The iPhone SE (2020) Review: A Reinvigorated Classic
by Andrei Frumusanu on April 24, 2020 6:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Mobile
- Apple
- Smartphones
- iPhone SE
- Apple A13
- iPhone SE 2020
Display Measurement
The screen of the iPhone SE shouldn’t be much different to that of the iPhone 8. It’s still an LCD IPS display, but it’s also one of the best on the market, even though the resolution is quite low.
We move on to the display calibration and fundamental display measurements of the iPhone SE screen. As always, we thank X-Rite and SpecraCal, as our measurements are performed with an X-Rite i1Pro 2 spectrophotometer, with the exception of black levels which are measured with an i1Display Pro colorimeter. Data is collected and examined using Portrait Display's CalMAN software.
In terms of brightness, the iPhone SE comes in at a maximum of 675 nits, which is in line with Apple’s previous generation LCD devices. It’s not quite as bright as the OLED iPhone 11’s and this can be noticeable in bright daylight, but it’s otherwise a very acceptable result.
In terms of greyscale calibration, minus a gamma that’s slightly too high and by a bit off with slightly darker tones, the color accuracy of the iPhone SE is dead-on. Whites come in at 6492K is almost perfect, and in general the color error is below a dEITP of 1.
Saturation calibration is also extremely good, with only a quite larger overshoot towards the higher saturation reds.
In the GMB test, the display is incredibly accurate with a color error of only 0.99 dEITP, only slightly worsened by the very slightly off gamma and darker tones for a total of 2.12 dEITP.
Overall, the iPhone SE’s display is in line with what we’ve seen on the iPhone 8. It’s amongst the best LCD screens in the market, even though by now it’s been outpaced in terms of brightness output and evidently resolution.
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crimson117 - Friday, April 24, 2020 - link
More than decent, this is stellar value.Best performance on the market, perfectly good camera (though not mind blowing), for like 1/3 the price of high end iPhones and Android flagships.
And a smaller screen, which is preferred by many, though not all.
duploxxx - Friday, April 24, 2020 - link
best performance when you just look at benchmarks on an optimised benchmark OSIOS made for dummies, where you cant change anything besides what has been defined by marketing nerds.
dont count the time that the device will be on charger (because of the fake real stats) everywhere in the world, most device i see on chargers in congress around the world…. IPHONE
DeLorean alike design with large beezels and stupid home button. Broken screens and beezels everywhere.
sure it will sell, perhaps now 20% off all the IPhone users running around with a broken screen that can't afford a fix can finally have the budget to buy a new one and want to stay with the fame of the Wannabee vendor.
Peskarik - Friday, April 24, 2020 - link
my mom has older small iPhone, it is enough for her and she is used to the platform. I have an iPhone XR at home, got it for free. I tried, but I rather stay with my old Pixel XL Android 10, much easier to operate and customize.trparky - Saturday, April 25, 2020 - link
Most people don't customize their phones though. Hell, I'd go so far as to say that most people don't even change their ringtone for God's sake. I can tell what carrier they have just from their ringtone.Deicidium369 - Sunday, April 26, 2020 - link
Wait, you can change the ringtone?haukionkannel - Friday, April 24, 2020 - link
A phone that gets douple to triple time os updates compared to Android... Yes sir, very impressive indeed. This will easily last useable 6 to 8 years! It is ingredible good for cell phone!sonny73n - Saturday, April 25, 2020 - link
You and your dumbass updates. Every time I open AppStore, there’s always updates for the apps that already got updated a week before.And iOS update. Give me a f**king break. I have iPhone 6s which I accidentally updated to iOS 11. You know Apple always nag and trick you unlocking iPhone with passcode and update with passcode. Give me back iOS 9 that I bought the phone with. Scam!
justareader - Saturday, April 25, 2020 - link
Updates for 6 to 8 years? I have 2 ipads and a macbook that say you are wrong.cha0z_ - Wednesday, August 5, 2020 - link
Really? What macbook? As my 2015 macbook air is receiving the next macos. There is the list for you:MacBook: Early 2015 or newer
MacBook Air: Mid 2013 or newer
MacBook Pro: Late 2013 or newer
Mac Mini: Late 2014 or newer
iMac: Mid 2014 or newer
iMac Pro
Mac Pro: Late 2013 or newer
Developer Transition Kit
So dunno, but even some 2013 models are supported (7 years old) + my 2015 model is already at 5+ years old and as it will receive all the big sur updates - that makes it atleast 6 years full support, so the statement is true. Dunno about tablets tho, but we are talking about iphones anyway.
Deicidium369 - Sunday, April 26, 2020 - link
and invariable one of those updates sets the date it will die.