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iPhone SE vs. Android budget phones: Pixel 3A, Galaxy S10E, Galaxy A51

See how Apple's newest iPhone SE stacks up against other budget phones you can buy in 2020.

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Lynn La Senior Editor / Reviews - Phones
Lynn La covers mobile reviews and news. She previously wrote for The Sacramento Bee, Macworld and The Global Post.
Lynn La
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Apple 's latest iPhone SE for 2020 is a budget phone that serves as a sequel to its sleeper hit from 2016, the first iPhone SE. For the most part, the new iPhone SE follows Apple's original recipe. But it also added new upgrades like wireless charging and the A13 Bionic processor. At $399, the device is the most affordable iPhone in Apple's lineup today, offering modern hardware and iOS 13 features to more cost-conscious consumers.

But Apple's foray into budget  phones  is not without company. For years Android devices have covered this price market and two of the best devices in this category were released last year: Google's Pixel 3A and the Samsung Galaxy S10E. (Check out the new Pixel 4A, too.) The $360 Pixel 3A features a headphone jack and has a great Night Sight-enabled camera that shoots great photos in the dark. Meanwhile, the $600 Galaxy S10E has a superfast Snapdragon 855 chip and a long-lasting battery, and can wirelessly charge other phones and accessories.  Samsung  more recently launched the Galaxy A51, which currently sells for $280 and has impressive camera specs (there is a  5G  variant that costs $499).  

Read more: iPhone SE 2020 is proof that Apple won't actually bring back the tiny phone

To see how Apple's iPhone compares spec-by-spec to these other devices, check out the chart below or see the differences between iPhone SE's specs and iPhone 11's. And for more about the handset, read CNET's iPhone SE 2020 review.

iPhone SE (2020) spec comparison


Apple iPhone SE (2020)Google Pixel 3ASamsung Galaxy S10ESamsung Galaxy A51
Display size, resolution 4.7-inch Retina HD; 1,334x750 pixels5.6-inch gOLED; 2,220x1,080 pixels5.8-inch AMOLED; 2,280x1,080 pixels6.5-inch FHD AMOLED; 2,400x1,080 pixels
Pixel density 326ppi441ppi438ppi405ppi
Dimensions (inches) 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in.6.0 x 2.8 x 0.3 in.5.6 x 2.8 x 0.27 in.6.2 x 2.89 x 0.31 in.
Dimensions (millimeters) 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mm151.3 x 70.1 x 8.2mm142 x 70 x 7.9mm157.5 x 73.4 x 7.9mm
Weight (ounces, grams) 5.22 oz.; 148g5.19 oz.; 147g5.3oz.; 150g6.06 oz.; 172g
Mobile software iOS 13Android 9.0Android 9.0Android 10
Camera 12-megapixel12.2-megapixel12-megapixel (wide-angle), 16-megapixel (ultrawide-angle)48-megapixel (standard), 12-megapixel (wide-angle), 5-megapixel (macro), 5-megapixel (depth sensing)
Front-facing camera 7-megapixel8-megapixel10-megapixel 32-megapixel
Video capture 4K4K4K4K
Processor Apple A13 Bionic2.0GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 670Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8552.3GHz octa-core
Storage 64GB, 128GB, 256GB64GB128GB, 256GB128GB
RAM Not disclosed4GB6GB, 8GB4GB
Expandable storage NoNoUp to 512GBUp to 512GB
Battery Not disclosed3,000 mAh3,100 mAh4,000 mAh
Fingerprint sensor Home buttonBackPower buttonIn-screen
Connector LightningUSB-CUSB-CUSB-C
Headphone jack NoYesYesYes
Special features Water resistant (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless chargingAR in Google Maps, Timelapse video shootingWireless PowerShare; hole punch screen notch; water resistant (IP68); Fast Wireless Charging 2.0Dual-SIM capabilities
Price off-contract (USD) $399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB)$399$750$399
Price (GBP) £419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB)£399£669£329
Price (AUD) AU$749 (64GB), AU$829 (128GB), AU$999 (256GB)AU$649AU$1,199UK price converts to AU$650
patrick-iphonese2020
Watch this: Apple's new iPhone SE is basically an iPhone 11 in a small package