Apple announced the upcoming release of their new lower-cost iPhone SE on Wednesday, While the new handset outwardly resembles the now-discontinued iPhone 8, it has updated internals.
The iPhone SE technical specifications page reveals the new budget handset shares features with the high-end iPhone 11:
- Gigabit-class LTE with 2×2 MIMO and LAA4
- 802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6 with 2×2 MIMO
- Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
- NFC with reader mode
- Express Cards with power reserve
Wi-Fi 6 is the latest Wi-Fi protocol and offers theoretical download speeds that are up to 38% faster than Wi-Fi 5. While the protocol isn’t yet widely supported, routers and modems are beginning to offer support.
The iPhone SE includes NFC with Reader Mode, allowing for authentication of Express Transit cards without needing to unlock and authorize payment on your iPhone. The feature will also work with the “CarKey” function Apple is working on, which will allow iPhone users to use their device as an alternative to their traditional car key in vehicles that support the feature.
One feature the iPhone SE does not share with its more expensive relatives is the U1 chip that enables Ultra-Wideband technology for improved spatial awareness. The chip, which is available in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, makes it easier to locate missing devices indoors. The feature is believed to be a key feature of the much-anticipated AirTags accessory that Apple is working on. AirTags work much like Tile and will be attached to losable items like keys and wallets, allowing them to be found via the Find My app.
(Via MacRumors)
