Apple Kept iPhone SE's Bill of Materials Low By Using Many Parts From The iPhone 8
Apple’s new iPhone SE looks quite similar with the iPhone 8, and that similarity goes well beyond the looks, as the two phones actually share many important internal components.
According to a teardown performed by iFixit, you can repair the second generation iPhone SE device using a lot of the same readily available parts from the iPhone 8.
According to the teardown, iPhone SE’s cameras, SIM tray, Taptic Engine, and display assembly (including the microphone and proximity sensor) are all swappable with iPhone 8 parts. However, in case you theoretically swap the screen, you would lose True Tone, at least without some display programming. In addition the iPhone SE's home buttons are still not interchangeable.
Also incompatible is the new battery. Although the battery looks identical, the battery’s logic board connector differs from the one in the 8, so they don’t fit together. The SE will connect to an iPhone 11 battery, which uses the same connector—but unfortunately, it won’t turn on, iFixit found.
Adding to the mix the A13 Bionic chip of the iPhone SE -- also found in the iPhone 11 Pro -- and you realize that the new $400 iPhone SE plays with so many parts that repair shops and fixers already have in their inventory.
By using parts from previous models, Apple is reducing manufacturing waste from new designs and making replacement parts easier and more affordable) to come by. And of course, Apple could have managed to increase its profit out of each device.