In playback, the iPhone SE (2020) delivers a good overall performance, with precise attack, few artifacts, and well-balanced midrange and treble frequencies. Curiously enough, as with the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro Max, the stereo channels are inverted when audio is played back through the Music app in...

Good dynamics performance with precise attack; Few artifacts overall; Well-balanced midrange and treble; Good maximum and minimum volume performance; Excellent timbre performance; Artifacts almost absent; even at high SPL; Good envelope and; signal-to-noise ratio; in every app; Consistency in each,...

Inverted stereo in landscape orientation (Music app); Tonal balance lacks bass response; Slight lack of low- and high-end extension; Pumping can occur on vocal content; and a slow automatic gain control is perceivable at high SPL

The iPhone SE is a really smart phone (no pun intended) as it doesn’t have all the flashy specs and lacks the pizzaz of Android phones at this price but is still a better phone than competition. Why? Simply because no other phone will give you this level of performance in this price segment.

The 2020 iPhone SE packs in a top-spec processor and flagship features at a bargain price, but dated design and bad battery hold it back

It's a tiny powerhouse of a smartphone

A13 Bionic processor is extremely powerful; Camera improvements over the iPhone SE (2016) and iPhone 8 are significant; $599 price tag is great

Looks exactly like the iPhone 8; No Night mode; Comparable Android smartphones are much better in some ways

The iPhone SE 2020 is the best cheap smartphone for most people – its camera, build quality and speed all match more expensive phones. Its smaller screen will also please those who feel left behind by ever-larger devices.

Premium build; Excellent processor; Very impressive camera; Great value; Waterproof

Average battery life; No haptic touch on lock screen; No Night Mode in camera

Apple iPhone SE (2020): The iPhone SE gets an upgrade at last and it’s now as powerful as the iPhone 11

Impressive single camera; As fast as an iPhone 11; Compact and lightweight

Poor battery life; Only one camera; Small screen

The new Apple iPhone SE is indeed one of the most compact smartphones not only within the iPhone ranks but among the Android phones as well. It is thin and lightweight, yet powerful and dependable, with great speakers and a high-quality screen, and impresses with camera performance even if it misses...

Compact and lightweight, water-resistant; Bright and high-contrast screen; Outstanding performance from the A13 chip; Loud stereo speakers; Touch ID is back and we love it; Excellent daylight photos and good low-light ones; Very good video recording capabilities with proficient stabilization.

Value may be subjective, but it’s hard to argue that the new iPhone SE doesn’t shake up what’s reasonable to expect from a smartphone in 2020. Apple’s most affordable phone is recycling refined to art, a blend of old and new with a barely-believable $400 price tag.

Aggressive pricing; Latest processor and Apple's track-record of updating iOS; Premium metal & glass construction

Single camera is solid but lacks features like Night Mode; Display is small compared to other phones; Budget for a better charger

“The new iPhone SE is the fastest phone you can buy for $400.”

Light; compact design; Class-leading performance; Loud; enjoyable audio; Great camera; iOS is excellent

Not a great display for $400; Battery life is just OK

The 16:9 display works well for watching video and, speaking of that, it’s great to view a screen without a notch.

Amazingly fast processor; Solid camera; Great fit in the hand