iPhone XR and iPhone SE which one is the king?

iPhone XR and iPhone SE which one is the king?

iPhone SE is back four years later. Although it came in a different form, it was presented with a design used by Apple as before. If you recall, the iPhone SE we saw in 2016 used the case and screen we had previously seen on iPhone 5 and 5s models. When we come to 2020, we see that Apple uses the design, screen and materials it used in the iPhone 8 model, which it previously released in 2017. As before, old design, screen, and material are combined with a new processor and camera components. As a result, a phone that we will consider to be up to date in terms of 2020 emerges.

On the other hand, we have the iPhone X, which we met last year, was drawing the future of smartphones in Apple's words. Apple, while proceeding that way with the top-class iPhone Xs and Xs Max models, offered a brand new option such as the iPhone XR for those who want to experience the iPhone experience with a slightly more affordable price, but with a brand new device. At the end of 2018 the iPhone XR, which was on sale along with other 2018 iPhone models, is offered with features such as a 6.1-inch screen, aluminum body, Face ID, and A12 Bionic processor. We have been experiencing the 256 GB capacity and white color version of the iPhone XR, which appeals to different tastes with various color options. In this article, we will make a compersion between the SE and XR to see who the king is.

Design & Display.

 Remember, when Apple released the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models in 2014, this was considered a big step forward. Until then, iPhones, with their 4-inch screen bodies, started to remain smaller than their competitors on the Android side. Later, the first version of the iPhone SE came with a 4-inch iPhone 5 body, and this phone was described as a model with both affordable and up-to-date hardware components for those who wanted a "compact" smartphone.

User habits have changed in the meantime. Even phones with a screen size of more than 6 inches do not look too big anymore. For this reason, the iPhone body with a 4.7-inch screen, which is once described as a big step forward, is described as "compact". Indeed, when we compare Apple's other phones currently on sale with the iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 and iPhone XR, the iPhone SE 2020 remains smaller, fits more comfortably in the palm, and is used.

The 2020 model iPhone SE comes with a design we are used to. The design and material selection is in line with the iPhone 8, but we saw this design on iPhones released between 2014 and 2017. The 4.7-inch screen has a 16: 9 aspect ratio. There are considerably large frame areas at the top and bottom of the screen. Below the screen is the Home button with the Touch ID fingerprint reader integrated. Do not look at what we call a key, it is actually a touch area and it gives the feeling of pressing a key with vibration. Apple used this system for the first time with the iPhone 7 series. At the top of the screen is the FaceTime camera and environmental light sensor.

On the bottom edge is the Lightning port, speaker, and microphone. There are volume keys and mute switch on the left edge. On the right side is the power button. We also see the nano-SIM card slot here. A single-camera on the back is placed in the upper left corner. Next to it is a microphone and LED flash. Unlike the iPhone 8, the Apple logo on the back is slightly larger and centered. In addition, the word "iPhone" has been removed. Thus, it has a very simple appearance.

On the other hand, Apple prefers the combination of stainless steel and glass for the iPhone X and its iPhone Xs and Xs Max, and for the iPhone XR, aluminum is one of the basic materials used in iPhones for a long time. Honestly, it wouldn't be wrong to say that the iPhone XR is a combination of last year's iPhone X and iPhone 8 models. The front and outline of the iPhone X are taken, while the sides and back are borrowed from the iPhone 8. At first glance, it is striking that the corners are as curved as the iPhone X and the screen adapts to it.

The resulting overall look may not be as elegant or attractive as the iPhone Xs and Xs Max. However, the iPhone XR also carries the air of a flagship smartphone. The aluminum surrounding the edges is a special alloy in Apple's terms of aviation standards. At the same time, the anodized aluminum surface appears in different tones in different color options. It is stated that the strength of the glasses surrounding the front and back is higher than that of the iPhone X. Indeed, during the month we've been using it, we haven't noticed any scratches on either the glass or the aluminum surface of the iPhone XR, even without a case. Of course, we have to give a footnote that we have been very careful during use.

iPhone XR is also water and dust resistant. However, it has IP67 certification, not IP68 like iPhone Xs and Xs Max. In other words, it can stay in water at 1-meter depth for 30 minutes. However, nothing will happen to your phone in the event of liquid spills, heavy water drips on the phone while talking or using it in heavy rain, and the like.

There is a notch at the top of the screen that houses the TrueDepth camera system and handset speaker. The area of the frame surrounding it is slightly more than the iPhone Xs and Xs Max. Despite this, we have a phone that takes up less space and is comfortable to use than the 5.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus. With a body thickness of 8.3 millimeters, it is slightly more than other iPhones of both this year and last year. However, this has no noticeable effect neither in appearance nor in use.

If we didn't see the front and back of the phone, we could only think of it as an iPhone 8 Plus if we looked at the edges. Of course, there is something from the iPhone X around the edges. For example, we see a large power button on the right edge. This key is used for tasks such as turning on the device, waking it up, and calling Siri. Again on this side, the nano-SIM card tray is placed down. On the left side, there are mute and volume keys. On the lower edge we see the Lightning port and the grids on both sides of it. The remainder on the right of these grilles is home to the speaker. The second speaker is located on the front, inside the handset speaker. Two of the built-in microphones are located on this lower edge. The upper edge is kept clean. Let's also note that there are antenna lines on the upper and lower parts on the right and left sides. These also match the color of the back of each model.

The glass-covered back allows the use of the wireless charging feature as in other iPhone models. Unlike the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, we see a single rear camera on the back of the iPhone XR, like last year's iPhone 8. Below that is an additional microphone and a four-color True Tone flash. Apple logo and iPhone script are other striking elements we see on the back.

As far as display is concerned, iPhone SE comes with a 4.7 inch IPS LCD display. The screen resolution offers 750 x 1334 pixels and 326ppi pixel density. This is a sufficient resolution to meet Apple's "Retina" requirement. Wide viewing angles are offered thanks to the presence of IPS technology. The screen brightness is also high and offers comfortable use in the outdoor environment. Although it does not offer the same level of visual experience as Apple's higher-priced iPhones, we can easily say that we have found the iPhone SE's screen successful.

The screen supports a wide range of colors. This contributes to getting a lifelike visual while viewing photos or watching videos. Apple's True Tone technology is also available, which makes the screen more comfortable for your eyes, especially when reading.

In fact, the screen of the iPhone SE 2020 is essentially the same as the iPhone 11 screen. It only comes in a smaller size and with an aspect ratio like 16: 9 that we can now call classic. In fact, this ensures that the content fits on the screen while watching videos on YouTube or Netflix. In today's conditions, this screen is now small, but it did not give us much trouble in watching videos.

While The screen of the iPhone XR is 6.1 inches diagonally across. The screen resolution is 1792 x 828 pixels, which is lower than the resolution of the screens of both the iPhone Xs and Xs Max and the iPhone 8 Plus. However, with a pixel density of 326 PPI, it meets the Retina display requirement set by Apple for smartphones from the very beginning.

Apple calls this screen Liquid Retina. The biggest reason for this is the curvature in the corners and the special processes applied here to achieve the same appearance as in the middle. Apple states that it is possible for the screen to follow the curved lines of the corners of the device, thanks to advanced pixel masking, sub-pixel sharpness smoothing, and high-precision glass. In fact, the same operations are performed on the iPad Pro's curved corner Liquid Retina display.

However, in iPhone XR, it is important to keep the surface area of the device as small as possible and to expand the screen area as much as possible. Moreover, the screen of the iPhone XR is not OLED like the iPhone Xs and Xs Max but has LCD technology. For this reason, the operations on the screens of other 2018 model iPhones cannot be applied exactly. Apple has developed a new backlight design that allows the screen to extend to the corners. This way, it gets the largest LCD screen ever offered on an iPhone.

When you compare the iPhone XR with the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, it is noteworthy that the bezel surrounding the screen is slightly thicker. However, this does not bother the eyes. Trying to extend the LCD screen to the limits of the device as much as possible, Apple, in addition to using a different method also gives up 3D Touch, a feature we have seen frequently on iPhones in recent years.

3D Touch first appeared on iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. The screen with this feature can detect different pressure levels. In this way, different functions are possible when you press your finger lightly or firmly on the screen. How useful 3D Touch is has been discussed for a long time, but we have been using this feature on all iPhones we have used so far.

Due to the absence of 3D Touch, when you lightly press the app icons on the iPhone XR's home screen, the Quick Action menu does not open. Instead, the interface that allows the applications to be uninstalled or replaced. On the other hand, there is no Peek that lets you preview links in Safari or Mail, or Pop that lets you open them completely.

We said that we have benefited greatly from 3D Touch, but in fact, Apple indirectly offers many of the popular features of 3D Touch to iPhone XR users. For example, when you lightly press the Flashlight icon on the locked screen, you feel a slight vibration as on the 3D Touch screen and the flashlight turns on. Or you can access more controls in Control Center by lightly pressing the button of each control. One of the most popular possibilities of 3D Touch, you can move the cursor by lightly pressing the virtual keyboard, and you can access it by moving the cursor on the keyboard without lifting your finger after lightly pressing the spacebar. As a result, the absence of 3D Touch on the iPhone XR is not a huge loss.

The iPhone XR also has True Tone technology on its LCD screen. If you keep this technology turned on, the white color level of the screen is adjusted according to the beam color temperature in the environment. This way, your eyes are more comfortable, especially when reading something on the phone. On the other hand, the screen has a brightness above 600 nits and supports the DCI-P3 color range. With a contrast ratio of 1400: 1, the iPhone Xs and Xs Max are lower than the screen.

Still, the sharpness of the screen, the vibrancy of the colors, and the details are advanced. At the same time, the black color depth is high. When the screen is off, it is as difficult to distinguish the notch area at the top from the screen as on the iPhone Xs and Xs Max. Moreover, you can watch Dolby Vision supported content from Netflix or iTunes Store brightly and vividly on the iPhone XR's screen. Indeed, the Dolby Vision supported content we watch on Netflix and rented from the iTunes Store is as impressive as it is on the iPhone Xs Max.

When we compare it with the OLED screen of the iPhone Xs Max, we see that the iPhone XR's screen remains at a lower level. This is proven both on paper and in practice. When we look closely at the screens of both phones; The sharpness of text on the iPhone XR appears to be higher than on the iPhone Xs Max. In addition, the colors appear more vivid on the iPhone Xs Max's screen. However, if we put the iPhone Xs Max aside and compare the iPhone XR with other products in the same segment, we see that the quality and experience offered by the screen area at the top. As a result, iPhone XR owners will be very pleased with the screen.

Its strength on the audio side complements the superior qualities offered by the display, making the iPhone XR a handy device for multimedia enthusiasts. Apple also offers advancements in the stereo speakers of the iPhone Xs and Xs Max on the iPhone XR. Stereo speakers on one lower edge and the other on the front handset speaker provide a powerful, bass, and treble-balanced sound output. Apple has increased the loudness of the speaker in the handset speaker compared to the previous generation models. So, especially when you hold the phone horizontally, an equal volume of sound is projected to both ears. The sound output is one level lower than that of the iPhone Xs Max, but above the smartphone average. As a result, you don't feel the need for an external speaker while listening to music or watching things on your own or with others.

Operating System and Process.

Both phones offer pretty excellent processors for normal use. The iPhone XR comes with the A12 Bionic CPU with 6 cores and 7nm architecture with 2.5 and 1.6GHz frequencies while iPhone  SE is powered by the brand-new A13 Bionic. One of the most important features of iPhone SE is that it presents an old design and structure with the hardware components of the current iPhone models of 2020.  Those who choose the iPhone SE can benefit from the power of one of Apple's best processors currently available at a much lower price. This gives the device sustainability. Since you know that there won't be a newer generation of this device released any time soon. This phone will a good investment for the next 4 years. This CPU will work amazingly well with the apps that will even be released in the upcoming two years.

According to the operating system, iPhone XR comes with iOS 12 with frequent updates. Apple focuses on performance and enables even older models to run quickly and smoothly. On a high-end phone like the iPhone XR, iOS 12 runs very smoothly and quickly.

With iOS 12, it brings many innovations such as Screen Time, Group FaceTime, Messages and FaceTime apps, useful improvements in Camera Effects, Do Not Disturb, and Notifications. iPhone XR owners have the opportunity to take advantage of all these opportunities.

The 6.1 screen of the iPhone XR offers enough viewing area that Apple; It adjusts the screen according to this direction in horizontal use in applications such as Settings, Mail, Messages. It does the same with the iPhone Xs Max and previous "Plus" models.

There is a large library of apps and games in the App Store for iPhone XR. For this reason, phone owners will not have any problems with the applications and games they will install. The power of the Apple A12 Bionic processor will also give you the opportunity to efficiently use augmented reality-based apps and games that Apple is increasingly important. On the other hand, the application called Measure and offered to all iPhones with iOS 12 will allow you to use your iPhone XR as a ruler or meter whenever you need it.

 The iPhone SE runs on iOS 13, installed on the iPhone SE. Currently installed iOS 13.5.1, the latest version of iOS 13. The iOS 14 update, which will be released in the fall, will also come to this phone. Considering that Apple will bring the iOS 14 update even to the first iPhone SE model released in 2016, we can say that the iPhone SE is a long way up to iOS 20. In other words, it seems that 2nd generation iPhone SE users are waiting for long-term support on the software updates side.

Elements such as the stability provided by iOS, the broad Apple application ecosystem and the power offered by the A13 Bionic will help iPhone SE users have a good software experience. Almost all of Apple's applications come preinstalled on the iPhone SE. It is up to you to remove the ones you do not use, such that you will be able to remove all applications from the home screen in iOS 14.

iPhone SE offers the level of fluidity and performance of a flagship phone. Navigation in the user interface is fast, applications and games open quickly. The fluency is also at a good level in opening web pages and scrolling.

Storage, Price, and Available Colors.

iPhone XR and iPhone SE  price depends on the selected variant. The basic variant of the XR with 3GB RAM and 64GB variant, it will cost you around 454.90USD on Amazon or 529.99USD on eBay. The variant with 3GB RAM and 128GB variant, it will cost 518.99USD on Amazon or 519.00 on eBay while the 3GB RAM and 256GB variant will cost you around 916.71USD on Amazon. It supports either 2 SIM cards but it doesn't support Micro SD card. It is available in Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Coral, and White colors. 

Meanwhile, the basic variant of iPhone SE with 3GB RAM and 64GB variant, it will cost you around 399.00USD on Amazon or 449.99 on eBay. The variant with 3GB RAM and 128GB variant, it will cost 499.00USD on Amazon while the 3GB RAM and 256GB variant will cost you around 549.00USD on Amazon. It does not have an SD card. While it goes with 2 SIM cards, one is physical and the other is eSIM. It is available in Black, White, and Red colors.

Security and Ports

For security, after experiencing the iPhone SE, we have also returned to Touch ID, which we haven't used for a long time and forgot what it feels like. Especially in this pandemic period, it is very practical to use Touch ID while wearing a face mask. Apple had improved Touch ID a lot until they switched to Face ID on their iPhones. This fingerprint reader was able to bypass the lock screen very quickly. iPhone SE users take advantage of this. We've gotten used to seeing facial recognition on Android phones with a single front camera, but the iPhone SE doesn't. The SE also supports the classical unlocking methods such as pattern and passcode. On the other side, Apple is rolling out Face ID, which is included only on the iPhone X last year, to its entire iPhone line this year, abandoning Touch ID completely. We also see the TrueDepth depth-sensing camera system in iPhone XR, which we saw in iPhone Xs and Xs Max. In this way, you can unlock your device without entering a password, just by looking at the phone. Face ID works very quickly on the iPhone XR. So much so that we can see that it has the same speed as Face ID on the iPhone Xs Max. It also supports the same classical unlocking methods which any other has such as pattern and passcode.

Battery and Security.

 iPhone SE and iPhone XR comprise a powerful Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 2942mAh. And both phones offer fast charging.

Just for the record, the iPhone SE battery capacity is now well below the average. Apple states that the iPhone SE can watch up to 13 hours of video on a single charge. This value is given as 17 hours on iPhone 11. Despite the lower battery capacity, Apple takes advantage of the A13 Bionic's power consumption, allowing the iPhone SE to deliver reasonable battery performance. We used the iPhone SE 2020 from morning to night for a day without recharging. When you take it from a full charge in the morning and deal with tasks such as surfing the internet, playing games, taking photos, there will be around 20 percent battery level in the evening. We will say that you will need to charge the iPhone SE every day, but if you take it from a full charge in the morning, you will hardly feel the need to recharge during the day.

The iPhone SE also comes with a 5W charging adapter that Apple has long placed in the boxes of their iPhones. Since the battery capacity is low, charging with this charger is slightly faster than that of the iPhone 11. We saw that an occupancy level of 29-30 percent was reached in half an hour. If you want this phone's battery to reach around 50 percent in half an hour, you can get Apple's 18W or 30W charging adapters, of course, with a USB-C to Lightning cable. With this additional cost, you will complete the charging process in less time. After all, the iPhone SE has fast charging support like the iPhone 8 released in 2017. At the same time, Qi wireless charging support, which you saw on the iPhone 8 and phones that came with it for the first time, is also available on the 2020 model iPhone SE. This phone supports 7.5W wireless charging adapters.

Reversing it, According to Apple, this phone offers 1.5 hours longer working life than iPhone 8 Plus. On the other hand, it is possible to make phone calls up to 25 hours, surf the internet for up to 15 hours, watch videos up to 16 hours, and listen to music for up to 65 hours.

We see that the iPhone XR offers a working life exceeding 24 hours in normal intensity use. Moreover, during this use, the screen brightness is mostly above the middle level. So, the iPhone XR allows you to easily take out a day from morning to night with a fully charged battery, and even find it the morning of the next day. This phone also has fast charging support. However, Apple puts the standard 5W charging adapter in the phone box and there is no fast charging facility with it. With this adapter, it can take 2.5-3 hours to reach full charge.

To take advantage of fast charging support, you need an 18W or 30W USB-C power adapter and USB-C to Lightning cable, which Apple sold separately. We have the 29W USB-C power adapter we bought last year. In the test we conducted with this, we saw that the battery of the iPhone XR reached 50 percent in 28 minutes, and reached full charge in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Apart from fast charging, there is also wireless charging support. Wireless charging is slower than charging with a 5W adapter, but it is more advanced in terms of practicality. The Qi wireless charging standard is supported by the iPhone XR and is a common standard. You can take advantage of this possibility with most of the wireless charging accessories you can buy in the market. However, be careful to choose what Apple recommends.

 Camera.

Both of iPhone SE and iPhone XR go with the similar 12-megapixel single-camera on the rear as clarified: 12MP( wide with f\1.8). On the front, the story is a bit different, where iPhone XR has a 7MP standard front-facing camera with f\2.2 and SL 3D biometrics sensor. In contrast, iPhone SE has a 7MP front-facing camera with f\2.2.

 In still, Apple didn't see fit to improve its 2016 sensor and it shows. Faced with the Google Pixel 3a, his opponent of the day, there is no real match. The snapshot taken by the iPhone SE shows digital noise and we notice a lack of sharpness. Despite the photo's good overall exposure, these are flaws that don't allow the device to outperform the Pixel 3a.

The selfies taken are pretty good. Without being extremely detailed, they nevertheless remain faithful. The sensor does not seem to have a problem with properly exposing your face and manages the surrounding light well.

In Portrait Mode, far from being at the same level as an iPhone 11 or even an iPhone XR, the results obtained are still usable and successful overall.

For video, the iPhone SE is able to shoot up to 4K at 60 frames per second, just like the iPhone 11.

As for iPhone XR shooting abilities as mentioned

In good light conditions, we can shoot pictures at 125 ISO by the iPhone. However, compared to the iPhone XS shot there is a higher electronic noise. However, the latter triggered slower than his friend (1/45 s against 1/60 s for the XR). Note that the examples shown in this article were all captured freehand.

The gap widens sharply in favor of the iPhone XR when the light conditions get complicated. In the example below, electronic noise becomes very annoying on the iPhone XS which triggers at 1/25 s and ISO 800. The iPhone XR manages the increase in sensitivity much better (also ISO 800), even if it triggers a little slower (1/17 s). The advantage on this point is clearly on the side of the iPhone XR.

There remains one criterion on which the algorithms of the iPhone XS are more efficient than those of the XR: the management of bokeh. Indeed, the iPhone XS remains one of the best in its rendering of background blur. He manages to better analyze the distance between the shots and applies a more progressive blur than his competitors. Most devices tend to artificially cut out the foreground subject and blur the background evenly. The iPhone XR isn't as good as its big brother, but it still ranks among the top performers.

Finally, the iPhone XR only allows the use of portrait mode in the event that we photograph a human being (or something that looks like it, like our Barbie). The iPhone XS allows for its part to extend this functionality to animals, objects or plants. The limitation of the iPhone XR is that the algorithm used is only trained to recognize humans. The iPhone XS relies on the presence of two photo modules to estimate distances, which reduces the need to precisely recognize the type of subject photographed. On this point, the algorithm used by Google on its Pixel 3 is more permissive. It is indeed possible to use portrait mode on almost everything,

In the end, the portrait mode of the iPhone XR may well be superior to that of the iPhone XS in terms of pure image quality, the constraints related to wide-angle framing make it less attractive. The inability to capture the portrait of a subject with tight framing, without being distorted, makes the function lose its charm. Too bad also that Apple does not allow the iPhone XR to magnify the portrait of our friends the animals or objects.

Conclusion.

iPhone SE can be described as an option for those who want an iPhone rather than a compact phone. Considering the prices of the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max models, the iPhone SE stands out as the most convenient way to own an iPhone for many consumers, with a starting price of 450USD

Carrying a 4.7-inch screen that can be described as "small" today will be odd for those who have used a large screen iPhone before. For this reason, the iPhone SE 2020 stands out as a good update option for those who are already using a small-screen iPhone model for a long time, more like the iPhone 6s, 6, or first-generation iPhone SE. In this way, the already owned elements such as single-camera, small screen, compact size will be updated a little more.

For those who previously used an Android phone and want to switch to an up-to-date iPhone model, the iPhone SE will be a model that makes a difference in terms of performance. It would not be very accurate to compare the performance of iPhones and Android phones, but at the price point, the iPhone SE offers a performance we see in the higher-priced iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models. In this respect, it surpasses other smartphones in its class. On the camera performance side, it can easily compete with multi-camera Android phones with a single camera. But when it comes to screen and battery life, one has to stop and think. Do you want to forego a bigger screen and longer battery life for the sake of owning a high-performance iPhone? You have to answer this question and choose accordingly.

One more point should be noted that the iPhone SE is also an investment for the future. It will primarily receive software updates over the next few years. It will easily meet daily needs for a long time in terms of performance. The second-hand value does not seem to fall easily either. We know how much the first iPhone SE model released in 2016 has sold over a long period of time. A similar future seems to be waiting for the second-generation version of the iPhone SE

Conversely, iPhone Xs and Xs Max are Apple's top-of-the-line smartphones and naturally these phones come with superior qualities. However, this situation is directly reflected in the price tag. Apple-designed the iPhone XR to offer a model that largely reflects the experience of more expensive iPhones at a lower price. Moreover, although it has a lower price and one level lower technical features than the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, the iPhone XR easily enters the flagship phone class.

The use of an LCD screen instead of OLED, the absence of Touch ID, the use of a single camera on the back, the use of aluminum instead of stainless steel, the preference of a lower LTE class… These can create a question mark in the heads on paper. However, the iPhone XR contains many important elements of the Xs and Xs Max, such as the Apple A12 Bionic processor, Face ID, wireless charging, fast charging, Smart HDR.

We have been using both iPhone Xs Max and iPhone XR for about a month. Of course, the precious device feel of the iPhone Xs Max is more, the big screen offers a more comfortable look, but it is also at the edge of iPhones right now. However, most of the work we can do with the iPhone Xs Max can be done with the iPhone XR. The photos and videos we took are not very different from each other. Battery performance is also close to each other. In terms of multimedia experience, the iPhone XR is not inferior. On the other hand, it offers a more fun look with its color options.

As a result, by paying less with the iPhone XR, you can get performance that is not at all inferior to their iPhone Xs or Xs Max, but be satisfied. We can say that the iPhone XR is a phone with a high price-performance ratio. What do you think? Have you lied an eye on either of those smartphones? Do you recommend them? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.