iPhone SE Teardowns: About What You'd Expect

Apple's latest handset packs iPhone 6s features into an iPhone 5s body, with a more reasonable price tag. But exactly how much innovation did Cupertino fit into the 4-inch device?

Chipworks and iFixit each tore down the iPhone SE ( at Amazon)  and found that the gadget is indeed much like a smaller 6s. According to Chipworks, the A9 chip and 2GB mobile DRAM memory are the same ones found in Apple's most recent flagship. Other iPhone 6s components: the NFC unit, 6-axis internal sensor, Audio ICs, and Qualcomm modem. Similarly, the touch screen's Broadcom fixings date back to 2013's iPhone 5s, but have also been put to use in iPods, MacBooks, and iPads.

"There are several components in the iPhone SE that we have seen before," Chipworks said. "There are also some components we have never seen before," including the logic board, rear-facing camera, Lightning connector assembly, and battery.

Cupertino's recycled smartphone, meanwhile, isn't necessarily a bad move: It means replacement parts and guides are already available, as iFixit pointed out.

And while some things have changed, others remain the same: iFixit awarded the iPhone SE an identical six-out-of-10 repairability score as the iPhone 5s.

Apple unveiled its new flagship handset last month, boasting a 64-bit A9 chip and M9 motion coprocessor to support fitness tracking and hands-free Siri access.

It also comes with a 12-megapixel iSight camera that supports panorama shots up to 63 megapixels, and a front-facing HD shooter with Retina flash. The device also captures 4K video and supports Live Photos. Plus, there's a Touch ID button for fingerprint authentication and payment via Apple Pay.

Apple also promised LTE speeds 50 percent faster than the 5s, and more LTE bands for better global roaming, as well as support for voice over LTE and high-speed Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi calling.

The phones are on sale now for $399 (16GB) or $499 (64GB); they ship with iOS 9.3 and features like Night Shift.