iPhone 7 Plus 128GB now going for RM1,699, should you get this over the iPhone SE?

The iPhone SE 2020 is already on sale in Malaysia. If you’re looking for a cheaper iPhone alternative that has a larger screen and more storage, the iPhone 7 Plus is now offered for as low as RM1,699 for the 128GB variant.

According to retailer Machines, the iPhone 7 Plus 128GB is currently going for RM1,699. If you prefer a smaller device, the 4.7″ iPhone 7 with 128GB storage can be yours for RM1,449.

As a comparison, the iPhone SE with 64GB storage is priced at RM1,999 while the 128GB version is going for RM2,199. Meanwhile, the largest 256GB variant is going for RM2,699. If you’re thinking whether to get Apple’s 2016 flagship or the brand new iPhone SE, here are a couple of things you need to know.

A10 Fusion versus A13 Bionic chip

The first major difference is obviously the processor. The iPhone 7 Plus comes with an older A10 Fusion chip which is still fairly decent for today’s standards. The same chip is still powering the current entry-level 10.2″ iPad.

Performance aside, running on an older processor also means that software support would be limited. The iPhone 7 Plus was launched with iOS 10 back in 2016 and it still receives the latest iOS updates. The current version is iOS 13 and the oldest devices it could support are the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. If you’re looking for longer software support, the iPhone SE 2020 would be a better choice since it runs on the same A13 Bionic chip as Apple’s top of the line iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Better Screen, Camera and Battery Life

Apart from the processor, the iPhone 7 Plus offers a larger 5.5″ Full HD viewing experience versus the smaller 4.7″ HD+ screen on the iPhone SE. You also get stereo speakers via the down-firing speaker and earpiece, and the device still comes with IP67 rated dust and water resistance.

In the camera department, you also get a dual-camera setup featuring a 12MP main camera and a 12MP telephoto unit that offers 2x optical zoom. However, you can expect better image quality from the iPhone SE’s single 12MP camera as it uses a newer image sensor along with the additional imaging enhancements that are made possible with a newer processor.

Since it’s a larger iPhone, you can expect longer battery life on the 7 Plus. According to Apple’s comparison page, the iPhone 7 Plus is rated to provide up to 14 hours of video playback, while the iPhone SE is listed with up to 13 hours.

What else are you missing?

Unlike the iPhone SE which comes with a glass back, the 7 Plus comes with a metal rear. There’s no wireless charging support and it also doesn’t support 18W fast-charging via USB-PD. In terms of connectivity, it only supports 802.11ac WiFi (iPhone SE 2020 supports WiFi 6) and you can’t enable dual-SIM since it lacks eSIM support.

What do you think? Which would you pick if you’re going for a new iPhone under RM2,000? Let us know in the comments below.

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