Looking for a budget-friendly phone in 2024? Discover why the iPhone SE2, now just $120, might be your perfect match! From sleek design and seamless Apple integration to unbeatable portability, this affordable gem has a lot to offer despite a few minor drawbacks. Scroll down to see if it’s the ultimate budget phone for you!
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Table of Content
Introduction
In today’s smartphone market, a flagship smartphone starting at $1,000+ has become mainstream throughout the industry. Every year, phones get bigger, more powerful, and sure enough- pricier. This trend has led some consumers to take a step back and rethink their annual upgrading decisions. Is the added value of this year’s model worth the jump in the price tag?
For the vast majority, the upgrade seems to be influenced by social and behavioral incentives rather than a need for extra power. This recent gap in the market between next generation phones that are too powerful and previous generation phones that are depreciating quickly may have been the reason behind the rise of budget phones.
The iPhone SE debuted in 2016 as a $400 alternative of the more advanced iPhone 7 that launched later that year starting around $700. What is it about that model in particular that made it a huge success in 2020 despite the challenges at the time? And how does it stand 4 years later? Is it the ultimate bang for your buck in 2024?
The iPhone SE2 in 2024
In New Year’s Eve, my Samsung Galaxy Flip 4‘s (review coming soon) screen was damaged from a quite heavy drop. Due to the hefty cost of fixing a folding screen, I decided to look for a budget friendly interim smartphone that could get the job done for a while until I made my mind about fixing the flip or buying a new smartphone altogether.
I was pleased to find a used iPhone SE2 in my drawer that belonged to a family member! It is currently on sale for $120 on Amazon (refurbrished) and I thought it would be worth giving it a shot as nothing beats a free deal. My experience with the SE2 has been so incredible I still haven’t revisited the decision I planned to take on NYE! I will talk about what I like most about the phone, what I have to tolerate, and of course my final recommendations including what type of consumer I think this deal would be ideal for in 2024.
Strengths
The iPhone SE2‘s compact design is reminiscent of the 2010’s era before Samsung and Apple engaged in a ‘bigger is better’ war. Personality was what really mattered- and the iPhones excelled at just that. There was no mistaking the home button and glassy back, and that design language carried on for several years influencing the iPhone SE2 that was essentially an iPhone 8 with the chip of an iPhone 11 (A15 bionic).
The primary strength of the iPhone SE2 in 2024 is of course its affordable price tag. It is so affordable that comparing it with most of the sub $200 smartphone category even in 2024 would be unfair. Unlike most budget phones, Apple did not cut corners with the processing unit. The iPhone SE2 boasts an A15 bionic chip that can comfortably handle most web surfing and streaming applications quite comfortably. In fact, you’ll find it quite challenging at a first glance to figure out exactly where Apple cut corners as the phone’s build quality is surprisingly sturdy and has a premium flagship feel- albeit a lighter one. The iPhone’s compact design, sleek form factor, and lightweight construction is a very welcome feature that stands out at this price point. Its size makes it effortlessly portable, slipping into pockets and bags with ease- and more importantly allowing you to access the entire screen with one hand. This can be incredibly helpful for multitasking or using your phone at night while laying on your side. If you have ever tried doing that with the larger phones, you’d understand the awkward struggle of trying to reach the top corners of the screen. Moreover, its ergonomic design and rounded corners ensure a comfortable grip. In my opinion, the curved edges need to make a comeback. Even if the rectangular iPhones look more modern, the curved edges of the SE are much more comfortable to hold especially for those who do not use a phone case. If you have used the larger iPhones for more than 30 minutes at a time, I am sure the squared edges begin to dig into your palm like daggers.
With the SE you still get the infamous integration that Apple has boasted about in every keynote since 2010. Although the competition is catching up in this space with Samsung making significant leaps in their horizontal integrations, the Apple ecosystem remains superior in my opinion at least for the time being. Seamlessly syncing with other Apple devices such as MacBooks, iPads, and Apple Watches, the SE offers a refined user experience where you can seamlessly transition between devices. You can copy text or images from one Apple device and paste them unto the other in real time. I used to think it was a gimmick when it first launched, but I have to admit that it is just so convenient and time saving. The thought of leaving home with just your iPhone is a comfortable one knowing that any notes or photos you take will automatically migrate to the rest of you products at home.
Another feature that hit me with an instant flashback is what was considered one of the iPhone’s most notable features back in the day- the OG home button scanner. I forgot how convenient it was to have a physical home button that can double as a reliable and convenient method for unlocking the device and securing transactions. This also made the iPhone more usable in the dark as the modern Face ID technology works poorly in low light. If you are a night owl, the iPhone SE2 is definitely worth checking out! It has to be said that the fingerprint authentication may seem antiquated compared to modern biometric solutions like Face ID or in-display fingerprint sensors. Some argue that its reliability and speed is worse than Face ID while others argue that it is better. I personally felt like it was quicker and more reliable only when your fingers are clean. Any debris or contamination significantly worsens both the reliability and speed of the scanner. If you get your hands dirty at your job, this is something to keep in mind. In fact, the hit or miss scanner can be attributed to the fact that Apple cut corners here by using an older scanner compared to the ones you would find on the iPhone 8 for example.
The iPhone SE2‘s display is nothing to write home about. It is a perfectly average screen, a 4.7 in (120 mm) True Tone Retina HD display with IPS technology, 1334 × 750 pixel resolution, 1400:1 contrast ratio- just kidding, we don’t do technical jargon here. The screen is bright enough but not too bright at peak 625 nits so you might face some issues with using the phone in direct sunlight. I have found that installing an antiglare screen protector helps with making the phone more visible under direct sunlight, but the matte finish might not sit well with some users. The IPS panel is pretty outdated and the modern OLED panels frankly render it obsolete. The screen is not exactly going to give you that immersive vibrant colorful experience we have come to associate with the Apple brand. Why then is it listed as a strength? As the saying goes, there is a positive in every negative. One of the reasons why OLED panels can consistently outperform IPS panels is that they draw a lot more power- almost 30% more to be specific. Due to its small battery that will be discussed in the weaknesses section, the iPhone SE2 would not even last a couple of hours with an OLED panel. However, with the IPS panel, the power consumption is low enough that even in 2024 the iPhone SE2 battery can still survive an entire day under normal usage! For a very small (1,821 mAh!) and 4-year-old battery, that is extremely impressive and only possible thanks to the IPS panel that is often looked down upon in 2024.
Weaknesses
To continue elaborating on the battery-screen conundrum of the iPhone SE2, I will begin by discussing the 1,821 mAh battery. While I have mentioned in the strengths section that the IPS panel enables the iPhone SE2 to have a good enough battery in 2024 for casual usage, the battery might still be considered weak for heavy users. As mentioned in the introduction, what will make or break this purchase for you is what you intend to use the phone for. While the device offers adequate endurance for typical daily usage like web browsing, social media, and streaming; power users may find themselves reaching for the charger more frequently, especially during prolonged usage or intensive tasks. Gaming is unfortunately out of the question due to both the limited battery capacity and small screen size. I have used the device lightly, mostly surfing Instagram, texting on WhatsApp, and occasionally watching some YouTube. With my battery’s maximum capacity at 79%, I have averaged almost 5 hours of Screen-On and 3 hours of Screen-Off. Given that most flagship phones nowadays ship with at least 4,000mAh and budget phones with no less than 2,500 mAh, these numbers are pleasantly surprising. Nonetheless, I have found that on most days I would need a second recharge at night or I’d have to use the phone while it is plugged in. Although this issue could probably be resolved with a battery replacement, I would advise against that since the main selling point of this smartphone is to save your dollars and get by with adequate performance. If you use your phone for more intensive tasks or for prolonged hours, the battery will be a liability.
Another aspect that warrants scrutiny is the iPhone’s micro speaker. While functional for everyday use, it lacks the depth and clarity to perform satisfactorily in noisy environments or during speakerphone calls. I have found that I ended up listening to voice notes by holding the bottom speaker to my ear as the micro speaker’s audio quality is subpar with today’s standards. Online forums show that the majority of iPhone SE2 users have faced similar problems with their units as well. It is a clear aspect of the phone where Apple chose to cut down on costs, and I wish that was not the case. Some Apple enthusiasts have argued that with the majority of US users using AirPods and FaceTime these days the importance of the micro speaker is diminutive. However, for the rest of the worldwide users outside of the US (Yes, we exist) who still depend on normal phone calls, the micro speaker is another thing to look out for.
From a design standpoint, the iPhone’s aesthetic may divide opinion. While some users appreciate its classic design language, characterized by its iconic home button and symmetrical bezels, others may perceive it as outdated compared to modern smartphones featuring edge-to-edge displays and sleeker form factors. It comes down to your personal preference whether the design is a selling point for you or not. Additionally, the device’s compact size may be challenging to operate for users with larger hands or those accustomed to larger screens. It has to be said however, that I adapted to the smaller screen in no time. When I first unboxed the iPhone SE2, I was shocked by how small the screen was, especially compared to the enormous candy bar form factors of Samsung smartphones. The first few texts felt weird, but in a few days, I actually came to appreciate the small screen size due to the reasons discussed earlier. Another pleasant effect of using a small screen as a daily driver is that it makes the screens of my tablet and laptop feel enormous! With foldables narrowing the boundary between tablets and smartphones, it was a nice reminder of the reason tablets were created in the first place!
The iPhone’s camera performance, especially in low-light conditions, is another area of concern. Frankly, we all expected the cameras to be a major area of cost saving. The device’s camera produces rather impressive results in well-lit environments, albeit with slightly grainy details like this snapshot below that I took on a sunny day. However, even without zooming into the photograph you can pick up on the poor quality of edge detection, especially close to the tree.
Moreover, in the slightest dimming of lighting such as the foggy sky captured below, it heavily falters, resulting in noise, blur, and loss of detail. A major selling point of flagship smartphones is having a state-of-the-art camera system. It is also expensive to include these systems in a smartphone. Therefore, it makes sense that Apple would choose less capable cameras for the iPhone SE2. Users who prioritize photography may find the camera performance lacking, especially compared to flagship smartphones with advanced camera systems and AI powered computational photography features.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the iPhone SE2 strikes a great balance between affordability, sleek design, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious shoppers looking for a reliable smartphone. But, whether it’s the right phone for you really depends on what you prioritize.
If I had to describe the iPhone SE2 in 3 words, I would say it is portable, practical, and affordable. In one word? It would be ‘alright’. If you like being a part of the Apple ecosystem or are looking to try it out for a low investment, this iPhone will likely impress you. It also works perfectly for a secondary work phone if your employer requires you to download specific software that you are not comfortable having on your personal phone. It is also a great option if your job is somewhat hazardous or physically intensive, and you don’t want to risk damaging a $1,500 flagship. Last but not least, I know that the ‘mini’ smartphone fanbases are out there and still recovering from the discontinuity of the iPhone Mini series. The SE2 will definitely be a nostalgic flashback of the beloved iPhones 12 and 13 mini with a classic twist.
That being said, if you need a phone with stellar battery life, top-notch audio, blazing performance, excellent low-light camera capabilities, or robust gaming performance; you might find this iPhone to be lacking. That is not to say that your only options are the iPhone Pro Max lineups or Samsung Galaxy Ultras, but that is a topic for another blog.
Ultimately, choosing the iPhone SE2 as your budget phone for 2024 comes down to weighing your budget against the features you can’t live without. Consider what matters most to you in a smartphone and make sure this iPhone aligns with those needs. In my opinion, what you are getting for $120 definitely outweighs what you are sacrificing- especially considering that nowadays Apple charges $130 for accessories like their 2-in-1 wireless charging port! Call me a Steve Jobs fan, but I would gladly take any Apple product today that “Does More. Costs Less”.
Techliptic 
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