In our view, the make-or-break feature for the iPhone SE – and so the key focus of this review – is the iPhone SE camera and how well it performs in day to day use – given that there’s ‘old’ hardware on offer here, Apple has taken a gamble that it can improve photo quality using image processing powered by the A13 Bionic chipset. That brightness does need to be increased a little too often as well – there’s no escaping the fact that this is an older display on offer with the iPhone SE 2020, and there were more than a few occasions when we needed to shelter the phone from brighter light to see what was on the screen – something that isn’t an issue with newer iPhones. What was tired in 2017 with the iPhone 8 has been revitalised in 2020 with a dramatic price cut and top-of-the-line processor. The combination is extremely potent.

The display has rounded corners that follow a beautiful curved design, and these corners are within a standard rectangle. When measured as a standard rectangular shape, the screen is 6.06 inches (iPhone 14), 6.12 inches (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15), 6.68 inches (iPhone 14 Plus) or 6.69 inches (iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Plus) diagonally. Actual viewable area is less. Battery life is probably one of the biggest issues we found with the iPhone SE 2020 – it’s not going to easily last you a day unless you’re a light and sedate user. And if that is indeed the case then it’s a potential issue, because the iPhone 8 didn’t have stellar battery life – it could just about last a day in normal use, with the charger needing to be in reach towards the end of the evening. And although some sacrifices have been made along the way to hit that price, they don’t spoil what is generally an excellent user experience plus a great picture and sound performance. The iPhone SE (2020) is among the best budget smartphones on the market at the moment. Still the iPhone SE feels as solid and well made as other iPhones, and I can comfortably use it with one hand.

Apple iPhone SE (2020)

However, on low-usage days, where we didn’t use the iPhone for a heavy amount of photography or web browsing, we got to the end of the day with over 30% left in the tank, and we saw little power-drain overnight too, suggesting that the iPhone SE is pretty power-efficient in standby mode.

Monthly rolling plansThese plans are totally hassle free and auto-renew each month. This means you don't need to do a thing, unless you want to choose a different plan. And you can do that anytime. Unlimited calls and textsiPhone 12: Apple's muddled charger messaging". iMore. October 15, 2020. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020 . Retrieved November 5, 2020. iPhone SE is splash, water and dust resistant and was tested under controlled laboratory conditions with a rating of IP67 under IEC standard 60529 (maximum depth of 1 metre up to 30 minutes). Splash, water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions. Resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone; refer to the user guide for cleaning and drying instructions. Liquid damage not covered under warranty.