Comparing iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone 8: New Wine in Old Bottles, Worth Buying?

iPhone SE 2020 is the recently launched phone by Apple and is evaluated to have a design quite similar to iPhone 8. But what about the internals? Follow this article to compare iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone 8: New Wine in Old Bottles, Worth Buying?

1. Market Prices

Let's start with the most evident difference: You won't have to pay as much for iPhone SE 2020 as you did for iPhone 8.

Last autumn, Apple slashed the price of the iPhone 8 to $449 (about 10.4 million Vietnamese dong), quite low by Apple's standards, but the iPhone SE offers even more value below the $400 mark.

At a price of $399 (about 9.3 million Vietnamese dong), the iPhone SE stands as Apple's most affordable phone yet.

It's worth noting that $399 is just the starting price for the iPhone SE 64GB. You'll need to shell out a bit more if you want more storage.

The iPhone SE 128GB is priced at $449 (about 10.4 million Vietnamese dong), you'll realize this is the amount you paid for the iPhone 8 64GB previously.

2. Processor Inside the Device

The iPhone 8 came equipped with the A11 Bionic processor - still a fairly decent chip, but not the most powerful CPU currently available.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 2020 is powered by the A13 Bionic chip, boasting the most powerful performance in the market today found in the iPhone 11 series.

That means for less than $400, you'll have a phone running one of the best mobile processors currently available.

The original iPhone SE debuted with the same Apple A9 processor found in Apple's flagship phone at the time, the iPhone 6s. And Apple has made a similar move with the iPhone SE 2020.

Which phone is taking the lead here? You'll get an iPhone at an affordable price that can keep up with Apple's top smartphones (depending on the storage capacity of the new SE).

According to Apple's data, the A13 chip in the iPhone SE 2020 is 40% faster than the processor in the iPhone 8. For those who own the first-generation SE, upgrading to the new model will see their phone running 2.4 times faster.

3. Apple Support Duration

Another benefit of newer processors is running apps and graphics that develop faster with greater integrity. You'll also be able to keep your iPhone longer.

Apple does quite well in ensuring that older phones can run the latest versions.

For example, the older iPhone SE may have debuted in 2016, but you can still run iOS 13. There are some questions as to whether iOS 14 will be available for it this fall, but so far, all signs point to yes.

Enhancing the processor in the new iPhone SE means adding three or four years down the line, you'll likely be able to run any iOS version Apple rolls out. But it's not certain whether the same can be said for the iPhone 8.

4. Camera: What's the Difference?

Opting for the new iPhone SE won't get you multiple cameras. That feature will require you to fork out for an iPhone 11. However, the rear lens on the iPhone SE 2020 is almost certainly better than what the iPhone 8 can achieve.

Let's first delve into the superior hardware of the iPhone SE 2020. It's equipped with a single 12 MP camera with an f/1.8 aperture, unlike the lens that came with the 2018 iPhone XR.

It's itself an upgrade from the camera of the iPhone 8, though that phone also used a 12MP lens. In other aspects, the iPhone's camera system has advanced in the two years since the iPhone 8 was released.

Apple's chip includes a better image signal processor and a neural engine to enhance photo capture features.

As a result, portrait mode, image stabilization, white balance, and other features are all being enhanced on the iPhone SE 2020.

The new phone can capture portrait photos with a 7MP front camera and also has the capability to record 4K video at 60 fps.

5. Other Evaluative Points

Certain aspects of the iPhone SE 2020 will still closely resemble the iPhone 8 - at least on paper. Similar to the older phone, the new SE features an LCD screen instead of an OLED one.

The screen resolution of the iPhone SE 2020 is 1.34 x 750, identical to the iPhone 8. Apple claims that the battery life on the iPhone SE will match that of the iPhone 8, at 12 hours of internet usage.

However, upon closer examination, it's likely that the A13 processor in the new SE consumes battery more efficiently. Battery tests conducted while continuously browsing the web over LTE reveal better numbers on the iPhone SE 2020.

Speaking of LTE, the way you'll connect to mobile networks on the iPhone SE is the same as you did with the iPhone 8. 5G connectivity is not expected to appear until the fall when the iPhone 12 models are released.

Regarding charging, the iPhone SE supports 18-watt charging and comes with a 5-watt charger in the box, so you'll have to pay for a fast charging accessory if you want one.

6. Should You Choose iPhone SE 2020 or iPhone 8

Despite some similarities, the difference between iPhone 8 (left) and iPhone SE 2020 (right) is quite significant in every important category - performance, camera, and overall value.

But ultimately, it still depends on the user's needs.

So we've compared the iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone 8: Old Wine in New Bottles, Worth the Buy? Hopefully, it can help you.