Apple iPhone Se Review: Camera
The iPhone SE has a single-lens camera on the back, which Apple describes as the most advanced single-lens snapper on an iPhone ever.
It’s a wide-angle lens with a 12-megapixel sensor. That makes it sound like it may be on a technical par with the equivalent wide-angle cameras on the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, but a teardown by iFixit has revealed that this isn’t quite correct.
The iPhone SE has a smaller sensor than the iPhone 11 and the 11 Pro, despite having the same number of pixels. This has two effects: a smaller sensor receives less light, so won’t be quite as strong a performer in dark conditions and it also means that it will have a slightly different field of view than the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro’s camera, because a larger sensor is mounted a different length from the lens. The angle thing isn’t something we’re worried about we’ll demonstrate it to you below, but it makes little real-world difference.
The sensor size is likely to make more of a real-world difference, but as we’ll see, the fact that it’s still an excellent sensor and is also backed up Apple’s latest generation of image processor means that the end result once the image has come off the sensor and been tweaked automatically in micro-seconds before you ever see it are hugely impressive.
We gave it the hardest test possible, putting it up against the iPhone 11 Pro. Here are the results.
Left: iPhone 11 Pro. Right: iPhone SE . See a larger version here.
More iPhone Se Cost Savings Explained
Internally, the differences are smaller. All of the latest iPhone models use the newest A13 processor, a blazing fast and low-power mobile chip of Apple’s own design. The operating system of the iPhone SE is the same iOS 13 that’s found in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models. However, the lower cost phone has a 7-megapixel front facing camera, instead of the 12-megapixel included with its older siblings. Then there’s the IP rating of 67, instead of 68, meaning only one meter of water resistance, and not the two to four meters available with the costlier phones. Something that has no effect at present, but may matter in the future – the iPhone SE lacks the Ultra Wideband chip that Apple describes as allowing for spatial awareness. This feature hasn’t really been used much, other than air-dropping with positional accuracy, so it may not matter to most consumers.
The 2020 iPhone SE is an incredible phone in itself and worthy of the Apple pedigree. What really makes it stand out is the low, low price and small screen size, while not skimping on the most important details. At a time when most phones are creeping toward seven inches, the iPhone SE offers an option for those that still want a small phone. While Apple is not the only company to focus on smaller and cheaper phones recently, the iPhone SE has a lot going for it, beyond its cheap price.
Apple Gave The iPhone Se Only One Camera
Most phones released last year tended to have multiple cameras on the back, but the iPhone SE kept costs down with just one. This can be one of the biggest compromises, especially if you like to take pictures with your cell phone.
You can take great pictures with one camera- Comfortably comparable to the iPhone 11 -Lack of flexibility and creativity for cameras with multiple lens options. I love using different lenses on the more expensive iPhone. As a photographer, I dont want to go without these shooting options, but they are offered at an extra charge. iPhone 11 comes with a standard camera and an additional ultra-wide-angle lens thats perfect for capturing wide-angle scenes in front of you. If youre interested in your photos, that extra hundred dollars for the iPhone 11 could be a wise expense.
If multi-lens settings are important, but you dont want to go beyond the SE price, you should consider an Android phone. It makes me neat
Andrew Hoyle / CNET
Don’t Miss: Samsung Screen Mirroring iPad
Will The iPhone Se Price Drop
2020 iPhone SE Price Might Drop To $349 Shortly After iPhone 12 Launch, Suggests Newest Info. For $399, the 2020 iPhone SE offers buyers an opportunity to experience a taste of Apples mobile OS without spending a small fortune and getting the same level of performance as the more premium offerings at the same time.
The iPhone Se 2020 Is For People Who Like Smaller Screens Whereas The iPhone 11 Is For ‘most People’
The iPhone SE 2020 and its 4.7-inch screen is a dream come true for iPhone fans who like the smaller form factor. Meanwhile, the iPhone 11 and its 6.1-inch screen suits a wider range of users.
It’s the “Goldilocks” screen size that fans of both smaller and larger screens can feel comfortable with. That’s why we say the iPhone 12, not the iPhone 12 Mini, is the best iPhone “for most people.”
Don’t Miss: How To Fix Cannot Verify Server Identity On iPhone
iPhone Se: The Latest Rumors
The Chinese language publication MyDrivers reports that the iPhone SE has entered trial production with a planned early 2022 release date.
Ming-Chi Kuo reiterates reports that the 2022 iPhone SE will have the same display as the current model and will likely be Apples last iPhone with a home button.
Trendforce reports Apple is on track to launch the third-generation iPhone SE in the first quarter of 2022.
Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants says the next iPhone SE will be called the SE Plus with the same 4.7 LCD as the 8 along with 5G.
In a note to investors seen by MacRumors, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple will position the 3rd-generation iPhone SE as the cheapest 5G iPhone ever.
Water And Dust Resistance
The iPhone SE features an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, which means it is entirely dust proof and able to withstand one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
The iPhone SE holds up to splashes, rain, and brief accidental water exposure, but intentional water exposure should continue to be avoided. Apple warns that water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and could decrease as a result of normal wear, plus Apple’s warranty does not cover any kind of water damage.
Recommended Reading: Pokemon Go Promo Codes Sprint
Read More: India Remains Apple’s Great Untapped Opportunity
The two critical markets for the iPhone’s continuing sales growth are India and China, both of which are increasing in demand at a time when the global smartphone market is stagnating. Apple can’t afford to be deaf to the desires of those potential buyers, and part of its motivation for introducing the iPhone Plus models was to tap into the enthusiasm for phablet devices across Asia. In his presentation today, Apple’s Greg Joswiak explicitly called out China as a place where small phones are valued. Even so, the Chinese and Indian consumer is even more sensitive to price than size, and Apple’s biggest hurdle to overcome in both countries has been the high cost of the iPhone.
The SE is Apple’s best compromise: it has the flagship specs, but because it’s smaller and doesn’t carry the latest industrial design, it’s distinct from the flagship and therefore justifiably cheaper. To get more aggressive, Apple might also set country-specific pricing that’s cheaper for India â as it did with Apple Music last year. There’s also the possibility of an 8GB iPhone SE sold exclusively in developing markets. Apple introduced such a model of the iPhone 5C two years ago, and now it’s keeping to the same cadence of launching a new, lower-budget iPhone option in March.
“Many customers have asked for this.”
How Small Is iPhone20 2020
4.7 inchesYou may unsubscribe at any time. But at 4.7 inches, the 2020 iPhone SE is roughly 20% larger than the original iPhone SE, which had a 4-inch screen. If you were holding out for something truly tiny, the iPhone SE 2020 doesnt deliver on that front. Apples decision to not build a brand-new 4-inch phone is telling.
Also Check: How To Delete Siri Suggestions
How Much The iPhone Se 3 Will Cost
As of now, there are no rumors regarding the price point of the new iPhone SE 3. Since its the most affordable iPhone, its likely to remain at a price point of $399. If Apple doubles the storage option while adding 5G, this would be a really sweet spot for this phone, even though it would lack a design change.
If this turns out to be the case, its important to be reminded of the JP Morgan analysis from December that says this iPhone could turn a billion Android users into switchers:
Apples trade-in program for non-iPhones is admittedly not as attractive as the iPhone trade-in values, it could nonetheless lead to an average starting price range of $269 to $399 for the 5G iPhone SE, which is still very competitive, analyst Samik Chatterjee, rated five stars on Refinitiv Eikon for his estimate accuracy, said.
In a separate note, J.P. Morgan said consumer demand for major upgrades like 5G models is expected to remain strong and also a priority for supply, even as it wanes for most hardware products including smartphones, TVs, and PCs.
Why Is The Se So Cheap
Selling a cheap phone like the iPhone SE gives more people the opportunity to spend their money every month on these services.
It is the engine that prints more money: Apple gets you in the door to its ecosystem and has guaranteed, unfettered access to your attention until you buy your next device..
Read Also: How To Connect Videos Together On iPhone
Portrait Mode And Portrait Lighting
While there aren’t two cameras, the iPhone SE does support Portrait Mode, Portrait Lighting, and Depth Control using the image signal processor and the Neural Engine for computational photography. The iPhone SE is the first iPhone that uses a purely software solution to enable Portrait Mode.
Portrait Mode allows for artful blurring of the background in an image when taking a portrait photo of a person, pet, or object, while Portrait Lighting allows six studio-quality lighting effects to be added to images. Depth Control allows the amount of blur in an image captured in Portrait Mode to be tuned for the best possible blend of blurring and detail.
Why Is The New Se iPhone So Cheap
Internally, the differences are smaller. All of the latest iPhone models use the newest A13 processor, a blazing fast and low-power mobile chip of Apples own design. While Apple is not the only company to focus on smaller and cheaper phones recently, the iPhone SE has a lot going for it, beyond its cheap price.
Recommended Reading: How To Screen Record On An iPhone Xr
What Se Means In iPhone
Special EditionOn Monday Apple introduced the iPhone SE, which comes with a smaller 4-inch screen and a similar design to the two-year-old iPhone 5s. Curious why Apple named it the iPhone SE? The name stands for Special Edition, according to what Apples head of marketing, Phil Schiller, told a Fortune reporter.
Why Is The iPhone Se So Cheap
The main reason is simple: the iPhone SE is based on the iPhone 8, so Apple is basically re-using existing parts and components, especially the outer chassis. This means there was little to no R& D costs associated with the phone versus developing a brand new handset. Apple took the iPhone 8 and rejigged it for 2020s market.
The iPhone SE s display is a 4.7in True Tone 720p panel. That is fairly low-resolution. It also doesnt use an OLED panel either. The battery is also fairly small too, although it should be able to make it through a full days worth of use thanks to the amazing efficiency of the A13 chipset inside it.
- Save
Apple has been pretty cagey about the iPhone SE s camera tech we know its a single 12MP lens that is most likely the same, or very close to the iPhone XRs set-up. You do not get Night Mode on the iPhone SE , although performance in good light is very impressive. The iPhone 8s camera was no slouch either, so you can expect very good performance from the iPhone SE s camera.
The reason the iPhone SE is so cheap, put simply, is because Apple hasnt really designed a new here instead, it has taken an existing iPhone, the iPhone 8, and modified it slightly. This allows Apple to keep its costs down and pass on the savings to you, the consumer. And this is significant because Apple has NEVER done this before.
Don’t Miss: What Is Sound Check In Itunes
Apple’s Cheaper And Not So Cheap iPhone Explained
The release date of a cheaper iPhone and of the iPhone 5S is all but certain. So what’s the big deal? And a champagne color? Really?! CNET explains.
For all its talk of doubling down on secrecy, Apple’s efforts to keep its upcoming iPhones under wraps seems all for naught. Over the past few weeks there have been a flurry of photos of both plastic and metal iPhones that may or may not be its next-generation devices.
Most notable is that it looks very much like Apple’s going to introduce not one but two new iPhones for the first time since the device first hit the market in 2007. That could have a big impact on Apple’s fortunes, as well as the types of users it has gone after all these years.
Here’s a quick guide for your most essential questions about both devices.
What’s Apple expected to announce?Two new iPhones: both a lower-cost model and a new top of the line model. Those devices are said to be debuting at an event on September 10, presumably in San Francisco or at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, where past unveilings have taken place.
What’s different about the low cost one?This model, rumored to be called the “iPhone 5C,” will sport a plastic back instead of metal. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster also recently suggested that Apple might carve out a feature or two, namely Siri, Apple’s built-in voice assistant software.
Other expected specs include a 128GB storage option and a jump to a 64-bit processor, which could speed things up.
How Apple Made The 2020 iPhone Se So Cheap
The 2020 iPhone SE costs just $399. That makes it one of the cheapest iOS handsets ever, equaled only by the original model. But to get this price, Apple had to make some compromises. Its important to be aware of what they are.
The features of this low-cost model are like a walk through the years.
Recommended Reading: How To Recuperate Deleted Photos From iPhone
Here’s How Apple Made The iPhone Se So Cheap
Thank falling component costs, not Apple’s generosity, for the iPhone SE’s cut-down price tag.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over two decades to helping users get the most from technology — whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera. Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs.
iPhone Se 2nd Generation Specs And Battery Life
Recommended Reading: What Is Sound Check On Itunes
Which iPhone Is Best Value For Money Simple: This One
Richard GoodwinThis blog post may contain affiliate links
by Richard Goodwin | Apr 24, 2020 | Phones
If youre looking at buying an iPhone and are wondering which iPhone serves up the best value for money, youre in luck
Which iPhone is the best value for money right now? Simple: the iPhone SE it retails for $399.99/£419.99, is available on a range of affordable contracts , and it runs on Apples A13 CPU which means it is as powerful as the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Only with the iPhone SE , youll pay almost £500 less.
So, yeah if you want value for money when it comes to an iPhone, get the iPhone SE .
- Save