iPhone SE (2020) vs. Motorola Moto E7: A Detailed Comparison

The smartphone landscape is crowded with options, but finding a capable device under $200 requires careful consideration. We pit the Apple iPhone SE (2020), a compact powerhouse running iOS, against the Motorola Moto E7, an Android contender focused on affordability. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which phone delivers the best experience for your money.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Apple iPhone SE (2020) is the superior choice. While the Moto E7 offers a lower price point, the iPhone SE’s significantly faster A13 Bionic chip, brighter display, and long-term software support justify the price difference, providing a smoother and more future-proof experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Moto E7 Apple iPhone SE (2020)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Europe, AsiaHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - Europe1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2296
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Asia1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2275, A2298
Launch
Announced2020, November 24. Released 2020, December 092020, April 15
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, April 24
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions164.9 x 75.7 x 8.9 mm (6.49 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight180 g (6.35 oz)148 g (5.22 oz)
 Water-repellent coatingIP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Ion-strengthened glass
Resolution720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio)4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDRetina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder)
ChipsetMediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm)Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)
GPUPowerVR GE8320Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 10iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1NVMe
Main Camera
Dual48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro)-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaQuad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single-12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single5 MP, f/2.27 MP, f/2.2
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximityFingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging10W wired18W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi)
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Ion 1821 mAh (6.91 Wh)
Misc
ColorsMineral Gray, Aqua Blue, Satin CoralBlack, White, Red
Models-A2275, A2296, A2298, iPhone12,8
PriceAbout 110 EUR$ 120.00 / C$ 165.75 / £ 99.95 / € 130.89
SAR-1.17 W/kg (head)     1.16 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.98 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 59h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: 1544:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 462253 (v8) GeekBench: 3237 (v5.1)

Motorola Moto E7

  • Significantly faster processor (A13 Bionic)
  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • Long-term software support (iOS updates)

  • Higher price point
  • Smaller screen size

Apple iPhone SE (2020)

  • More affordable price
  • Larger screen size
  • Expandable storage (likely via microSD)

  • Slower processor (Helio G25)
  • Slower charging speed
  • Limited software updates

Display Comparison

The iPhone SE (2020) boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 670 nits, compared to the Moto E7’s unspecified brightness. This makes the iPhone SE far more usable outdoors. Both displays share a 1544:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar color reproduction quality, but the iPhone’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage. The Moto E7’s larger screen size will appeal to those who consume a lot of video, but the iPhone SE’s smaller size makes it more pocketable and easier to use one-handed.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but details are limited. The iPhone SE (2020) benefits from Apple’s renowned image processing pipeline, delivering consistently good results. While sensor size and aperture are unknown for both, the iPhone’s processing algorithms are likely to outperform the Moto E7’s. The Moto E7’s camera is likely focused on basic functionality, while the iPhone SE offers features like Portrait mode and Smart HDR. The lack of detail regarding the Moto E7’s camera suggests it’s not a primary selling point.

Performance

The performance gap between these two devices is substantial. The iPhone SE (2020) is powered by the Apple A13 Bionic, a 7nm+ chip with a hexa-core CPU, while the Moto E7 utilizes the Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25, a 12nm chip with an octa-core CPU. The A13 Bionic’s architecture – 2x2.65 GHz Lightning cores and 4x1.8 GHz Thunder cores – is far more efficient and powerful than the Moto E7’s Cortex-A53 configuration. This translates to significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a better gaming experience on the iPhone SE. The 7nm process node of the A13 also contributes to better thermal management, reducing throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 59 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite the Moto E7’s unspecified battery capacity. However, the iPhone SE (2020) offers significantly faster charging: 18W wired charging with 50% charge in 30 minutes, and 7.5W wireless charging (Qi). The Moto E7 is limited to 10W wired charging, meaning a much slower recharge time. While battery life is comparable, the iPhone SE’s charging speed provides a more convenient user experience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Moto E7 if you prioritize absolute affordability and a larger screen size for media consumption, and are comfortable with a basic Android experience. Buy the Apple iPhone SE (2020) if you value performance, a premium user experience with iOS, long-term software updates, and a more compact form factor, even if it means paying a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the iPhone SE (2020) still a good buy in 2024, considering its age?
Yes, the iPhone SE (2020) remains a compelling option. The A13 Bionic chip is still incredibly capable, and Apple provides long-term software support, ensuring you’ll receive security updates for years to come. Its compact size is also a unique advantage in a market dominated by larger phones.
❓ Does the Motorola Moto E7 support fast charging, and how long does it take to fully charge?
The Moto E7 supports 10W wired charging, which is relatively slow. A full charge is expected to take significantly longer than the iPhone SE (2020)'s 18W fast charging, likely exceeding 3 hours from 0% to 100%.
❓ Can I expand the storage on the Motorola Moto E7 with a microSD card?
While not explicitly stated in the provided data, Motorola phones in this price range typically include a microSD card slot for expandable storage. This is a significant advantage over the iPhone SE (2020), which does not offer storage expansion.