iPhone SE vs iPhone 11: all the important things are the same

When comparing the iPhone SE vs iPhone 11, it’s important to remember that the performance of these phones is going to be very similar since they are both powered by the same A13 Bionic chip. The only big advantage that the iPhone 11 has over the iPhone SE is battery life: you can get over 17 hours of video playback time before your battery dies on the iPhone 11, and only 13 on the iPhone SE. And once again, that’s while playing video. This means that both of these phones can easily get you through a whole day of typical usage without needing to recharge, with the iPhone 11 perhaps even being able to pull through for two full days.

iPhone SE vs iPhone 11: camera comparison

In certain conditions, the iPhone SE vs 11 cameras are virtually identical in performance, while in others there is a huge difference. The iPhone 11 has an additional rear-facing camera that gives it a wider zoom range, better portrait mode, and a Night mode for enhancing nighttime shots. And even though the iPhone 11 has more camera features, you can expect many daytime shots to be the same on these phones since they have the same image processing thanks to the A13 Bionic processor that both devices share. But once night falls, the iPhone 11 totally blows away the iPhone SE thanks to the Night mode tricks that it’s able to pull off using its wide-angle lens.

iPhone SE vs iPhone 11: same screen technology, but different sized displays

It’s hard to really say whether the iPhone SE or 11 has a better display, since both are using the exact same LCD technology in their screens. And even though the screen in the iPhone 11 is preferable for things like video streaming or online shopping since it has a much larger screen—6.1” vs 4.7” in the SE—this also makes the device harder/more awkward to hold with one hand. This may not seem like much of a problem if you mostly just use your device when sitting down and relaxing, but if you live a mostly active lifestyle, this larger size can be seriously annoying. Therefore, this is the one most important factor that distinguishes these two phones, and it will ultimately lead you to the question that will help you decide which one you should buy: do I want a smaller device that’s better for being active, or a larger device that’s more cumbersome to hold but serves as a hybrid between a tablet?

Still can’t decide between the iPhone 11 vs iPhone SE?

If that last question didn’t help you decide between the iPhone SE vs 11, there is still one major difference between these two devices. The last distinguishing factor (drumroll please!) is that the iPhone SE has Touch ID while the 11 utilizes Face ID. Both systems are secure and quick, but both also have their own disadvantages. Fingerprint sensors typically don’t work too well on rainy days with wet hands, while face unlock systems can be annoying when your phone is laying flat on a table—in those cases you need to lift the phone up just to get a scan of your face. Another note, Face ID doesn’t currently work if you’re wearing a mask, but supposedly Apple is working on an update to fix this issue (maybe by the time you’re reading this, it’s already fixed). And again, there is no right or wrong answer on preferring one of these unlock methods over another. I think it’s actually quite exciting that there are all these different technologies available that can help us unlock our devices. Back in the early days of the smartphone, the passcode was the only option!

iPhone SE or iPhone 11? Which one should you buy?

As you could probably tell, both of these phones are different yet still great in their own way. Whether you choose the iPhone SE or iPhone 11 is your call—both are great choices. Not to mention that the SE is much cheaper. You can’t go wrong with either one. We hope this comparison has helped you decide between the iPhone 11 vs SE :)