When the iPhone X first debuted in 2017, it made headlines for several reasons. It was the first iPhone to have Face ID, the first…
When the iPhone X first debuted in 2017, it made headlines for several reasons. It was the first iPhone to have Face ID, the first to have an OLED display and the first to have an on-screen notch. At the time it was a top-of-the-class device. Now, three years later, it’s just as reliable. Though Apple discontinued the iPhone X a mere 10 months after its launch, the company sells refurbished models at a heavy discount: $599 or £599 (64GB) and $699 or £699 (256GB). (Apple does not sell or ship refurbished iPhones to Australia, but that converts to about AU$940 and AU$1,100.)
While this may be a tempting option for those looking for a cheaper iPhone, Apple also introduced a new iPhone SE this year for $399 (£419, AU$749). The iPhone SE’s specs and looks are similar to the iPhone 8, which also came out in 2017, but it has plenty of new advantages of its own that make it a better buy than a refurbished iPhone X from Apple.
For more details, read on for a deep dive into how the two iPhones stack up.
Despite being three years older, the iPhone X still looks modern and its stainless steel design comes off as more premium than the iPhone SE’s aluminum body. Besides its obvious notch, the iPhone X is also bigger, and has a sharper display with a higher resolution and pixel density. It has an OLED screen too, as opposed to the iPhone SE’s LCD display. In general, OLED screens are regarded to have better image quality and color contrast, but they also cost more and may suffer burn-in. The iPhone X’s screen is notably brighter, especially at different viewing angles, and it’s a tad more vibrant. I’ve been using an iPhone X for the past three years and haven’t noticed any burn-in issues.
The iPhone SE is Apple’s only new iPhone that has a physical home button.
