iPhone SE Deals & Offers
Launched in 2020 as a successor to the original iPhone SE, the iPhone SE2 (SE standing for “special edition”) is sleek, compact and powerful. Featuring a smaller high-resolution, it's a more portable alternative to recent larger iPhones and one of the finest of Apple's many digital achievements. Find out how to purchase the cheapest possible iPhone SE at hotukdeals.
Read MoreIPhone SE price comparison from £205.43
iPhone SE: Updated Hardware in a Smaller-Sized Smartphone
The iPhone SE2 was unveiled in April 2020 as a direct successor to the popular iPhone SE from 2016. While the iPhone 11 models feature much larger screens, the iPhone SE has a compact 4.7-inch screen, which makes it much, much smaller, lighter and generally more pocket-friendly. If you need a highly portable, functional and reliable Apple smartphone, this special edition lives up to its name, delivering everything you'll need and probably just a little bit more.
This buyer's guide explores what the iPhone SE has to offer, how to buy it and how it compares to the competition, before suggesting some foolproof ways to cut the price of purchasing your next premium smartphone.
iPhone SE Review
All iPhone SE 2 expert reviews praised the price. The iPhone SE is the cheapest iPhone in the current range, and it represents great value for money. Although it skips some premium features, such a Liquid Retina Display, it still has the A13 Bionic chipset that is one of the best on the market at the moment. Most reviews loved the lightweight design including IP67 water-resistance, but didn't like the size of the bezels. Most other features were summed up as "ok", battery life is ok, camera is ok, fingerprint scanner is ok. Overall, TechRadar sums it up best by saying it is the perfect phone if you are looking for "decent but not top-end" performance. But for the price point, the iPhone SE (2020) could be one of the best iPhones Apple have made to date.
iPhone SE Specs
Here are the iPhone SE 2020 specs:
Product Type | Apple Smartphone |
Model | iPhone SE (2020) |
Processor | Apple A13 Bionic / Quad-Core Apple GPU |
Display | 4.7-inch Retina HD Display |
Resolution | 1334 x 750 Pixels at 326ppi |
RAM | 3GB |
Storage | 64GB / 128GB / 256GB |
Front Camera | Single 7MP Camera / ƒ/2.2 aperture |
Rear Camera | 12MP Wide Camera / ƒ/1.8 Aperture / 5x Digital Zoom |
Operating System | iOS 13 |
Connectivity | Gigabit LTE / Bluetooth 5.0 / WiFi / GPS / NFC / Dual-SIM Support |
Ports | Lightning Connector |
Battery | 1821mAh battery (estimated) / 13 Hours Video Playback / Fast-Charge |
Special Features | Rated IP67 / Touch ID / True Tone / Haptic Touch / AR |
Dimensions | 138.4mm x 67.3mm x 7.3mm |
Weight | 148g |
Colour | Black / White / (Product) Red |
Release Date | April 24th, 2020 |
Key iPhone SE Features
As you'd expect from Apple, the Cupertino-based tech giant have refined a few features of previous models and added some new elements that make the iPhone SE even more impressive. You might expect the cheapest iPhone model to skip a few of the more luxury features, and it does skip some, but feature a few of Apple flagship details, including HDR10, Dolby Vision, A13 Bionic Chip, Wireless Charging, and IP67 water resistance. Here is the full list of features:
- Design
The 2020 iPhone SE shares the name with the 2016 iPhone SE. Today's iPhone SE2 shares a similar design with iPhone 8 with thick bezels at the top and the bottom, which is very different from the edge-to-edge display of the iPhone 11. In the top bezel, you will find the front camera, sensors, and speaker, while the bottom features the Touch ID home button. It has a glass body and an aluminium band that holds the glass body and the glass display together. At the back, you find the single-lens rear camera, LED flash and a microphone. The mute and volume buttons are located on the left side of the iPhone and sleep/wake button at the right-hand side.
- Display
The iPhone SE2 has a 4.7" Retina HD display that is 1334 x 750 pixels with a resolution of 326 ppi, which supports True Tone that takes advantage of ambient light. The iPhone SE offers also the Haptic Touch functionality that works the same as 3D touch but does not support multiple functions for every press and also not sensitive to pressure. Haptic Touch is suitable when accessing quick actions on the home screen, activating flash on the lock screen, expanding the notifications options, previewing links in Safari, etc.
- A13 Bionic Chip
iPhone SE 2 has the same A13 Bionic chip included in all iPhone 11 models. The chip is the fastest and most powerful ever seen on a smartphone, which is great when it comes to the device’s speed and battery life. The A13 Bionic chip features an 8-core neural engine that powers the Face ID, Camera, and apps. The chip together with the iOS system allows new applications that use machine learning and Core ML.
- iPhone SE Camera
The device has a 12MP wide-angle camera enabling wide colour capture and image stabilisation. It has a Smart HDR that improves the shadow and highlights details of the camera. iPhone SE2 has the best single-camera system ever found in any iPhone, although it does not have support for optical zoom and night mode which feature in the iPhone 11s. It also has no support for portrait mode, depth control, and portrait lighting except at the front-facing camera.
- Battery Life
The SE is estimated to feature a 1821mAh battery that has the same battery life to that of the iPhone 8. It can last for up to 13 hours of video playback and 8 hours of streaming and about 40 hours of audio playback. It also has inbuilt wireless charging coil to support wireless charging, so the iPhone SE 2 is compatible with the 5W and 7.5W Qi-based wireless charging accessory.
How does iPhone SE compare to other devices
You might be comparing iPhone SE2 to other devices trying to figure out which one offers the best features and specs. If you are wondering whether it's worth paying a bit more for better specs, then you may be interested in what the iPhone 11 offers. However, if you are looking for a similarly priced phone, then the Google Pixel 3a might be a good option.
Let's have a look then at the comparisons of iPhone SE vs iPhone 11 and iPhone SE vs Google Pixel 3a.
iPhone SE (2020) | iPhone 11 | Google Pixel 3a | |
Display | 4.7-inch / Liquid Retina HD Display | 6.1-inch / Liquid Retina HD Display | 5.6-inch / OLED Capacitive Touchscreen |
Design | Glass Body / Aluminium Band | Textured Matte Glass / Stainless Steel Design | Asahi Dragontrail Glass Front / Plastic Back / Plastic Frame |
Size | 138.4mm x 67.3mm x 7.3mm | 150.9mm x 75.7mm x 8.3mm | 151.3mm x 70.1mm x 8.2mm |
Weight | 148g | 194g | 147g |
OS | iOS 13 | iOS 13 | Android 9 Pie (upgradable to Android 10.0) |
Chip | Apple A13 Bionic | Apple A13 Bionic | Qualcomm SDM670 Snapdragon 670 |
Camera | Single 12MP f/1.8 | Dual 12MP f/1.8 / 12MP f/2.4 | Single 12.2MP f/1.8 |
Battery | 1,821mAh (Estimated) | 3110 mAh (Estimated) | 3000 mAh |
Storage | 64GB / 128GB / 256GB | 64GB / 128GB / 256GB | 64GB |
RAM | 3GB | 4GB | 4GB |
Water Resistance | IP67 | IP68 | n/a |
iPhone SE: Pros and Cons
Here are the mains Pros and Cons for the new iPhone SE:
Pros
Cons
How to Connect a Bluetooth Headset to iPhone SE?
As the iPhone SE (2020) has no 3.5mm headphone jack, you will either need to buy a lightning port adapter or get your hands on some wireless headphones, such as the Apple Airpods Pro. If you have Apple headphones, simply open the case of the Airpods, and they should appear for pair onscreen.
If not, follow these simple steps to connect headphones to the iPhone SE:
Ensure the Bluetooth device is in its pairing mode.
On the iPhone SE, make sure the Bluetooth is turned on by going to Settings, then Bluetooth, then tap on the Bluetooth Switch to ON.
The iPhone SE will now scan for Bluetooth devices. These will be displayed in a list in the Bluetooth settings.
Simply find the device you want to pair, and tap the device to establish a connection.
Enter the password or pin if you are prompted to. This may be found in the Bluetooth device's manual.
The pairing process will now be completed, and the headset should now be connected.
iPhone SE Accessories
Check out these essential iPhone SE accessories:
Although the device is well built and lightweight, a iPhone SE case can protect the phone from damage. As the phone is sleek, try and find a case that matches its lightweight design and doesn't add too much bulk to it, but ensure that the case offers adequate protection.
The screen protector for iPhone SE does not only protect the screen from breaking but also from scratches resulting from the general wear and tear. Tampered glass offers the best protection, but can be thicker than other plastic alternatives.
The iPhone SE is compatible with wireless charging, so a QI certified wireless charger is an essential accessory for this phone. Wireless chargers or charging pads are a great addition to an office desk or bedside table.
The iPhone SE 2020 has no 3.5mm audio jack, so conventional headphones won't work (unless you purchase a lightning port adapter as well). Wireless headphones, such as Apple's Airpods Pro, are a great option as they provide excellent sound quality and noise cancellation. And as they are an Apple Product, they pair easily with the iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions about iPhone SE
No, iPhone SE (2020) does not support 5G.
Yes, iPhone SE is water-resistant but not to the extent of the iPhone 11. The iPhone SE has IP67 water and dust resistant rating meaning its protected from immersion in water with a depth of up to 1 meter (or 3.3 feet) for up to 30 mins. The iPhone 11 is rated IP68 meaning it is protected up to 2m for 30 mins.
No, the iPhone SE 2020 has no 3.5mm audio jack. You will either have to use a lightning port adapter or use wireless headphones.
iPhone SE features the first generation touch ID and therefore you can use fingerprint to unlock it or confirm Apple pay transactions.
No, the iPhone SE (2020) has no Face ID, and instead uses Touch ID.
Yes, the iPhone SE has NFC and supports Apple Pay.
How to Find a Cheap iPhone SE
iPhone is the 9th generation of iPhones coming with some major advancement in terms of features and design. It has a beautiful look, 3 colour options, a large screen, display, and an impressive battery performance makes this device outstanding. It comes with a fair price compared to its predecessors and all the additional features are worth it.
Before you go exploring for iPhone SE 2 deals, you should first identify the features that you are looking for in a smartphone. Check on the features, specs, and prices of iPhone SE and compare them to those of its rivals to settle for the best. If iPhone SE stands out, it is time to go to hotukdeals and find a iPhone SE cheap among the list of devices they offer. Take advantage of the iPhone SE sale discounts offered from time to time by online shops such as the Apple Store, Currys PC World, John Lewis, eBay, O2, EE, Vodafone, and many more. You can use the money you save during these offers to buy an accessory or two that goes hand in hand with iPhone SE.
Be a smart shopper and take advantage of the cheaper iPhone SE deals available during events such as Amazon Prime Day especially if you are a prime member, black Friday and Cyber Mondays. During these times, there is no doubt that you will get a great deal of iPhone SE2 at a reasonable price. You don’t need to pay more than you are supposed to, to take a powerful device home. Don’t miss out on offers aired out during the festive season too and it is important to note the price range of the device in different shopping platforms and go for the fairest.
Find the Best iPhone SE 2020 Deals from hotukdeals
Apple's iPhone SE is one of the most efficient phones around. With its 4.7-inch screen, 4K video capabilities, range of storage options and impressive power under the hood, the SE is an entry-level phone with a surprising amount of features. Find the best possible price for Apple's Special Edition phone by checking the hotukdeals listings.