The iPhone SE 2020, also called the iPhone SE (2nd generation), is the cheapest iPhone Apple still updates, and it sells for under $100 on Swappa. This guide covers who it still suits in 2026, how it compares with the iPhone SE (3rd generation), how long iOS support is likely to last, and what yours is worth if you are selling.
Quick Answer
As a backup phone, a first phone for a child, or a light-use line, yes. As a main phone for the next few years, the iPhone SE (3rd generation) is the better buy. The iPhone SE 2020 runs iOS 27, but its A13 chip is the oldest Apple supports. As of September 26, 2026, 64GB and 128GB SE 2020 units both sold for an average of $84 on Swappa, and a 64GB SE (3rd generation) sold for about $119.
Who the iPhone SE 2020 Is Still Good For
A good fit for:
- A first phone for a child. It is small, has Touch ID and parental controls, and is cheap to replace. See Best Used Phones for Kids and First-Time Owners.
- A backup, travel, or work phone that mostly handles calls, texts, maps, and messaging. For a second line, look at TextNow on a used iPhone.
- Anyone who wants a home button and Touch ID. Apple no longer sells a new iPhone with a home button.
Not a good fit for:
- Heavy daily use. Its 1,821mAh battery is the smallest of any iPhone still supported.
- Keeping a phone for three or more years, because it is first in line to lose iOS support.
- Night photography. There is no Night mode.
- 5G. It is a 4G LTE phone.
iOS 27 Support: How Long the iPhone SE 2020 Has Left
The iPhone SE 2020 runs iOS 27, which Apple released on September 14, 2026. It launched with iOS 13 in April 2020 and has received every major iOS release since. Apple Intelligence and the new Siri features require an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, so the SE 2020 does not get them.
Its A13 Bionic is the same chip as in the iPhone 11 series, and it is the oldest chip on the iOS 27 list. Apple tends to drop iPhones by chip, so the SE 2020 is likely to leave the update list at the same time as the iPhone 11. Apple has not announced iOS 28 compatibility and usually does so at WWDC in June. When a phone drops off, it keeps working on its last version, and Apple has historically shipped security-only fixes to older iOS versions for a period afterward, without committing to a timeline.
More on how support windows work in How Long Will a Used Phone Get Updates? If you plan to keep an SE 2020 past that point, read Keeping an Older Device Secure After Updates End.
iPhone SE 2020 Specs at a Glance
| Spec | iPhone SE (2nd generation, 2020) |
|---|---|
| Released | April 2020, from $399 |
| Display | 4.7″ Retina HD LCD, 1334 x 750 |
| Chip and RAM | A13 Bionic, 3GB |
| Rear camera | 12MP wide, f/1.8, no Night mode |
| Front camera | 7MP |
| Unlock | Touch ID home button |
| Battery | 1,821mAh, up to 13 hours of video playback (Apple rating) |
| Cellular | 4G LTE, no 5G |
| Charging | Lightning, 18W fast charging, Qi wireless |
| Water resistance | IP67, up to 1 meter for 30 minutes |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| Weight | 148g |
| Colors | Black, White, (PRODUCT)RED |
The body is the same size as the iPhone 8, and most iPhone 8 cases fit, but the chip inside is two generations newer (A13 against the iPhone 8’s A11), which is why the SE 2020 is still supported and the iPhone 8 is not.
iPhone SE 2020 vs iPhone SE (3rd Generation)
| iPhone SE (2nd gen, 2020) | iPhone SE (3rd gen, 2022) | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip and RAM | A13 Bionic, 3GB | A15 Bionic (same as iPhone 13), 4GB |
| 5G | No | Yes (sub-6GHz) |
| Battery (Apple video rating) | Up to 13 hours | Up to 15 hours |
| Camera processing | Smart HDR | Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, Photographic Styles |
| Night mode | No | No |
| Design | 4.7″ LCD, Touch ID | Same body and screen |
| Launch price | $399 | $429 |
| Avg. sale price, 64GB (Swappa) | $84 | $119 |
| Avg. sale price, 128GB (Swappa) | $84 | $172 |
| Listings start at | $78 | $88 |
Swappa prices as of September 26, 2026.
The SE (3rd generation) looks identical but has the A15 Bionic from the iPhone 13, 5G, and a slightly better battery. The A15 should keep it on Apple’s update list well after the A13 models are dropped. At about $35 more for a 64GB model, it is the better buy for anyone who will use the phone every day. Apple stopped selling the SE line in February 2025, and the cheapest new iPhone is now the iPhone 17e at $699, so a used SE is the only way to get a small iPhone with a home button. For the full SE (3rd generation) picture, see our iPhone SE 2022 guide, or shop used iPhone SE (3rd generation) listings.
How Much Is an iPhone SE 2020 Worth?
| Storage | Avg. Listing Price | Avg. Sale Price | Trade-In Quote (Unlocked) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64GB | $105 | $84 | $24 |
| 128GB | $115 | $84 | $34 |
| 256GB | $122 | $111 | $43 |
Swappa price data as of September 26, 2026. Trade-in quotes are the figures shown on the same iPhone SE 2020 price page for unlocked units. Listings start at $78.
That is about 79% below its $399 launch price. Two things stand out. First, 64GB and 128GB units have been selling for the same average price, so buyers should look for 128GB. Second, selling is worth far more than trading in: a 64GB SE 2020 averaged $84 in sales against a $24 unlocked trade-in quote. For other models, see iPhone resale values by model.
Will the iPhone SE 2020 Price Drop Further?
Only slightly. At under $100 it is close to its floor, and the price is now driven by condition and battery health more than by time. The next event likely to push it lower is Apple dropping the A13 chip from a future iOS release. If you are selling, sooner is better than later. The general timing rules are in Best Time to Sell Your Phone (Before Value Drops).
Other iPhones Around the Same Price
| Model | Avg. Sale Price, 64GB (Swappa) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone SE 2020 | $84 | Cheapest iPhone still supported |
| iPhone 7 | $50 (32GB) | Skip. Its last major update was iOS 15 |
| iPhone 8 | $69 | Skip. Its last major update was iOS 16 |
| iPhone XR | $110 | Skip. Its last major update was iOS 18 |
| iPhone X | $114 | Skip. Its last major update was iOS 16 |
| iPhone SE (3rd gen) | $119 | The better SE for daily use |
| iPhone 11 | $135 | Bigger 6.1″ screen, Face ID, much better battery, same A13 chip |
| iPhone 12 mini | $141 | Small OLED phone with 5G and a newer A14 chip |
Swappa average sale prices as of September 26, 2026. The iPhone 7 was never sold with 64GB, so its row uses the 32GB price.
The iPhone 8 looks almost the same as the SE 2020 and costs less, but Apple stopped updating it with iOS 16, so it is not a safe primary phone. The iPhone 7 is cheaper still and stopped even earlier, at iOS 15. The iPhone XR has a bigger 6.1″ screen, Face ID, and a larger battery, but it costs more and stopped at iOS 18, so the older-looking SE 2020 is the safer buy. If you want a bigger screen with the same chip, see the used iPhone 11 verdict. For every budget iPhone ranked in one place, see Best Cheap iPhones in 2026: Top Picks Under $300. For the full lineup, from the SE to the newest models, see the Used iPhone Buyer’s Guide: Every Generation Ranked (2026).
What to Check Before Buying a Used iPhone SE 2020
- Battery health. The SE 2020 has a small battery to begin with, so a worn one is noticeable. Swappa has no minimum battery-health percentage to list a device, but the battery must be fully functional, and iPhone sellers must disclose when health is below 80% and the Apple battery message is showing. Factor a possible replacement into the price. See iPhone Battery Health: What to Check on a Used iPhone.
- Parts and Service History. On the SE 2020, Settings > General > About shows whether the battery has been replaced and whether it is a genuine Apple part.
- Touch ID. Test the fingerprint sensor. A home button replaced outside Apple’s repair network usually loses Touch ID, because the sensor is paired to the phone’s logic board.
- Activation Lock and IMEI. See iCloud Activation Lock: How to Avoid It on a Used iPhone and IMEI Check: What It Reveals About a Used Phone.
- Carrier status. Unlocked SE 2020 phones work on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon LTE. See Will This Used Phone Work on My Carrier? or browse unlocked phones on Swappa.
For the full inspection routine, see How to Inspect a Used Phone Before You Buy.
Every Swappa listing is reviewed by staff before it goes live and must have a clean IMEI, no Activation Lock, no cracked glass or water damage, and a fully functional battery. Payments run through PayPal with buyer protection and dispute resolution, and the 3% buyer fee is already included in the listing price. If a phone is not as described, you are entitled to a return and refund.
Selling Your iPhone SE 2020
A 64GB iPhone SE 2020 sold for an average of $84 on Swappa, while the trade-in quote for an unlocked 64GB unit on the same price page was $24. Even after Swappa’s 3% seller fee and payment processing, selling typically returns about three times the trade-in quote.
To list it, the phone needs a clean IMEI, Activation Lock turned off, no cracked glass or water damage, a fully functional battery, and it must be paid off. Disclose battery health if it is below 80% and the Apple battery message is showing.
- Check current iPhone SE 2020 sale prices.
- Erase it properly using How to Wipe an iPhone Before Selling It (the Right Way).
- Create your Swappa listing for free at swappa.com/sell/iphone.
For more on getting the best price, see How to Sell Your Used Phone for the Most Money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the iPhone SE 2020 still supported in 2026?
Yes. iOS 27, released September 14, 2026, supports the iPhone SE (2nd generation). It does not get Apple Intelligence, which requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. Its A13 chip is the oldest on the iOS 27 list, so it is one of the first iPhones likely to be dropped in a future release.
Will the iPhone SE 2020 get iOS 28?
Apple has not said. It announces compatibility at WWDC, usually in June. The SE 2020 shares the A13 chip with the iPhone 11 series, and those are the oldest phones Apple still supports, so they are the most likely to be dropped next.
How much is an iPhone SE 2020 worth?
As of September 26, 2026, a 64GB or 128GB iPhone SE 2020 sold for an average of $84 on Swappa, and a 256GB model for $111. Listings start at $78. The trade-in quote for an unlocked 64GB unit on Swappa’s price page was $24.
What is the difference between the iPhone SE 2020 and the iPhone SE 3rd generation?
They look identical, but the SE (3rd generation) from 2022 has the faster A15 Bionic chip, 4GB of RAM, 5G, and a slightly longer rated battery life. It should also stay supported longer. A 64GB SE (3rd generation) sold for an average of $119 on Swappa, about $35 more than a 64GB SE 2020.
Is the iPhone SE 2020 a good phone for a kid?
For a young child’s first phone, yes. It is small, inexpensive to replace, supports Screen Time and other parental controls, and uses Touch ID. For a teenager who will use it heavily, the SE (3rd generation) or an iPhone 12 or 13 will last longer on both battery and software support.
Is the iPhone SE 2020 the same as the iPhone 8?
No. They share the same 4.7-inch body and screen, and most cases fit both, but the SE 2020 has the much newer A13 Bionic chip. That is why the SE 2020 runs iOS 27 while the iPhone 8 stopped at iOS 16.
The Bottom Line
The iPhone SE 2020 is still worth buying in 2026 as a cheap, supported iPhone for a child, a backup line, or light use, especially at around $84 on Swappa. For a daily-driver phone you plan to keep, spend about $35 more on the SE (3rd generation), or step up to an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 for a bigger screen. If you already own an SE 2020 and are upgrading, selling it on Swappa typically returns several times the trade-in quote.
