If you're looking for a cheap, well, cheaper, iPhone, the new iPhone SE and the iPhone 11 are your two most affordable options. Both start under $850, but are totally different devices. The new iPhone SE features the latest and great Apple chipset inside, but has a throwback form-factor and a display some may find too small. The iPhone 11 is a couple of years old now, but is more in line with what you'd expect from a modern phone. If you're having trouble picking between the two, we've compared the pair.
First, here are their specs:
iPhone SE (2022) vs. iPhone 11
| iPhone SE | iPhone 11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 4.7-inch LCD | 6.1-inch LCD |
| Resolution | Retina | Retina |
| Rear Cameras | 12MP | 12MP + 12MP |
| Front Camera | 7MP | 12MP |
| Processor | A15 | A13 |
| Storage | 64GB - 256GB | 64GB - 128GB |
| Water-Resistance | IP67 | IP68 |
| 5G | No | No |
| Price | From $719 | From $849 |
iPhone SE vs. iPhone 11: Price
Pricing isn't too different between the iPhone SE and the iPhone 11, but the iPhone SE is the more affordable of the two. You can even get a 128GB iPhone SE for less than a 64GB iPhone 11. Outright pricing for the devices is as follows:
- iPhone SE (64GB): $719
- iPhone SE (128GB): $799
- iPhone SE (256GB): $969
- iPhone 11 (64GB): $849
- iPhone 11 (128GB): $929
This pricing is also reflected in phone plans. When you buy a phone on a plan, the outright price of the device is simply divided by 12, 24, or 36 (depending on how many months you'd like to pay your phone off over) and slapped on to the price of your base plan.
Every now and again, telcos offer discounts on handsets, but in short, the more expensive the outright price, the more expensive your phone plan will be. Sometimes promotions can skew the maths a little, but Apple devices rarely go on sale within their first year of availability.
Here's a selection of popular iPhone SE plans:
iPhone SE 3rd Gen 64GB Plans
|
#1
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$84.94/mth
Min. cost $773.56
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$89.95/mth
Min. cost $663.80
Link not supplied
|
Unfortunately we can't show a selection of popular iPhone 11 plans since the device is out of stock across Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
iPhone SE vs. iPhone 11: Camera
When it comes to camera, the iPhone 11 should be a more versatile shooter than the iPhone SE. The iPhone 11 has two lens - a 12MP primary lens and 12MP ultra-wide lens, while the iPhone SE has just a single 12MP lens. The iPhone 11 also supports night mode for better low light photography, which isn't available on the iPhone SE.
The iPhone SE does however have access to software camera features not present in the iPhone 11. The main one is Photographic Styles, filter-like adjustments that you can add to a photo before you shoot. You can tweak the contrast and warmth of the camera itself, so every photo you take has the same look. There are a few preset options you can pick from out of the box, but you can also create your own.
Our hunch is the iPhone 11 may be the better option for avid photographers, but we'll reserve our final opinion on the new iPhone SE camera for when we've tested it out.
iPhone SE vs. iPhone 11: Design
The iPhone SE and iPhone 11 are almost polar opposites when it comes to size and appearance.
The iPhone SE harkens back to the iPhone 8, with an old school aesthetic. Its smallish 4.7-inch display is flanked by top and bottom bezels, and it still has an actual home button.
Despite being the older phone, the iPhone 11 feels far more modern, featuring an edge-to-edge display with a notch for facial recognition. The screen uses a much larger 6.1-inch panel.
Both the iPhone SE and iPhone 11 feature LCD displays with the same pixel density. No matter which you pick, the screen experience will be identical other than size.
iPhone SE vs. iPhone 11: Performance
On paper, the iPhone SE is the faster of the two phones, thanks to a newer processor. While this will certainly help with some more demanding apps, the iPhone 11 is still no slouch. The day-to-day experience won't be an issue on either. For most, the difference in processor isn't something you really need to consider when picking between the iPhone SE and the iPhone 11.
The newer processor does mean the iPhone SE will be supported longer than the iPhone 11, however. We're expecting at least six years of support on the iPhone SE, which should see it through to iOS 21 in terms of software updates. Since the iPhone 11 is already two years old, we're guessing it has at least four years of software support left, which means it will probably get iOS 19. Four years of software support is still great, and more than what most Android phones get.
It's worth noting that the iPhone SE has 5G connectivity, while the iPhone 11 is limited to 4G. 5G is still far from essential and in our opinion, you're not really missing out on too much if your phone doesn't have it. This could change in a couple of years, but for now, you're still fine with 4G.
The iPhone SE is available in a choice of 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB configurations. The iPhone 11 only comes in 64GB and 128GB models.
iPhone SE vs. iPhone 11: Battery
Apple doesn't disclose the physical battery capacity of each iPhone, instead preferring to give estimates on activities. According to Apple, the iPhone SE battery will give you up to 15 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 11 will give you up to 17 hours.
In our own testing, we found the iPhone 11 could easily last a day with a comfortable buffer - a day-and-a-half even. We haven't tested the new iPhone SE yet, but the previous model was a tad disappointing when it came to longevity. A full-day per charge with even just moderate usage was a struggle. Apple says the new iPhone SE does have better battery life than its predecessor, however, so fingers crossed.
You can read more about iPhone battery life here.
Should I buy the iPhone SE or the iPhone 11?
Despite the similarities in price, the iPhone SE and iPhone 11 are rather different devices. The iPhone SE is a fun throwback to the classic iPhone design, making it a great option for anyone who wants to upgrade from an iPhone 8 or older without relearning how to use their phone.
Despite the more affordable price, the iPhone SE is just as much an iPhone as any other iPhone. It still has a top-tier processor, and will get years of post-purchase support through software and security updates.
On the other hand, the iPhone 11 is a better pick if you're after a more modern device. The 6.1-inch display gives you a lot more screen real-estate, making it better for extended usage - especially if you love watching video or reading e-books on the go. The battery life should also last longer, and despite being older, the camera should perform better than the iPhone SE camera in many circumstances.
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