IPhone SE test (2020): at 329 euros is it worth

Specificity of this iPhone SE, the return of the Touch ID sensor that Apple had decided to abandon several months ago. It’s pretty funny to go from an iPhone 11 (or premium Android model) to this iPhone SE, so much I am used to gestures (swipe…) more contemporary. Pressing the button is no longer a reflex at all, I needed a good day of adaptation to find all my bearings. That said, someone who migrates an old smartphone with a button to the iPhone SE 2020 will have no trouble adapting.

IPhone test SE 2020: Apple made new with old

Apple has decided to tackle the mid -range segment on the smartphones market with its iPhone SE 2020. In an iPhone 8 body, we find the power of 11 pro, but is it enough ? Answer in my iPhone SE test.

Posted on December 30, 2022 at 3:22 p.m

The iPhone SE 2020 is an interesting choice on the part of Apple, which offers this smartphone within € 500. While prices have soared in recent years on the high -end, the apple brand offers an iOS alternative… to all mid -range smartphones on Android. And, even if it is far from perfect, the iPhone SE is well started to be a real commercial card.

IPhone SE 2020 test on video

You can’t wait to discover all the details of the iPhone SE test ? After a few days of intensive test, we finally prepared a complete video to help you know everything in just a few minutes. If you liked the video, do not hesitate to join the press-citron community on YouTube by subscribing directly here:

Design, screen and hardware

To start this test of the iPhone SE 2020, there are few surprises in terms of design of this smartphone: Apple made new with (very) old. We find on this iPhone the same chassis as on the iPhone 8, and on the previous models. On the one hand, I liked to find this compact format but the 4.7 ″ screen is simply too small for the use I have of a smartphone.

What is a shame is that with contours in tune with the times, Apple could have offered a much larger slab, as Samsung did with its Galaxy S10E. This screen is also the same as on the iPhone 8, namely a retina lcd slab, the main defect of which is the lack of brightness in full sun.

The iPhone SE is available in three colors – white, black and red – and all contours are black unlike the red models of the past. In terms of storage, you have the choice between 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB, with a public price set at € 489 for the smallest model. For my iPhone SE 2020 test, I took over the RED version, which transfers part of the profits to an association that fights against AIDS. Here are the best current prices of the iPhone SE:

iPhone SE 64 GB at the best price basic price: € 489

Specificity of this iPhone SE, the return of the Touch ID sensor that Apple had decided to abandon several months ago. It’s pretty funny to go from an iPhone 11 (or premium Android model) to this iPhone SE, so much I am used to gestures (swipe…) more contemporary. Pressing the button is no longer a reflex at all, I needed a good day of adaptation to find all my bearings. That said, someone who migrates an old smartphone with a button to the iPhone SE 2020 will have no trouble adapting.

If the front part of the smartphone is quite disappointing, this iPhone still offers beautiful finishes-and we recognize Apple’s know-how. If you had an iPhone XR, the Red model of the iPhone has a different tinte that turns slightly to pink. The Lightning port is still there, and Apple provides earpods Lightning in the box but no Lightning/Jack adapters, which is a bit of a shame.

IPhone SE 2020 performance: an overpowered A13 chip

Very positive point, this iPhone SE is compatible Wi-Fi 6, which allows it to access much faster networks, which are starting to be deployed at ISPs, and router manufacturers. The iPhone SE is also double sim with the Nanosim/Esim combination. This is a strong point if you want to have a professional line and a personal on the same phone. For my iPhone SE 2020 test, it’s a bonus.

I finish my test with the greatest force of this iPhone SE at the material level: the integration of the A13 chip which makes it an overpowered smartphone. You have access to a smartphone whose performance has nothing to envy to the latest iPhone 11, which upgrades the rivals at the level of the SOC. Finally, only a 5G version is missing to be sure to go on 4 years with a smartphone that will always be in the era of time at the technical level.

A simple summary of my iPhone SE test: it is an iPhone 8 with the raw power of an iPhone 11 pro, but it already knew it.

iOS 13, a pleasure for its users

I will not redo a full presentation of iOS 13 that I had already mentioned in length in the test of the iPhone 11 pro. I found in this iPhone test all the advantages of the ecosystem and the fluidity of iOS 13.

However, there are slight differences in the OS with that of iPhone 11 (and range X, XR, XS). The presence of the Touch ID button logically means an absence of facial recognition with the Face ID sensor. The presence of the Home physical button also takes the place of gestures to which recent smartphones users are used to.

For example, on an iPhone 11, a swipe from bottom to top closes applications (or it opens the list of recent applications). On the iPhone SE 2020, this swipe opens the control center. It is therefore necessary to take the double-click reflex to navigate in recent applications.

I find it a bit of a shame that Apple did not give the choice on this point, the gestures of lateral swipe to pass from app in app being very practical. That said, if you go from an old phone to this iPhone SE 2020, you will have no difficulty taming it.

For everything else, this iPhone can do everything that the iPhone 11 do at the software level, and this is obviously one of the main advantages of this model.

Update December 30, 2022: Software management remains exceptional at Apple. The smartphone is, when we write these lines, indeed compatible with the latest version of the available mobile operating software, iOS 16. Everything indicates that it will also be compatible with a few other major iOS versions.

The smartphone A13 bionic chip remains very powerful, and Apple dates supports the software updates of its smartphones for 6 years. The 1st generation iPhone SE model launched under iOS 9.3 in 2016 received the iOS 15 update on December 13, 2022.7.2. He will not receive iOS 16, but was still entitled to 6 major updates, which indicates how much You can keep your iPhone SE 2020 for a long time, even if you buy it in 2023.

IPhone Se 2020 camera

The photo part has evolved enormously in terms of software since the arrival of Google’s Pixel 3, then iPhone XR. Manufacturers have shown that it was not enough to multiply the sensors and megapixels to be able to capture excellent quality shots.

On this iPhone SE, Apple reuses the iPhone 8 sensor which was already a reuse of previous models. Thanks to the A13 chip, the pictures in good conditions are clearly better, and you will manage to capture photos that have nothing to envy to the high end. Image processing avoids pixels. That said, in a dark environment, Apple remains a notch behind its competitors. It is also an asset of iOS, the speed of trigger is a happiness.

But the software does not do everything either, and as soon as the conditions deteriorate, the quality also. If the portrait mode is very well managed by the forward and rear sensors, the other characteristics (night mode, zoom, ultra grand angle) are absent.

In low light conditions, the clichés are not good, and do not think they can use night fashion, which is simply absent, you will therefore have to recover … Old. If the iPhone 11 do better, it remains a notch below certain other photophones, like Pixel 4 or the Huawei P40 Pro.

On the video part, Apple strikes hard, with very good quality, stabilization, and the possibility of climbing a 4K definition in 60 frames per second. I found a single defect in video, this is the mismanagement of the white balance as you can see on our test video of the iPhone SE on YouTube. That said, for this price, you shouldn’t ask too much either.

The iPhone SE is therefore much better than the iPhone 8 on the photo/video part, and its sensor does not disappoint. On the rest, it is still far from the iPhone 11 Pro, and some models at the same price on Android, like the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro, and the Pixel 4. I go into this test of the iPhone is now at a critical point at Apple: the battery.

Autonomy: the weak point

For two years, Apple has made real efforts to improve the autonomy of its devices. The difference between the iPhone X and the iPhone XS was sensitive, and the iPhone 11/11 Pro are even better. On this iPhone SE 2020, the low capacity (estimated at 1,821 mAh) is felt in use.

It is certainly more enduring than the iPhone 8 (probably thanks to the optimization provided by the A13 chip) but you will never hold more than a day in standard use. So keep your charger on you “in case”.

Positive point of my test, this iPhone SE 2020 is compatible with the 18W fast charge and with the Wireless load. You can therefore in a few tens of minutes recover half of the battery. This is a very good thing but it would have been even more interesting if Apple had not been content to deliver its aging block of … 5W in the box. It will therefore be necessary to go back to the checkout to buy a cable charger combo from Apple sold respectively € 35 and 25 €. Not cool.

My opinion after this test of the iPhone SE

In the end, everything is a question of target, and I think this iPhone se has everything to be a real cardboard. I would have liked more endurance and borders more in tune with the times, but it is a choice assumed by the manufacturer. By attacking the smartphones segment for less than € 500, Apple will respond to a colossal demand from existing customers – but also those who have always wanted an iPhone – who have never wanted to exceed a certain budget.

The iPhone SE 2020 that I had in testing all the advantages of an iPhone: it is powerful, iOS 13 is a happiness (in 2023 it is entitled to iOS 16 and should benefit from the 3 or 4 major updates following) and the ecosystem also. Photo processing is not the best on the market but it is possible to capture excellent shots in bright environment. In my eyes, the two weak points of this iPhone SE 2020 are the screen and the autonomy. Design is not the most contemporary, but Apple perfectly masters the finishes to make a very clean product on him.

If you go from an iPhone that predates the iPhone X and you wonder if it’s worth switching for this first iPhone in 2020, the answer is yes. And even if it is not perfect, the iPhone is one of the very best smartphones within € 500. Besides, it also deserves its place in our comparison of the best iPhone of the moment.

IPhone SE test (2020): at 329 euros is it worth ?

If you want to reach the Apple universe and buy a new iPhone without spending too much money you can go to the iPhone SE (2020).

For a price of only 329 euros at this very beginning of December 2022, what this iPhone is worth (2020)?

To find out I passed this smartphone under the TFP magnifying glass.

The best offers of the moment:

1. Aesthetics: a compact device with design dating from 2014

The iPhone SE (2020) takes up the lines of the iPhone 8, and before it those of the iPhone 6.

So we have a light and compact smartphone with large screen borders.
Thanks to its reduced dimensions, the grip is excellent.

The 4.7-inch oleophobic screen is surmounted by a secondary speaker, a camera selfie and the usual light and proximity sensors.
Here, no LEDs of notifications.

The front side is occupied up to 65.72% by the display. The latter is protected by a glass slab 2.5D reinforced with ions.

The lower strip placed under the screen houses the 2nd generation Touch ID, which is no longer a clickable button but a key with haptic return (Tapic Engine).

The contours with round profile and satin touch are made of aluminum.
The left flank welcome the button switch And the volume keys, while on the right side we find the power button and the SIM drawer (1 nano sim + 1 esim).

On the lower edge, the USB-C port is bordered to the left by a grid hiding the micro and right input by the main loudspeaker grid.

The back of the phone is glass.

At the rear of the terminal, in the upper left corner, we note the presence of a single photo sensor, a LED flash and the Apple logo.

The good news is that this American mobile is certified IP67.

The iPhone SE (2020) is available in white, product (RED) and black.
It is this last color that dresses the test copy.

• Dimensions: 138.4 mm long x 67.3 mm wide x 7.3 mm thick | Weight : 148 grams
• Repairability index: 6.2/10 (learn more about the repairability index)

2. Image and sound: a beautiful image and a stereo sound

The iPhone SE (2020) is equipped with the same LCD slab as that of the iPhone 8.

We therefore have a Retina HD+ 4.7 -inch screen in 16: 9 format offering a resolution of 1334 x 750 pixels and a refresh rate of 60 Hz.
The True Tone function allows the color temperature to be adapted to the light conditions.

The iPhone SE (2020) enjoys excellent brightness. We have measured 704 nits, enough to offer excellent exterior readability, and even in direct sunlight.

We measured a Delta E of 1.4.

The iPhone SE (2020) offers stereo sound. It is certified Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Apple Lossless and Flac.

The sound delivered is clear and relatively powerful (111 dB measured at the outlet at the top and 119 dB below).

In the absence of a mini-jack socket, I advise you to acquire a helmet or Bluetooth headphones.

On appeal, the sound returned by the earpiece is completely satisfactory. We understand his correspondent.

• Screen : 4.7 inches (IPS LCD) with a resolution of 1334 x 750 pixels, therefore a density of 326 pixels per inch.
• Her : No mini-jack and stereo speakers. Classic earpiece.

3. Performances: efficient mechanics

If the exterior and design of the iPhone SE (2020) look like those of the iPhone 8, it is an Apple A13 Bionic chip that drives this American smartphone.
The latter is seconded by 3GB of Ram.

Although the iPhone SE (2020) exists in three memory configurations (64GB, 128GB and 256GB), this is the 64GB version that we tested.

The software optimization of the Tim Cook firm is, as always, excellent.
In use, you should not encounter performance or even latency problems.

As for the game part, the processor also does wonders.
All the big titles of the moment will run without worries. Again, a success due to the optimization of Apple’s technical components.

We have submitted the iPhone SE (2020) to our usual benchmarks that are Antutu Benchmark (V9.1.2) and geekbench 5.
We have obtained scores of 532.862 points on the first, 1331 points on geekbench 5 in single-core and 3,256 points in multi-core.

For storage, out of the 64GB of storage memory announced, only 47GB are available for the user.

• Antutu benchmark (V9.1.2): 562.862 points |
• Processor : Apple Hexagon A13 Bionic engraved in 7 Nm (2 x 2.65GHz + 4 x 1.8GHz) | RAM: 3GB | Graphics processor: Apple GPU
• Storage memory: 64GB of memory which turns into 47GB during the first start.

4. Connectivity: everything except 5G

This smartphone named iPhone SE (2020) does not have 5G compatibility. To do this, you will have to go to the iPhone (2022) and add 150 euros.

We therefore have 4G (VO) LTE comprising all the frequencies necessary for complete use in France, and more broadly in Europe.

Obviously, we also have 2G and 3G+.

Like any smartphone worthy of the name, the iPhone SE (2020) offers the panoply of all other connections such as: Bluetooth (5.0), Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac/6), the (a) GPS/Glonass, a USB Lightning port, an NFC chip and an Nano Sim location and an ESIM chip.

Network hooks are correct, whether in 2G, 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi.

At the level of sensors, The iPhone SE (2020) has an accelerometer, a compass, a gyroscope, the usual luminosity and proximity sensors, but also a barometer.

Security has not been forgotten, since this iPhone SE (2020) can be unlocked by the Touch ID.

• DAS (specific absorption flow): 0.98 W/kg at the head. It is a high score for a mobile released in 2020.

5. Operating system: an up -to -date interface.

The iPhone SE (2020) is delivered immediately with iOS 16.1.1, the latest version of the Apple operating system.

Like most current smartphones, we can count on a dark mode.

At the application level, the manufacturer has added several applications such as health, weather, compass, notes, email, app store, Apple TV, calendar, calculator, game center and cards.

Touch ID accepts payments with visa and with master card.

Note that the iPhone SE (2020) does not have a system of gestures.

• Operating system : iOS 16.1.1 |

6. Use: beautiful photos, a poor autonomy

While the majority of smartphones play the race for the number of photo sensors, the iPhone SE (2020) is satisfied with a single 12 -megapixel back module opening at F/1.8. It is the same as the one that officiates on the iPhone 8.

You will therefore not be entitled here to zooms of madness or to a super ultra wide angle, but to a simple versatile camera.

Despite everything, the iPhone SE (2020) is doing very well during the day, even in slightly more complex conditions like a countenance.

At night, the situation is obviously a little more complicated. However, this smartphone is doing pretty well.
Compared to the photos captured by day, the iPhone SE (2020) can no longer enter as many details and the contrasts are lost a bit. This remains suitable for a device at 339 euros, but we have already seen better elsewhere.
We regret in particular the complete absence of night mode.

The front photo part of the smartphone is ensured by a 7 megapixel sensor already used on the iPhone 7 and on the iPhone 8.

Apple’s photos processing algorithm is pretty good, but cannot completely catch the technological delay in a more recent sensor.

At night, the clichés lack the dive. We find ourselves most often with photos that lack precision once transferred to a computer.
It will be enough for quick to share on social networks, but not much more. We will console ourselves with a beautiful color balance offered by Apple.

At the time when the most recent smartphones incorporate a battery between 4000 and 5000 mAh, the iPhone SE (2020) must be satisfied with 1821 mAh.
This is the real weak point of this smartphone!

The iPhone SE (2020) supports the fast load of 18 W, but it is a 5 W charger that is present in the packaging.
Note that the iPhone SE (2020) also supports 5 W wireless recharge.

With the accumulator provided in the box, our test device required 2 hours 30 to go from 1 to 100% battery.
The fast load with a compatible charger requested 1 hour 30.

Finally, a 60 -minute YouTube video (all lit connections, 50%sound, 50%brightness) consumed 34%of the energy contained in the battery.

In conclusion: enter Apple’s world

The iPhone SE (2020) is a device that will not suit everyone.

First of all, you should not be allergic to the apple ecosystem.

On the other hand, it will be perfectly suitable for people who wish to go from Android to iOS or who are fed up with current smartphones with disproportionate dimensions.

Despite the presence of a single back photo sensor, the iPhone SE (2020) made beautiful photos, except night.
We will regret the absence of night mode.
On the other hand, this smartphone is able to film up to 4K at 60 fps.

The black point of the iPhone SE (2020) is its low autonomy due to its small battery that will limit its performance to a day Maximim.

For 329 euros, the iPhone SE (2020) offers a good user experience.
its compact design allows you to easily forget it in a pocket or to use it by one hand.

Its screen is perfectly well calibrated and it provides very first -rate performance.