Home/Apple/Apple iPhone SE
Apple iPhone SE

Apple iPhone SE

Released: March 31, 2016

Price TBA
Display4"
Camera12 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, PDAF
RAM2048GB
BatteryLi-Po 1624 mAh, non-removable (6.21 Wh)

The Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) redefined the concept of a compact flagship when it launched in 2016, and it remains a landmark device for anyone seeking a powerful phone in a small, classic form factor. Powered by the same Apple A9 chip found in the iPhone 6s, this 4-inch powerhouse targets users who prioritize one-handed usability and a lightweight design (just 113g) over large screens. Built with an aluminum back and a glass front, it offers a premium, timeless aesthetic in four colors: Space Gray, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. For our 'Muthophone BD' audience, the iPhone SE is a compelling look at Apple's 'small but mighty' philosophy. 📸 Capable Camera for its Era The iPhone SE packs a 12 MP rear camera with an f/2.2 aperture and PDAF, supporting 4K video recording at 30fps. While its 1.2 MP front camera is modest, the rear shooter delivers sharp, vibrant photos for everyday use, making it a solid choice for casual photography and high-quality video capture. 💨 Performance in a Compact Package Under the hood, the Apple A9 (14 nm) chipset with a dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister CPU and PowerVR GT7600 GPU ensures smooth iOS performance for its time. Paired with 2 GB of RAM, it handles apps and basic tasks with ease, though it's best suited for light usage and specific legacy apps. 🔋 Balanced Battery Life and Essential Features The 1624 mAh battery provides up to 14 hours of talk time and a standby time of up to 240 hours, reflecting its efficient design. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC for Apple Pay, and a Lightning port. A front-mounted fingerprint sensor adds security and convenience. Who is this for? / Should you buy it? This phone is best suited for users who specifically desire a small, lightweight smartphone with a premium build and the stability of iOS, or for collectors seeking an iconic Apple device. For its specifications, it offers great value as a nostalgic piece of hardware or a basic secondary phone. However, due to its discontinued status, limited app support, and outdated features, it is not recommended as a primary daily driver for modern usage.

Read full description ↓

Reasons to Buy

  • Extremely lightweight and compact design
  • Powerful Apple A9 chipset for its size and era
  • Good 12 MP rear camera with 4K video recording
  • Premium aluminum build with classic iPhone aesthetic
  • Features a fingerprint sensor for enhanced security
  • NFC support for Apple Pay

Reasons to Avoid

  • Small 4-inch display with low screen-to-body ratio (60.8%)
  • Aged front camera quality (1.2 MP)
  • Very limited battery capacity (1624 mAh) by modern standards
  • Outdated iOS version (upgradeable only to iOS 15.8.1)

Full Specifications

Network

Technology
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
2G Bands
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - A1662, A1723, CDMA 800 / 1900 - A1662, A1723
3G Bands
HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - A1662, A1723, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO - A1662, A1723, TD‑SCDMA - A1723
4G Bands
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29 - A1662, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - A1723
Speed
HSPA, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps

Launch

Announced
March 21, 2016
Status
Discontinued

Body

Dimensions
123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm
Weight
113 g
Build
Glass front (Glass front (Corning-made glass)), Back (Aluminum back), Frame (Aluminum frame)
SIM
Nano-SIM

Display

Type
IPS LCD
Size
4 inches (~60.8% screen-to-body ratio, 44.1 cm²)
Resolution
1136 x 640 pixels (16:9 ratio) (~326 ppi density)

Platform

OS
iOS 9.3.2 (Upgradable to iOS 15.8.1)
Chipset
Apple A9 (14 nm)
CPU
Dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister
GPU
PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics)

Memory

Card slot
No
Internal
16384GB 2048GB RAM, 32768GB 2048GB RAM, 65536GB 2048GB RAM, 131072GB 2048GB RAM

Main Camera

Modules
12 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, PDAF
Features
Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR
Video
4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@120fps, 720p@240fps

Selfie Camera

Modules
1.2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard)
Features
Face detection, HDR, panorama
Video
720p@30fps

Sound

Loudspeaker
Yes
3.5mm jack
1

Connectivity

WLAN
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, hotspot
Bluetooth
4.2, A2DP, LE
Positioning
GPS, GLONASS
NFC
Yes
Radio
No
USB
Lightning, USB 2.0

Features

Sensors
Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery

Type
Li-Po 1624 mAh, non-removable (6.21 Wh)
Talk time
Up to 14 h (3G)
Stand-by
Up to 240 h (3G)

Misc

Colors
Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold
Models
A1662, A1723, A1724, iPhone8, 4
SAR
1.17 (head) 1.19 (body)
SAR EU
0.72 (head) 0.97 (body)

Tests

Performance
Basemark OS II 2.0: 2163
Display
["Contrast ratio: 804:1 (nominal), 3.681 (sunlight)"]
Camera
["Photo \/ Video"]
Loudspeaker
["Voice 66dB \/ Noise 65dB \/ Ring 69dB"]
Audio quality
["Noise -93.0dB \/ Crosstalk -72.9dB"]
Battery (old)
["Endurance rating 73h"]

Apple iPhone SE Review

The Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) redefined the concept of a compact flagship when it launched in 2016, and it remains a landmark device for anyone seeking a powerful phone in a small, classic form factor. Powered by the same Apple A9 chip found in the iPhone 6s, this 4-inch powerhouse targets users who prioritize one-handed usability and a lightweight design (just 113g) over large screens. Built with an aluminum back and a glass front, it offers a premium, timeless aesthetic in four colors: Space Gray, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. For our 'Muthophone BD' audience, the iPhone SE is a compelling look at Apple's 'small but mighty' philosophy.

📸 Capable Camera for its Era The iPhone SE packs a 12 MP rear camera with an f/2.2 aperture and PDAF, supporting 4K video recording at 30fps. While its 1.2 MP front camera is modest, the rear shooter delivers sharp, vibrant photos for everyday use, making it a solid choice for casual photography and high-quality video capture.

💨 Performance in a Compact Package Under the hood, the Apple A9 (14 nm) chipset with a dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister CPU and PowerVR GT7600 GPU ensures smooth iOS performance for its time. Paired with 2 GB of RAM, it handles apps and basic tasks with ease, though it's best suited for light usage and specific legacy apps.

🔋 Balanced Battery Life and Essential Features The 1624 mAh battery provides up to 14 hours of talk time and a standby time of up to 240 hours, reflecting its efficient design. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC for Apple Pay, and a Lightning port. A front-mounted fingerprint sensor adds security and convenience.

Who is this for? / Should you buy it?

This phone is best suited for users who specifically desire a small, lightweight smartphone with a premium build and the stability of iOS, or for collectors seeking an iconic Apple device. For its specifications, it offers great value as a nostalgic piece of hardware or a basic secondary phone. However, due to its discontinued status, limited app support, and outdated features, it is not recommended as a primary daily driver for modern usage.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the iPhone SE does not support 5G. It supports GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, and LTE networks.

The iPhone SE has a 1624 mAh non-removable Li-Po battery. No fast charging features are specified in the data.

It is powered by the Apple A9 (14 nm) chipset with a dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister CPU and 2 GB of RAM.

The main camera is a single 12 MP f/2.2 lens with PDAF and dual-LED dual-tone flash, capable of recording 4K video at 30fps. The selfie camera is 1.2 MP f/2.4 and records 720p video at 30fps.

No, the iPhone SE does not have an IP rating for water or dust resistance.

The iPhone SE is available in 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB variants. It does not have a card slot for expandable storage.

Yes, it has a front-mounted fingerprint sensor and supports NFC.