Apple announces the new iPhone SE, its affordable smartphone at 489 euros

Apple announces the new iPhone SE, its affordable smartphone at 489 euros

     Smoothly, Apple has just renewed its entry-level by introducing a new iPhone SE, which should be powerful, since it will have the same processor as the iPhone 11 and will be sold from 489 euros for 64 GB of storage.

     After the iPad Pro and MacBook Air, it’s the iPhone’s turn to be updated without any special conference, still because of coronavirus.

     Anyway, the indiscretions were true. The iPhone SE launched in 2016 has finally been upgraded for the first time.

An affordable price

     Available in three finishes, black, white, and (Product)RED, this new smartphone retains its main asset: its price.

     It is sold from 489 euros, without subsidy, for the 64 GB model. For the record and comparison, in 2016, it is the 16 GB model which was at this price … The 128 Gb model is sold at 539 euros and the 256 Gb model will cost 659 euros.


     Always positioned at the entry-level, it replaces the iPhone 8, which cost 539 euros for 64 GB until now, and the iPhone 8 Plus, which had this role.

     The rumor was about a large iPhone SE model (5.5 inches), for now, no news on this site. But, 2020 is still early.

Compact and powerful, always

     The other advantage of the iPhone SE was its compactness. The new model is a little bigger but keeps the same spirit. It is currently available with a 4.7-inch screen (compared to 4 inches previously) and keeps the design of the iPhone 8.

     So you’ll find the borders on the side and top, as well as the Touch ID button at the bottom of the device.

     The larger screen obviously means better definition (1334×750 pixels) than the first model (1136×640 pixels), while the resolution remains the same at 326 pixels per inch. 

     Apple says that this panel should be much brighter and better contrast, the whole difference between a Retina screen and a Retina HD (True Tone and Dolby Vision and HDR10 compatible), so to speak.

     Finally, on the touch side, this new iPhone finishes burying 3D Touch and adopts the Haptic Touch technology to manage finger pressure on the screen and allow access to the “Quick Actions” of iOS.

     Like its elder in its time, the iPhone SE retains its other asset, power. Indeed, it benefits from the best chip of the moment from Apple.

     The A13 Bionic is at its heart. The performance should be very high, even if the amount of RAM onboard will certainly be less than on the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro.

A step forward on the side of the photo     

     On the photo side, the iPhone SE offers only one rear photo module. It seems very close, if not identical, to the one on the iPhone XR. So there’s a 12 Mpixel wide-angle sensor, and a lens that opens at f/1.8.

     The whole should benefit from the neuronal chip embedded in the A13 Bionic, as was the case for the XR in its time.

     In any case, you will be able to film in 4K at 60 fps. Of course, since the iPhone SE comes with iOS 13, you’ll be able to take advantage of some new software, including QuickTake, which allows you to shoot a video quickly while in photo mode.

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Apple iPhone SE (2020)

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

iOS 13 system