Why You Can Trust CNET 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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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 3A | Samsung Galaxy S10E | Samsung Galaxy A51 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 4.7-inch Retina HD; 1,334x750 pixels | 5.6-inch gOLED; 2,220x1,080 pixels | 5.8-inch AMOLED; 2,280x1,080 pixels | 6.5-inch FHD AMOLED; 2,400x1,080 pixels |
| Pixel density | 326ppi | 441ppi | 438ppi | 405ppi |
| 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 7.3mm | 151.3 x 70.1 x 8.2mm | 142 x 70 x 7.9mm | 157.5 x 73.4 x 7.9mm |
| Weight (ounces, grams) | 5.22 oz.; 148g | 5.19 oz.; 147g | 5.3oz.; 150g | 6.06 oz.; 172g |
| Mobile software | iOS 13 | Android 9.0 | Android 9.0 | Android 10 |
| Camera | 12-megapixel | 12.2-megapixel | 12-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-megapixel | 8-megapixel | 10-megapixel | 32-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | Apple A13 Bionic | 2.0GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 | Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | 2.3GHz octa-core |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 64GB | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB |
| RAM | Not disclosed | 4GB | 6GB, 8GB | 4GB |
| Expandable storage | No | No | Up to 512GB | Up to 512GB |
| Battery | Not disclosed | 3,000 mAh | 3,100 mAh | 4,000 mAh |
| Fingerprint sensor | Home button | Back | Power button | In-screen |
| Connector | Lightning | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Special features | Water resistant (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging | AR in Google Maps, Timelapse video shooting | Wireless PowerShare; hole punch screen notch; water resistant (IP68); Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 | Dual-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$649 | AU$1,199 | UK price converts to AU$650 |
