iFixit tears down the iPhone 8, err, iPhone SE 2020

iPhone SE 2020

iFixit says it is thrilled that Apple Frankensteined the iPhone SE 2020 together with parts from previous models. Replacement parts should be easier to find—and by recycling its design, it produces less overall waste.

To say the iPhone SE 2020 is a kludge of leftovers would be unkind. Yes, that is mostly accurate, but Apple went the whole hog in using the new A13 SoC used on the iPhone 11 series.

You got to hand it to CEO Tim Cook for cooking up the most economical Apple to date and if that means using existing tooling, moulds, milling and automated assembly so be it.

In fact, from preliminary reports (OK, a few days sales) the Product Red 3/128GB is selling the most units. If sales keep going, it will eclipse all current model iPhone 11 sales in a month or so – according to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Kuo argues that the strong reception for the iPhone SE 2020 suggests consumers are gravitating to lower-priced phones, only care that a camera is adequate, and don’t give a stuff about 5G. This has major implications for Apple’s premium price business model [and its aggressive move to more profitable services] and the companies that supply it with parts.

Back to iFixit’s Apples to Apples, iPhone 8, err iPhone SE 2020 teardown.

The full teardown is here, but the gist is that the screen (sans True Tone), camera, case, sim-tray, taptic engine, display assembly, battery (apart from a new connector) and more are the same as the iPhone 8. Obviously, the motherboard has changed to the A13 SoC.

iPhone 8 (L) and iPhone SE 2020 (R)

But all that means is that it may be easier to get parts for future repairs.

It scores a 6/10 for repairability.

Val Quinn, GadgetGuy CEO and Apple fanboy expert, says it’s the right phone for the right time.