iPhone SE (2020) vs. iPhone 11 Pro: Which should you buy?

The iPhone SE (2020) arrived on the market eight months after the iPhone 11 Pro/Pro Max. It replaces the iPhone 8 as the least expensive handset in Apple's arsenal. Not surprisingly, the cheaper model lacks many of the features found on the more expensive model. However, most of these come down to the camera options. So which one should you get (or should you upgrade)? Let's find out.

Differences vs. similarities: let's break it down

With the significant improvements to the camera system on the iPhone 11 Pro, you might think the choice is clear, but not everyone needs the advanced camera for the $600 price increase. To see what's the same and what's different between the two, let's break down the specs.

	iPhone 11 Pro	iPhone SE (2020)
Starting price	$999	$399
Storage options	- 64GB - 256GB - 512GB	- 64GB - 128GB - 256GB
Screen size/type	5.8-inch Super Retina XDR	4.7-inch Retina HD
Face ID?	Yes	No
Colors	White Midnight Green Silver Space Gray Gold	Black White (PRODUCT)RED
Battery performance	- Video playback: Up to 18 hours - Video playback (streamed): Up to 11 hours - Audio playback: Up to 65 hours	- Video playback: Up to 13 hours - Video playback (streamed): Up to 8 hours - Audio playback (wireless): Up to 40 hours
Display	- 2436-by-1125-pixel resolution at 458 ppi - 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical)	- 1334-by-750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi - 1400:1 contrast ratio (typical)
Processor	- A13 Bionic - Third-generation Neural Engine	- A13 Bionic - Third-generation Neural Engine
Camera features	Triple 12MP Ultra Wide Wide, and Telephoto	12MP wide-angle camera
Night mode	Yes	No
Slo-mo front camera	Yes	No
Zoom options	2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; digital zoom up to 10x	Digital zoom up to 5x
TrueDepth Camera features	- Animoji and Memoji - 4K video	None
Portrait Lighting effects	Natural Studio Contour Stage Stage Mono High-Key Mono	Natural Studio Contour Stage Stage Mono High-Key Mono
Water resistance	IP68: 4 meters/30 minutes	IP67: 1 meter/30 minutes

It's all about the cameras

The iPhone 11 Pro features triple 12MP Wide, Ultra Wide and Wide cameras. By contrast, the iPhone SE (2020) only offers a wide-angle camera. This difference means the former includes optical zoom out, night mode, and auto adjustments. The larger device is also the one that features a TrueDepth camera, alongside Animoji and Memoji. By contrast, the iPhone SE (2020) only offers a FaceTime HD 7MP camera.

Despite this, the two iPhones also have similar camera features. For example, they both offer portrait Lighting with six effects and optical image stabilization. Additionally, you'll find True Tone flash with Slow Sync on both models, and 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, and 60 fps.

Price over features

As noted, the iPhone SE (2020) is now Apple's budget handset, while the iPhone 11 Pro is the smaller of the company's two highest-priced models. For the extra $600 on the iPhone 11 Pro, you'll receive triple rear cameras, a front-facing TrueDepth camera, and Face ID (versus Touch ID).

The more expensive model also includes a higher-quality display (that's bigger), more battery life, and increased water resistance. As for colors, the iPhone 11 is available in four colors, while the iPhone SE (2020) only comes in three.

Who should buy the iPhone SE (2020)?

If you're in the market for a budget iPhone, by all means, get an iPhone SE (2020). It features the same chipset as the more expensive model and includes a fantastic 12MP wide-angle camera. With that camera, you can perform some of the same tasks as you can on the iPhone 11 Pro.

Who should buy the iPhone 11 Pro instead?

If you're looking for extras such as Face ID, a larger, better display, more storage, and lots of fresh camera features, the iPhone 11 Pro is the one for you. This is the best iPhone Apple currently offers.