Teardown Video Compares New iPhone SE to iPhone 8

When it comes to design, the iPhone SE is identical to the iPhone 8, featuring a 4.7-inch LCD display, thick top and bottom bezels, a single-lens rear camera, and a Touch ID Home button.

iphoneseiphone8comparison
Unsurprisingly, the ‌iPhone‌ 8 also looks a lot like the ‌iPhone SE‌ inside, as detailed in a teardown video by a Chinese YouTuber who has one of the devices on hand. The video, which has subtitles, was shared on Reddit earlier today.


Most of the components of the ‌iPhone SE‌ are identical to the ‌iPhone‌ 8, but there are differences in the modem and WiFi chip, the battery connector (which is the same as the battery connector in the ‌iPhone‌ 11, and the flashlight setup. There's also a different rear camera module and, of course, a different processor as the ‌iPhone SE‌ uses the same A13 chip that's in the ‌iPhone‌ 11 and 11 Pro.

Many of the components in the ‌iPhone SE‌ and ‌iPhone‌ 8 were able to function interchangeably, demonstrating just how similar most of the parts are. The front display of the ‌iPhone‌ 8, for example, can be swapped onto an ‌iPhone SE‌ and it fits perfectly.

The ‌iPhone SE‌ is priced at $399 and the first orders will begin arriving to customers tomorrow. We'll see an even closer look inside the ‌iPhone SE‌ once teardown sites like iFixit take apart one of the new smartphones.

Related Roundup: iPhone SE
Buyer's Guide: iPhone SE (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

bodonnell202 Avatar
38 months ago

In other words, the so-called SE is really a cost reduced iPhone 8. Why did you have to pollute the SE name, Apple? Why?
The original SE was a cost reduced 5s. What’s your point?
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I7guy Avatar
38 months ago

Apple's big issue here is the naming scheme doesn't allow for out of order products, which is why they've bastardized the SE monicker. Nobody for a moment believes this is an iPhone SE given its form factor is too big. It's disingenuous of Apple to try to connive people who are actually intelligent enough to know the difference. This simply ain't an SE and nobody should call it that.


Apple is insulting you by trying this SE stunt. It's like a flat can of soda.
I don’t feel insulted in the least. I think you overestimate the emotional attachment people have toward the names of cellular devices.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
supergt Avatar
38 months ago
Would be interesting to see if 3D Touch can work if an iPhone 8 screen is transplanted on the SE.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
superiska123 Avatar
38 months ago
The most interesting bit for me is that the rear camera is different. Not that it matters (as the photos would be better because of the newer chip anyway) but I'm glad that people can now stop saying it's the same camera as the iPhone 8
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
38 months ago

If they are reusing leftover stock/parts, that’s how they were able to afford the $400 price point for this phone.

What Apple did was really smart. They have tons of iPhone 8 parts and are probably getting even more through recycling.
FWIW, I think it’s not that they have leftover stock or parts (warehouses full of parts for more than a few days worth of production is inefficient and costly), but rather that they have all the tooling - and their supply chain has all the tooling - to produce those exact parts at high volume and to extremely precise tolerances. And all that tooling is long since paid for. And they’ve got the whole assembly and QA process thoroughly debugged. So they just have to keep feeding in raw materials at one end to get perfect, low cost chassis out the other end.

They replaced the main chip on the circuit board with the newest one, and the camera with the one from the XR, oh, and maybe asked for the screen to be made without the 3D Touch layer, but the rest of it is the well tested iPhone 8.

If the price could be explained by “leftover parts” - the math for that only works if they’ve got several years worth of these leftover parts sitting around - if the price was low because they had, say, a month’s worth of leftover parts, then what happens after a month, does the iPhone SE price go up? No, Tim Cook made his name by being able to control the supply chain the way a conductor controls an orchestra - he never would have let them end up with years worth of extra parts in the first place.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
38 months ago

For the audience this phone target, they couldn't care less. The iPhone SE is just another avenue for Apple to print money and get those remaining stubborn iPhone 5S, 6, and 6s users to finally upgrade.
So you’re telling us all something that is blatantly obvious? Of course Apple is out to make money, why do you think they revived this phone to begin with? (Both rhetorical questions.) Especially given how popular the 4.7 inch form factor is.

I think the misconception is, it’s not just about upgrading the 5s/6 owners, this is a global phone. It’s a phone that will survive in many markets, because of its low price point, which has Apple competing in a global segment, not just the North American market.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17 on Phone Feature

Gurman: iOS 17 to Provide Several 'Most Requested Features'

Sunday March 26, 2023 6:05 am PDT by
Apple changed the strategy for iOS 17 later in its development process to add several new features, suggesting that the update may be more significant than previously thought, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In January, Gurman said that iOS 17 could be a less significant update than iPhone updates in previous years due to the company's intense focus on its long-awaited mixed-reality...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:06 am PDT by
Following nearly six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 is expected to be released to the public as soon as this week. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone 8 and newer. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on the iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions. Below, we have recapped eight new features and...
apple mixed reality headset concept by david lewis and marcus kane

Some Apple Employees Seriously Concerned About Mixed-Reality Headset as Announcement Draws Closer

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:25 am PDT by
Some Apple employees are concerned about the usefulness and price point of the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset, The New York Times reports. Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane Initial enthusiasm around the device at the company has apparently become skepticism, according to eight current and former Apple employees speaking to The New York Times. The change of tone...
iOS 16

Apple Releases iOS 16.4 With New Emoji, Safari Web Push Notifications, Beta Changes, Voice Isolation for Calls and More

Monday March 27, 2023 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 16.4, the fourth major update to the iOS 16 operating system that initially came out last September. iOS 16.4 comes two months after the launch of iOS 16.3, an update that added Security Keys for Apple ID. iOS 16‌.4 and iPadOS 16.4 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It can take a few minutes...
Steve Jobs Theater dusk

Apple Reportedly Demoed Mixed-Reality Headset to Executives in the Steve Jobs Theater Last Week

Sunday March 26, 2023 5:53 am PDT by
Apple showcased its mixed-reality headset to the company's top 100 executives in the Steve Jobs Theater last week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the "momentous gathering" is a "key milestone" ahead of the headset's public announcement planned for June. The event was intended to rally Apple's top members of...
top stories 25mar2023

Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Design Leak, iOS 16.4 Coming Soon, and More

Saturday March 25, 2023 6:00 am PDT by
We're still almost six months away from the official unveiling of the iPhone 15 lineup, but it seems like every day we're learning more about what to expect from the next-generation models. Notably, this week gave us our clearest look yet at what appear to be some changes for the volume and mute control hardware. iOS 16.4 and associated releases are also right around the corner with some new ...
apple tv 4k red image

Apple Releases tvOS 16.4 for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD

Monday March 27, 2023 10:00 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 16.4, the fourth major point update to the tvOS 16 operating system that came out last September. Available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, tvOS 16.4 comes two months following the release of tvOS 16.3. The tvOS 16.4 update can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the ‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌ by going to System > Software Update....