Apple iPhone SE 2nd generation White 128GB

The iPhone SE 2nd generation is a compact budget iPhone with the A13 Bionic chip, Touch ID, and a 4.7-inch LCD. It's fast enough for everyday use and costs around $140 unlocked, but the 1821mAh battery is a serious weakness. Buy it for the size and price, not for battery life or camera quality.

The A13 Bionic is the star here. In our database, the SE 2's performance sits right around the middle of the pack for phones overall, which sounds unimpressive until you remember this thing costs under $150. Apps open fast, iOS runs smoothly, and the third-generation Neural Engine handles photo processing and AR tasks without breaking a sweat. For everyday stuff like messaging, browsing, and social media, it's still quick.

But 3GB of RAM is tight by modern standards. You'll notice apps reloading when you switch between more than a few of them, and heavy multitasking can feel cramped. Gaming is fine for casual titles, but demanding games will push the A13 hard and drain the small battery fast. The 128GB storage on this model helps, giving you room for apps, photos, and offline music without constant management.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a completely different beast, a $1,000+ flagship with a 6.8-inch AMOLED display, 5G, and a camera system that embarrasses the SE 2. But it's also seven times the price. The Google Pixel 9a is a more realistic alternative, offering a modern OLED display, much better cameras, and all-day battery for a few hundred dollars more. You lose the compact size and iOS, but gain a phone that feels current.

The Motorola Moto G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G compete directly on price. The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G especially offers a bigger, higher-resolution display, 5G, and a much larger battery for similar money. But you're giving up iOS, Apple's update support, and the A13's smooth performance. The Nothing Phone 3A Lite is another budget option with a more modern design and better battery, but again, it's Android. If you're locked into Apple's ecosystem, none of these matter. If you're not, the SE 2's compromises are harder to justify.

At $138 to $140 unlocked, the iPhone SE 2 is one of the cheapest ways to get a modern-ish iPhone. You're getting the A13 Bionic, iOS updates, and Apple's ecosystem for less than most budget Android phones. But value depends on what you need. The battery life is a real problem, and you'll likely need to charge mid-day if you use your phone heavily. Compared to something like the Google Pixel 9a or even a refurbished iPhone 11, the SE 2 trades battery and camera quality for size and price. If you can stretch your budget, a refurbished iPhone 12 or 13 gives you a much better display and battery. But if $140 is your ceiling and you want iOS, this is hard to beat.

The iPhone SE 2nd generation is Apple's budget throwback, a 4.7-inch phone with a home button and Touch ID in a world of edge-to-edge screens. It launched as the cheap way into iOS, and in 2025 it's still floating around refurbished for roughly $138 to $140 unlocked. That's a very low price for an iPhone, but you're buying a design from 2017 wrapped around a chip from 2019.

People searching for a small iPhone or the cheapest new-ish iPhone usually land here. The SE 2 gives you the A13 Bionic, the same processor as the iPhone 11 series, in a body that fits easily in one hand. It's 148 grams, IP67 water resistant, and has wireless charging. But the 4.7-inch LCD with 1334 x 750 resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate feels dated next to even mid-range Android phones.

So is the iPhone SE 2 still worth buying? For the right person, yes. If you want iOS on a budget, hate big phones, or need a reliable backup device, this is a solid pick. If you care about battery life, camera quality, or modern displays, you'll feel the compromises every single day.

Skip the iPhone SE 2 if you use your phone heavily throughout the day, watch a lot of video, or take photos in low light. The battery won't keep up, the small LCD feels cramped for media, and the single 12MP camera struggles when the sun goes down. If you need 5G, this is also a non-starter. Instead, look at a refurbished iPhone 12 or 13 for better battery and a modern display, or the Google Pixel 9a if you're open to Android. Gamers and power users should look elsewhere entirely.

Should you buy the iPhone SE 2 in 2025? Only if you specifically want a small, cheap iPhone and can live with terrible battery life. The A13 Bionic keeps it feeling responsive, Touch ID works great, and the build quality is classic Apple. But the 1821mAh battery is genuinely bad, the display feels cramped and dated, and the single camera is mediocre by today's standards.

For a backup phone, a kid's first iPhone, or someone who just wants iOS on a budget, the SE 2 makes sense at $140. For anyone else, save up a bit more and get a refurbished iPhone 12 or 13, or look at the Pixel 9a if you're open to Android. The SE 2 is a good phone from 2020, but it's not a great phone in 2025.