Why the iPhone SE is Perfect for Compact Phone Lovers

iPhone SE

Definition

The iPhone SE is a series of budget-friendly, compact smartphones designed and marketed by Apple Inc., positioned as a “special edition” alternative to the company’s flagship iPhone lineup. The series prioritizes premium performance in a smaller, more affordable form factor, targeting users who prefer compact devices or seek high-end specs without the flagship price tag. Since its debut in 2016, Apple has released three generations of the iPhone SE, each balancing legacy design elements with modern hardware upgrades.

Generational Overview

Generation	Release Date	Key Positioning	Core Chip
iPhone SE (1st Gen)	March 2016	Budget compact iPhone; reuses iPhone 5s design	Apple A9
iPhone SE (2nd Gen)	April 2020	Revived compact form factor; iPhone 8 design refresh	Apple A13 Bionic
iPhone SE (3rd Gen)	March 2022	5G-enabled budget option; same design as 2nd Gen	Apple A15 Bionic

1. iPhone SE (1st Generation, 2016)

Core Specifications

Design & Display: Reused the iPhone 5s unibody aluminum chassis (123.8 × 58.6 × 7.6 mm, 113g) with a 4.0-inch Retina Display (1136 × 640 pixels, 326 ppi, 16:9 aspect ratio). Available in space gray, silver, and gold. Featured a physical home button with Touch ID (fingerprint sensor)—a key premium feature retained from the iPhone 5s.
Processor & Performance: Powered by the Apple A9 chip (same as the iPhone 6s) with 2 GB RAM, delivering 2x faster CPU performance than the iPhone 5s. Supported iOS 9 to iOS 15, with a 6-year software support window.
Storage: 16 GB or 64 GB non-expandable flash storage (no microSD slot).
Camera System:
- Rear: 12-megapixel iSight camera (f/2.2 aperture, 1080p video at 30 fps, autofocus, LED flash). Lacked optical image stabilization (OIS).
- Front: 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera (720p video recording).
Connectivity: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS. Used the Lightning connector for charging and data transfer.
Battery: 1624 mAh non-removable battery, offering up to 14 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby time.
Key Features: Touch ID, Apple Pay support, Live Photos (limited), and compatibility with Apple Watch pairing.
Legacy: Filled the gap for compact iPhone users after Apple phased out the 4-inch form factor in flagship models; became a popular choice for enterprise and education markets due to its low cost and manageable size.

2. iPhone SE (2nd Generation, 2020)

Core Specifications

Design & Display: Adopted the iPhone 8’s glass-and-aluminum design (138.4 × 67.3 × 7.3 mm, 148g) with a 4.7-inch Retina HD Display (1334 × 750 pixels, 326 ppi, 16:9 aspect ratio, 625 nits brightness). Featured a physical home button with Touch ID (updated for faster recognition). Available in white, black, and product (RED).
Processor & Performance: Packed the Apple A13 Bionic chip (same as the iPhone 11/11 Pro flagships) with 3 GB RAM—delivering industry-leading performance for a budget smartphone. Supported iOS 13 to iOS 17.
Storage: 64 GB, 128 GB, or 256 GB non-expandable flash storage.
Camera System:
- Rear: 12-megapixel wide camera (f/1.8 aperture, OIS, 4K video at 60 fps, optical zoom up to 5x, Portrait Mode support via software).
- Front: 7-megapixel FaceTime HD camera (1080p video at 30 fps, Portrait Mode with Depth Control).
Connectivity: 4G LTE (with Gigabit-class speeds), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC (for Apple Pay), GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/QZSS.
Battery: 1821 mAh non-removable battery, with up to 13 hours of video playback and 40 hours of audio playback. Supported 18W fast charging (via Lightning connector) and Qi wireless charging (up to 7.5W).
Key Improvements: Flagship-grade performance, OIS for better low-light photography, wireless charging support, and enhanced water resistance (IP67 rating, up to 1m depth for 30 minutes).

3. iPhone SE (3rd Generation, 2022)

Core Specifications

Design & Display: Identical to the 2nd Gen (4.7-inch Retina HD Display, Touch ID home button, IP67 water resistance, 148g weight). Available in midnight, starlight, and product (RED).
Processor & Performance: Upgraded to the Apple A15 Bionic chip (same as the iPhone 13/13 Pro) with 4-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine—offering 15% faster CPU performance and 30% faster GPU performance than the 2nd Gen. Supported iOS 15 to iOS 18 (as of 2025).
Storage: 64 GB, 128 GB, or 256 GB non-expandable flash storage.
Camera System: Same as the 2nd Gen (12MP rear wide camera with OIS, 7MP front camera), with software enhancements for better Portrait Mode and Night Mode photography.
Connectivity: 5G support (sub-6 GHz and mmWave in select regions)—the biggest upgrade over the 2nd Gen. Also includes Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, and Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip for spatial awareness (compatible with iPhone 11 and later models).
Battery: 2018 mAh non-removable battery, with up to 15 hours of video playback. Supports 20W fast charging and Qi wireless charging.
Key Upgrade: 5G connectivity made it the most affordable 5G iPhone, positioning it as a cost-effective option for users transitioning to 5G networks.

Key Series Traits & Target Audience

Performance-to-Price Ratio: All iPhone SE models feature flagship-grade Apple silicon chips, delivering performance comparable to premium iPhones at 50–60% of the cost.
Compact Form Factor: Cater to users who prefer smaller, one-handed smartphones— a niche Apple has maintained as flagship iPhones grew larger over time.
Legacy Features: Retained the physical Touch ID home button, a popular alternative to Face ID for users who prefer biometric authentication without a notch or dynamic island.
Target Markets: Budget-conscious consumers, enterprise/education users, first-time iPhone buyers, and users upgrading from older iPhone models (e.g., iPhone 6s/7/8).

Discontinuation & Legacy

As of 2025, the 3rd Gen iPhone SE remains in Apple’s lineup as its most affordable smartphone, continuing the series’ legacy of balancing compact design, premium performance, and accessibility.

The 1st Gen iPhone SE was discontinued in September 2018, replaced by the iPhone XR (mid-range) and later the 2nd Gen SE.