Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)

Why Buy iPhone SE (1st generation)?

The iPhone SE (1st generation) combines the compact design of the iPhone 5s era with Apple’s A9 chip, a 12MP iSight rear camera, Touch ID, and 4K video recording. Originally introduced in 2016, it was designed for users who preferred a smaller 4-inch iPhone while still getting capable performance and camera features for its generation.

• 4-inch Retina Display
• Apple A9 Chip
• M9 Motion Coprocessor
• 12MP iSight Rear Camera
• 1.2MP FaceTime HD Front Camera
• Touch ID with Home Button
• Live Photos
• 4K Video Recording at 30fps
• 4G LTE Connectivity
• Wi-Fi & Bluetooth 4.2
• 3.5mm Headphone Jack
• Lightning Connector
• Compact Aluminium Design
• 16GB, 32GB, 64GB & 128GB Storage Variants

Display & Design

The iPhone SE (1st generation) features a compact 4-inch Retina IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1136 × 640 pixels at 326 ppi.

Its small form factor makes it considerably more compact than later iPhone models. The design features an aluminium body with flat edges and a physical Home button, closely resembling the design of the iPhone 5s.

The display provides a typical maximum brightness of around 500 nits and was designed to deliver sharp text, photos, videos, and everyday interface elements within its compact screen size.

A9 Performance

The iPhone SE (1st generation) is powered by Apple’s A9 chip with 64-bit architecture, paired with an embedded M9 motion coprocessor.

The A9 features a dual-core CPU and provides the performance required for everyday tasks such as calling, messaging, browsing, music playback, photography, and compatible applications.

The M9 motion coprocessor handles motion-related data and enables features such as always-on “Hey Siri” when supported by the installed software.

12MP iSight Camera

The iPhone SE (1st generation) features a 12MP iSight rear camera with an ƒ/2.2 aperture.

The camera supports features including Live Photos, autofocus with Focus Pixels, True Tone flash, Auto HDR, panorama, burst mode, and face detection.

It also supports digital zoom up to 5x for photographs.

4K Video Recording

Despite its compact design, the iPhone SE (1st generation) supports 4K video recording at 30fps.

It can also record 1080p HD video at 30fps or 60fps and 720p HD video at 30fps.

Slow-motion recording is supported at 1080p 120fps and 720p 240fps. Time-lapse video with stabilization is also available.

Front Camera

The device features a 1.2MP FaceTime HD front camera with an ƒ/2.4 aperture.

It supports 720p HD video recording, Auto HDR for photos, Retina Flash, burst mode, and face detection.

The front camera can be used for FaceTime calls, selfies, and other compatible video-calling applications.

Touch ID & Security

The iPhone SE (1st generation) features Touch ID, integrated into the physical Home button.

Touch ID provides fingerprint-based authentication for unlocking the device and supported security functions.

Users can also protect the device using a PIN and passcode.

Connectivity

The iPhone SE (1st generation) supports 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC for Apple Pay, GPS, and GLONASS.

It uses a nano-SIM and features Apple’s Lightning connector for charging and data connectivity.

The device also retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing compatible wired headphones to connect directly without an adapter.

Battery & Charging

The iPhone SE (1st generation) uses a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery and charges through its Lightning connector.

It does not support Qi wireless charging or MagSafe.

The available device is Open Box and comes with 85%–88% battery health, depending on the individual unit.

Actual battery performance can vary depending on battery age, condition, network usage, applications, display brightness, and individual usage patterns.

Compact Aluminium Build

One of the most recognizable features of the original iPhone SE is its compact aluminium construction.

The flat-sided design, physical Home button, and 4-inch display make it noticeably different from modern all-screen iPhones.

Unlike newer models, the iPhone SE (1st generation) does not carry an official IP water and dust resistance rating.

Storage Options

Across its lifecycle, the iPhone SE (1st generation) was offered in four storage capacities:

• 16GB
• 32GB
• 64GB
• 128GB

At launch in 2016, Apple offered 16GB and 64GB variants. Apple later refreshed the storage lineup with 32GB and 128GB models in 2017.

Everyday Experience

The iPhone SE (1st generation) is best known for combining the compact iPhone 5s-style form factor with upgraded internal hardware from its era.

Its A9 chip, Touch ID, 12MP camera, 4K video recording, 4G LTE, and compact 4-inch Retina display provide the core features associated with the original SE generation.

For a product catalogue, using iPhone SE (1st generation) also clearly distinguishes the original 2016 model from the later iPhone SE (2nd generation) and iPhone SE (3rd generation).

Key Specifications