Back for a second try.
Apple’s budget-premium iPhone SE is back for 2020 with one size, upgraded internals, and three colours from $749 AUD.
The new iPhone SE uses the same body as the iPhone 8 from two years ago (technically since 2014 if you count the iPhone 6). Amid uncertain times during COVID-19, this announcement is welcome to compete with the likes of the recently announced OnePlus 8 and Google Pixel 3a.
This means, the second iteration of the SE features a familiar 4.7-inch Retina HD display with TrueTone that adjusts the temperature to suit the environment, Dolby Vision and HDR10 support. Traditional top and bottom bezels return. And, there is no plus-sized version.
The phone uses the same glass back with aluminium frame and is IP67 certified water and dust resistant. For users who lament the fingerprint scanner, Touch ID is back to use for Apple Pay, Express Transit, and in apps.
The 2020 iPhone SE will come in White, Black or PRODUCT RED colours. For the latter, Apple will donate a portion of the purchase price to Global Fund’s newly established COVID-19 Response to provide funding to countries in need of personal protective equipment (PPE), diagnostics treatment, lab equipment, public safety communications, and more — further to HIV/AIDS grants to eliminate transmission of the virus from mothers to their babies.
Notably, the iPhone SE brings the same A13 Bionic processor found in the latest iPhone 11 and 11 Pro’s, allowing fast performance, augmented reality (AR) applications, and efficient battery life.
It also enables face-only portrait mode with depth control that is controlled by software, dubbed “monocular depth estimation”.
There is only a single optically stabilised lens — a 12-megapixel f/1.8 wide camera borrowed from the iPhone 11 that harnesses the A13 Bionic’s Neural Engine for software processing and Smart HDR. For selfies, the SE brings a 7-megapixel f/2.2 front camera with the same Portrait Lighting effects as the rear.
On the video side, the rear camera supports recording up to 4K 60 frames per second (fps) and extended dynamic range at up to 30fps. Stereo audio recording is also here, along with the QuickTake user interface that debuted on the iPhone 11, and a LED True Tone flash with Slow Sync.
The iPhone SE also gains Wi-Fi 6 with “Gigabit-class” LTE with dual SIM support (using an eSIM).
Along with other iPhone’s, the new SE ditches 3D Touch for Haptic Touch long presses for quick items and menus. The glass back enables Qi wireless charging (undisclosed wattage). Apple still includes a 5 watt power brick, though it does support 18W fast wired charging with a wall adapter and USB-C cable end that is sold separately.
It still comes with a Lightning to USB-A cable and does not have a headphone jack; EarPods with a Lighting Connector is included. As with all Apple devices, a free one-year subscription to Apple TV Plus is provided. iOS 13 software comes out-of-the-box with Apple’s long-running support for future versions.
Interestingly, all three colours come with a black front — even white. The SE can be had with three storage tiers — 64GB, 128GB or 256GB. It is priced at $749 AUD, $829 AUD, and $999 AUD respectively making it the cheapest iPhone in the current line-up. The new iPhone SE is available for pre-order online from 17 April and will release on 24 April, 2020.
All iPhone 8 cases and screen protectors should be compatible with the SE. Apple is also offering an iPhone SE Silicone Case in Black, White or Pink Sand for $55 AUD, alongside an Apple Leather Case in Midnight Blue, Black or PRODUCT RED for $75 AUD.
The previously available iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are no longer on sale from Apple, leaving the iPhone XR as the only cheaper device which still starts at $1049 AUD.
The Connected by Henry Man 