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iPhone SE (2020) vs iPhone 16e

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Starting at

£70.21

£419 new

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Starting at

£448.19

£599 new

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iPhone SE (2020)Starting at £70.21See options
iPhone 16eStarting at £448.19See options
4.4/5 (24 reviews)
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In a nutshell

The iPhone SE (2020) has the lower launch price, a lighter 148g body and a smaller 4.7-inch screen. The iPhone 16e counters with 5G, longer OS support until about 2032 (est.) and Apple Intelligence.

At 128GB, the iPhone SE (2020) launched at £469 and the iPhone 16e at £599.

Available models

iPhone SE (2020)

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Great, Good

iPhone 16e

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Pristine, Great, Good

Durability

iPhone SE (2020) 48/100
iPhone 16e 89/100

The iPhone 16e should be supported for longer, with OS updates until about 2032 (est.) against about 2027 (est.) on the iPhone SE (2020).

Water and dust:The iPhone 16e is rated IP68 against IP67 on the iPhone SE (2020), the higher of the two ratings.

Software support:The iPhone SE (2020) should get OS updates until about 2027 (est.) and the iPhone 16e until about 2032 (est.). That gives the iPhone 16e the longer support window.

Front glass:The iPhone SE (2020) has glass on the front and the iPhone 16e Ceramic Shield.

Weight:The iPhone SE (2020) weighs 148g and the iPhone 16e 167g, so the iPhone SE (2020) is the lighter phone.

Released

2020
2025Newer

Updates until (est.)

2027
2032Supported for longer

Water resistance

IP67
IP68

Frame

Aluminium
Aluminium

Weight

148gLighter
167g

Release date

24 April 2020
28 February 2025

Front glass

Glass
Ceramic Shield

Dimensions

138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm

Biometrics

Touch ID
Face ID

Repairability

–
EU repairability class C

Performance

iPhone SE (2020) 44/100
iPhone 16e 85/100

The iPhone 16e has the newer chip, the A18.

Chip:The iPhone SE (2020) runs the A13 Bionic and the iPhone 16e the A18. The A18 is the newer chip, from 2025.

Memory:The iPhone 16e has 8GB of RAM against 3GB on the iPhone SE (2020), which helps keep more apps open in the background.

AI features:Only the iPhone 16e supports Apple Intelligence. The iPhone SE (2020) does not.

Storage:The iPhone SE (2020) launched in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB and the iPhone 16e in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB.

Chip

A13 Bionic
A18

RAM

3GB
8GBMore memory

Storage options

64GB, 128GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB, 512GB

AI features

No
YesHas AI features

Screen quality

iPhone SE (2020) 44/100
iPhone 16e 62/100

The iPhone 16e has the bigger screen, at 6.1 inches.

Size:The iPhone 16e's 6.1-inch screen is bigger than the 4.7-inch screen on the iPhone SE (2020).

Panel:The iPhone SE (2020) uses a Retina HD LCD panel at 1334 x 750 and the iPhone 16e a Super Retina XDR OLED panel at 2532 x 1170.

Smoothness:Both refresh at the same 60Hz.

Screen size

4.7"
6.1"Bigger screen

Screen type

Retina HD LCD
Super Retina XDR OLED

Refresh rate

60Hz
60Hz

Resolution

1334 x 750
2532 x 1170

Peak brightness

–
1200 nits (maker figure)

Camera

iPhone SE (2020) 12/100
iPhone 16e 35/100

The iPhone 16e has the higher-resolution 48MP main camera.

Main camera:The iPhone 16e has a 48MP main camera against 12MP on the iPhone SE (2020), which leaves more detail to crop into.

Zoom:Neither has a telephoto lens. Only the iPhone 16e offers a 2x crop from its main sensor.

Selfies:The iPhone 16e has a 12MP selfie camera against 7MP on the iPhone SE (2020).

Video:The iPhone SE (2020) records video at up to 4K 60fps and the iPhone 16e at up to 4K 60fps Dolby Vision.

Main camera

12MP
48MPMore megapixels

Ultrawide

None
None

Telephoto

None
None

Optical zoom

None
None

Front camera

7MP
12MPSharper selfies

Video recording

4K 60fps
4K 60fps Dolby Vision

2x zoom

–
Crop from the main sensor, no telephoto lens

Battery

iPhone SE (2020) 35/100
iPhone 16e 63/100

The iPhone 16e lasts longer on Apple's figures, up to 26 hours of video against 13.

Battery life:Apple rates the iPhone SE (2020) at up to 13 hours of video playback and the iPhone 16e at up to 26 hours.

Capacity:The iPhone 16e has the bigger battery, 4005mAh against 1821mAh.

Wireless charging:Both support the same wireless charging: Qi.

Battery

1821mAh
4005mAhBigger battery

Wireless charging

Qi
Qi

Video playback (maker)

Up to 13 hours
Up to 26 hours

Connectivity

iPhone SE (2020) 38/100
iPhone 16e 64/100

Only the iPhone 16e has 5G.

5G:Only the iPhone 16e has 5G. The iPhone SE (2020) has none.

Port:The iPhone SE (2020) has a Lightning (USB 2) and the iPhone 16e USB-C (USB 2, 480Mb/s). Only the iPhone 16e uses USB-C.

Bluetooth:The iPhone SE (2020) has Bluetooth 5.0 and the iPhone 16e Bluetooth 5.3.

Wi-Fi:Both support the same Wi-Fi 6 standard.

5G

No
YesHas 5G

Port

Lightning (USB 2)
USB-C (USB 2, 480Mb/s)

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 6

SIM

Nano-SIM + eSIM
Nano-SIM + eSIM

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.3

Our verdict

Buy the iPhone SE (2020) if you want the lower launch price and a lighter 148g body. Buy the iPhone 16e if you want 5G and longer OS support until about 2032 (est.).

Buy the iPhone SE (2020) if

  • You want the lower launch price
  • You want a lighter 148g body
  • You want a smaller 4.7-inch screen
Shop from £70.21

Buy the iPhone 16e if

  • You want 5G
  • You want longer OS support until about 2032 (est.)
  • You want Apple Intelligence
Shop from £448.19

FAQs

The iPhone SE (2020) should get OS updates until about 2027 (est.) and the iPhone 16e until about 2032 (est.). That gives the iPhone 16e the longer support window.

Neither has a telephoto lens. Only the iPhone 16e offers a 2x crop from its main sensor.

The iPhone 16e's 6.1-inch screen is bigger than the 4.7-inch screen on the iPhone SE (2020).

Only the iPhone 16e has 5G. The iPhone SE (2020) has none.

Every Reboxed phone has a minimum of 80% battery health. If you want the closest thing to new, some phones offer our New Battery Upgrade, professionally installed before your phone is dispatched. If it's available, you'll see it on the product page.

Pristine, Excellent, Great and Good. Pristine has zero blemishes and at least 90% battery health. Good can show noticeable wear on the casing but works perfectly. Every grade is TechCheck certified and comes with a 12-month warranty.

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