We asked, you told us: An iPhone SE-style Android phone deeply divides AA readers

The iPhone SE 2020 is the most affordable iPhone in years, but it still packs just as much power as the iPhone 11 series. It doesn’t stop there either, as the phone packs wireless charging and IP67 water resistance.

The iPhone SE does come with a few compromises to meet the $400 price-point though, such as a much smaller battery, lower resolution screen, older design, a single rear camera, and no fast charger in the box.

We asked you, our readers, whether you’d like to see an Android phone that follows the iPhone SE formula, and the results show that you’re definitely split.

Results

Just over 38% of readers said they wouldn’t buy one, as there are better $400 phones on the market. Meanwhile, almost 32% of readers said they’d definitely buy an iPhone SE-style Android phone.

It’s also interesting to note that almost 30% of Android Authority readers would take a wait-and-see approach instead, saying it depends on the compromises made to the device.

The poll results obviously reflect Android Authority readers rather than the average consumer, but it suggests that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to building a great affordable phone. After all, some people might value power more than multiple cameras, while others might value the battery more than screen resolution.

Here’s what you had to say

Some readers also gave us more detailed thoughts in the comments section. Here are some of the best comments we could find.

• Zhuowen Cui: No Android OEM can pull this off because no one can afford a Snapdragon 865 in a 399 phone. This is only possible when you have all the verticals (sic).
• John Smith: We need 4-5 years updates (and I mean major ones, not only security patches) for our Android phones. Then you can start comparing everything else to Apple’s devices.
• Scott Hagele: Having the option to buy an Android phone the size of the SE makes me interested.
• Tanmey: Reusing something like the s7 edge and putting in a Snapdragon 865 sounds like a good deal.
• VJ: 5 inch screen, Snapdragon 855, 6GB RAM, a good Single front and back camera. That would be a good candidate for an iPhone SE competitor from Android and I believe they can price it at $399.
• Nikitao1: Would you buy a Galaxy S7 with all the same specs but a Snapdragon 865? My answer? Hellllll No!