You can now buy a brand-new Apple iPhone for just $399
I've been spending the past few months with the iPhone 11 Pro Max, Apple's flagship smartphone, with three cameras, a super-speedy processor and a giant 6.5-inch screen. It's an exceptional device, with photography chops unlike anything else I've encountered with a device of its size. But at $1,099, it's also a splurge — especially at a time when consumers are being especially mindful about how they spend.
At the same time last year, Apple launched a similarly capable lower-cost device, the iPhone 11, which starts at $699. But even still, that price tag makes the device out of reach of some.
That's where the new iPhone SE comes in — it has the same A13 Bionic processor in a smaller, scaled-down handset, with a 4.7-inch Retina display, a single 12-megapixel camera and a far lower, $399 starting price tag. It'll be available to pre-order this Friday, April 17, and ships the following Friday, on April 24.
While the SE doesn't have the same camera capabilities as Apple's more premium devices — there's no 2x telephoto or 0.5x ultra-wide cam to speak of — the A13 Bionic processor does support Portrait Mode, one of my favorite iPhone camera features. With that mode enabled, you can capture a subject and adjust the lighting and depth of field later, giving you a ton of flexibility, even after you capture a shot.
You can also shoot 4K video, at up to 60 frames per second, and there's built-in optical image stabilization, support for slow-mo video at 240fps, a Portrait Mode option for the selfie camera and more. The device also sports dual SIM card support, via a nano-SIM and eSIM, so you can use your home SIM card and a local international SIM at the same time.
Also on the travel front, iPhone SE supports Apple Pay, including the Apple Card, and has IP67 water resistance, so you don't have to worry about damaging your device, even if it takes an accidental dip in the pool or gets caught in a rainstorm. If you decide to place an order, be sure to make your purchase using a card that offers purchase protection, or loss and damage protection, as outlined in far more detail in this post.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.