Apple iPhone SE (1st Gen)
Price:
$399
(originally launched at $399)
16GB base variant · Launched March 2016 · Current Status: Discontinued by Apple
Apple iPhone SE (1st Generation) features the iPhone 5s chassis with aerospace-grade aluminum frame, a 4-inch Retina display, A9 chip with M9 motion coprocessor, 12MP iSight camera with 4K video recording, Touch ID, and 1,624 mAh battery. Launched as Apple's most affordable iPhone at the time, it was discontinued in 2018 and declared obsolete by Apple in 2025.
LAUNCH
| Announced | March 21, 2016 |
| Released | March 31, 2016 |
| Discontinued | September 2018 |
| Obsolete Status | Declared obsolete by Apple in December 2025 |
DISPLAY
| Screen Size | 4.0 inches (diagonal) |
| Resolution | 1136 x 640 pixels (Retina display) |
| Pixel Density | 326 ppi |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Display Type | LED-backlit IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors |
| Brightness | 500 cd/m2 (typical max brightness) |
| Contrast Ratio | 800:1 |
| Features | Full sRGB standard, Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass, oleophobic coating |
PERFORMANCE
| Chipset | Apple A9 (14nm) |
| CPU | Dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister |
| GPU | PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics) |
| Coprocessor | Embedded M9 motion coprocessor |
| RAM | 2 GB (LPDDR4) |
| Operating System | Launched with iOS 9.3; upgradable to iOS 15.8.x |
| Machine Learning / AI | Not supported |
GAMING PERFORMANCE — COMMUNITY/THIRD-PARTY REPORTS
| PUBG Mobile / BGMI | Not supported (requires iOS 12+ and 2GB+ RAM; runs on lowest settings with performance issues) |
| Free Fire | Runs on Low graphics settings at 30 FPS (limited by A9 chip) |
| Call of Duty: Mobile | Not supported on iOS 15 (requires iOS 13+) |
| Genshin Impact | Not supported (requires iOS 12+, A9 chip insufficient for playable frames) |
| Asphalt 8: Airborne | Runs on Medium settings at 30 FPS |
| Overall Gaming Performance | Limited to light/casual gaming. A9 chip (2015) cannot handle modern high-performance games. Best for classic titles and basic gaming. |
BENCHMARK — ANTUTU & GEEKBENCH RESULTS
| AnTuTu v6 Total | ~122,000 – 130,000 |
| Geekbench 3 Single-Core | ~2,500 |
| Geekbench 3 Multi-Core | ~4,400 |
| Geekbench 4 Single-Core | ~1,450 – 1,500 |
| Geekbench 4 Multi-Core | ~2,600 – 2,700 |
REAR CAMERA
| Main Camera | 12 MP iSight, f/2.2 aperture, 5-element lens |
| Features | Live Photos (with stabilization), Focus Pixels autofocus, True Tone flash, Sapphire crystal lens cover, Backside illumination sensor, Hybrid IR filter |
| Photo Digital Zoom | Up to 5x digital zoom |
| Stabilization | Auto image stabilization (photo), Cinema-quality video stabilization (1080p & 720p) |
| Camera Features | Panorama (up to 63MP), Auto HDR, Exposure control, Noise reduction, Face detection, Burst mode, Timer mode, Geo-tagging |
FRONT CAMERA
| Camera | 1.2 MP FaceTime HD, f/2.4 aperture |
| Features | Retina Flash, Auto HDR, Face detection, Exposure control |
| Video Recording | 720p HD at 30fps |
VIDEO RECORDING
| Rear Video | 4K UHD @ 30fps, 1080p HD @ 30/60fps, 720p HD @ 30fps |
| Video Digital Zoom | Up to 3x digital zoom |
| Slow Motion | 1080p @ 120fps, 720p @ 240fps |
| Time-lapse | Time-lapse video with image stabilization |
| Cinematic Video Stabilization | Cinema-quality video stabilization (1080p and 720p) |
| 4K Photo Capture | 8MP still photos while recording 4K video |
| Audio | Stereo audio recording, video geo-tagging |
BATTERY
| Battery Type | Li-Ion, built-in (non-removable) |
| Battery Capacity | 1,624 mAh (6.21 Wh) |
| Talk Time (3G) | Up to 14 hours |
| Video Playback | Up to 13 hours |
CHARGING
| Connector | Lightning |
| Wired Charging | Standard charging via Lightning (5W USB adapter included) |
| Fast Charging | Not supported |
| Wireless Charging | Not supported |
CONNECTIVITY
| 4G LTE | Yes (FDD-LTE and TD-LTE) |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac with MIMO |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 with LE |
| NFC | Yes (Apple Pay only) |
| FM Radio | No |
USB & DISPLAY OUTPUT
| Connector | Lightning |
| USB Speed | USB 2.0 (up to 480 Mbps) |
| Display Output | Up to 1080p via Lightning Digital AV Adapter |
SIM & NETWORK
| SIM | Nano-SIM |
| eSIM | Not supported |
NAVIGATION & LOCATION
| GPS | Yes, Assisted GPS and GLONASS |
| Compass | Yes, digital compass |
SENSORS
| Touch ID | Yes (built into Home button) |
| Motion | Three-axis Gyroscope, Accelerometer |
| Other Sensors | Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Barometer, Digital Compass |
AUDIO & MULTIMEDIA
| Speakers | Stereo audio playback, Mono speakers |
| 3.5mm Headphone Jack | Yes |
| Audio Formats | AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC, HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3), Audible, Apple Lossless |
BUILD & PROTECTION
| Frame | Aerospace-grade aluminum (chamfered edges, same as iPhone 5s) |
| Front Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass, oleophobic coating |
| Back Protection | Anodized aluminum back with glass inserts at top and bottom |
| Water Resistance | Not rated (no IP certification) |
| Dimensions | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm |
| Weight | 113 grams |
COLORS
| Available Colors | Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold |
STORAGE & PRICE
| Card Slot | No (fixed internal NVMe storage only) |
| 16GB | Discontinued (originally $399) |
| 32GB | Discontinued (replaced 16GB in 2017) |
| 64GB | Discontinued (originally $499) |
| 128GB | Discontinued (replaced 64GB in 2017) |
MISC
| Model Number | A1662 / A1723 / A1724 (iPhone8,4) |
Overall: The iPhone SE (1st Generation) was Apple's first budget-friendly iPhone, combining the iPhone 5s design with the A9 chip and 12MP camera from the iPhone 6s. It offered flagship performance in a compact 4-inch form factor at $399. The phone was discontinued in 2018, replaced by the second-generation SE in 2020, and declared obsolete by Apple in December 2025. While it was a groundbreaking device at launch, it is now limited by iOS 15 and outdated hardware.
IPHONE SE (1ST GEN) IN 2026: IS IT STILL WORTH BUYING?
| Performance | A9 chip with 2GB RAM handles only very basic tasks and light apps. iOS 15 is the final version supported; many modern apps require iOS 16+. |
| Display | 4-inch Retina display (326 ppi) with 500 nits brightness. Small and sharp but outdated by modern standards. |
| Camera | 12MP single camera with 4K video at 30fps. Decent for its time but lacks Night Mode, Portrait Mode, and modern computational photography. |
| Battery | 1,624 mAh battery offers limited endurance by modern standards. Replacement batteries are available but no longer supported by Apple. |
| Connectivity | Lightning port (USB 2.0), 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC (Apple Pay only). |
| Security Updates | No longer receives security updates (iOS 15 reached end-of-life). Not recommended for daily use. |
| Use Case | Collector's item, dedicated music player, emergency backup phone, or for users who only need very basic functionality. |
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Core specifications are based primarily on Apple's official technical specifications; benchmark figures and other third-party measurements (battery mAh, AnTuTu scores, Geekbench scores, etc.) are compiled separately from tested units. This is a historical/legacy device; current retail availability may vary.
Core specifications are based primarily on Apple's official technical specifications; benchmark figures and other third-party measurements (battery mAh, AnTuTu scores, Geekbench scores, etc.) are compiled separately from tested units. This is a historical/legacy device; current retail availability may vary.