iPhone SE vs XR – Check Which One Is Best & Why?

iPhone XR & iPhone SE share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the iPhone XR rather than the iPhone SE.

Why Do I Recommend The iPhone XR

  • The iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display for a larger and more immersive viewing experience, whereas the iPhone SE comes with a smaller 4.7-inch Retina HD display.
  • iPhone XR features a 2942 mAh battery for longer usage time during streaming and gaming, while the iPhone SE includes a smaller 2018 mAh battery.
  • It features a bigger 1792 × 828 resolution display for sharper visuals on a large panel, while the iPhone SE uses a 1334 × 750 resolution on a smaller screen.
  • The iPhone XR has thinner bezels and an edge-to-edge screen for a modern design and more screen space, whereas the iPhone SE comes with large bezels and a Home button.
  • iPhone XR supports Face ID facial recognition for hands-free secure unlocking, while the iPhone SE uses Touch ID fingerprint authentication.
  • It includes a larger form factor for a more cinematic experience when watching movies or gaming, whereas the iPhone SE is compact and less suited for media-heavy use.
  • iPhone XR has a higher-capacity speaker setup for louder and fuller stereo sound, while the iPhone SE features smaller speakers with less presence.

Maybe the iPhone SE price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the iPhone XR. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.

Side By Side Comparison

FeatureiPhone XRiPhone SE
Display Size6.1-inch4.7-inch
Display TypeLiquid Retina LCDRetina HD LCD
Resolution1792 × 8281334 × 750
Rear Camera ProcessingSmart HDR (original)Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion
Front Camera ProcessingStandard HDRPhotographic Styles, Smart HDR 4
Battery Capacity2942 mAh2018 mAh
Biometric SecurityFace IDTouch ID
DesignAll-screen with notchThick bezels with Home button
Weight194 g144 g
Thickness8.3 mm7.3 mm
Wireless ChargingQi wireless chargingQi wireless charging, MagSafe accessory support
iOS Support LifespanShorter due to older chipsetLonger due to newer chipset
Color OptionsWide rangeLimited range
PriceCheck iPhone XR PriceCheck iPhone SE Price

What Common Both Can Do?

  • Rear Camera Resolution: Both phones feature a 12 MP wide camera, ensuring clear and detailed photos for everyday photography.
  • Rear Camera Aperture: Both include an f/1.8 aperture lens, allowing better low-light performance and natural depth in images.
  • Digital Zoom: Both models support digital zoom up to 5×, letting users capture distant subjects with reasonable clarity.
  • Front Camera Resolution: Both come with a 7 MP front camera, providing sharp selfies and reliable video calling quality.
  • Front Camera Aperture: Both have an f/2.2 front lens, balancing brightness and detail for portraits and FaceTime calls.
  • Portrait Mode: Both devices support Portrait Mode with Depth Control, enabling professional-looking background blur effects.
  • Video Recording: Both support 4K video at 24, 30, and 60fps, giving users cinematic recording flexibility.
  • Slow Motion: Both allow slow-motion video in 1080p at 120fps or 240fps, ideal for capturing action scenes smoothly.
  • Optical Image Stabilization: Both include OIS for photos and video, reducing blur and shakiness during shooting.
  • Display Brightness: Both reach up to 625 nits typical brightness, ensuring good visibility in outdoor lighting conditions.
  • True Tone Display: Both support True Tone technology, automatically adjusting screen color temperature for comfortable viewing.
  • Wide Color (P3): Both include wide color gamut (P3), delivering vibrant colors and accurate tones in media.
  • Haptic Touch: Both feature Haptic Touch, providing tactile feedback for shortcuts and system navigation.
  • Stereo Speakers: Both come with stereo speaker setups, offering balanced and immersive audio playback.
  • Water Resistance: Both are rated IP67, protecting against dust and water immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
  • Wireless Charging: Both support Qi wireless charging, enabling convenient cable-free power top-ups.
  • Fast Charging: Both are compatible with 18W fast charging, allowing around 50% charge in 30 minutes.
  • Lightning Connector: Both use the Lightning port for charging and data transfer, ensuring accessory compatibility.
  • Apple Pay: Both include NFC with Apple Pay support, enabling secure and contactless payments.
  • iOS Ecosystem: Both run iOS with full ecosystem integration, giving access to updates, apps, and Apple services.

Common Features

FeatureiPhone XRiPhone SE
Rear Camera Resolution12 MP wide camera12 MP wide camera
Rear Camera Aperturef/1.8 lensf/1.8 lens
Optical ZoomDigital zoom up to 5×Digital zoom up to 5×
Front Camera Resolution7 MP7 MP
Front Camera Aperturef/2.2f/2.2
Portrait ModeSupported with Depth ControlSupported with Depth Control
4K Video RecordingUp to 60fpsUp to 60fps
Slow-Mo Recording1080p at 120/240fps1080p at 120/240fps
Optical Image StabilizationPresent for photos & videoPresent for photos & video
Display Brightness625 nits typical625 nits typical
True Tone DisplaySupportedSupported
Wide Color Gamut (P3)SupportedSupported
Haptic TouchSupportedSupported
Stereo SpeakersPresentPresent
Water ResistanceIP67 certifiedIP67 certified
Wireless ChargingQi wireless chargingQi wireless charging
Fast Charging18W supported18W supported
Lightning PortUsed for charging and dataUsed for charging and data
iOS EcosystemRuns iOS with full ecosystem appsRuns iOS with full ecosystem apps
Apple PaySupported with NFCSupported with NFC
Price Check iPhone XR Price Check iPhone SE Price

FAQ

Which phone has the bigger display, iPhone XR or iPhone SE?
The iPhone XR has a larger 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display, making it better for watching videos and gaming, while the iPhone SE has a smaller 4.7-inch Retina HD display, which feels more compact and easier to use with one hand.

Do both phones support Face ID or Touch ID?
The iPhone XR relies on Face ID facial recognition with its TrueDepth camera, while the iPhone SE uses the classic Touch ID fingerprint sensor integrated into the Home button.

Which device has the more powerful processor?
The iPhone XR is powered by the older A12 Bionic chip, whereas the iPhone SE uses the much newer A15 Bionic chip, giving it significantly faster performance and longer software support.

Is there a difference in camera performance between the two?
Both phones have a 12 MP rear camera, but the iPhone SE benefits from the advanced image processing of the A15 chip, enabling features like Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, and Photographic Styles that the iPhone XR lacks.

Which one supports 5G connectivity?
The iPhone SE (3rd Gen) supports 5G networks for faster download and streaming speeds, while the iPhone XR is limited to 4G LTE connectivity.

How does the battery life compare between the iPhone XR and SE?
The iPhone XR has a larger 2942 mAh battery, giving it longer endurance in most cases, whereas the iPhone SE has a smaller 2018 mAh battery, though its efficient A15 chip helps manage power better.

Which phone is lighter and easier to carry?
The iPhone XR weighs 194 grams, making it noticeably heavier, while the iPhone SE weighs only 144 grams, which makes it more pocket-friendly and comfortable for extended one-handed use.

Do both phones support wireless charging?
Yes, both iPhone XR and iPhone SE support Qi wireless charging, though neither has the faster MagSafe magnetic charging that Apple introduced in later models.

Are both phones water-resistant?
Yes, both devices are IP67 rated, which means they can withstand dust and water immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

What kind of front camera do they use?
Both phones use a 7 MP front camera with an f/2.2 aperture, but the iPhone SE gains improvements from the A15 processor, including Smart HDR 4 and Photographic Styles for selfies.

Which device has a more modern design?
The iPhone XR features an edge-to-edge display with slim bezels and a notch, while the iPhone SE keeps the classic iPhone look with larger bezels and a Home button.

Do they both support fast charging?
Yes, both devices support 18W fast charging, allowing around 50% charge in about 30 minutes when using a compatible charger.

How do the color options differ?
The iPhone XR launched with a wide range of vibrant colors like blue, yellow, coral, and red, while the iPhone SE is available in fewer choices such as Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red.

Which phone will get longer iOS updates?
The iPhone SE will receive updates for more years thanks to its A15 Bionic chip from 2022, while the iPhone XR, released in 2018 with the A12 chip, is nearing the end of its update cycle.

Is there a price difference between iPhone XR and iPhone SE?
At launch, the iPhone XR was priced higher as a mid-range flagship, whereas the iPhone SE was designed as a budget-friendly option, making it one of the most affordable iPhones with the latest chip performance.

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