When Apple shared the details of its the second generation of its iPhone SE on Wednesday, April 15, fans were immediately struck by how similar the design looked to the since-discontinued iPhone 8. With the smartphone's 4.7-inch retina display and home button with Touch ID, you might be wondering: does the iPhone SE have Face ID? Here's what to know about the iPhone SE's new features.
Apple's newest smartphone made waves when it was announced on April 15, partly due to its low price tag (it's the cheapest iPhone to date starting at just $399) in addition to a handful of buzz-worthy new features like wireless charging capabilities, one-camera Portrait Mode, and the A13 Bionic chip that the company introduced with its iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models. However, just like its predecessor, the new SE clings to the outer design of an older iPhone: in this case, the iPhone 8, which Apple officially discontinued on April 15.
Just like the now-retired device, the new iPhone SE features the same battery size, 4.7-inch retina display, bezels on the top and bottom, and a a second-generation Touch ID fingerprint sensor as part of its home button. While the company's facial recognition system (Face ID) has become a mainstay for the company's newer smartphones and iPads since the release of the iPhone X in November 2017, Apple users are out of luck for the new iPhone SE when it comes to that form of biometric authentication. Just like the iPhone 8 that it's modeled on, the device will feature a home button encased with a sapphire crystal material and a Touch ID sensor where users can put their fingers to authenticate their fingerprints.
While the outward design of the iPhone SE might be reminiscent of the iPhone 8, the inner capabilities are more in line with those of Apple's latest smartphone models. Despite its one-camera design, one of the device's most hyped features is its advanced camera features. In addition to Portrait Mode, which is available for both front and rear-facing cameras, the new iPhone has the ability to capture higher-quality audio and video up to 4K at 60fps.
The new iPhone SE will be available to pre-order online starting on Friday, April 17, and customers can expect their new devices to arrive as early as Friday, April 24. With a price tag of just $399 for a 64GB model (a 128GB version is $449 while a 256GB clocks in at $549) and plenty of cutting edge features to look forward to, it's the perfect time to check out the new device's specs and see if it's a good option for you.
