iPhone 15 Pro • Unlocked vs iPhone SE (2020) • Unlocked

The iPhone 15 Pro, released in September 2023, represents Apple's latest advancements in smartphone technology, offering a premium experience with cutting-edge features. In contrast, the iPhone SE (2nd generation), launched in April 2020, provides a more compact and traditional design, focusing on core iPhone functionality. The primary distinctions between these two devices lie in their release timelines, display technology, camera capabilities, and overall performance, catering to different user preferences and needs.

The expected lifespan and software support differ significantly between these two models due to their respective release dates.

• Release Timeline & OS Support: The iPhone 15 Pro, being a 2023 model, benefits from a longer projected period of iOS updates, likely extending its software relevance for several years beyond the iPhone SE 2020. The iPhone SE 2020, released in April 2020, has already received several major iOS updates and is nearing the end of its expected software support cycle, though it still runs current iOS versions.
• Physical Durability: The iPhone 15 Pro features a titanium frame and Ceramic Shield front cover, contributing to enhanced durability and scratch resistance, along with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance (up to 6 meters for 30 minutes). The iPhone SE 2020 utilizes an aerospace-grade aluminum frame and glass front and back, with an IP67 rating (up to 1 meter for 30 minutes).
• Repairability: While both devices are designed with Apple's ecosystem in mind, the more complex internal components and advanced materials of the iPhone 15 Pro may present different repair considerations compared to the more straightforward design of the iPhone SE 2020.

Performance is a key area where the newer iPhone 15 Pro distinguishes itself from the iPhone SE 2020, impacting everything from app responsiveness to demanding tasks.

• Processing Power: The iPhone 15 Pro incorporates a significantly more advanced processor, enabling it to handle the most demanding applications, complex games, and intensive multitasking with exceptional smoothness and efficiency. The iPhone SE 2020, powered by an earlier generation processor, still offers capable performance for everyday tasks, web browsing, and many popular apps, but may show limitations with the most graphically intensive games or heavy video editing.
• Multitasking and Storage: The iPhone 15 Pro comes with 8GB of RAM, providing ample capacity for seamless app switching and background processes. The iPhone SE 2020 features 3GB of RAM, which is sufficient for typical smartphone usage but offers less headroom for extensive multitasking. Storage options for the 15 Pro range from 128GB up to 1TB, while the SE 2020 offers 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB configurations.
• Battery Behavior: The iPhone 15 Pro is designed to provide all-day battery life for most users, even with its advanced features and powerful display. The iPhone SE 2020, with its smaller physical size and battery capacity, typically requires more frequent charging, especially for users with heavy usage patterns.

The visual experience offered by these two iPhones varies considerably due to differences in their display technologies and specifications.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The iPhone 15 Pro features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, delivering deep blacks, vibrant colors, and high contrast. The iPhone SE 2020 has a 4.7-inch Retina HD IPS LCD display, which provides good color accuracy and brightness for an LCD panel. The 15 Pro's higher resolution (2556x1179 pixels at 460 ppi) offers a sharper image compared to the SE 2020's (1334x750 pixels at 326 ppi).
• Brightness and Smoothness: The iPhone 15 Pro boasts a peak outdoor brightness of up to 2000 nits, making it highly visible even in direct sunlight, and includes ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz, resulting in smoother scrolling and more fluid animations. The iPhone SE 2020 has a standard 60Hz refresh rate and a typical maximum brightness of 625 nits, which is suitable for most indoor and outdoor conditions but less bright than the 15 Pro.
• Additional Features: The iPhone 15 Pro also includes an Always-On display and the Dynamic Island, which integrates alerts and activities into an interactive area at the top of the screen. The iPhone SE 2020 features traditional bezels and a physical home button.

The camera systems on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone SE 2020 represent different generations of Apple's photographic capabilities, offering distinct experiences.

• Rear Camera System: The iPhone 15 Pro features a versatile triple-camera system, including a 48MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens with optical zoom capabilities (3x and 5x). This setup allows for greater flexibility in framing shots, from expansive landscapes to detailed close-ups. The iPhone SE 2020 has a single 12MP wide-angle camera with optical image stabilization.
• Photography Features: The 15 Pro benefits from advanced computational photography, including improved low-light performance, Smart HDR, and the ability to capture ProRAW photos and Log video for professional-grade editing. It also offers Cinematic mode and Action mode for video recording. The iPhone SE 2020 supports Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, and Smart HDR, but lacks features like Night mode and the extensive video capabilities of the 15 Pro.
• Front Camera and Video: The iPhone 15 Pro includes a 12MP TrueDepth front camera with autofocus, capable of high-quality selfies and video calls. Both devices can record 4K video, with the 15 Pro offering more frame rate options and advanced features like ProRes video recording and external recording to an SSD. The iPhone SE 2020 has a 7MP front camera that records 1080p HD video.