)

Core Specifications

Design & Display
- Adopts the iPhone 8’s glass-and-aluminum design (138.4 × 67.3 × 7.3 mm, 148g), with a glossy glass back for wireless charging and an aluminum frame.
- 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD display (1334×750 resolution, 326 ppi), 16:9 aspect ratio, 625 nits peak brightness, and support for True Tone technology (adjusts display color to ambient light).
- Color options: White, Black, Product (RED).
- Updated Touch ID home button (faster fingerprint recognition) and IP67 water/dust resistance (up to 1m depth for 30 minutes).
Performance & Storage
- Packed with the Apple A13 Bionic chip (same as the iPhone 11/11 Pro flagships)—a 7nm 6-core processor with 4-core GPU and 8-core Neural Engine. Delivers class-leading performance for a budget smartphone, capable of running demanding apps and games.
- RAM: 3 GB LPDDR4X.
- Storage options: 64 GB / 128 GB / 256 GB non-expandable flash storage.
- Software support: Launched with iOS 13; supported up to iOS 17 (2023).
Camera System
- Rear: 12-megapixel wide camera (f/1.8 aperture, OIS, 4K video at 60 fps, optical zoom up to 5x). Adds software-based Portrait Mode and Depth Control.
- Front: 7-megapixel FaceTime HD camera (1080p video recording, Portrait Mode support).
- Key upgrades: Better low-light performance, faster autofocus, and support for Smart HDR 2.
Connectivity & Battery
- Cellular: 4G LTE (Gigabit-class speeds), dual-SIM (nano-SIM + eSIM) support in select regions.
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/QZSS.
- Charging: 18W wired fast charging (0–50% in 30 minutes with compatible adapter) and Qi wireless charging (up to 7.5W).
- Battery: 1821 mAh non-removable battery, offering up to 13 hours of video playback and 40 hours of audio playback.
Key Selling Points: Flagship performance at half the cost of the iPhone 11; first budget iPhone with wireless charging and IP67 water resistance.

3. iPhone SE (3rd Generation, 2022)

Core Specifications

Design & Display
- Identical to the 2nd Gen (4.7-inch Retina HD LCD, Touch ID home button, IP67 water resistance, 148g weight)—no design refresh to keep costs low.
- Color options: Midnight, Starlight, Product (RED).
Performance & Storage
- Upgraded to the Apple A15 Bionic chip (same as the iPhone 13/13 Pro)—a 5nm 6-core processor with 4-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. Delivers 15% faster CPU performance and 30% faster GPU performance than the A13 Bionic.
- RAM: 4 GB LPDDR5 (1 GB more than the 2nd Gen).
- Storage options: 64 GB / 128 GB / 256 GB non-expandable flash storage.
- Software support: Launched with iOS 15; supported up to iOS 18 (as of 2025), extending its usable lifespan.
Camera System
- Same hardware as the 2nd Gen (12MP rear camera with OIS, 7MP front camera) but with software enhancements: improved Night Mode, Smart HDR 4, and Cinematic Mode (1080p at 30 fps).
Connectivity & Battery
- 5G support (sub-6 GHz globally; mmWave in select U.S. regions)—the biggest upgrade over the 2nd Gen, making it Apple’s most affordable 5G iPhone.
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip for spatial awareness (compatible with AirTags and other UWB-enabled iPhones).
- Battery: 2018 mAh non-removable battery, delivering up to 15 hours of video playback (2 hours more than the 2nd Gen). Supports 20W wired fast charging and Qi wireless charging (up to 15W).
Key Selling Points: 5G connectivity at a budget price; flagship A15 chip for long-term performance; ideal for users upgrading from 4G iPhones to 5G networks.

Core Series Traits & Target Audience

Performance-to-Price Ratio: All iPhone SE models use flagship-grade Apple silicon chips, delivering performance comparable to premium iPhones at 50–60% of the cost.
Compact & Ergonomic Design: Retains small form factors (4.0-inch to 4.7-inch) for one-handed use, catering to users who dislike the large screens of modern flagships.
Legacy Feature Retention: Sticks with the physical Touch ID home button—a popular alternative to Face ID for users who prefer tactile biometric authentication.
Target Markets: Budget-conscious consumers, enterprise/education users, first-time iPhone buyers, and users upgrading from older models (e.g., iPhone 6s/7/8).