The new affordable iPhone is finally official: it has the same design as the old iPhone 8, but it packs improved specifications in a very compact body. But if you need an affordable iPhone, the iPhone SE 2020 is not the only option out there among the last-generation Apple devices. There is another interesting option: the best-selling iPhone 11, which is the successor of the iPhone XR. It is more expensive than iPhone SE 2020, but it is currently available with very interesting street prices. Should you spend a bit more for the 11 or the iPhone SE 2020 is enough for all of your needs? This specs comparison will clear your ideas in regards.
Apple iPhone SE 2020 vs Apple iPhone 11
| Apple iPhone SE 2020 | Apple iPhone 11 | |
|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm,
148 grams |
150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm,
194 grams |
| DISPLAY | 4.7 inches, 750 x 1334p (Retina HD), Retina IPS LCD | 6.1 inches, 828 x 1792p (Retina HD), Liquid Retina IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Apple A13 Bionic, hexa-core 2.65 GHz | Apple A13 Bionic, hexa-core 2.65 GHz |
| MEMORY | 3 GB RAM, 128 GB – 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – 3 GB RAM 256 GB | 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB |
| SOFTWARE | iOS 13 | iOS 13 |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | Single 12 MP f/1.8 7 MP f/2.2 front camera |
Dual 12 + 12 MP f/1.8 + f/2.4 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 front camera |
| BATTERY | 1821 mAh, fast charging 18W, wireless charging Qi | 3110 mAh, Fast Charging 18W, wireless charging Qi |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | IP67 water resistant, eSIM | IP68 waterproof, eSIM |
Design
iPhone SE 2020 is the most compact last-generation flagship in the whole mainstream smartphone market. But its design is outdated: as we mentioned above, the device has the same aesthetics as the iPhone 8 released back in 2017. There are thick bezels around the display and Touch ID came back, replacing Face ID. But the device is still made of premium materials, including a glass back and an aluminum frame. Further, it is a water resistant smartphone with the IP67 certification. The iPhone 11 has bigger dimensions, but its design is definitely more attractive. The reason is the presence of a borderless display with narrow bezels. iPhone 11 also comes with better protection against water: it has the IP68 certification (up to 2 meters deep for max 30 minutes).
Display
The size is the most important difference between the displays of iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone 11. The iPhone SE 2020 has a display diagonal of just 4.7 inches, so it is not the most suitable device for advanced users and productivity. On the other hand, it is easier for one-handed use and it fits better in a pocket. If we talk about the quality of the display, besides having a wider 6.1-inch diagonal, iPhone 11 provides a more convincing image quality. It even comes with a more reactive touch thanks to a 120 Hz touch-sampling rate. But keep in mind that the differences between the image quality of these displays are not huge.
Specs & Software
Despite it is a way more affordable device than all the other last-generation iPhones, the iPhone SE 2020 has exactly the same chipset as the iPhone 11 lineup. This means that it is able to provide similar performances. The operating system is the same on both the devices (iOS 13 out of the box), and even the internal storage is the same: they both come in configurations with 64, 128 or 256 GB. There is only a single difference in the hardware department: iPhone 11 offers an additional gig of RAM. While iPhone SE 2020 has 3 GB of RAM, the iPhone 11 sports 4 GB of RAM for better multi tasking performances. But one single gig of RAM on iOS 13 is not a very noticeable difference in terms of overall performance.
Camera
On the rear side, the iPhone SE 2020 has just a single camera with a 12 MP resolution, but it is a great camera and it supports OIS. It is even able to calculate depth info by taking advantage of machine learning, without the need for a secondary depth sensor. The iPhone 11 adds a useful 12 MP ultrawide lens on the rear side, for a total of two cameras. And unlike the SE 2020 sporting a dual-LED flash, the 11 has a quad-LED flash. Besides a better rear camera department, the iPhone 11 also comes with a better front camera: a 12 MP sensor accompanied by an SL 3D sensor that enables Face ID.
Battery
iPhone 11 has a much bigger battery than iPhone SE 2020 (3110 mAh vs 1821 mAh) and it is able to provide a way longer battery life. The battery life of the iPhone 11 is very satisfying, it is not a battery phone but it can last more than one working day with most of the usage patterns. iPhone SE 2020 debuted yesterday, so we had no chance to test its battery life.
Price
iPhone 11 is priced $699 (€799 in Europe) in its base variant, while iPhone SE 2020 starts from just $399 (€499 in Europe). The iPhone 11 is a way better smartphone, but if you do not need above-average battery life, the most modern design, a wide display, and an ultrawide camera, there are no noticeable differences that justify the price difference between the two handsets. iPhone SE 2020 is a great alternative for the price, even though you can get better specifications with several Android phones in the same price range. But you would never get iOS nor that compact body.
Apple iPhone SE 2020 vs Apple iPhone 11: PRO and CONS
Apple iPhone SE 2020
PRO
- More compact
- Affordable price
- Touch ID
CONS
- Inferior cameras
Apple iPhone 11
PRO
- Face ID
- Better cameras
- More beautiful design
- Bigger battery
- Better water resistance
CONS
- Bigger and costlier
