Let's start with a few basic specs:
| Lumia 950 (2015) | iPhone SE (2020) |
|
20 MP, f/1.9, 1/2.4", PDAF, OIS |
12 MP, f/1.8, 1/3", PDAF, OIS |
So a larger sensor on the Lumia by some way, and this should be conclusive, all things being equal. But modern post-processing and multi-frame captures with fast chipsets largely compensate, aided by every company having better software zoom algorithms, all bring the SE back to equality, as we might well see in the tests below.
Notes:
- I've shot at 4:3 at the default output resolutions on each (leaving headroom for some lossless 'PureView' zoom into the 950's sensor and also getting the advantages of oversampling and noise reduction).
- All photos were taken on full auto and handheld, as a regular user would do. No tripods or RAW editing sessions needed!
Let's pit the results against each other, using our Famed Interactive Comparator (FIC). All 1:1 crops are at 900x500 for comparison, though I've put up the originals on my own server, for you to download if you want to do your own analysis.
| Note that the interactive comparator below uses javascript and does need to load each pair of images. Please be patient while this page loads, if you see a pair of images above each other than you've either not waited long enough or your browser isn't capable enough! You ideally need a powerful, large-screened tablet or a proper laptop or desktop. This comparator may not work in some browsers. Sorry about that. On Windows 10 Mobile, use the 'AAWP Universal' UWP app, which handles the comparator very competently (see the tips in the app's help screens) |
Test 1: Sunny landscape
Some VE Day flags in the sun. Here is the overall scene, from the Lumia 950:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 and iPhone SE (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 and then iPhone SE, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Both excellent photos, of course, but I'm going to give the edge to the iPhone, as its HDR worked a bit better and there were no blown out highlights in the gravel, for example.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 9 pts; Apple iPhone SE (2020): 10 pts
Test 2: Natural detail
A pleasant green tree in the sun, loads of foliage and tiny detail, shot at around 40m. Here is the overall scene, from the Lumia 950:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 and iPhone SE (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 and then iPhone SE, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Again a slight win for the iPhone, given that the Lumia has a tinge of its famous 'yellow tint', plus the SE's default resolution is higher, meaning more detail. In fairness, I could be shooting with the 950 in 16MP mode, in which case, this test would be equal or even reversed, but then I'd lose the PureView aspects relied on below(!)
Microsoft Lumia 950: 9 pts; Apple iPhone SE (2020): 10 pts
Test 3: 2x zoom
The same tree/scene, but shot at approximately 2x zoom. So all digital on the iPhone, part digital and part lossless on the Lumia. You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 and iPhone SE (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 and then iPhone SE, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Both crops are pretty ugly - it's a shock after so many phone camera tests in recent times have had 2x telephoto lenses or better to fall back on. In fact, I'm not even going to pronounce a winner - they're both equally bad at the pixel level.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 5 pts; Apple iPhone SE (2020): 5 pts
Test 4: VE Day scene
VE Day neighbourhood festivities in the Reading area, during COVID-19 lockdown, shot at around 25m. Here is the overall scene, from the Lumia 950:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 and iPhone SE (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 and then iPhone SE, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
A score draw overall, I think. The Lumia renders details better, in that things look slightly more natural, but again the higher output resolution here on the iPhone claws the difference back, at the expense of just a touch too much sharpening. But both great photos - in great lighting, of course.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 9 pts; Apple iPhone SE (2020): 9 pts
Test 5: VE Day scene, x3 Zoom
The same scene, but this time pushing the limits of the single cameras outrageously, to 3x digital. Oh for a Lumia 1020 here, eh?(!) You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 and iPhone SE (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 and then iPhone SE, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Although the Lumia retains good colours and contrast, its interpolative zoom algorithms are as rubbish as always - the iPhone SE produces a smoother and less offensive result, especially evidenced in human features.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 7 pts; Apple iPhone SE (2020): 8 pts
Test 6: Sunny macro
Some giant daisies. Here is the overall scene, from the Lumia 950:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 and iPhone SE (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 and then iPhone SE, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
The Lumia 950 wins a test at last, managing to nail focus and deliver just the right depth of field, while the SE decided to focus on the front of the flower and missed the back half with DoF blur. Oh well - macro shots like this are always pot luck, to some degree - you never know what you're going to get, focus wise!
Microsoft Lumia 950: 9 pts; Apple iPhone SE (2020): 7 pts
Test 7: Low light
A dimly lit living room (deliberately), with a rack of DVDs with spine detail. Here is the overall scene, from the Lumia 950:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 and iPhone SE (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 and then iPhone SE, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Now this is interesting. The Lumia reduces noise to almost zero with its PureView oversampling in 8MP mode and, while this would be great for single subjects (pot plant, guitar, person), it loses out in a way to the slightly higher resolution SE. This ends up with noise and artefacts galore, as you'd expect in these conditions, but also impressive detail and contrast and, as a result, you can make out almost all the text and DVD numbers. A narrow win for the iPhone.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 8 pts; Apple iPhone SE (2020): 9 pts
Test 8: Peanuts!
A low light still life shot - lots of text and printed detail on the front of the tin, in shadow from a single dim bedroom light. Here is the overall scene, from the Lumia 950:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 and iPhone SE (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 and then iPhone SE, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
What you're seeing here is the PureView oversampling at work, with the Lumia plucking out photo detail with few artefacts or noise, even under such savage lighting conditions. The iPhone SE image contains more 'grain', more noise, though it's still consistent and the text/numbers are just as readable. In the DVD example, the text was so small that resolution was a factor - here it's about controlling noise and uncertainty.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 9 pts; Apple iPhone SE (2020): 8 pts
Test 9: Night time
My standard suburban night time test, all fully handheld (of course). Here is the overall scene, from the Lumia 950:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 and iPhone SE (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 and then iPhone SE, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Such night tests are the Lumia's bread and butter, of course. OIS used to be a Lumia exclusive back in the day, but most phones now have this in their camera systems, which is why the SE's shot is so relatively crisp and with no blurring from hand shake. However - again - you have to hand it to the Lumia 950's PureView oversampling, which delivers such a 'clean' photo. Plus the iPhone loses an extra point for the blue glow/artefact arising from internal reflection in its optics.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 9 pts; Apple iPhone SE (2020): 7 pts
Verdict
For the record, the scores add up as:
- Lumia 950 (late 2015): 75 pts (/90)
- Apple iPhone SE (2020): 73 pts
So a close-run thing overall. The PureView Lumias still rule the roost over mid-range Android and iPhone handsets when it comes to low light, but it's impressive that such a low end iPhone could get so close to the mighty Lumia 950. Given that the aim here is to replace the 950 with a cheap iPhone and gain access to its ecosystem without sacrificing imaging too much then I'd say that a move to an SE 2020 would be a success.
PS. Not tested here, but it's worth noting that the iPhone SE 2020 also has a terrific 'portrait' mode with AI-derived fake bokeh around human faces and forms. Sounds ghastly but works really well. In addition, you also get superb video capture - yes, even better than the Lumia 950's, since the video picture is clearer and the audio noise floor lower.