2020 iPhone SE benchmark confirms you won’t get better for $399

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iphone-se
But iPhone 11 still has a slight advantage.
Photo: Apple

The first benchmark for the 2020 iPhone SE has surfaced, revealing huge performance increases over earlier Apple handsets.

It seems that pricier iPhone 11 models still have a slight advantage, but there’s no doubt that iPhone SE is by far the fastest smartphone you can buy for as little as $399.

The first iPhone SE reviews, which started appearing on Wednesday, confirm it to be an incredibly compelling package. It may not have Face ID or an edge-to-edge display, but it’s a stellar phone.

Its A13 Bionic chip alone is enough to make iPhone SE a worthy upgrade over earlier Apple handsets. One early benchmark confirms it’s up there with the best of them — albiet ever so slightly behind.

iPhone SE is a powerhouse

iPhone SE scores a whopping 492,166 points in AnTuTu tests (via MySmartPrice), which puts it way ahead of any Apple handset that isn’t an iPhone 11. iPhone XS Max, for instance, scores 443,337 points.

iPhone 11 clocks in at 517,400 points, while iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max score even more. It is believed the additional points could come from RAM; iPhone 11 has 4GB, while iPhone SE has only 3GB.

iPhone-SE-benchmark
That’s … impressive.
Photo: AnTuTu

We must note that this is based on a single benchmark test. It could be that iPhone SE scores higher, on average, when more units are tested. Only a few people have their hands on the device right now.

The first iPhone SE orders will start reaching customers this Friday, April 24. We’ll get a better idea of what the device is really capable of then.

The fastest affordable phone

Whatever the case may be, it’s clear iPhone SE is the fastest handset the market has to offer for $399. You won’t find another smartphone at that price with a high-end processor under the hood.

That’s hugely important. It means not only will iPhone SE continue to be supported by the newest iOS updates for years to come, but it has access to all the same features, apps, and games as iPhone 11.

Titles like Fortnite, which offer high-end visuals at up to 60 frames-per-second on an A12 Bionic or later, will play just as beautifully on iPhone SE as it does on iPhone 11.

You only have to look at rival smartphones to see how impressive that is. Even high-end Android devices with the best chips, selling for as much as $1,000, cannot compete with iPhone SE in performance.

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