At its "Let us loop you in" event in Cupertino today, Apple announced the iPhone SE, meant to complement the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. In short, Apple's 10th-generation phone is designed to bring back the 4-inch form factor.
iPhone 6s | iPhone SE | |
|---|---|---|
Price off contract | $649, $749, $849 | $399, $499 |
Storage | 16GB, 64GB, 128GB | 16GB, 64GB |
Display | 4.7-inch, 1334×750, 326 ppi | 4.0-inch, 1136×640, 326 ppi |
3D Touch | Yes | No |
Contrast ratio | 1400:1 | 800:1 |
Processors | A9 64-bit, M9 motion | A9 64-bit, M9 motion |
Touch ID | Yes | Yes |
Apple Pay | Yes | Yes |
Rear camera | 12MP, 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 | 12MP, 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 |
Video recording | 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 30/60fps | 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 30/60fps |
Front camera | 5MP photos, 720p video | 1.2MP photos, 720p video |
FaceTime | Over Wi-Fi or cellular | Over Wi-Fi or cellular |
Assistant | Siri | Siri |
Navigation | GPS and GLONASS | GPS and GLONASS |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 4.2, NFC | Bluetooth 4.2, NFC |
Talk time on 3G | Up to 14 hours | Up to 14 hours |
Internet on LTE | Up to 10 hours | Up to 13 hours |
Internet on 3G | Up to 10 hours | Up to 12 hours |
Internet on Wi-Fi | Up to 11 hours | Up to 13 hours |
Video playback | Up to 11 hours | Up to 13 hours |
Audio playback | Up to 50 hours | Up to 50 hours |
Standby time | Up to 10 days | Up to 10 days |
Height | 5.44 inches (138.3 mm) | 4.87 inches (123.8 mm) |
Width | 2.64 inches (67.1 mm) | 2.31 inches (58.6 mm) |
Depth | 0.28 inch (6.9 mm) | 0.30 inch (7.6 mm) |
Weight | 5.04 ounces (143 grams) | 3.99 ounces (113 grams) |
SIM card | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
Connector | Lightning | Lightning |
Colors | Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Rose Gold | Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Rose Gold |
Preorders begin March 24, and the phone will begin shipping March 31. Before you get your credit card ready, and assuming you're not enthused by what's coming in Android N or Windows 10 Mobile, you might want to see what exactly you're getting. The comparison tables below show you what Apple has changed, comparing the iPhone SE to the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus (the iPhone 5s has been discontinued). And now compared to Apple's biggest phone:
iPhone 6s Plus | iPhone SE | |
|---|---|---|
Price off contract | $749, $849, $949 | $399, $499 |
Storage | 16GB, 64GB, 128G | 16GB, 64GB |
Display | 5.5-inch, 1920×1080, 401 ppi | 4.0-inch, 1136×640, 326 ppi |
3D Touch | Yes | No |
Contrast ratio | 1300:1 | 800:1 |
Processors | A9 64-bit, M9 motion | A9 64-bit, M9 motion |
Touch ID | Yes | Yes |
Apple Pay | Yes | Yes |
Rear camera | 12MP, 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 | 12MP, 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 |
Video recording | 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 30/60fps | 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 30/60fps |
Front camera | 5MP photos, 720p video | 1.2MP photos, 720p video |
FaceTime | Over Wi-Fi or cellular | Over Wi-Fi or cellular |
Assistant | Siri | Siri |
Navigation | GPS and GLONASS | GPS and GLONASS |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 4.2, NFC | Bluetooth 4.2, NFC |
Talk time on 3G | Up to 24 hours | Up to 14 hours |
Internet on LTE | Up to 12 hours | Up to 13 hours |
Internet on 3G | Up to 12 hours | Up to 12 hours |
Internet on Wi-Fi | Up to 12 hours | Up to 13 hours |
Video playback | Up to 14 hours | Up to 13 hours |
Audio playback | Up to 80 hours | Up to 50 hours |
Standby time | Up to 16 days | Up to 10 days |
Height | 6.23 inches (158.2 mm) | 4.87 inches (123.8 mm) |
Width | 3.07 inches (77.9 mm) | 2.31 inches (58.6 mm) |
Depth | 0.29 inch (7.3 mm) | 0.30 inch (7.6 mm) |
Weight | 6.77 ounces (192 grams) | 3.99 ounces (113 grams) |
SIM card | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
Connector | Lightning | Lightning |
Colors | Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Rose Gold | Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Rose Gold |
As phones have grown in size, many have complained and argued for smaller devices. The iPhone SE is supposed to address that desire, but at the cost of a poorer front-facing camera and display. Now you have to decide if that's worth the tradeoff.