which device should you buy? This is our advice

At first glance, there’s almost no difference between the iPhone SE and iPhone 7, but looks can be deceiving. In this iPhone SE vs iPhone 7 comparison, we have collected the biggest differences for you.

Comparison: iPhone SE vs iPhone 7

The iPhone SE came out in early 2020 and is Apple’s entry-level model. The iPhone 7 is no longer sold by the company, but by individual sellers. Because the two devices are so similar, we decided to compare them. Tap one of the links below to go directly to the relevant section.

1. Processor and battery

Where both devices differ considerably from each other, is the processor. The iPhone SE has an A13 Bionic, a processor that is also in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. The iPhone 7 has to make do with an A10 Fusion processor, which is now showing its age.

This means the iPhone SE is much faster: apps run smoother and games run smoother. In addition, the newer chip of the iPhone SE ensures that you also receive software updates for longer.

The battery of both devices is almost identical. This allows you to use the iPhone SE and iPhone 7 for about a day on a full charge. The battery of the iPhone 7 runs out faster, because the processor of the SE is more economical.

2. Casing and design

When you put both devices next to each other, they look like two drops of water. Both have a screen diagonal of 4.7 inches and a home button with Touch ID. The dimensions are also almost the same: the weight is only a few grams difference.

When you look closer, the two designs differ a bit from each other. The 2020 iPhone SE has a glass back and the iPhone 7 is made entirely of aluminum. Another difference is the available colors. The SE is available in black, red and white. The iPhone 7 is available in silver, gold, rose gold and black.

3. Storage and working memory

The iPhone SE is available with 64GB, 128GB and 256GB storage. If you don’t use many large apps, 64GB is sufficient for daily use, but we recommend 128GB. The iPhone 7 is available from 32GB of storage, but devices with 128GB and 256GB are also available.

The iPhone SE has 3GB of RAM. The iPhone 7 has to make do with something less: 2GB. This keeps apps on the iPhone SE running for longer, without having to force them to be closed by iOS. Basically, you can use more apps at once.

4. Camera with and without portrait mode

Both the iPhone SE and iPhone 7 have a 12-megapixel rear camera. On the front you will find a selfie camera of 7 megapixels on both phones. Still, the iPhone SE’s camera is better, thanks to the powerful A13 chip with an additional image processor.

This aircraft has another trump card up its sleeve. The iPhone SE also has a portrait mode – and that with only one camera lens. This allows you to take photos with a depth of field effect. The foreground of the photo is then nicely sharp and the background is blurred.

Both devices can also record 4K videos. You also have the option to shoot slow motion videos and both the iPhone SE and iPhone 7 have video stabilization.

5. Price: have a good look around

The cheapest iPhone SE will cost you 492.10 euros at Apple, but the device can be found online for less. The iPhone 7 is no longer for sale at Apple. However, you can find plenty of providers for the iPhone 7 online. On average you spend about 150 euros for an iPhone 7.

What about the iPhone 7 Plus?

In this article you can read about the differences between the iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone 7. Apple has also released a larger version in addition to the iPhone 7: the iPhone 7 Plus. The iPhone 7 Plus is very similar to the iPhone 7, but there are also a few differences.

The iPhone 7 Plus is larger, because the screen has a diagonal of 5.5 inches. Furthermore, the screen resolution is a bit higher, but you hardly notice that in practice.

A striking advantage of the iPhone 7 Plus is the dual camera. The iPhone 7 Plus has a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens. With the iPhone 7 you have 5x digital zoom, with the iPhone 7 Plus you get a 2x optical zoom and a maximum of 10x digital zoom.

The iPhone 7 Plus is no longer sold directly from Apple, but can still be purchased online. If you want to know more about the differences between the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, you can read the following article.

Read more about the differences between the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus

Advice: iPhone SE vs iPhone 7

The iPhone 7 is much cheaper, but the iPhone SE is better in every way. The device has better hardware, sharper cameras and is supported longer with software updates.

The iPhone SE is therefore the best choice, unless you have a very limited budget. Then you better choose the iPhone 8 (or 8 Plus), instead of the iPhone 7 (Plus). In 2021, the device has simply been overtaken by time and especially the limited software support worries us. The device comes from 2016 and can get its latest software update with iOS 15.

Buy iPhone SE

Do you want to buy the iPhone SE with a subscription? on iPhoned we have extensive price comparison sites to compare all offers from Dutch providers.

Prefer a separate device? Which can! A separate iPhone SE is available at numerous web shops. If you want to be completely cheap, it is best to buy a refurbished iPhone SE.