The iPhone SE (2020) has been available for a little over a year now, so it’s time to take another look at the smartphone. How do you like the entry-level iPhone in 2021 and is it still recommended? You can read it in this review update.
Read the iPhone SE 2020 review update
It has been a year since the iPhone SE 2020 saw the light of day. The compact Apple phone was announced and released in April last year and we’ve been up and running for quite some time now. It seems that we do not have to expect a new iPhone SE for the time being, so it is time for the review update.
In this article we discuss our experiences after we have used the device extensively for a long time. Is the iPhone SE 2020 still the ideal entry-level iPhone and should you still get it in 2021? Or is it better to go for a different iPhone? You can read it below.
Compact design and screen remains nice
The iPhone SE 2020 is identical to the iPhone 8 on the outside and that has both advantages and disadvantages. First of all, the SE 2020 is a very compact device, so you can easily hold and operate it with one hand. That makes the SE an ideal choice if you don’t like large phones and find the iPhone 12 mini – which is slightly smaller – too expensive.
You do have to get used to the size of the iPhone SE if you have used larger smartphones for this. Typing on the small screen in particular requires some practice and the 4.7 inch display is actually just too small to enjoy videos and games properly.
Incidentally, the screen is nice and sharp, is clear enough and displays images beautifully. A small downside is that the refresh rate is lower (60Hz) than with many Android competitors, although this is also the case with the much more expensive iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.
The thick screen edges at the top and bottom are very old-fashioned in 2021. Almost every smartphone – including the cheapest – now has a display that fills almost the entire front. The iPhone SE therefore looks like a device from the past and we hope that Apple will opt for a modern design with the next version.
The thick bezels do have the advantage of having a Touch ID fingerprint scanner at the bottom. Because we are so used to Face ID from recent iPhones, we almost forgot how well and fine Touch ID works. The fingerprint scanner is fast, accurate and never refuses. It is not the most innovative unlocking method, but it is a very good one.
Powerful performance, medium battery life
The performance of the iPhone SE is still rock solid in 2021. The A13 chip is lightning fast, will last for years and runs apps and games very smoothly. The processor is one of the main reasons for choosing the iPhone SE, and it ensures that the iPhone is a lot faster (and more future-proof) than other devices in this price range.
The A13 chip is also energy efficient. That is also necessary, because the small 1821 mAh battery does not last very long. A day without charging is possible, but then you have to put the phone on the charger.
If you are an intensive user, you can empty the SE within a day. The iPhone XR, which is currently 80 euros more expensive than the SE, lasts much longer. Especially if you are going to game or multitask a lot, you will see the battery percentage deteriorate rapidly.
Since the release of the iPhone 12, Apple no longer puts a charger in the box of the iPhone SE, but only a Lightning-to-USB-C cable. The company does this for environmental reasons and because many Apple users still have an old charger that they can use.
We do not think the lack of the charger is a disaster, but it is an extra shame with the SE 2020 because this is an entry-level iPhone. It is nice that the phone supports fast charging with 18 Watts, provided you have the correct adapter. After half an hour, the iPhone is half full and a full charge does not take long either. In addition, wireless charging is available, which is also a nice feature.
Single camera is fine, but limited
In our iPhone SE 2020 review last year, we already wrote that the device does not offer the very best camera quality. Logically, this did not change a year later. The SE takes great photos, provided you have enough daylight. In the dark, snapshots are quickly grainy, also because there is no Night mode.
The iPhone SE is therefore limited in terms of camera area, even if you compare the smartphone with Android devices in this price range. Where the iPhone only has a single camera lens, competing devices often have more. A wide-angle lens or zoom camera is missing, which makes the SE less versatile. Fortunately, the single camera is of good quality.
Years of iOS updates
Because the iPhone SE is still relatively new and it runs on the powerful A13 chip, you can count on iOS updates for years to come. Apple usually supports its devices for five to six years, which means that the SE 2020 will last for a while. If you get the device now, you will not have to worry about software upgrades in the coming years.
This is also an advantage of the iPhone SE 2020 over the iPhone XR, which is now barely 100 euros more expensive. This phone may have a more modern design, Face ID and better battery life, but support will end a year earlier. In the long term, the SE is therefore a more interesting choice.
Conclusion iPhone SE 2020 review update
All in all, the iPhone SE in 2021 is a great buy, especially if you do not need the latest of the latest, but want a reliable device. The SE is compact, easy to operate with one hand and super fast. In addition, the camera is fine and it is nice that the phone supports wireless charging.
The design is quite outdated and the battery life of the iPhone SE 2020 is disappointing, especially if you are an intensive smartphone user. Can you live with that and don’t want to spend too much on a new iPhone? Then we still recommend the SE. If you are looking for a more modern, compact, the iPhone 12 mini is worth considering, but keep in mind that you will pay a lot more.
Buy iPhone SE: the best deals
Are you planning to buy the iPhone SE? The entry-level device has a suggested retail price of 492 euros, but has now fallen a few tens in price. As a result, you pay about 450 euros. In our price comparison we list the best deals for a separate iPhone SE and iPhone SE with subscription for you.