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Apple released the long-awaited iPhone SE 2020 on Wednesday, ending all speculation. The phone with some iPhone 11 interiors and iPhone 8 exteriors is being touted as Apple’s second “budget phone” after the iPhone SE, which launched in 2016. Of course, the budget portion is relative. This is still an iPhone and still expensive. The iPhone SE 2020 starts at Rs 42,500 in India, making it the cheapest new iPhone if we use MRP.
The price is sure to appeal to many first-time iPhone buyers, but will it be a great upgrade for people using older iPhone models like the iPhone 7, iPhone 8? Or should shoppers consider another affordable Apple iPhone: the slightly old but venerable iPhone XR?
Interestingly, the iPhone XR is the only iPhone that comes to mind every time a comparison is contemplated. The iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone XR don’t have a huge price difference and even have some similarities in terms of hardware like the rear camera itself. So how do the two compare: the iPhone SE 20202 vs. the iPhone XR?
iPhone SE vs iPhone XR: design and display
Apple’s new iPhone SE 2020 brings back the 4.7-inch screen and Touch ID. The last iPhone to feature a Touch ID was the iPhone 8 series, which launched in 2017.
The iPhone SE 2020 has the regular thick bezels we’ve seen on the iPhone long before, while the iPhone XR with a 6.1-inch LCD screen has an almost edge-to-edge display.
The iPhone XR is a better choice for people who prefer larger screens and a modern look. It wouldn’t go back to the old 2014 iPhone look at a time when smartphone makers are increasingly making bezel-less displays. However, if you miss the iconic, smaller 4.7-inch display on the iPhone, which is easier to operate and fits perfectly in your pocket, then iPhone SE is the phone for you.
iPhone SE vs iPhone XR: camera
There’s not much difference in the camera on the iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone XR, as they feature a unique 12-megapixel rear camera with f / 1.8 aperture. The phones come with portrait mode support along with depth sensors.
On the front, the phones feature a 7-megapixel f / 2.2 camera with a TrueDepth sensor and support for portrait mode for selfies. Both phones are good at clicking photos and selfies, so shoppers don’t have to think much about the camera before choosing either phone.
We suspect that due to the A13 Bionic processor, the iPhone SE may click somewhat better photos. The newer processor has more speed and therefore can help Apple do better photo processing on iPhone SE. But the difference, if any, between the photos that were clicked with the iPhone XR and the iPhone SE will be minuscule.
iPhone SE vs iPhone XR: Performance
This is an area where the iPhone XR lags behind the newly released iPhone SE 2020. The iPhone SE is powered by the Aion Bionic chip, the same chipset that is present in the iPhone 11 series. The A13 Bionic chipset is the fastest processor present in a smartphone. The iPhone XR, by contrast, features an older Bionic A12 chip that is still very fast and best in class.
However, the interesting thing is that the A12 Bionic and A13 Bionic may have theoretical speed differences, but real-world performance is similar for both. Both the iPhone XR and iPhone SE will be an incredibly fast phone for you.
As for the battery, the iPhone SE has the same battery as the iPhone 8, while the iPhone XR battery is said to be better than the iPhone X. The iPhone XR is known or provides the best battery life. However, it was later replaced by the iPhone 11.
iPhone SE vs iPhone 2020: verdict
Overall, we believe the iPhone XR will be a better buy, largely due to its display. If I had to choose a phone between the two, I’d go for the iPhone XR due to the battery life and screen size. At a time when people are looking for phones for a larger, bezel-less screen, I wouldn’t want to go back to the old iPhone design that dates back to 2014.
However, the iPhone SE 2020 has its charm. The smaller screen could be a big draw for some. Touch ID could be another part that many like. The lighter and more compact design is another part that some consumers will prefer.
But these are very specific preferences. For most users, the iPhone XR would be a better bet if the price is correct. Below Rs 50,000, the iPhone XR is a better deal than the iPhone SE. If the price of the iPhone XR somehow exceeds Rs 50,000, then the iPhone SE makes more sense.
