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iPhone Q&A
Update Published September 20, 2024
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What are the major differences between the iPhone XR and iPhone SE (2nd Gen)? Which is best for me?
Please note that the iPhone XR and iPhone SE 2 both have been discontinued. However, this Q&A has been updated with current iOS support details and more and remains quite useful for anyone considering one of these models on the used market.
There are four different iPhone XR models -- first introduced in 2018 and discontinued in 2021 -- and three different iPhone SE (2nd Gen) models -- first introduced in 2020 and discontinued in 2022 -- but this EveryiPhone.com Q&A primarily covers collective differences to make it straightforward to decide which device is best for you.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Left: iPhone XR; Right: iPhone SE 2)
As the above photos make clear, the iPhone XR and iPhone SE 2 are easy to tell apart if they are side-by-side. The iPhone XR has a larger display whereas the iPhone SE 2 has a smaller display and a "Home" button that supports "Touch ID" authentication instead of the nearly invisible -- and more advanced -- "Face ID" authentication support provided by the iPhone XR.
External Design & Functionality Differences
The iPhone XR effectively is a rounded rectangle with a fairly wide black "lip" around the edge of its display whereas the iPhone SE 2 is smaller and has much more significant "dead space" above the top and bottom of its display.
Nevertheless, both the iPhone XR and iPhone SE 2 use a largely aluminum case with a glass front and back. Both have stereo speakers, a Lightning port, and a side-mounted Nano SIM access panel on the right side (specific SIM capabilities can vary by country). Both support "wireless" -- really inductive -- charging with an optional charging base and both are splash, water, and dust-resistant to the IP67 standard (maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes), but not fully waterproof.
Most critically, though, the iPhone XR has a 6.1" LCD "Liquid Retina HD" display whereas the iPhone SE 2 has a smaller 4.7" LCD "Retina HD" display. There are many more options for the exterior color of the iPhone XR, too:
 iPhone XR |
 iPhone SE 2 |
|
| Display: | 6.1" LCD | 4.7" LCD |
| Resolution: | 1792x828 | 1334x750 |
| PPI: | 326 ppi | 326 ppi |
| Contrast Ratio: | 1400:1 | 1400:1 |
| Water Resistance: | IP67 (1 meter) | IP67 (1 meter) |
| Speakers: | Stereo | Stereo |
| Security: | Face ID | Touch ID |
| Home Button: | No | Yes |
| Inductive Charging: | Yes (Qi) | Yes (Qi) |
| Material: | Aluminum/Glass | Aluminum/Glass |
| Color Options: | (PRODUCT) RED, yellow, white, coral (salmon), black, and (royal) blue | (PRODUCT) RED, white, black |
Camera Differences
The cameras in the iPhone XR and iPhone SE 2 are a significant, albeit somewhat muddled, point of differentiation. The front camera is much more capable on the iPhone XR but the rear camera is modestly more capable on the iPhone SE 2.
Front Cameras
The front-facing camera on the iPhone XR -- which Apple refers to as "TrueDepth" -- supports "Advanced Face ID" authentication, still photos, and video, whereas the front-facing camera on the iPhone SE 2 only supports stills and video, albeit with more lighting effects:
iPhone XR |
iPhone SE 2 |
|
| Camera Type: | TrueDepth | FaceTime HD |
| Megapixels: | 7 MP | 7 MP |
| Aperture: | f/2.2 | f/2.2 |
| Video: | 1080p | 1080p |
| Portrait Mode: | Yes | Yes |
| Portrait Lighting: | Yes (Three Effects) | Yes (Six Effects) |
| AR Support: | Yes | No |
| Face ID: | Yes | No |
| Animoji/Memoji: | Yes | No |
Rear Cameras
The single-lens rear camera in both the iPhone XR and iPhone SE 2 are quite similar to one another, but the iPhone SE 2 has more effects courtesy of its faster processor:
iPhone XR |
iPhone SE 2 |
|
| Megapixels: | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Aperture: | f/1.8 | f/1.8 |
| Telephoto: | None | None |
| LED Flash: | Yes | Yes |
| Night Mode: | No | No |
| Digital Zoom: | 5x | 5x |
| Portrait Mode: | Yes | Yes |
| Portrait Lighting: | Yes (Three Effects) | Yes (Six Effects) |
| Smart HDR: | Yes | Yes (Next Gen) |
Essentially, the iPhone SE 2 has improved portrait capabilities.
Identification Differences
It is easy to differentiate between the iPhone XR and iPhone SE 2 when they are side-by-side, but both are easy to mix up with other models.
One relatively easy way to uniquely identify the iPhone XR and iPhone SE 2 models is by the Model Number listed on the cardboard shipping box and within the iOS "Settings" app.
Consequently, for the purpose of this Q&A, it is sufficient to note that the following model numbers refer to these iPhone devices:
iPhone Model |
Model No |
EveryiPhone.com's Ultimate iLookup feature also can precisely identify these iPhone models by Order Number (referred to as "Model" within the iOS "Settings" app under General > About), and their Serial Numbers, as well.
Battery Life Differences
The iPhone XR and iPhone SE 2 both have solid battery life, but the physically larger iPhone XR provides much more runtime because of its physically larger battery. Apple changed their reporting criteria a bit between models, as well:
iPhone XR |
iPhone SE 2 |
|
| Talk Time: | 25 Hours | -- |
| Internet Use: | 15 Hours | -- |
| Streamed Video: | -- | 8 Hours |
| Video Playback: | 16 Hours | 13 Hours |
| Audio Playback: | 65 Hours | 40 Hours |
Wireless Connectivity & Data Differences
There are notable differences in connectivity for different iPhone XR and iPhone SE 2 models depending on where either is sold, but most significantly, the iPhone SE 2 models support faster 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) and Gigabit LTE whereas the iPhone XR models do not.
SIM capabilities are different, as well. All iPhone XR and iPhone SE 2 models sold in Western countries support dual SIMs (one physical Nano SIM and one eSIM) whereas the China-specific iPhone XR has dual hardware Nano SIMs and its iPhone SE 2 counterpart only has a single hardware Nano SIM.
Internal Differences
The iPhone XR and iPhone SE 2 are significantly different internally:
iPhone XR |
iPhone SE 2 |
|
| Clockspeed: | 2.49 GHz | 2.66 GHz |
| Processor: | Apple A12 Bionic | Apple A13 Bionic |
| Cores: | Six | Six |
| RAM: | 3 GB | 3 GB |
| Architecture: | 64-Bit | 64-Bit |
| Neural Engine: | 2nd Gen | 3rd Gen |
| Orig. Storage: | 64/128/256 GB | 64/128/256 GB |
| Apple Pay (NFC): | Yes | Yes |
In benchmark tests, the newer iPhone SE 2 is around 20% faster in single-core tasks and 12% faster in multi-core tasks than the iPhone XR.
iOS Support Differences
The iPhone XR originally shipped with iOS 12. The iPhone SE 2 originally shipped with iOS 13. Both models later shipped with iOS 14, and fully support the operating system. Both fully support iOS 15, as well, and later iPhone SE 2 models shipped with the operating system.
Both models support iOS 16, iOS 17, and iOS 18 -- the current version of the iOS -- but specific feature support varies.
Running iOS 16, neither model supports the minor Accessibility Detection and improved Depth of Field features nor Apple Music Sing (Karaoke), but the older iPhone XR also lacks support for the Live Captions and Visual Look Up features whereas the newer iPhone SE 2 does support these features.
Running iOS 17, support is the same, neither model supports the minor React with Your Hands; More Accurate Autocorrect in English, French, and Spanish; Inline Predictions (English); and Point and Speak features.
Running iOS 18, neither model supports the Apple Intelligence (AI), Messages via Satellite, Live audio transcriptions, Eye Tracking, and Music Haptics features, but the older iPhone XR also lacks support for the Enhance Dialogue and Hands-free Unlock features wheras the newer iPhone SE 2 does support these features.
iPhone XR & iPhone SE 2 Comparison Chart
These differences as well as other details and pricing information is summarized below:
iPhone XR |
iPhone SE 2 |
|
| Introduced: | Sep 2018 | Apr 2020 |
| Discontinued: | Sep 2021 | Mar 2022 |
| Processor: | 2.49 GHz A12 | 2.66 GHz A13 |
| RAM: | 3 GB | 3 GB |
| Orig. Storage: | 64/128/256 GB | 64/128/256 GB |
| Battery Life: | 15-65 Hours | 8-40 Hours |
| Display Type: | LCD | LCD |
| Display Size: | 6.1" | 4.7" |
| Resolution: | 1792x828 | 1334x750 |
| Pixel Density: | 326 ppi | 326 ppi |
| Contrast Ratio: | 1400:1 | 1400:1 |
| Front Camera: | 7 MP (1080p) | 7 MP (1080p) |
| Rear Camera: | 1 (12 MP) | 1 (12 MP) |
| Security: | Face ID | Touch ID |
| Home Button: | No | Yes |
| Material: | Alum/Glass | Alum/Glass |
| Waterproofing: | IP67 (1m) | IP67 (1m) |
| Colors: | Six Colors | Three Colors |
| SIM Card: | Nano/eSIM | Nano/eSIM |
| Fastest Wi-Fi: | 802.11ac | 802.11ax (6) |
| Gigabit LTE: | No | Yes |
| Original iOS: | iOS 12 | iOS 13 |
| Maximum iOS: | iOS 18 | iOS 18 |
| Orig. Price* (US): | US$749 US$799 US$899 |
US$399 US$449 US$549 |
* Note that these prices are for devices unlocked and paid in full upfront. Carrier subsidized options also are available. On September 10, 2019, Apple discontinued the 256 GB option for the iPhone XR and dropped the price of of the remaining 64 GB and 128 GB configurations to US$599 and US$649, respectively. On October 13, 2020, Apple again dropped the price of the 64 GB and 128 GB iPhone XR options to US$499 and US$549, respectively. On September 14, 2021, Apple discontinued the iPhone XR and discontinued the 256 GB option for the iPhone SE 2. On March 8, 2022, Apple discontinued the iPhone SE 2.
For pricing in dozens of countries, see the "Global Prices" on the specs page for each iPhone as well as the "By Global Original Prices" section of EveryiPhone.com.
So, which is for me? Should I buy an iPhone XR or iPhone SE 2?
Choosing between the older iPhone XR and newer iPhone SE 2 may be a difficult decision for those on a tight budget. If money is no object, the more recent and faster iPhone 11 (or an even newer iPhone model), would be a better choice.
Although the value proposition may have shifted somewhat on the used market, if money is tight, though, the newer iPhone SE 2 provides (1) faster performance, (2) faster Wi-Fi and faster LTE, (3) modestly improved cameras, and (4) as much as a US$200 lower price tag when compared to an iPhone XR with equivalent storage when it was new. The iPhone SE 2 now has (5) more advanced iOS support, too.
The iPhone SE 2 also is physically smaller, which is an advantage to those who prefer a smaller mobile device and has "old school" home button and "Touch ID" authentication support, which may be more familiar to those upgrading from a more vintage iPhone.
On the other hand, the older iPhone XR has (1) a bigger, better screen, (2) support for more modern "Face ID" authentication, (3) better battery life, and (4) more color options.
Ultimately, it may come down to a single advantage or disadvantage for you to choose one device or the other, but this objective evaluation should make it a bit easier to decide.
In the US, site sponsor Other World Computing sells used and refurbished iPhone XR and iPhone SE 2 models with free shipping. On the other hand, if you need to sell an iPhone, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older iPhone with an instant quote and prompt payment.
In Australia, site sponsor Mac City likewise has a variety of used iPhone models sold at low prices and available with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.
Please also see EveryiPhone.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPhone model to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad.
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