Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone SE (2020)
The Verdict
iPhone 15 dominates across nearly every metric with its modern A16 Bionic chip, superior 6.1-inch OLED display (2556x1179, 2000 nits), and enhanced camera system featuring a 48MP main sensor with 4K Dolby Vision recording. Battery capacity nearly doubles at 3349mAh with faster 20W wired and 15W MagSafe charging. iPhone SE (2020) feels dated with its 4.7-inch IPS LCD screen, A13 processor, 3GB RAM, and anemic 1821mAh battery requiring constant charging. SE's 12MP camera lacks computational photography benefits and OIS on ultra-wide. Connectivity-wise, iPhone 15 adds 5G and USB-C versus SE's outdated Lightning. While SE remains accessible at $399, the $400 premium for iPhone 15 delivers substantially better performance, longevity, and user experience. For anyone serious about smartphone capability and future-proofing, iPhone 15 is the clear choice.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 15 if…
- →Dynamic Island brought to base model
- →48 MP main camera upgrade
- →Switched to USB-C port
Buy the Apple iPhone SE (2020) if…
- →Incredibly affordable at $399 with flagship A13 chip
- →Compact and lightweight design
- →Touch ID home button
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 15
Pros
- Dynamic Island brought to base model
- 48 MP main camera upgrade
- Switched to USB-C port
- Strong A16 Bionic performance
- Comfortable lightweight design
Cons
- Stuck at 60Hz refresh rate
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 speeds
- No telephoto camera
- No always-on display
Apple iPhone SE (2020)
Pros
- Incredibly affordable at $399 with flagship A13 chip
- Compact and lightweight design
- Touch ID home button
- Wi-Fi 6 support
- Long software support from Apple
Cons
- Tiny 1821 mAh battery with poor endurance
- Dated design with thick bezels
- Single rear camera with no ultrawide
- 750p LCD display
- No 5G support
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 15 | Apple iPhone SE (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 17 | iOS 13 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 171 g | 148 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, glass back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 7 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | — |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 3 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3349 mAh | 1821 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 7.5W Qi |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 4.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Retina IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2556 x 1179 | 1334 x 750 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 625 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Apple GPU (4-core) |
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic | Apple A13 Bionic |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | Lightning |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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