iPhone SE vs 8: Similar looks, not so similar performance

iPhone SE vs iPhone 8: What you need to know

Ah, the home button—for some iPhone users, it feels like, well, home. If you’re looking for an iPhone but feel lost without that reliable little orb that gets you out of all kinds of jams, chances are you’re checking out the iPhone SE (2nd generation) or the iPhone 8.

Both phones have that hard-to-find home button with a Touch ID fingerprint reader that unlocks the phone and authorizes payments. They also feature the same exact dimensions and identical slim profiles, an aluminum body, IP67 water protection, and a 4.7-inch LCD display. In other words, they have a lot in common.

However, the iPhone SE and the iPhone 8 also harbor some important differences; it just takes a quick look under the hood to see what they are. We’ve mapped them all out for you here, so all you need to do is some soul-searching about what you really want in a phone, and leave the rest up to us.

Want to see a specs comparison of the iPhone 8 vs SE? We made a smartphone comparison tool for that!

iPhone 8 vs SE: A newer powerhouse processor

The most notable difference between the iPhone 8 and the iPhone SE is their processor.

Apple equipped the iPhone SE with the A13 Bionic chip, which is ~40 percent faster and two generations newer than the A11 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 8.

This means a faster, more energy-efficient phone that produces higher-quality photos and graphics, as well as faster app loading times and lickety-split Internet browsing.

While the iPhone 8 is cheaper than the SE, its older processor means it might not be able to handle iOS updates down the road, so the iPhone SE, with its newer chip, may be a better choice in the long run.

With the iPhone 8 vs iPhone SE, you pay for what you get, and what you get with the iPhone SE is an upgraded phone that’s better equipped for the future.

iPhone 8 vs SE: Battery battle

The battery in the iPhone SE may be slightly smaller than the one in the iPhone 8 (1821 mAh vs 1624 mAh), but that’s likely because the SE contains a more energy-efficient chip.

Regardless, the battery life of the two phones is pretty comparable, though some tests have shown the SE to run longer playback times than the iPhone 8 by at least 2 hours. According to Apple, the iPhone 8 and the iPhone SE batteries both have identical video and audio playback battery duration (13 hours and 40 hours, respectively), and are rated for 12 hours of internet usage.

If you’re a lighter iPhone user, either phone should last you a full day without needing to recharge. With that said, if you’re looking for a cheap iPhone with enough juice for heavy everyday use, we suggest checking out the iPhone XR or iPhone 11 instead.

Refurbished devices sold on Back Market always have at least 85% maximum charge capacity. Want 100%? Try a brand new battery.