iPhone SE Teardown: 3D Touch Chip Removed, iPhone 8 Camera Sensor, and More

iFixit has published its full teardown of the new iPhone SE, confirming that the device has many similar or identical components as the iPhone 8, including the display, battery, cameras, Taptic Engine, SIM tray, and more.

The new iPhone SE appears to have the same 12-megapixel rear camera sensor as the iPhone 8, with the benefit of the A13 chip's improved image signal processor, as Rene Ritchie mentioned earlier this month. iFixit also found that the front-facing camera sensor on the new iPhone SE and the iPhone 8 are interchangeable.

ifixit iphone se vs 8 vs xr rear camera sensors

From left to right: iPhone SE, iPhone 8, iPhone XR

While the new iPhone SE and the iPhone 8 have virtually identical display assemblies, Apple has removed the 3D Touch module from the iPhone SE. iFixit even tested the new iPhone SE with an iPhone 8 display and found that 3D Touch still did not work, suggesting that the feature is disabled at the software level on the device.

The teardown also confirms reports that the new iPhone SE has a 1,821 mAh battery capacity, identical to the iPhone 8.

ifixit iphone se teardown 2020
The new iPhone SE has been available to order on Apple.com since April 17 and began arriving to customers on April 24. Pricing starts at $399 for 64GB of storage, with 128GB and 256GB options available for $449 and $549 respectively.

Related Roundup: iPhone SE
Buyer's Guide: iPhone SE (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

These 5 Features Will Make the iPhone 17 the Biggest Update in Years

Monday July 22, 2024 4:02 pm PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 16 models that we're expecting to see in September are going to be quite similar to the iPhone 15 models, but rumors suggest that Apple is making big changes in 2025. We've been hearing hints of an all-new device in the iPhone lineup, and it may be the most expensive iPhone Apple has offered to date. New 'Slim' Design Rumors have taken to referring to the new iPhone 17...
iOS 18 on iPhone Feature

Everything New in iOS 18 Beta 4

Tuesday July 23, 2024 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple released the fourth beta of iOS 18 today, introducing small changes to a number of features throughout the operating system. There are no big additions in this beta, but Apple is continuing to refine existing settings and design choices. Apple plans to continue updating iOS 18 over the next few months, with the update set to be released this fall. We've rounded up all of the changes...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Launch Early Next Year With OLED Display, 48MP Camera, and More

Monday July 22, 2024 7:22 am PDT by
The fourth-generation iPhone SE will offer a series of major upgrades over the current model, the leaker known as "Ice Universe" claims. The information was listed in a post on Weibo, which also detailed the specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup. As previously rumored, the fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to feature Face ID and USB-C, marking a major upgrade from current and previous ...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Mechanical Aperture

Tuesday July 23, 2024 9:32 am PDT by
Apple is planning to release at least one iPhone 17 model next year with mechanical aperture, according to a report published today by The Information. The mechanical system would allow users to adjust the size of the iPhone 17's aperture, which refers to the opening of the camera lens through which light enters. All existing iPhone camera lenses have fixed apertures, but some Android...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...

Top Rated Comments

Sirious Avatar
56 months ago
I miss 3D Touch!
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
56 months ago
Astonishing some people still don't understand why an inexpensive entry level phone has fewer features than a much more expensive high-end phone.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PickUrPoison Avatar
56 months ago

The 8se seems like a sore thumb. Why didn't Apple continue selling the prior generation at a cheaper price? This strategy of the 8se now seems like the marketing dept overdosed on something.
Just selling the iPhone 8 at $399 would have been lazy. Better to give it the SE treatment and upgrade the SoC to the current A13 (with 3GB of RAM). WiFi 6 is a nice touch.

$6-8/month for an iPhone that’ll be good for 4-6 years. That’s the whole point of making an SE.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
geachy92 Avatar
56 months ago

Didn’t the iPhone 11 Pro got 4hr extra from the XS a12 chip? Why is the SE still the same usage time as the iPhone 8? iPhone 8 had a a11 but no battery usage improvements.
Whilst some gains were made due to efficiency, the majority of the extra battery life for the 11series of iPhones was in physically larger batteries.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hlfway2anywhere Avatar
56 months ago

you only Show your Lack of Expertise in High quantity Production. A bigger battery costs almost nothing in design and production, just a slightly thicker body.

cheaper existing battery, can’t believe you really wrote that, ?
So much wrong about this, but the bigger lack of understanding here is your use of random uppercase letters.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Labyrintho Avatar
56 months ago

They didn't bother to change the camera sensor. They didn't utilise the extra space from removing the 3D Touch sensor.

I know, I know, $399 phone and all (don't forget that sales tax kiddos), but they're not even trying at this point!
They are trying – they are trying to keep it cheap.

That means you don’t retool and redesign unless there are big benefits.

And while it is simple in principle to talk about “just make the battery bigger“, that may well affect not only battery costs (since they have already driven the cost Way down of the existing battery) but other things related to fit in the Design and manufacturing of the phone.

So yes, a bigger battery was entirely feasible and would have been very nice, but it also would’ve increased the cost.

And they cannot forget that that also would make it more of a competitor with their premium phones.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)