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iPhone SE 2020 Vs iPhone SE 2016: What’s The Difference?

Posted on the 20 July 2020 by Thiruvenkatam Chinnagounder @tipsclear

The iPhone SE 2020 was released earlier this year in March. Now people can compare it with other iPhones and Androids, and it also shares many similarities with the iPhone 8. But the most obvious comparison, I think, is the iPhone SE 2020 vs iPhone SE 2016.

Yes, let's put the new iPhone SE side by side with its older brother released four years ago. Here we can see all the upgrades and changes added by Apple that make a big difference. In addition, there should be some areas where the 2016 SE can be proud of.

iPhone SE 2016 Vs SE 2020: What could be better?

More power!

So, having seen the specifications of the two iPhone models, it is quite visible that the iPhone SE 2020 is a big leap in terms of performance. It has an SoC made by Apple which is four generations newer than that of the original SE and also powers the flagship iPhone 11 from last year.

In addition to the processor and graphics processor upgrades, the 2020 SE also takes advantage of the A13 Bionic's 8-core neural engine. It is dedicated hardware designed to effectively handle machine learning workloads.

The powerful SoC A13 also benefits from the new SE 2020 photo equipment, which can record 4K videos at 60 frames per second. In other words, the device quickly captures images and videos and takes advantage of features like Smart HDR that require a lot of background processing.

Best camera

On the other hand, the 12MP rear camera of the iPhone SE 2016 can record 4K videos at 30fps and give you a taste of HDR. However, it lacks optical image stabilization, unlike its new brother, which makes videos less stable.

Best display

In the display department, the two devices have different screen sizes and dimensions but have the same pixel density of 326ppi. This is somewhat the norm on previous models up to the iPhone 8. This means that the two screens will offer a similar level of sharpness, but the iPhone SE 2020 brings modern advantages, including True Tone, more brightness, better contrast ratio, and shows more colors.

No more backup battery

In the battery department, you will find that Apple has increased capacity by only 200mAh - but the new iPhone SE allows you to watch videos for up to 13 hours. Not to mention the resource-intensive material it has. But the fact is that the 1st generation SE can also offer you around 13 hours of video playback.

However, maintaining a similar backup battery while improving performance is what Apple is capable of. The new SE model offers 2.5 hours of additional juice overall. Here too, software tweaks and hardware advancements like the "big.Little" architecture and smaller semiconductor size make the A13 Bionic more efficient.

iPhone SE 2016 Vs SE 2020: What is similar?

While the SE 2020 leads the way in many ways, some things haven't changed much.

Same format with fingerprint sensor

You'll be surprised to know that both devices have an introductory price of $ 399, although after adjusting for inflation, the 2nd generation SE should be a little cheaper.

The design based on Touch ID is, I suppose, the most downright visible aspect of the SE 2020 which brings it closer to the older sister, although it is now different from the original SE.

The iPhone SE 2020 comes with the 2nd generation Touch identification sensor. However, given the form factor, it would have been much easier to add Face ID material and not include the notch, but it's Apple. In addition, adding facial recognition to the old design would have created a " unique iPhone " that likely doesn't match Apple's design choice.

Both are running iOS 13

The iPhone SE 2016, despite an undernourished hardware, still manages to manage the software side well even in 2020. The device is compatible with the current iOS 13.5 and will also receive the next iOS 14 update.

I'm using iOS 14 Beta 2 on my 2016 SE, and so far I've had almost a lag-free experience apart from the few expected application crashes. Here, a big tweak goes to the optimizations made by Apple that allow a four-year-old device to run iOS 14 seamlessly.

Lightning is still there

Another common thing is the Lightning port - Apple's long-term obsession. The new iPhone SE continues to carry the same connector, although it offers faster charging speed, if that matters.

While Apple has opted for USB-C on iPads and Macs, the chances are much less that the company will do so for iPhones.

iPhone SE 2016 Vs SE 2020: What's new?

As you may have realized, most of the features discussed above are mainly improved versions of what is already present on the iPhone SE 2016. For example, the old device also comes with an NFC chip and supports Apple Pay. The same story goes for WiFi and Bluetooth.

But the iPhone SE 2020 also brings essential new features. The most useful are IP67 water resistance, fast charging and wireless charging. Apple says the device can be charged up to 50% in just 30 minutes using an 18 W fast charger.

In addition, support for Qi-compatible wireless charges places the SE 2020 at the same level as its Android counterparts in the same price range.

Another useful feature you will find is e-SIM support, which means that the iPhone SE 2020 can work as a dual SIM smartphone, just like the iPhone X and later models.

Anyway, it was a little comparison between the old and the new SE. If you have something to add, leave your thoughts in the comments.


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