Review of the smartphone Apple iPhone SE (2020) with the main characteristics

The new iPhone was expected for a long time, but it just appeared on the company's website on a weekday during a "quiet presentation". Time will tell whether he will become a favorite of the public or go unnoticed. But he has a chance to become both.

The previous iPhone SE model, released in 2016, has become popular. Advanced at the time, the 6S was packaged in a 5S case and presented as the iPhone SE. Many fans, judging by the feedback, were upset when this line was discontinued in 2018. They talked a lot about these mobiles and the next generation of SE was expected in 2019. But he, quietly and unnoticed, appeared only in 2024.

The company announced the phone on April 15th. Pre-orders started on April 23. It will be possible to pick up the smartphone in May. Therefore, the answer to the question, where is it profitable to buy SE, is unambiguous. It is still possible to buy a smartphone only on the Internet, and not on all sites.

About the price

Don't expect the new iPhone to be budget-friendly. The most inexpensive model already costs from 40,000 rubles. On the site you can choose the presented modifications with different memory sizes at a suitable price:

• 64 GB - $ 399;
• 128 GB - $ 449;
• 256 GB - $ 549.

The answer to the question of which model is better to buy, for 64 or 256 GB, is quite simple. But determining the reliability and performance of a new product is already more difficult. A detailed review will give full information about all the important selection criteria and you will decide whether this device is suitable for your needs.

IPhone SE case (2020)

The second generation SE received a design from the iPhone 8. The dimensions match up to tenths of a millimeter and are 138.4 * 67.3 * 7.3, as well as the weight of 148 g. We can say that the presented phone is light, thin and compact.

Apple introduced silicone and leather cases for this model (2939/3956 rubles, respectively), but due to the complete coincidence of design and dimensions, iPhone 8 accessories are compatible with the new smartphone.

Corning Gorilla Glass front and back are scratch-resistant and drop-resistant. Thanks to a special oleophobic coating, the glass does not leave fingerprints, it always looks neat.

The case with excellent moisture and dust resistance with an IP67 rating, surrounded by a thin aluminum frame. Protection can withstand immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes without damaging the phone.

Replaced the Touch ID screen unlock sensor from the iPhone X series and popular with many users. It is designed in the form of a classic Home button, covered with a sapphire protective glass. The steel sensor frame quickly and reliably recognizes your fingerprint.

The smartphone is available in three colors - white, black and red. The front panel is always black. The logo on the back is located right in the center, unlike earlier models.

Screen

The classic small touchscreen is 4.7 inches diagonal with an aspect ratio of 16: 9. The matrix of the sample of 2017 Retina HD supports a wide color range and accurate color reproduction, has a resolution of IPS 750 * 1334 pixels, a density of 326 ppi for games, photos and for watching videos.The screen contrast is 1400: 1, the maximum brightness is 625 nits, the color range is P3.

The display has support for True Tone, customizable white balance, Dolby Vision technology and the ability to display video in HDR10 format. Haptic Touch Firmware plays Live Photos animations, organizes app icons, and lets you instantly view incoming messages on a convenient screen.

Filling SE

Processor and memory

The second-gen SE features the powerful A13 Bionic processor, proven in the iPhone 11 lineup. The fresh hexa-core Hexa-core chip with a 4-core GPU will provide benchmark performance for years to come, just like the updated iOS 13.

A powerful chip transmits actions smoothly, which is suitable for working with photos, for active games and additional reality, and at the same time processes information at great speed. The processor is capable of performing a trillion operations per second, thanks to which the iPhone SE will eventually fall into the rating of high-quality and powerful smartphones.

Apple has never disclosed the amount of RAM, presumably it is 4 GB. Permanent memory is presented to choose from - 64, 128, 256 GB, respectively. As in all other models, there is no separate slot for a memory card.

Communication and sound

Wi-Fi 6 support provides better network connectivity and Wi-Fi speeds, while Gigabit LTE provides faster LTE download speeds. There are Bluetooth 5.0 standards, a GPS system with A-GPS and GLONASS, an NFC chip for working with Apple Pay.

The smartphone supports 2 SIM cards - regular nano-SIM and eSIM, which is convenient for traveling abroad and business communication. Apple models traditionally lack FM radio and 3.5mm audio jack.

Sound files are played by the installed audio player through the speaker, headphones and portable speakers. Supported formats are AAC, MIDI, MP3, WMA, WAV, and it is also possible to listen to streaming audio through the networks of Internet providers.

The model is equipped with full stereo sound. Two loudspeakers are mounted near the microphones, they reproduce sound in stereo mode. The dictaphone clearly distinguishes human speech and allows you to make high quality audio recordings. Special firmware for small voice memos will identify each word and convert speech memos to text.

Camera and photography features

Many portrait options were previously only available on the expensive iPhone XR, XS and Pro models. The SE has a single 12-megapixel camera with one of the largest f / 1.8 apertures for sharpness. It supports portrait mode that separates the subject and blur the background, and also provides high-quality shots in the sun.

The Apple website provides examples of portrait photography and options for how the camera captures at night or on the move. OIS kinematic stabilization eliminates camera shake and enhances the image in images. The rear camera has the following features:

• digital zoom 5x;
• six-element lens;
• next-generation Smart HDR high dynamic range;
• focusing with PDAF technology allows faster autofocusing on the subject;
• True None - two-tone LED flash, Slow Sync;
• portrait mode with depth control and bokeh effect;
• Supports portrait lighting with 6 effects - natural, studio, stage,
• contour light, black and white stage light, and black and white light tonality;
• advanced red-eye correction system;
• panorama up to 63 Mp;
• burst shooting mode;
• geotagging - linking a photo to a location;
• creation of images in PNG, JPEG, GIF, BMP format.

The selfie module has a 7-megapixel front camera with an f / 2.2 aperture with the following specifications:

• portrait mode with bokeh effect and "Depth";
• portrait lighting in 6 modes (similar to the main camera);
• Retina Flash;
• Quick Take - fast transition from photo to video;
• extended range of colors for photos and Live Photos;
• optical stabilization;
• the possibility of burst shooting.

Features of video shooting

The installed video player allows you to view streaming video in real time. Supported formats are MP4, AVI, 3GPP, WMV. The user can leave geolocation marks for the captured videos.The main and selfie cameras have the following features:

• high quality video recording in 4K format with a frame rate of 24/30/60;
• HD video (1080p) at 30/60 fps;
• HD video (720p) at 30 fps;
• slo-mo video function with a frequency of 120/240 fps;
• "Timelapse" with video stabilization;
• stabilization of frame-by-frame video;
• OIS - kinematic stabilization in motion;
• digital zoom 3x;
• True None - LED flash;
• Quick Take - instant transition from photo to video shooting and vice versa;
• continuous autofocus;
• simultaneous shooting of 8 megapixel photos and 4K video recording;
• stereo sound;
• zoom during video playback.

In iOS 13, the updated Camera and Photos applications with an intuitive interface process images with the Neural Engine coprocessor, which makes it possible to edit not only photos, but also video. Sorting files in "Photos" is done using machine learning.

Battery and autonomy

The second generation SE battery comes from the popular G8 model, so the performance will be similar. The non-removable Li-Ion 1821 mAh battery can be recharged to 50% by fast 18 W charging in just 30 minutes. It is possible to use Qi wireless charging, but the charger itself is not included.

An energy efficient processor and a relatively small IPS screen reduce battery drain. The manufacturer claims that video viewing is possible for 13 hours, in streaming mode - up to 8. The battery autonomy will last for 40 hours of audio playback.

Sensors

SE doesn't have Face ID. Biometric security is equipped with a fingerprint identification sensor (Touch ID). But the old development shouldn't be considered a disadvantage. The tried-and-tested technology is popular among Apple fans, it is cheaper and in some cases more reliable.

Intelligent Secure Enclave protects individual fingerprint information, helps prevent advertisers from tracking activity on sites. iPhone SE has a GLONASS / GPS module, a three-axis gyroscope, a digital compass, a barometer, an accelerometer, a light and proximity sensor.

Additional equipment

Includes 5 watt charging adapter, USB / Lighting cable, EarPods. Wireless charging will have to be purchased separately.

Summary table of technical parameters

Advantages and disadvantages

• Resistant to water;
• Ergonomic dimensions and light weight;
• A wide range of modifications, depending on the amount of memory;
• Powerful and energy efficient processor;
• Fast charging function.

• No Face ID;
• Modest camera parameters.

iPhone SE is a great choice for those who prefer lightweight and compact models. At the same time, the performance based on the powerful functionality of the A13 Bionic increases dramatically and ensures the speed of Apple's premium models.

The SE user gets access to a variety of products, services and accessories of the company. Improved camera performance, next-generation connectivity, automatic updates will keep your phone in use for years to come.