Post
iPhone SE 2 (2020) in 2025: Still Worth Buying?A review of the iPhone SE 2nd generation in 2025, assessing its usability, performance, and value for money. The phone is still usable with iOS 26, especially for light users, but has limitations like battery life and camera quality. It's a great budget option, particularly on the used market, but upgrading to a newer model like the SE 3 might be worthwhile for longer-term use.
1. 📱 Introduction: iPhone SE 2 in 2025 - A Budget-Friendly Option?
- ✅ The iPhone SE 2 (2020) was a budget-oriented device with a classic design and home button.
- ✅ It features the iPhone 8's design and the A13 chipset from the iPhone 11.
- ⚠️ Despite its age, it's still a capable device running iOS 26, but has aging hardware, middling photography, and bad battery life.
- ✅ It remains a competent option for those needing a cheap iPhone.
00:00 - 01:15
1. 📱 Introduction: iPhone SE 2 in 2025 - A Budget-Friendly Option?
- ✅ The iPhone SE 2 (2020) was a budget-oriented device with a classic design and home button.
- ✅ It features the iPhone 8's design and the A13 chipset from the iPhone 11.
- ⚠️ Despite its age, it's still a capable device running iOS 26, but has aging hardware, middling photography, and bad battery life.
- ✅ It remains a competent option for those needing a cheap iPhone.
01:16 - 02:30
2. ⚙️ iOS 26 on iPhone SE 2: Performance and Limitations
- ✅ The iPhone SE 2 is updatable to iOS 26 but unlikely to get iOS 27 due to hardware limitations (3GB RAM).
- ✅ Some iOS 26 features like Apple Intelligence and certain lock screen features are unavailable.
- ⚠️ The phone's speed is comparable to iPhone 11 but not fast, and apps may not stay open long due to low RAM.
- ⚠️ Demanding games and tasks can be a struggle, especially with poor battery health or full storage.
02:31 - 04:57
3. 🔋 Battery Life, Value, and Upgrade Considerations
- ⚠️ Battery life is a significant issue, requiring frequent charging.
- ✅ It's a fantastic device for seniors and light users due to its affordability and capabilities.
- ✅ Available for under $100 on eBay, making it a great value proposition.
- ⚠️ Replacing the battery may cost as much as buying another SE2.
- ⚠️ Upgrading to the iPhone SE 3 offers 5G, more RAM, and a newer chip (A15), but isn't a massive upgrade otherwise.
04:58 - 07:57
4. 🎨 Design and Display: A Classic iPhone Experience
- ✅ The iPhone SE 2 features a classic iPhone 6 shape with an aluminum frame and glass back, supporting wireless charging and IP67 water resistance.
- ✅ It has a straightforward design with limited color options (white, black, red).
- ✅ It includes a Lightning port (no headphone jack) and a capacitive home button with Touch ID.
- ⚠️ The display is a 4.7-inch Retina LCD, sharp but lacking the vividness of OLED screens.
- ✅ The phone's smaller size makes it comfortable to hold.
07:58 - 09:39
5. 📸 Photography: Camera Performance and Capabilities
- ⚠️ The camera sensor is the same as the iPhone 8 (2017), with slight improvements due to processing power.
- ⚠️ It lacks a night mode, resulting in rough low-light photos.
- ✅ It features a 7MP selfie camera and a 12MP rear camera capable of 4K video at 60fps.
- ✅ The camera can capture solid photos in good lighting conditions.
- ⚠️ It lacks extra camera lenses and has a software-only portrait mode.
09:40 - 11:56
6. 🚀 Hardware and iOS 26: Performance in Detail
- ✅ The A13 Bionic chipset allows it to run iOS 26.
- ⚠️ With only 3GB of RAM, it can feel slow at times but remains usable.
- ✅ Performance varies based on battery health and storage.
- ✅ It can download the same apps as newer iPhones.
- ✅ It's not a pleasant experience but gets the job done.
11:57 - 14:40
7. 💰 Usable Performance and Amazing Value: Final Thoughts
- ✅ It's not a fun or smooth experience, but it's not obsolete.
- ⚠️ Battery life is poor, and lag is likely.
- ✅ It's a better option than a new budget Android phone.
- ✅ Perfect for users needing basic smartphone functions.
- ✅ The SE3 is a better option for longer-term use.
- ✅ The SE2 is the best value iPhone on the market.
- ✅ It feels solid on iOS 26, and Apple has done a great job keeping it up to date.