Honestly, if you're still clutching your 2020 iPhone SE like it’s a lifeline, you aren't alone. It’s early 2026, and this little phone is becoming a bit of a legend. Most people thought it would be e-waste by now. But here we are. It’s actually still running the latest software, iOS 26. That’s pretty wild for a phone that basically looks like an iPhone 8 from 2017.
Some tech snobs might laugh. They’re carrying around massive titanium bricks with five cameras and "Apple Intelligence" features that honestly half of us don't use. Meanwhile, the second-gen SE just works. It’s small. It fits in a pocket without bruising your hip.
The A13 Bionic: Is It Actually Fast Enough?
Under the hood of the iPhone SE 2nd generation, there is an A13 Bionic chip. When this thing launched, it was the same processor found in the iPhone 11 Pro. It was overkill back then. Today? It's just enough. You’ll notice some lag when opening heavy apps like TikTok or those massive mobile games that everyone is obsessed with lately. But for texting, Spotify, and checking your email? It’s fine. Seriously.
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The real bottleneck isn't the CPU. It's the RAM.
This phone only has 3GB of memory. In 2026, apps are hungrier than ever. If you have too many tabs open in Safari, the phone might start to feel like it’s thinking through a thick fog. It’s not "broken," it’s just busy. If you’re a light user, you won't care. If you’re trying to edit 4K video on this thing, you’re a masochist.
The Battery Struggle is Real
Let's be real for a second. The battery life on the iPhone SE 2nd generation was never "good." It was barely "okay" in 2020. Six years later, it’s probably struggling. The physical cell is tiny—just 1,821 mAh. For comparison, modern iPhones are pushing 4,000 mAh or more.
If you haven't replaced your battery yet, your health is probably sitting at 75% or lower. That means your phone is basically a landline. You leave the house at 100%, and by lunch, you’re looking for a wall outlet. It’s the biggest "gotcha" of owning this model.
- The Quick Fix: Spend the $80-ish at a repair shop for a fresh battery.
- The Cheap Fix: Carry a MagSafe-compatible sticker or just a standard power bank.
- The Reality: Don't expect a full day of heavy use. Ever.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Camera
You see that single lens on the back? People assume it’s trash because it’s not a "Pro" setup. But the iPhone SE 2nd generation uses some clever computational photography. In broad daylight, the photos actually look great. The colors are natural, and the 12MP sensor captures plenty of detail for Instagram or a family group chat.
Where it fails is the dark.
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There is no dedicated Night Mode on this model. None. If you try to take a photo at a dimly lit bar, you’re going to get a grainy mess. It’s also missing the Ultra-Wide lens, so you can't get those cool "distorted" perspective shots. But for a quick snap of your dog or a receipt? It’s more than enough.
The Software "End of Life" Clock
Apple dropped support for the iPhone XR and XS series last year. That puts the SE 2nd gen next on the chopping block. While it runs iOS 26 perfectly well right now, many experts (and the general pattern of Apple’s history) suggest that 2027 might be the end of the road for major updates.
That doesn't mean the phone dies.
It just means you won't get the fancy new lock screens or whatever bells and whistles Apple reveals at WWDC next year. Security patches usually stick around for a year or two after the main OS updates stop. You’ve probably got until 2028 before the phone actually becomes "unsafe" or "obsolete."
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Why People are Buying These Used
You can find these refurbished for under $100 now. For a kid’s first phone or a backup "gym phone," that is an insane value. You’re getting the Apple ecosystem, iMessage, and decent build quality for the price of a couple of steak dinners.
Honestly, the home button is the biggest draw for some people. Touch ID is just faster for some of us, especially when the phone is sitting flat on a desk. You don't have to pick it up and stare at it just to unlock it. It’s a tactile experience that disappeared with the iPhone 16e and the newer models.
Practical Steps for SE Owners
If you're keeping this phone through 2026, you need to be smart about it. Don't just suffer with a slow device.
- Check your Battery Health in Settings. If it’s under 80%, "Peak Performance Capability" is probably disabled. This makes the phone feel way slower than it actually is. Replace the battery and it’ll feel brand new.
- Clear out your storage. The 64GB base model is a nightmare in 2026. Offload your photos to iCloud or Google Photos and keep at least 10GB of free space. A full iPhone is a glitchy iPhone.
- Turn off Background App Refresh. You don't have the battery or the RAM to let 50 apps talk to the internet while the screen is off.
- Use a Case. The glass back is pretty, but it’s expensive to fix. At this point, the repair cost is more than the phone is worth.
The iPhone SE 2nd generation isn't a flagship anymore. It's a tool. It's for people who want to spend less time on their screens and more time living, without losing access to the apps they actually need. It’s aging, sure, but it’s aging with some serious grace. Just keep a charger handy.