So the rumors proved correct - that the second iPhone SE will be revealed around this time and it is a repurposed iPhone 8. The specs are more than decent and the advertised starting price at $399 is reasonable. However, will the 2020 iPhone SE prove the better buy over Google's upcoming Pixel 4a?
Google has all but confirmed the existence of its new budget handset. The Pixel 4a was scheduled for intro via the Google I/O but the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. It should be a matter of weeks and the device will see the light of the day.
What the Pixel 4a will be is generally known as it is part of the Pixel 4 series, only made more affordable. That is right, the Pure Android phone will sell at likely the same price as the 2020 SE so comparing the two should be interesting.
Apple said the new SE will be the cheaper of the latest iPhone series. According to CNET, pre-order will start on April 17 and shipment will commence on the 24th but take note that this is for North America. For other markets, the arrival has to be in the next few months and it should be expected that the price tag will vary, probably on the higher side.
But why get a product that is practically a clone of the iPhone 8 that was issued more than four years back. And remember that the design language employed on the 2020 iPhone SE is pretty much the same used on the iPhone 6. For those who care about this, the new SE comes with outdated technology. Although Apple believes there is a market that is still crazy for the device, which will be the smallest of the mid-range bunch this year.
The power packed with the new SE is hard to ignore because the A13 chip is the same that makes the iPhone 11 impressive. On paper, the Pixel 4a's combination of Snapdragon 730 processor and 6GB RAM seems beastly enough but 9to5Google said Apple's bet will boast of raw horsepower - read that an inevitable win.
And for the relatively affordable asking price of $399 for the base model, the 2020 iPhone SE has a load of selling points. The iMessage remains at the top of its game, the resale value is far better as the case for all iPhone models, and the OS support is expected to be top-notch.
Google has guaranteed that all Pixel models will receive three years of firmware support, meaning the Pixel 4a will be getting OS updates up to Android 13 and the corresponding security patches. On the other hand, the 2020 iPhone SE is seen to still absorb iOS upgrades until 2025, which should be a strong argument to buy.
In the end, what to pick between the Apple iPhone SE 2 and the Google Pixel 4a is a matter of preference. Note that the latter has a 5.8-inch display to the former's 4.7-inch so for some the bigger is better. And the two handsets reside in different ecosystems, which is saying buyers must pick where there are already invested and comfortable with.
