Evolution of iPhone SE Models

May 9, 2024 Chimnecherem Friday

Evolution of iPhone SE Models: A Comparative Analysis

Ever wondered how the iPhone SE has changed over the years? Let’s dive in and compare the original model to the latest one. In this analysis, we’ll explore how the design, technology, and features have evolved with each generation. By doing so, you’ll gain a clear picture of how Apple’s budget-friendly iPhone has evolved.

The iPhone SE (Special Edition) is a more budget-friendly option for fans of Apple devices who can’t afford the greatest/exorbitant options like the iPhone 14’s and 15’s. Sure, it’s easier on the wallet, but it is still very impactful. Think of it as a greatest hits collection—you get classic Apple design, a comfortable size, and the power to do what you need. And guess what? It’s been around since 2016 and even has a few successors!

This little big write up will explore how the SE has transformed over time. We’ll peek at the design, the tech inside, the cool features, and, of course, the good and bad stuff that you need to know about. By the end, you’ll be an expert on how the SE has kept up with changing times and technology.

We’ll crack open each generation—the first, second, and newest—to see what makes them tick. This way, you’ll know exactly which SE fits your needs and budget. By the time you’re done, you’ll understand why the SE is a key player in the Apple phone family, let’s get on the ride with me.

The First-generation iPhone SE

Apple had to attract a huge range of customers and maintain its position in the competitive smartphone market by introducing this product. The iPhone was released in March 2016. It is nicknamed the “iPhone SE 1,” the first of its kind in a special edition line. This phone brought back the beloved design of a previous model (iPhone 5S) but with the power of a newer one (iPhone 6S). It came with a robust A9 processor and a camera that is capable of capturing 12MP photos and even high-resolution videos.

While the trend leaned towards bigger screens (like the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus), there were whispers of a preference for the good old compact size. Apple’s own marketing head, Greg Joswiak, even mentioned the enduring popularity of these 4-inch wonders. Sadly, the love story seemed to end in September 2018 when sales of this first edition wrapped up. No whispers of a follow-up surfaced at the next Apple event, leaving a void for fans of the smaller phone form factor. This void left a gap in Apple’s lineup and raised concerns among consumers about the removal of an affordable and compact option.

Small but mighty! This option was a lifesaver for folks with smaller hands. Those big phones were just awkward to hold and use with one hand. In 2019, there was a surprise comeback for a limited time—a chance to snag this favorite phone at a steal before it was gone for good. For phone newbies, telling this one apart from its bigger cousin, the iPhone 6, might be tricky at first. They both rocked a similar look, all metal and sleek.

Evolution of iPhone SE Models — Image of the First-generation iPhone SE

Features of the First-generation iPhone SE

Category	Specifications
Released	This phone emerged in March 2016, it was announced on the 21st and released on the 31st. It’s worth mentioning that it’s not being produced anymore.
Network	GSM, CDMA, LTE (4G) for calling and internet.
Body	Sleek design with glass front, aluminum back, and a fingerprint sensor.
Display	4-inch screen, perfect for one-handed use.
Operating System	Runs iOS 9.3.2, upgradable to iOS 15.8.1
Processor	Comes with Apple A9 (14 nm) Speedy processor.
Storage	16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM. No memory card slot.
Camera	It takes 12MP photos and records high-resolution videos.
Selfie Camera	Also a 1.2 megapixel for capturing your best side.
Battery	It has a battery capacity of 1624 mAh, may get you through the day on a single charge.
Colors	Available in colors such as Space Gray, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold.

The pros and cons of the First-generation iPhone SE

The Pros:

This phone offers good quality at an affordable price, you get all the speed, sleekness, and thinness without robbing a bank. Talking of speed, iPhone SE1 is the is regarded as the fastest small iPhone ever.
Wouldn’t be a problem for those with smaller hands as it can be handled with one hand.
Shares specifications with the iPhone 6S, I mean stuffs like the A9 processor and 12-megapixel iSight camera.
It presents faster LTE, improved battery life, and Siri feature. Its battery life beats some pricier models.
Supports third-party apps.
Retains the headphone jack, users who prefer wired audio accessories would appreciate this feature. Above all, this phone provides a satisfactory user experience despite its age.

The Cons:

The display contrast ratio of the iPhone SE1 is inferior.
Limited by its smaller screen size, some people may find it too small for extended use.
Doesn’t support the current version of the iOS.
Storage capacity is way too small by today’s standards, although 128 GB capacity option was added in 2017.
It has an older A9 processor, which may not be as powerful as newer models.
The front camera of 1.2 megapixel is a low quality, you wouldn’t expect a high quality FaceTime.

The Second-generation iPhone SE

The second-generation iPhone SE was launched in April 2020, which terminated the era for 4-inch iPhones. Compared to the first gen. it features a larger screen (approximately 4.7 inches) and several upgrades, including the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, an improved camera, and some other cool traits like water resistance, stereo sound recording, and Apple Pay with NFC functionality. Thanks to a significantly faster and more efficient processor , the 2020 SE indeed offered a noticeable performance upgrade. Naturally, users had to migrate from the older model to the new one.

Rumors about a new SE began to spread a year after the 2016 model’s release, fueled by leaked phone case designs that didn’t look like the SE1 phone case that people were familiar with. The company finally creeped in to quench people’s curiosity in April 15 2020 with the official announcement. The 2020 SE’s reign ended in March 2022 when Apple discontinued it. This paved the way for the third generation iPhone SE.

Image of the Second-generation iPhone SE

Features of the Second-generation iPhone SE

Category	Specifications
Released	Announced on April 15, 2020 and officially released on April 24, 2020.
Network	Has all the connectivity essentials – GSM, CDMA, and LTE (4G) for making calls and staying online.
Body	Remarkably sleek with a glass front and back, and an aluminum frame. Plus, it’s dust and water resistant.
Display	A 4.7-inch screen, perfect for one-handed use. It’s bright, crisp, and great for watching videos and browsing the web.
Operating System	It runs the latest iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 17.4.
Processor	Possesses a super-charged Apple A13 processor that keeps things running with ease.
Storage	Comes with three storage options, which are 64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, and 256GB 3GB RAM.
Camera	The single 12Mp (one with wide lens) rear camera makes photos stunning.
Selfie Camera	Has a 7-megapixel front camera.
Battery	Comes with a Li-Ion battery of capacity 1821 mAh. Plus, it supports fast charging.
Colors	There is Black, White, or Red for you to pick from.
Bonus Perks	It features built-in wireless charging and stereo speakers.

The pros and cons of the Second-generation iPhone SE

The Pros:

It supports iOS 16 and 17.
It has IP67 water resistance, unlike it predecessor.
Just like the iPhone 11 chain (iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max), the phone adopts A13 processor.
It is really small and easy to operate in one hand.
It features the familiar and reliable Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
It can hold two SIM cards (one physical nano-SIM and one eSIM).

The Cons:

It retains the smaller 4.7-inch display with thick bezels.
It lacks Face ID facial recognition for authentication.
Battery capacity is small (1821 mAh).
The glass front and back are susceptible to cracking without a protective phone case, this is because it is too fragile.
Lacks a major design overhaul, it looks just like the iPhone 8.
Although it supports iOS 16, it is limited to some minor features like Apple Music Sing available in iOS 16.

The Third-generation iPhone SE

Of course, at this point, you should know the names these phones bear casually. From our countdown, this is also called iPhone SE3. Unveiled by Apple Inc. in March 2022, it shares generation with models like the big boys: iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max — marking the 15th generation of the iPhone lineup. You see, this one is a big catch too! In the sense that whatever internal storage the iPhone 13 series brags of, this one does as well.
Made known to users on March 8 and released on March 18, 2022, the third-generation iPhone SE is currently the final iteration to feature these specifications within the iPhone lineup, although it maintains the same dimensions and form factor as the second-generation iPhone SE, resembling the design of the iPhone 8. A few of its very fine new features include the powerful A15 Bionic system-on-chip, 4GB of RAM, and 5G connectivity to enhance network capabilities.

Features of the Third-generation iPhone SE

Category	Specifications
Released	Announced on March 8, 2022 and released on March 18, 2022.
Network	GSM, CDMA, LTE (4G), and now, the super-fast 5G.
Body	Same sleek design with a glass front and back, aluminum frame, and fingerprint sensor for security. It’s also still dust and water resistant.
Display	4.7-inch screen, perfect for one-handed use.
Operating System	iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 17.4.
Processor	It carries the Apple A15 processor which keeps things running faster, no matter what tasks you throw at it.
Storage	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
Camera	It has a single 12MP rear camera.
Selfie Camera	You can take selfies that will turn heads, or maybe faces with the 7MP front camera.
Battery	A 2018 mAh Li-Ion battery and a fast charging feature.
Colors	You will have to pick from Midnight, Starlight, or the Red.
Bonus Perks	It features built-in wireless charging and stereo speaker. Plus, you get the benefit of the latest positioning systems like GALILEO and BDS.

The pros and cons of the Third-generation iPhone SE

The Pros:

It features the latest A15 processor and 5G connectivity.
Its compact size makes one-hand use a lot easier, plus it is compatible with MagSafe Accessories.
With an IP67 rating, the iPhone SE 3 can resist water up to one meter deep for 30 minutes.
Supports inductive (Qi) charging, a form of wireless charging.
Supports dual SIM with one Nano SIM and one eSIM in most regions.
Supports iOS 17.

The Cons:

Poor battery life.
Lacks Face ID
Yeah yeah, it supports 5G networks, but there are levels to it, it does not support mmWave 5G technology.
No Night Mode for Ultra-Wide Camera.
Has limited Color Options
There are just slight upgrades from the iPhone SE2, yet it is more expensive.

>>External/Internal Design & Functionality Similarities Between iPhone SE 1, 2 and 3<<

	iPhone SE 1	iPhone SE 2	iPhone SE 3
Ring settings	Ring/Silent switch	Ring/Silent switch	Ring/Silent switch
Front Audio Calling	FaceTime audio	FaceTime audio	FaceTime audio
*FaceTime Audio Calling*	Initiate audio calls over cellular or Wi‑Fi to any FaceTime audio-enabled device	Initiate audio calls over cellular or Wi‑Fi to any FaceTime audio-enabled device	Initiate audio calls over cellular or Wi‑Fi to any FaceTime audio-enabled device
*SharePlay Integration*	Share experiences like movies, TV, music and other apps in a FaceTime call with SharePlay	Share experiences like movies, TV, music and other apps in a FaceTime call with SharePlay	Share experiences like movies, TV, music and other apps in a FaceTime call with SharePlay
*Enhanced Audio Calling*	Voice over LTE (VoLTE)	Voice over LTE (VoLTE)	Voice over LTE (VoLTE)
*Calling Over Wi-Fi*	Wi-Fi calling	Wi-Fi calling	Wi-Fi calling
Home button	Yes (Touch ID)	Yes (Touch ID)	Yes (Touch ID)
Sensors	Three-axis gyro	Three-axis gyro	Three-axis gyro
*Motion Sensing*	Accelerometer	Accelerometer	Accelerometer
*Proximity Detection*	Proximity sensor	Proximity sensor	Proximity sensor
*Light Sensing*	Ambient light sensor	Ambient light sensor	Ambient light sensor
Battery	Built-in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery	Built-in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery	Built-in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery
Video Calling	Initiate video calls over cellular or Wi‑Fi to any FaceTime-enabled device	Initiate video calls over cellular or Wi‑Fi to any FaceTime-enabled device	Initiate video calls over cellular or Wi‑Fi to any FaceTime-enabled device
*SharePlay Integration*	Share experiences like movies, TV, music and other apps in a FaceTime call with SharePlay	Share experiences like movies, TV, music and other apps in a FaceTime call with SharePlay	Share experiences like movies, TV, music and other apps in a FaceTime call with SharePlay
Front Camera	FaceTime HD camera	FaceTime HD camera	FaceTime HD camera
*Flash Feature*	Retina Flash	Retina Flash	Retina Flash
Safety	Emergency SOS	Emergency SOS	Emergency SOS
Cellular Network Support	GSM/EDGE	GSM/EDGE	GSM/EDGE
Camera	Single camera 12MP Main	Single camera 12MP Main	Single camera 12MP Main
Optical Zoom	0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x	0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x	0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x
Connectivity	Lightning Supports USB 2	Lightning Supports USB 2	Lightning Supports USB 2

>>Differences Between iPhone SE 1, 2, and 3<<

	iPhone SE 3	iPhone SE 2	iPhone SE 1
Display	11.94 cm / 4.7″ (diagonal) widescreen LCD display with IPS technology	11.94 cm / 4.7″ (diagonal) widescreen LCD display with IPS technology	10.16 cm / 4″ (diagonal) widescreen LCD display with IPS technology
High-Resolution Display	1334×750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi	1334×750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi	1136×640-pixel resolution at 326 ppi
Enhanced Contrast	1,400:1 contrast ratio (typical)	1,400:1 contrast ratio (typical)	800:1 contrast ratio (typical)
Adaptive Color Technology	True Tone display	True Tone display	_______
Color Accuracy	Wide colour display (P3)	Wide colour display (P3)	Full sRGB standard
Tactile Feedback Technology	Haptic Touch	Haptic Touch	_______
High Brightness Capability	625 nits max brightness (typical)	625 nits max brightness (typical)	500 nits max brightness (typical)
Camera	True Tone flash with Slow Sync	True Tone flash with Slow Sync	True Tone flash
Image Processing Technology	Deep Fusion	_______	_______
PhotoEnhancement	Smart HDR 4 for photos	Smart HDR 2 for photos	HDR for photos
Advanced Photography Modes	Portrait mode with Depth Control	Portrait mode with Depth Control	_______
Advanced Lighting Effects	Portrait Lighting with six effects	Portrait Lighting with six effects	_______
Customized Image Rendering	Photographic Styles	_______	_______
Front Camera	7MP photos	7MP photos	1.2MP photos
Aperture Size	ƒ/2.2 aperture	ƒ/2.2 aperture	ƒ/2.4 aperture
Image Processing Technology	Deep Fusion	_______	_______
Photo Enhancement	Smart HDR 4 for photos	Auto HDR for photos	HDR for photos
Advanced Photography Modes	Portrait mode with Depth Control	Portrait mode with Depth Control	_______
Advanced Lighting Effects	Portrait Lighting with six effects	Portrait Lighting with six effects	_______
Customized Image Rendering	Photographic Styles	_______	_______
Instant Video Capture	QuickTake video	QuickTake video	_______
Steady Video Capture	Cinematic video stabilisation (1080p and 720p)	Cinematic video stabilisation (1080p and 720p)	_______
Width	67.3 mm (2.65″)	67.3 mm (2.65″)	58.6 mm (2.31″)
Height	138.4 mm (5.45″)	138.4 mm (5.45″)	123.8 mm (4.87″)
Depth	7.3 mm (0.29″)	7.3 mm (0.29″)	7.6 mm (0.30″)
Weight	144 g (5.09 oz.)	148 g (5.22 oz.)	113 g (3.99 oz.)
Video Recording	Night mode Time-lapse	_______	_______
Instant Video Capture	QuickTake video	QuickTake video	_______
Steady Video Capture	Optical image stabilisation for video	Optical image stabilisation for video	_______
Stereo Audio	Stereo recording	Stereo recording	_______
Chip	A15 Bionic chip	A13 Bionic chip	A9 chip
CPU Architecture	6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores	6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores	_______
GraphicsProcessing	4-core GPU	4-core GPU	_______
Neural Processing	16-core Neural Engine	8-core Neural Engine	_______
Cellular and Wireless	_______	CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (some models)	CDMA EV-DO Rev. A
High-Speed Cellular Connectivity	5G (sub-6 GHz) with 2×2 MIMO	_______	_______
Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Connectivity	LTE Advanced	Gigabit-class LTE	LTE
Wi-Fi Connectivity	Wi‑Fi 6	Wi‑Fi 6	Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 4.2
Location Services	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou	GPS/GNSS	GPS/GNSS
SIM Card	Dual SIM (Two active eSIMs or nano-SIM and eSIM)	Dual SIM Nano-SIM and eSIM	Nano-SIM
Audio Playback	Stereo playback	Stereo playback	_______
Video Playback	Supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG	Supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG	_______
Water and Dust Resistant	Rated IP67 under IEC standard 60529	Rated IP67 under IEC standard 60529	_______

>>Prices<<

The prices below are only for iPhone SE 2 and 3 as iPhone SE 1 is no longer in stock. Although some of them are still available as used ones in local vendor stores, you can call in and ask for their prices.

iPhone SE Model	Internal Storage	Price (N)
iPhone SE 2	64GB	N154,000
”	128GB	N174,000
”	256GB	N212,000
iPhone SE 3	64GB	N250,000
”	128GB	N273,000
”	256	N330,000

Conclusion

Looking at the iPhone SE phones (versions 2 and 3), you might think they’re almost twins! They have the same basic build quality, with a familiar aluminum frame and glass on both sides. The iPhone SE 3 does have tougher glass, though. Also, get it in mind that how many SIM cards these phones can hold depends on where you live.

The iPhone SE series(ranging from the first to last) has always been a great choice for people who want an iPhone without breaking the bank. These phones leaves a mark in a small package, and each version has been a hit.

Sure, there are differences between them, but they all give you the Apple experience at a good price. So, whether you love the classic feel of the first iPhone SE or want the newest features, this line of iPhones is a solid option if you’re looking for an affordable and functional Apple phone.

Evolution of iPhone SE Models

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