iPhone SE (2nd generation)

Source

Snazzy Labs

Key Takeaways

• Recycling the ancient 2014 iPhone 6 chassis with massive top and bottom forehead bezels looks prehistoric.
• Tiny 1,821mAh battery cannot survive past 2 PM under modern app loads, requiring a power bank everywhere.
• Dated 4.7-inch 750p LCD displays visible pixel grain on small text and washes out in direct sunlight.
• Ships with an obsolete 5W charging brick and completely lacks Night mode for dark photo environments.

✅ Pros

• Extremely compact and lightweight in hand
• Reliable and tactile Touch ID fingerprint sensor
• A13 Bionic raw processing power at a low entry price

❌ Cons

• Embarrassing 1,821mAh battery stamina
• Decade-old recycled bezels and tiny screen
• Low-resolution 750p LCD washes out easily
• No Night mode and agonizing 5W slow charging

📝 Verdict

"iPhone SE 2 puts a Ferrari engine into a 2014 golf cart: dismal battery and obsolete screen ruin the value."

Source

• Video: iPhone SE (2020) Review | Four Months Later
• Channel: Tech Spurt | Type: Long-term review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• Priced at £419 in the UK; he says he should love it, but it's been outdone in several respects by recently launched Android rivals
• The 4.7-inch screen is easy to use one-handed, but the bezels all around are thick, while the Pixel 4a fits a 5.8-inch screen into a similar size; Touch ID is back, which is especially handy when wearing a mask
• At 148g it's very light, and the build is solid but the design is dated; after four months the screen has only fine scratches; IP67 is rare at this price, but the screen is hard to use when wet
• 4K60 video is sharp with good stabilization, and you can finally switch resolution within the Camera app; the 7MP front camera makes skin tones look darker
• Conclusion: people already in the Apple ecosystem can consider it; otherwise he recommends Android phones like the Pixel 4a or OnePlus Nord, which have better battery life, cameras or 5G

✅ Pros

• Compact and light
• Strong performance
• IP67
• Touch ID
• Good video

❌ Cons

• Thick bezels, dated design
• Battery life and camera trail the Pixel 4a
• No 5G

📝 Verdict

Compact, fast and affordable, but if you're not in the Apple ecosystem, he recommends cheaper Android alternatives instead.

Source

• Video: I Recommend this iPhone! - iPhone SE (2020)
• Channel: ShortCircuit | Type: Unboxing | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• An unboxing presented by dbrand; the box includes EarPods and a Lightning cable, but no fast charger; the look and feel are almost identical to the iPhone 8, and the screen seems small
• It shares several parts with the iPhone 8 (display assembly, Taptic Engine, front and rear camera modules), but replacing the screen loses Touch ID and True Tone, and there's no 3D Touch
• New: 3GB RAM, A13 Bionic, Portrait mode, better video stabilization; the front camera is still 7MP with no 4K selfie video
• The battery is about 1,800mAh, the biggest compromise; he speculates Apple may support it for about five years

✅ Pros

• A13 flagship chip for US$400
• Touch ID
• Long-term software updates

❌ Cons

• Small battery
• Small screen, old design
• Low-spec front camera

📝 Verdict

Unless you're a heavy user who needs 9–10 hours of screen time a day, it's an extremely good-value choice.

Source

• Video: iPhone SE (2020) Review: everything you need
• Channel: The Verge | Type: Professional review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• Starts at US$399 for 64GB; he believes the iPhone's value lies in iMessage, long-term reliability, the app ecosystem and ease of use, and this one has all of them
• It reuses the iPhone 8's design: 4.7-inch True Tone LCD, Home button fingerprint reader, IP67, compatible with iPhone 8 cases; but the top and bottom bezels are thick, and there's no headphone jack (Lightning earphones included, no 3.5mm adapter)
• It has the same A13 Bionic as the iPhone 11 Pro, so it's fast, and more importantly it will get years of OS updates
• Battery life lasts a day, with about 4–5 hours of screen time, which isn't outstanding; supports wireless charging
• The single 12MP main camera comes close to the thousand-dollar iPhone 11 Pro in good light; Portrait mode is hit-or-miss, there's no Night mode, and low light produces unwanted artifacts; video performance beats its class

✅ Pros

• Low price, full iPhone experience
• A13 brings long-term updates
• Excellent photos in good light and video
• Touch ID and wireless charging

❌ Cons

• Thick bezels, dated design
• Average battery life
• Weak low-light photos, no Night mode
• No headphone jack

📝 Verdict

It's not just good value but a genuinely good phone; he suggests spending US$50 more on 128GB so it lasts three to five years.