iPhone 8 vs iPhone SE 2020 - which one should you choose?

The comparison is seemingly simple - we have phones from 2017 and 2020. The obvious choice seems to be a newer model... But are you sure? Maybe it’s better to save? I will try to prompt you. We invite you to compare iPhone 8 vs iPhone SE!

1. iPhone SE looks almost the same as iPhone 8
2. Displays are of a similar class
3. iPhone SE is more efficient
4. Classic fingerprint readers
5. Forget about 5G
6. Identical interface and application resource
7. iPhone 8 will work longer without charging
8. iPhone 8 and iPhone SE have the same cameras
9. iPhone 8 or iPhone SE 2020?
10. Specifications of iPhone 8 and iPhone SE 2020

iPhone SE is similar to iPhone 8

Both smartphones are unrivaled when it comes to "compactness". They measure 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm and weigh 148 g. Both - exactly the same. Compare the dimensions of the iPhone SE and iPhone 8. Unfortunately, the appearance of smartphones is somewhat outdated. While in the iPhone 8 from 2017 wide bezels around the screen did not offend, in this year's iPhone SE it is already fusty. Fortunately, the back of the housings can be liked. The metal, raw form with a large logo is the quintessence of the Apple style. The metal frame ensures solidity, and the glass backs add elegance. Both models are waterproof in IP67 class, while in both we do not see a minijack or memory card slot. Similarly, both use a proprietary system connector. iPhone 8 comes in four colours, while iPhone SE buyers have three colours to choose from. If you want a gold iPhone, you must stay with the older model.

• see, what the iPhone 8 looks like
• see, what an iPhone SE looks like

The displays are similar

The dimensions of the iPhone 8 and iPhone SE are identical, so the displays have a similar size. 4.7 inches is now a really small diagonal, which translates into a relatively small working surface of the interface. If you care about small dimensions - these are the models for you. However, if you've used a larger screen phone so far, switching can be difficult. Both models have an IPS display with a resolution of 750 x 1334 pixels. At this diagonal - it is a satisfactory value, although quite low by today's standards. But don't worry, both screens offer good image quality and you can't pick a winner here.

iPhone SE is more efficient

Apple - unlike other manufacturers - does not boast of RAM capacity, but of course the new model has more of it. Similarly, it also has a newer processor, A13 instead of A11. This will directly translate into better performance of the new model. Remember, however, that applications are increasingly resource-consuming, so the difference does not have to be immediately apparent. It is worth mentioning the updates. If you intend to pair with the iPhone for longer, it's worth choosing the latest model. Thanks to this - you will have longer support from the manufacturer. Here - it's definitely worth to bet on iPhone SE, of course, provided that the price is not a decisive factor in choosing. But there is also the question of data storage. I always advise iPhone buyers to buy the model with the most memory that they can handle financially. A cheaper model may be a better option if you want more space for files at all costs. The memory versions to choose from are in both cases the same: 64, 128 and 256 GB. The smallest medium - I strongly advise against remembering about the lack of a microSD socket!

Classic finger readers

iPhone 8 debuted at a time when Apple was just beginning to depart from the classic pattern with a single button on the front. As a "budget" model, it received the classic TouchID fingerprint reader. Today - the new iPhone SE also has an "old-fashioned" reader, remaining one of the few smartphones with such an element on the front. Is it wrong? Not necessarily, Apple readers are high-end and can rather be considered reliable. Draw again.

Forget about 5G

If you're looking for a smartphone for the next few years, counting on a sensible 5G network in the near future - forget about compact iPhones. Both models work only in LTE. Other connectivity interfaces are similar - dual band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC (though specific ...)

Identical interface and application resource

iPhone 8 debuted with iOS 11, but in the case of Apple it does not matter. It is a producer famous for the quick distribution of the latest software versions and for their equally fast adaptation among users. So you can safely assume that both models now offer the same iOS 13 system. So there are basically no differences. However, I would like to remind you that the newer iPhone SE will have longer support - a minimum of 2-3 years. The question is, are you going to pair with the smartphone for the next few years... Users considering replacing the iPhone with the smartphone on Android shyly whispering about the entire Apple ecosystem. It's consistent in an incomparable way.

iPhone 8 will work longer without charging

Apple does not officially provide the battery capacity, limiting itself to determining the times of non-charging work in various scenarios. Although, as unofficially known, the batteries have the same capacity of 1821 mAh, the manufacturer's information indicates that the iPhone 8 will work without charging a bit longer than the newer model. This is very likely because it has a weaker processor with less energy demand. In practice - the differences are not so noticeable. These are "two-day" smartphones - you can forget about a longer working time. In both, you'll find fast charging (18 W) and wireless charging in the Qi standard. Unfortunately, you need to buy a quick charger separately. After all, it's Apple ...;)

iPhone 8 and iPhone SE have the same cameras

Apple smartphones are widely praised for the quality of photos and videos. In principle, the two discussed models can also be considered to be decent photographers - but they are certainly not phones for geeks of mobile photography. Both have rather minimalistic photographic sets: 7 megapixels with f/2.2 aperture on the front and 12 megapixels with f/1.8 aperture on the back. Both iPhone 8 and iPhone SE can record movies in 4K resolution. So - another draw.

Is it better to buy an iPhone 8 or iPhone SE 2020?

Oba smartfony są porównywalne w dziedzinie stylizacji, fotografii oraz Both smartphones are comparable in the field of styling, photography and interfaces. iPhone SE offers higher performance, while the iPhone 8 will work a little longer without charging. The price decides. iPhone 8 has already fallen out of the official Apple offer, but in stores you can find it from 400 euro, although the typical price list is higher and actually similar to the official price list for the iPhone SE 2020 (479, 529, 649 euro). If you do not decide to buy second-hand - then buying an iPhone 8 at the moment does not make any sense. You won't save too much and you'll get a newer model with the same advantages. However, the newer phone will be slightly smoother in operation and will be much longer supported by updates. Thus - the choice is simple, although seemingly the phones are almost identical. It is possible that the iPhone 8 will get a little cheaper over the next few weeks, but I do not suspect enough to justify its purchase.

iPhone 8 and iPhone SE 2020 specifications

Comparison of iPhone 8 and iPhone SE 2020 specifications