Apple iPhone SE 2020

The iPhone SE 2020 is good value for one kind of buyer: someone who wants iOS, a reliable camera and smooth performance on a tight budget, and who can live with short battery life.

Main advantages:

• A13 Bionic performance that stays smooth in apps and games
• 4K 60fps rear video with optical stabilisation
• Current iOS 27 software, dual speakers and strong haptics
• Compact, premium glass-and-metal design

Main compromises:

• Very small 1821 mAh battery
• No night mode and a weak 7 MP selfie camera
• Thick bezels and only 64GB in most units
• Most units are used or refurbished, so condition varies a lot

The Apple iPhone XS at Rs. 144,999 has a bigger OLED screen but no longer gets new iOS versions. Verdict: worth buying as a first iPhone, a light-use phone or a second phone, but heavy users who need all-day battery should look elsewhere. Always pay for condition and battery health, not just the model name.

Official specs: a 4.7-inch Retina IPS LCD at 750 x 1334 pixels (about 326 ppi) with 625 nits typical brightness, True Tone and Haptic Touch. It also plays HDR10 and Dolby Vision video.

Real-world use: colours look better than on typical budget IPS screens, and text stays sharp at this small size. The touch response and vibration feedback feel precise and premium, something most phones at this price do not match.

Limitations:

• Thick bezels above and below the screen make the phone look dated.
• The small screen feels cramped for long videos and games.
• Typing and reading on 4.7 inches suits light use more than heavy media watching.

Official specs: Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) with a 6-core CPU, a 4-core GPU and 3GB RAM, the same chip family as the iPhone 11.

Real-world use: daily tasks feel quick and smooth, apps open fast and storage read and write speeds are good. Games run smoothly at 60fps, and the phone stays ahead of many Android phones that cost much more.

Limitations:

• Opinions differ on iOS 27: some find it smooth, others report a heavier interface and occasional stutter.
• Most units have 64GB, which fills up quickly with photos and 4K video; 128GB units are rare.
• Long gaming sessions are limited more by the battery than by the chip.

Heating under long gaming sessions has not been verified.

Official specs:

• Rear: 12 MP, f/1.8, optical image stabilisation, Portrait mode and Smart HDR
• Video: 4K at up to 60fps
• Selfie: 7 MP, f/2.2, 1080p video

Real-world use: in good or even moderate light, the rear camera takes pleasing photos and 4K 60fps video that most phones at this price cannot match. Portraits work well, and colours can be adjusted with filters or editing.

Limitations:

• There is no night mode, so low-light photos fall behind newer phones.
• Video stability is not perfect when walking.
• The 7 MP front camera is weak for photos and can blow out bright backgrounds, though it is fine for video calls and casual clips.

A practical tip: because the phone is small, you can record yourself with the better rear camera instead of the selfie camera.

Official specs: a 1821 mAh (6.91 Wh) battery with 18W wired charging and Qi wireless charging. Apple says it reaches 50% in about 30 minutes with an 18W adapter, which is sold separately.

Real-world use: battery is the weakest point. Expect about two to three hours of continuous screen time, and roughly an hour to an hour and a half of gaming. A full day of heavy use is not realistic, so carry a charger or power bank.

Charging: a charge from empty to about 85% takes around 40 to 45 minutes. Opinions differ on whether that counts as fast, but the small battery fills quickly.

Buying tip: many used units come with battery health around 75%. A small battery like this usually needs replacing after two or three years, so check battery health first. The Lightning port and cable also wear out sooner than USB-C.

The iPhone SE 2020 launched with iOS 13 and now runs iOS 27, with the new Liquid Glass look and the redesigned Control Center. iOS has no advertisements or duplicate apps, and it works smoothly with other Apple devices.

Limitations:

• Opinions differ on how well iOS 27 runs: some find it smooth, others report bugs and a heavier interface.
• Most of the newest AI features are out of reach on this older hardware.
• Apple does not publish a fixed number of update years, so whether iOS 28 will arrive is not confirmed.

Good to know: some shops keep these phones on older iOS versions because updating can show a message when the battery has been replaced. Check the battery and parts history before you buy.