Apple just announced the smaller, budget-friendly iPhone SE. Switching gears from its larger phones, Apple's going back to the popular 4-inch size with the new iPhone.
Just because it's smaller doesn't mean it's weaker. The iPhone SE has the same 64-bit A9 chip and M9 motion co-processor as the iPhone 6S. It's also got a 12-megapixel camera, TouchID and Apple Pay.
Exclusive to the iPhone SE for now is "Hey Siri," a hands-free way to ask Siri for help.
Apple didn't design the iPhone SE to compete with the iPhone 6 and its other high-end models. But if you're grappling with which model to buy, it's helpful to see how they all compare.
While the iPhone 5S is no more, we want to see how this new lower-cost phone stacks up to Apple's previous "budget" model.
| iPhone SE | iPhone 6S | iPhone 6 | iPhone 5S | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 4-inch; 1,136x640 pixels | 4.7-inch; 1,334x750 pixels | 4.7 inches; 1,334x750 pixels | 4-inch; 1,136x640 pixels |
| Pixel density | 326ppi | 326ppi | 326ppi | 326ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 4.87 x 2.31 x 0.3 in | 5.4 x 2.6 x 0.28 in | 5.44 x 2.64 x 0.27 in | 4.87 x 2.31 x 0.3 in |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 123 x 58 x 7.6mm | 138 x 67 x 7.1mm | 138.1 x 67 x 6.9mm | 123 x 58 x 7.6mm |
| Weight (ounces, grams) | 3.99 oz (113g) | 5 oz (143g) | 4.55oz (129g) | 4 oz (112g) |
| Mobile software | iOS 9.3 | iOS 9 | iOS 9 | iOS 9 |
| Camera | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 8-megapixel | 8-megapixel |
| Front-facing camera | 1.2-megapixel | 5-megapixel | 1.2-megapixel; 720p HD video | 1.2-megapixel; 720p HD video |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K | 1080p HD | 1080p HD |
| Processor | Apple A9 chip (64-bit) with M9 motion co-processor | Apple A9 chip (64-bit) with M9 motion co-processor | Apple A8 chip (64-bit) with M8 motion co-processor | Apple A7 (64-bit) with M7 motion processor |
| Storage | 16GB, 64GB | 16GB, 64GB, 128GB | 16GB, 64GB,128GB | 16GB, 32GB, 64GB |
| RAM | TBA | 2GB | 1GB | 1GB |
| Battery | 13 hours of video playback | 1,715mAh | Talk time up to 14 hours on 3G and Internet usage time up to 10 hours of 3G | Talk time up to 10 hours on 4G LTE; standby time up to 10 days |
| Touch ID | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Color options | Silver, gray, gold, rose gold | Silver, gold, gray, rose gold | Silver, gray, gold | Silver, gray, gold |
| Price off-contract (USD) | $399 (16GB); $499 (64GB) | $649 (16GB); $749 (64GB); $849 (128GB) | $649 (16GB); $749 (64GB); $849 (128GB) | $450 (16GB); $499 (32GB) |
| Price (GBP) | £359 (16GB) £439 (64GB) | £539 (16GB); £619 (64GB); £699 (128GB) | Unlocked £539 (16GB), £619 (64GB), £699 (128GB) | £379 (16GB); £419 (32GB) |
| Price (AUD) | AU$679 (16GB); AU$829 (64GB) | AU$1,079 (16GB); AU$1,229 (64GB); AU$1,379 (128GB) | Unlocked AU$869 (16GB), AU$999 (64GB), AU$1,129 (128GB) | AU$749 (16GB); AU$829 (32GB) |
See all of the news from Apple's March 21 event.