The whole iPhone 12 lineup is finally on sale, but their prices are all but affordable. If you want to save money when getting a new iPhone, you should opt for the iPhone SE 2020 or for one of the models from previous generations which are still on sale. The iPhone 11 is a very good option, and it was one of the best selling phones of 2020. If you need to save even more, then you could opt for the iPhone XR as it is more affordable than the iPhone 11, but it costs more than the compact iPhone SE 2020. Which affordable Apple phone is the best for your needs? With this specs comparison, we tried to answer this question.
Apple iPhone SE vs Apple iPhone XR vs Apple iPhone 11
| Apple iPhone SE 2020 | Apple iPhone XR | Apple iPhone 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm, 148 g | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm, 194 g | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm, 194 g |
| DISPLAY | 4.7 inches, 750 x 1334p (HD+), Retina IPS LCD | 6.1 inches, 828 x 1792p (HD+), Liquid Retina IPS LCD | 6.1 inches, 828 x 1792p (HD+), Liquid Retina IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Apple A13 Bionic, hexa-core 2.65 GHz | Apple A12 Bionic, hexa-core 2.5 GHz | Apple A13 Bionic, hexa-core 2.65 GHz |
| MEMORY | 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – 3 GB RAM, 128 GB – 3 GB RAM, 256 GB | 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – 3 GB RAM, 128 GB – 3 GB RAM, 256 GB | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | iOS 13 | iOS 12 | iOS 13 |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS |
| CAMERA | Single 12 MP, f/1.8 Single 7 MP f/2.2 front camera |
Single 12 MP, f/1.8 Dual 7 MP + SL 3D 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, Qi wireless charging | 2942 mAh, fast charging 15W, wireless charging | 3110 mAh, fast charging 18W, Qi wireless charging |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Optional eSIM, IP67 water resistant, Touch ID | Optional Dual SIM slot, optional eSIM, IP67 water resistant, Face ID | Optional Dual SIM slot, optional eSIM waterproof IP68, Face ID |
Design
If you want a modern and great design, just discard the iPhone SE 2020 right now. The iPhone SE 2020 has a very outdated design: it is the same as the iPhone 8, and this is probably its biggest disadvantage. You get very thick bezels around the display and it is not good for a 2020 phone. The iPhone XR and the iPhone 11 have the same aesthetics with the exception of the camera module. Given that the iPhone XR has just one camera, its rear side is more minimal: that is why it is my favorite handset in terms of design. Instead, the iPhone 11 has a big and square-shaped camera module including two sensors and a flash LED. While the iPhone XR may look more beautiful, the iPhone 11 has a better build quality and it is waterproof with the IP68 certification (instead of the IP67 certification of the XR).
Display
Besides having almost the same design, iPhone XR and iPhone 11 even come with the same display. It is a 6.1-inch panel with an 828p resolution, True-tone technology, and wide color gamut. It is an IPS panel, unfortunately, no OLED in this trio. The display of these two phones is actually superior to the screen found on the iPhone SE 2020. But the iPhone SE 2020 has the most compact display and it is easy to use with one hand. iPhone SE 2020 relies on Touch ID for authentication, while iPhone XR and 11 rely on 3D facial recognition (Face ID).
Hardware/Software
The iPhone 11 has the most advanced hardware department. It is composed of an Apple A13 Bionic chipset, 4 GB of RAM, and up to 256 GB of NVMe native storage. The silver medal goes to the iPhone SE 2020 sporting an Apple A13 Bionic chipset paired with 3 GB of RAM. iPhone XR loses the fight with its Apple A12 Bionic and 3 GB of RAM. iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone 11 run iOS 13 out of the box and will get longer software support, while iPhone XR ships with iOS 12. If you need the fastest phone and the best one for multi-tasking, you should go for the iPhone 11 without thinking twice.
Camera
iPhone SE 2020, iPhone XR, and iPhone 11 are equipped with the same 12 MP sensor for the rear camera. But unlike its two internal rivals, the iPhone 11 has an additional ultrawide 12 MP sensor making it the best camera phone of the trio. Besides offering a better rear camera department, the iPhone 11 also comes with a better front camera sporting a 12 MP resolution. Both the rear camera and the front camera of the iPhone 11 are able to record videos with 4K resolution.
Battery
iPhone 11 provides the longest battery life simply because it has a bigger battery. Given its 3110 mAh battery, there is no chance for iPhone XR and SE 2020 to compete. The iPhone XR has a less efficient chipset and the same display, while the battery of the iPhone SE 2020 is definitely too small.
Price
iPhone SE 2020 is priced €399/$399 in its base variant, iPhone XR is available for about €619/$499, and you need €719/$599 for the iPhone 11. The iPhone 11 is the best phone here and it is worth spending €100 more to get better cameras, hardware, and battery. But the iPhone SE 2020 offers the highest value for money.
Apple iPhone SE vs Apple iPhone XR vs Apple iPhone 11: PRO and CONS
Apple iPhone SE 2020
PROS
- More compact
- Very affordable
- Touch ID
CONS
- Outdated design
- Small battery
Apple iPhone XR
PROS
- Good price
- Same display as iPhone 11
- Face ID
CONS
- Inferior hardware
Apple iPhone 11
PROS
- Best hardware
- Best camera department
- Biggest battery
- Face ID
CONS
- Costlier
