The new iPhone SE 2020 looks to have the potential to be one of the best value-for-money phones when it goes on sale on April 24; it should be as fast as the iPhone 11, but compact enough to use with one hand. And the new iPhone SE will offer some of the advanced photography features found on Apple's more expensive flagship models, such as portrait mode.

But you know there are some trade-offs to the starting price of $399. The question is whether you can live with those drawbacks. Here is a brief summary of the reasons to buy or skip the iPhone SE when considering whether or not to buy one.

UPDATE: Our review of the iPhone SE 2020 is now available. See our final assessment.

Here are the top 5 reasons why Apple's new entry-level phone is worth the money.

While Android phone makers are putting cheap CPUs in budget handsets, the iPhone SE is powered by Apple's A13 Bionic processor. This same chip is also found in the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

In terms of raw CPU performance, the iPhone SE is up to 2.4 times faster than the original iPhone SE and up to 1.4 times faster than the iPhone 8. Graphics performance is even better, with the new iPhone SE's GPU performance being 4 times faster than the original iPhone SE and 2 times faster than the iPhone 8. iPhone SE also lets you try out all the best new AR apps thanks to its 8-core Neural Engine.

The iPhone SE only has a rear 12MP and front 7MP camera, but these also benefit from the A13 Bionic chip. iPhone SE has a Portrait Mode with depth control and six different portrait lighting effects. support, and Smart HDR helps intelligently re-light recognized subjects. Portrait photography is also possible with the front camera. Last but not least, the rear camera shoots videos up to 40K and 30 fps for expanded dynamic range. iPhone SE may be the best camera phone for those on a budget.

Buying a cheap phone generally means opting for a cheap-looking casing, but the iPhone SE offers a premium look and feel. It is made of glass and 7000 series aluminum, with aluminum sides that are the same color as the back. The iPhone SE is also IP67 water resistant and can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes.

As secure as Face ID is, there are still many who prefer the ease and speed over Touch ID. iPhone SE can power on and unlock the screen with a single touch, and the same sensor can be used for Apple Pay and password entry. In addition, Face ID is difficult to recognize when wearing a mask, which is required in many states, but Touch ID does not have that problem.

Another feature not usually found on phones under $400 is that the iPhone SE supports wireless charging at up to 7.5W, so you can easily set it on one of the best wireless chargers and start charging. any charger that supports Qi chargers. Any charger that supports Qi chargers should work.

Naturally, Apple's budget phone has a handful of drawbacks. Here are a few reasons to skip the iPhone SE 2020.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for compact phones. However, the bezels surrounding the iPhone SE's 4.7-inch display are quite large. That makes it look a bit old-fashioned from the front, and I wish Apple would have enlarged the screen to 5 inches with the same design, even if it meant moving Touch ID to either the power button or the bottom of the display. I hope for next time.

You will probably want to use the iPhone SE's flash when the lighting gets quite dark. That's because the camera does not have a night mode. This feature is available for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro series.

The iPhone SE replaces the 4.7-inch iPhone 8 and 5.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus in Apple's lineup. There are rumors that Apple is working on an iPhone SE Plus, but even if Apple is working on it, it is unlikely that the phone will appear anytime soon.

The iPhone SE 2020 is likely to be the best phone ever for under $400, with a design, performance, and camera that are above its price. In fact, it is making Android phone makers take notice of its ability to deliver high quality at the lowest possible price. The next Google Pixel 4a may outperform the iPhone SE with an even better camera and larger display, but for now at least, the iPhone SE is the budget phone to beat.