iPhone 11 vs iPhone SE (2020): comparison and differences

To begin our iPhone SE (2020) vs iPhone 11 comparison, it is important to set the context. Here we are faced with two high-quality mobile phones, critically acclaimed since their release and relatively recent. Although clearly located in different price ranges (we are talking here about an amount which doubles from one device to another), these smartphones nevertheless have numerouscommon points, whether it is the hardware they integrate or their virtual capabilities.

After testing the iPhone 11 and the iPhone SE 2020, however, we identified clear advantages and disadvantages in both, which it is essential to keep in mind before investing several hundred dollars. euros when purchasing. So what are thedifferencesthe most important ones between the iPhone SE (2020) and the iPhone 11 and which one will suit you best?

Design: the winning apple recipe

If you have already had the opportunity to take the duo in hand, you probably already know that the iPhone SE (2020) and the iPhone 11look alikea lot. And for good reason: they were both designed by the same manufacturer, namely Apple. The iPhone SE uses the same chassis as the iPhone 6 released a few years earlier, while the iPhone 11 is a simple evolution of the latter for a few generations. We therefore find ourselves in both with a glass back and front window, all framed by an aluminum shell. Another positive point: the iPhone SE (2020) iswater resistantand certified IP67, where its big brother does a little better with an IP68 label.

But the most notable differences in design are actually in the format,rather compact and lighter with the iPhone SEmeasuring 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm where the iPhone 11 may be too large for many. In fact, its dimensions reach 150.9 x 75.7 in length and width and more than eight millimeters thick. Finally, the colors of the iPhone 11 are more numerous: this model is available in white, black, yellow, green, purple and in editionPRODUCT (RED)where the iPhone SE (2020) is limited to white, black and red.

Design comparison:iPhone SE (2020)1 – 0iPhone 11

Screen: is the iPhone 11 better than the iPhone SE (2020)?

The iPhone SE (2020) screen offers a reduced display of4.7 inches, which recalls the time when smartphone did not necessarily rhyme with phablet. It is therefore a treat for little hands, especially since the technology used to design it is exactly the same as in the iPhone 11: it is a Retina IPS LCD capacitive touch panel with sixteen million colors for a resolution of 326 ppi. The iPhone 11, on the other hand, has a larger diagonal since it reaches6.1 inches, but as the borders are reduced to a minimum (only the Face ID notch spoils the party) the format/screen ratio reaches 79%, more than the poor 65.4% of the iPhone SE.

Note also that the iPhone 11 and the iPhone SE (2020) both have True Tone, a mode that adapts the colors and brightness according to your ambient environment. The latter also reaches 625 nits regardless of the device, which is less thanles Apple Watch Series 3 et Series 5. On a daily basis, we do not notice any slowdown and the responsiveness of the two screens is clear: the only difference will therefore come from the size, which will bemore suitable for streaming and video games with the iPhone 11than with the second generation iPhone SE.

Screen comparison:iPhone 111 – 0iPhone SE (2020)

Performance: the iPhone SE (2020) almost on par

When it was released,the iPhone SE (2020) created a surprise because it offers performance at a level almost equal to that of the iPhone 11. So, even if the low-cost model only has 3 Gb of RAM compared to 4 for the most expensive version, the processorApple A13 Bionicengraved in 7 nm was chosen by the manufacturer to equip the two phones. This is made up of two Lightning cores clocked at 2.65 GHz each and four Thunder cores at 1.8 GHz, all coupled with a proprietary quadcore GPU as well.

In terms of autonomy, it must be said that the iPhone SE (2020) is not doing too badly here either with thirteen hours announced for video playback for forty hours in audio, where the iPhone 11 offers seventeen hours. streaming and sixty-five hours of listening thanks to its battery with a capacity of3,110 mAh versus 1,821 mAh for the iPhone SE. Finally, let's talk about storage: the iPhone is available in 64 GB, 128 GB or 256 GB in France. This is also the case for the iPhone SE, none of them using a micro SD port. If this is not enough, you will have to rely on theprise Lightning.

Performance comparison:iPhone 111 – 0iPhone SE (2020)

iPhones powered by iOS 14

Apple announced it during the Worldwide Developer Conference 2020: its latest iPhone SE and iPhone 11 are eligible to update to the most recent version of its proprietary mobile operating system, namely iOS 14. The design of this version issober and refined, and it's easy to find your way without having to search for several minutes for this or that feature. Furthermore, the OS is renowned for its fluidity and this is noticeable on a daily basis: this can be explained in fact because Apple took advantage of it tooptimize your processor at the same time, given that it is only found on cell phones.

On the application side, you first have the choice between Apple's in-house apps, all of which are found on both the iPhone SE (2020) and the iPhone 11. Starting with Messages, of course, but alsoHealth, which connected to yourwearablesor independently takes care of measuring your physical activity and providing you with detailed statistics on your sports results. The proposed browser, for its part, isSafari: here too, its speed of execution stands out. Apple also has its own translation application, one for reminders, one for the calendar: in short, no matter which iPhone model you choose, the selection is complete and quickly becomes essential in everyday life.

Of course, we must add to this theApp Store: this application store is responsible for listing all the services created by independent developers and other companies, offering immense possibilities to the user. However, there is a small difference between the iPhone SE (2020) and the iPhone 11 when it comes to security. Indeed, where the iPhone 11 is fortunate to be able to count on easy recognition thanks toFace ID, biometric unlocking of iPhone SE (2020) only offersTouch ID, which reads your fingerprints from the home button.

To finish with the software, you should also know that iOS 14 is the ideal operating system if you already own other Apple products likethe fourth generation iPad Pro also released in 2020. Indeed, the iPhone 11 and the iPhone SE connect very easily to the devices –MacBookand Apple TV included - and can, for example, transfer files quickly with AirDrop, share a library of photos with the Photos app, continue playing a series with Handoff or even broadcast a film on the big screen in one no time withAirPlay.

Software comparison:iPhone 11=iPhone SE (2020)

Photo: the iPhone 11 narrowly wins

Now, let's talk pictures. You probably noticed it when observing the iPhone 11 and more particularly its rear side: its photo block is entitled totwo lenses, where the iPhone SE (2020) only has one. With the iPhone 11, it will therefore be a 12 MPx ultra wide-angle (f/2.4 aperture) coupled with a wide-angle of the same definition limited to f/1.8. The one can film in4Kand slow motion, while the front lens which is used for selfies offers the same resolution for an f/2.2 aperture. The result is photos that are often successful the first time, without having to multiply the megapixels as the competition does under Android.

The iPhone SE (2020), on the other hand, is limited to only7 MPx in facade. It's not much, but like theportrait modeis also there (this one is responsible for automatically blurring the background of facial photos) we will not complain especially since we can also film in slow motion up to thirty frames per second in HD. On the software side, the Camera application offers the possibility of taking panoramas and capturing photos inHDR, as on the iPhone 11. Finally, the rear camera, also equipped with an LED flash, offers 12 MPx with an f/1.8 aperture.

Photo comparison:iPhone 111 – 0iPhone SE (2020)

Price and availability

L’iPhone SEwas revealed via a simple press release on April 14, 2020 and has been available for purchase since the 17th of the same month. We were able to take it in hand,just follow this link to read our full testand discover more precise photos of the device. It costs489 euros in 64 Go, which makes itthe cheapest iPhoneto date all models combined. We can therefore say that it is excellent value for money for iOS.

L’iPhone 11, meanwhile, was released earlier as we said above. Indeed, it was presented to the general public during a keynote by Tim Cook and his teams in September 2019, succeeding the iPhone XS. Its price, on the other hand, is much higher since it only starts at809 eurosbut can reach almost 1,000 euros in its maximum configuration (the one with 256 GB of internal storage). It can be found at most French retailers.

Price comparison:iPhone SE (2020)1 – 0iPhone 11

Conclusion : iPhone 11 vs iPhone SE (2020)

We are coming to the end of our comparisoniPhone SE (2020) vs iPhone 11. So now is the time to choose the best among these two iPhones. Our choice will primarily focus onthe iPhone SE - second of the name - because it offers a technical sheet almost identical to that of the iPhone 11(within one photo sensor and one gigabyte of RAM), for 400 euros less, which is not negligible at a time when a smartphone is now as expensive as a computer. In addition, as the iPhone SE 2020 is newer, it will benefit from iOS updates for longer than the iPhone 11: this is thebest good deal from Appleportable side.

If, however, your budget is higher, then the iPhone 11 will indeed be a wise choice, especially if your photo requirements go beyond the frame. However, we cannot advise you to recommend a few euros moreto upgrade to iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 pro Max, which for once are much superior to the iPhone SE in terms of technical sheet. So, that's it, your choice is made? If yes, below is ourcomparativeof the best prices offered in France whether for the iPhone SE (2020) or the iPhone 11, updated in real time based on the best deals of the moment.