The iPhone SE is here and it looks a whole lot like the iPhone 5S, but while they’re both compact and both share the same design there are a lot of differences on the inside.
From the power, to the camera, to other specs and features they’re very different beasts and to show you exactly how different we’ve created a full comparison of all the key aspects. So read on to see why you should be excited about Apple’s new compact smartphone.
iPhone SE (123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm 113g metal) vs iPhone 5S (123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm 112g metal)
The iPhone SE and iPhone 5S look almost exactly the same, with an aluminium shell and less curvy edges than the iPhone 6S.
They even have exactly the same dimensions of 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm and they weigh almost exactly the same, with the iPhone SE coming in at 113g and the iPhone 5S weighing 112g.
They both sport a premium design and the only major physical difference between them is that the iPhone SE comes in space grey, silver, gold or rose gold, while the iPhone 5S lacks the rose gold option.
There are a couple of smaller differences though. The Apple logo on the iPhone SE is a stainless steel cut-out, while it’s a silver screenprint on the iPhone 5S. Also, the iPhone SE has matte chamfered edges, while they’re shiny on the iPhone 5S, but these differences are barely noticeable.
iPhone SE (4.0-inch 640*1136 326ppi) vs iPhone 5S (4.0-inch 640*1136 326ppi)
The two phones have much the same screen, with both coming in at 4.0 inches and 640 x 1136 for a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch. That’s the same pixel density as the iPhone 6S, so while they’re smaller they’re no less sharp.
The compact size is likely to be a major selling point for anyone put off by larger handsets and it’s a big deal on the iPhone SE, as the iPhone 5S is getting on now, so it’s well past time there was a new compact option.
iPhone SE (1.84GHz dual-core 2GB RAM) vs iPhone 5S (1.3GHz dual-core 1GB RAM)
It’s all change here, with the iPhone SE packing a 1.84GHz dual-core Apple A9 processor and 2GB of RAM, while the iPhone 5S has just a 1.3GHz dual-core Apple A7 chip and 1GB of RAM.
In all the iPhone SE delivers up to two times faster CPU performance and three times faster GPU performance than the iPhone 5S, so it’s a huge upgrade. The iPhone SE offers flagship power while at this point the iPhone 5S can be seen as just a mid-range phone.
iPhone SE (12MP rear 1.2MP front-facing) vs iPhone 5S (8MP rear 1.2MP front-facing)
The iPhone SE has a big camera upgrade too. It’s got a 12MP snapper on the back with large pixels designed to let more light in. It can also shoot video in up to 4K quality and has a dual-LED True Tone flash.
The iPhone 5S has a dual-LED flash as well, but it has just an 8MP camera and its video recording is capped at 1080p.
Round the front the differences aren’t as sizeable, with both phones featuring a 1.2MP camera. However, the iPhone SE has the edge here too, as there’s no flash on the iPhone 5S’s, while the SE can light the screen up and use that as a flash.
iPhone SE (1642 mAh 16/64GB 4G) vs iPhone 5S (1560 mAh 16/32/64GB 4G)
The iPhone SE looks to have better battery life than the iPhone 5S as well, with the former quoted for up to 14 hours of talk time or 50 hours of music playback, while the latter gives up after 10 hours of talk time or 40 hours of music playback.
However, despite the extra longevity in the iPhone SE the size of the batteries is likely to be similar. The iPhone 5S has a 1560 mAh juice pack, while the iPhone SE is believed to have only a slightly larger 1642 mAh one.
Memory on the iPhone SE comes in at 16 or 64GB, while on the iPhone 5S there’s a choice of 16, 32 or 64GB. So you get slightly more options on the iPhone 5S, or you would, except the phone isn’t readily available to buy any more. Neither handset has a microSD card slot so you’re likely to want more than 16GB.
Connectivity options on the iPhone SE include Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth 4.2 and NFC for use with Apple Pay. The iPhone 5S has Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G and Bluetooth 4.0, but while both phones sport Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint scanner the iPhone 5S doesn’t have NFC, so it can’t be used for Apple Pay.
The iPhone SE might not sport a new design, in fact it has an old one, looking almost indistinguishable from the iPhone 5S. But look beneath the surface and it’s a very different and far better phone.
The iPhone SE is a lot more powerful, has a massively improved camera, longer battery life and Apple Pay support, yet still comes in at a reasonable price. The iPhone 5S has been discontinued to make room for the iPhone SE and while you can still find it if you shop around there’s little reason to, as the iPhone SE is a better handset in almost every way.
