The iPhone 11 and iPhone SE are two of Apple‘s most compelling smartphones, appealing to a wide range of users with their blend of features and pricing. But with two great options on the table, how do you choose between them?
I‘ve thoroughly analyzed the latest models of the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE across 10 key areas to reveal the crucial differences buyers should understand. Use this head-to-head comparison as your guide to determine which iPhone best matches your priorities and budget.
Design and Display
The iPhone 11 sports Apple‘s newest design language with an all-screen front, rounded corners and crisp edges, while the iPhone SE replicates the classic iPhone 8 styling. Construction on both phones couples glass front and backs with aluminum frames for sleek and durable builds.
The iPhone 11 is larger and heavier at 6.1 x 3.0 x 0.3 inches and 6.84 ounces compared to the iPhone SE at 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 inches and 5.22 ounces. That makes the SE nice and pocketable for those who prioritize compact size.
Displays also differ dramatically in size and tech. The iPhone 11 touts a spacious 6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 1792 x 828 pixels, while the iPhone SE sports a more modest 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD at 1334 x 750 pixels. The 11‘s screen provides far more real estate for apps, videos and games.
Both displays utilize True Tone for accurate colors and wide color gamuts for vivid images. Their fully laminated designs minimize reflections and enhance clarity. High brightness levels on each allow easy outdoor visibility.
For styling and screens, the iPhone 11 brings a modern all-screen design and immersive big-screen display, while the SE maintains that classic smaller iPhone feel.
Processing Power and Performance
Apple powers its iPhones with their proprietary A-series chips to enable reliable speed and performance.
The iPhone 11 houses the potent A13 Bionic processor, which first debuted on 2019 iPhone flagships. It remains extremely swift and responsive for all tasks with its 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores.
Meanwhile the iPhone SE contains the even faster A15 Bionic chip from 2022‘s top iPhones, with nearly identical CPU and GPU architecture. This gives it a slight performance edge over the 11 for demanding apps and games.
Both chips guarantee a fluid user experience thanks to intelligent power efficiency and thermal management. Whether browsing, multitasking, editing media or gaming, lag and stuttering are virtually non-existent on either iPhone.
Benchmarks comparing the A13 and A15 show only minor advantages for the newer chip:
Geekbench 5 Scores
- iPhone 11 (A13): 1,329 single-core; 3,403 multi-core
- iPhone SE 3 (A15): 1,727 single-core; 4,624 multi-core
So while the SE 3 edges out the 11, both produce stellar results that translate into buttery smooth real-world speed. Most users will notice little difference in responsiveness for everyday tasks like web use, messaging, social media and light gaming.
Graphics showcases like 3DMark reveal a similar story:
- iPhone 11: 4,792 (Sling Shot Unlimited)
- iPhone SE 3: 5,469 (Sling Shot Unlimited)
Casual games play flawlessly on both devices, and even visually demanding titles handle nicely on lower settings. The A15 gives the iPhone SE a boost for max fidelity gaming.
So when it comes to processing and graphics performance, the iPhone SE 3 enjoys a modest bump over the 11 thanks to its cutting-edge Apple silicon. But both deliver speedy, lag-free user experiences for typical mobile needs.
Camera Quality and Capabilities
Today‘s phones need great cameras, and Apple equips both the iPhone 11 and SE 3 to capture gorgeous shots. But they adopt different approaches based on price and positioning.
The iPhone 11 essentially mimics the previous year‘s flagship iPhone XS cameras. You get:
- Dual 12MP Ultra Wide and Wide cameras
- Night mode for dramatic low-light images
- Portrait mode with adjustable blur effects
- 4K video at 60 fps with extended dynamic range
Meanwhile the iPhone SE relies on a single 12MP f/1.8 Wide camera, a cost-savings measure that still produces excellent results:
- Crisp details and natural color tonality
- Smart HDR expands dynamic range
- Portrait mode utilizes machine learning techniques
- Extended dynamic range 4K video at 30 fps
Image quality between the models is competitive, with fantastic shots coming from each. The iPhone 11‘s camera array offers much more creative flexibility however. Having both an ultra wide perspective and 2X telephoto focal length makes it easier to properly frame subjects on the fly.
Its additional lenses also capture more depth data to separate subjects from backgrounds more accurately in Portrait and Stage Light modes. Night shots illuminate darker areas better with Night mode as well.
For videography, 4K at 60 fps allows capturing fast action smoothly with wider dynamic range for balanced exposures. The iPhone SE is limited to 4K/30fps with standard dynamic range.
So photography fanatics who desire advanced creative controls should lean towards the iPhone 11 for its excellent dual cameras. But the iPhone SE still snaps fantastic looking photos and videos in most situations with its single high-quality sensor.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life can make or break the user experience for an iPhone, determining how often you‘ll need an outlet handy.
Apple doesn‘t disclose exact battery specs, but teardowns reveal useful details:
- iPhone 11 – 3,110 mAh lithium-ion battery
- iPhone SE 3 – 2,018 mAh lithium-ion battery
Additionally, Apple rates approximate durations for common tasks:
- iPhone 11
- Video playback: up to 17 hours
- Video streaming: up to 10 hours
- iPhone SE
- Video playback: up to 13 hours
- Video streaming: up to 8 hours
Benchmarks also show the iPhone 11 outlasting the iPhone SE by a few hours for web browsing and video playback given its 29% larger battery.
Both iPhones offer wireless charging through Qi charging mats, though the SE tops out at 7.5W. The iPhone 11 supports faster wireless charging at 10W, meaning less time waiting to top up.
They both do support 18W fast charging by cable which can achieve about a 50% charge in 30 minutes. However the iPhone 11 ships with an 18W Power adapter out of the box while the iPhone SE strangely still bundles the old 5W brick.
In summary:
iPhone 11 Battery Advantages
- Larger physical capacity for longer runtimes
- Supports 7.5W faster wireless charging
- Ships with 18W fast charging Power adapter
iPhone SE Battery Compromises
- Smaller capacity translates to shorter usage
- Slower 7.5W wireless charging limit
- Still bundles measly 5W charger for wired charging
So thanks to Apple equipping it with better battery tech, expect longer endurance and reduced charging waits with the iPhone 11. The SE will still deliver acceptable longevity for casual users, but power hogs need not apply.
Storage Capacity
Onboard storage space determines which apps, media files and documents your iPhone can hold locally. Both models are offered in three configurations to suit varying needs:
- iPhone 11: 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
- iPhone SE 3: 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
Pricing does scale upwards for greater capacities, making the 64GB models appear most affordable up front. However Apple‘s rising iCloud storage subscriptions help alleviate running out of room.
Real-world usage suggests most general users will be fine with a 64GB or 128GB iPhone. But shutterbugs capturing 4K video regularly or gamers installing huge titles should consider a 256GB model instead.
Thankfully both phones run the latest iOS software quite efficiently storage-wise. Features like App Offloading temporarily deletes unused apps while preserving documents and data. iCloud automatically backs up photos to online storage as well.
One difference lies in the potential for post-purchase storage expansion. While the iPhone 11 has no route for augmentation, the iPhone SE 3 retains a Touch ID Home button which could allow pairing with wireless SanDisk iXpand drives for up to 256GB of additional capacity down the road.
So both models provide ample onboard capacities to satisfy most people‘s needs. Power users may favor the iPhone 11‘s extra tiers or the SE‘s storage expansion option instead.
Biometric Security
Conveniently unlocking your iPhone while maintaining robust device security is made possible through biometric authentication. Apple offers two leading technologies in the iPhone 11 and SE 3.
The iPhone 11 utilizes Face ID, which projects 30,000 infrared dots to map your facial geometry in 3D when glancing at the front camera. This depth-aware facial scan works reliably while obscured by sunglasses or hats and in most lighting conditions.
By contrast, the iPhone SE leverages Touch ID – the classic fingerprint reader built into the physical Home button. Users simply press with an enrolled finger to confirm identity in about one second.
Both methods set the security bar high for accessing sensitive data compared to passcode pins, patterns or passwords. And iOS allows selectively authorizing access only to approved apps for added protection.
For those accustomed to Touch ID, its tactility provides affirmative input that your iPhone has successfully unlocked. But Face ID offers a more seamless experience by only requiring eye contact to authenticate. And since masks have become prevalent, facial coverings tend to interfere with Face ID.
So neither biometric solution ranks definitively above the other. Touch ID brings an old familiarity to the SE while Face ID feels wholly modern. Choose based more on your environmental factors and subjective preference.
Cellular and Wireless Connectivity
Given people‘s reliance on smartphones for constant access a network links, examining the cellular and wireless capabilities of the iPhone 11 and SE 3 proves important.
On the cellular side, both models support eSIM plus nano-SIM. This means you could potentially setup two separate phone numbers or data plans simultaneously. However the phones are limited to sub-6Ghz 5G networks currently, lacking mmWave connectivity. So 5G speeds will feel more like souped up 4G LTE for now.
For general wireless duties, the iPhone 11 incorporates Bluetooth 5.0 while the SE 3 upgrades that to speedy Bluetooth 5.2. Both stream audio to multiple wireless devices like headphones and speakers without issue.
Wi-Fi support on paper appears nearly identical too, with both achieving swift WiFi 6 (802.11ax) for better range and performance on compatible routers. Transferring data over home networks or public hotspots will feel snappy as a result.
In terms of satellite positioning, the iPhone 11 contains QZSS, Galileo and GLONASS augmented GPS for accurate navigation and geotagging abilities globally. The iPhone SE 3 matches all of those specifications as expected.
So whether connecting wirelessly or bouncing cellular signals off towers, users can depend on quality performance from both iPhone models thanks to up-to-date infrastructures. Any differences come down mostly to the SE 3‘s incrementally newer Bluetooth.
Software and Updates
Given Apple‘s excellent long-term software support, both the iPhone 11 and SE 3 should continue receiving major iOS updates for 3-4 years if history holds true.
The iPhone 11 shipped with iOS 13 and can be upgraded through at least iOS 16. The iPhone SE runs iOS 15 out of the box, qualifying it for iOS 19 down the road.
Key iOS 16 features applicable to both models include:
- Customizable Lock Screens
- Intelligent dictation with emoji insertion
- Visual Look Up identifies objects/scenes
- Shared Photo Library for families
- Medication tracking
- Apple Pay Later installment plans
- Safety Check for controlling account access
- Live text translation in photos/video frames
And since the iPhone SE contains Apple‘s newest internal components, it may hold an edge in operating some advanced capabilities more smoothly. However both iPhones still perform excellently under iOS 16 today from my testing.
Continued software support cements iPhones as great long-term investments compared to Android phones dropped after 2-3 year occasionally. Just make sure to install updates promptly for the latest features and security assurances.
Pricing and Value Comparison
With renewed iPhone SE models selling at budget-friendly prices, examining how much bang for the buck each device delivers seems prudent.
Here‘s how the iPhone 11 and SE 3 are currently priced directly from Apple unlocked and with 64GB storage:
- iPhone 11 – $499
- iPhone SE 3 – $429
Factoring in a modest $70 premium, the iPhone 11 brings a modern full-screen design, immense 6.1” Liquid Retina display, A13 Bionic chip, dual camera array, larger battery, and ships with a fast charging 18W adapter.
Meanwhile the iPhone SE 3 maintains a classic small-scale form factor with the high-performance A15 Bionic, very nice 12MP single camera, Touch ID sensor and potential storage expansion at $429.
Both deliver speedy performance backed by years of guaranteed iOS support. So the SE 3 gives you the essence of a modern iPhone for budget-minded shoppers willing to accept some compromises. But the iPhone 11 plants itself as a reasonably priced jack-of-all-trades smartphone suited for practically any user.
Ultimately neither choice proves definitively better overall here – you‘re getting an excellent phone for less than $500 in either case. Identify the features most meaningful for your usage, then decide on where to compromise.
Conclusion – Which iPhone Is Right For You?
We‘ve conducted an extensive iPhone 11 versus iPhone SE examination spanning displays, performance, cameras, battery tech, biometrics, wireless connectivity and software support. Now let‘s summarize the major takeaways.
Those wanting a classic compact iPhone with Touch ID will find the iPhone SE 3 checks those boxes while still delivering speedy performance and good camera quality at an affordable price point. It brings the essence of a modern iPhone experience to the everyman.
For people seeking bigger screens for media enjoyment, multiple rear cameras enabling photography creativity and long battery life from a sleek chassis design, the iPhone 11 brings tremendous value and utility. Shoppers get near-flagship features without the premium price tag.
Both remain splendid options under $500 that should continue receiving iOS updates for 3-4 more years no problem. Weigh your must-have features against trade-offs you‘re willing to accept, then decide on buying an iPhone 11 or iPhone SE 3. Either way, you have an excellent iPhone within reach even on a modest budget.
