Regarding battery life: first things first, tests of a single app - video playback, for example - generally don’t correlate with standard all-around usage.
Secondly, what were some people expecting? Xʀ-like battery life? 11 Pro Max-like battery life? No way. Of course it’s lower. It’s the same as every other 4.7-inch iPhone on its original version, 5 to 8 hours of Screen-on time depending on usage. If you need more, buy the iPhone 11 or Xʀ. People that report a significant improvement coming from a 6s or a 7 probably have updated devices which are 3-4 iOS versions ahead. Not comparable, at all. Therefore, in my experience, processor improvements are negligible. Why? Because iOS 13 is more power-hungry than iOS 9, and the new processor merely compensates for that.
My point is, don’t buy the SE expecting 10 hours of Screen-on time with heavy use. You’ll be disappointed. I had a 6s on iOS 9. My Xʀ on iOS 12 lasts twice as much as the 6s. There’s no comparison.
Secondly, what were some people expecting? Xʀ-like battery life? 11 Pro Max-like battery life? No way. Of course it’s lower. It’s the same as every other 4.7-inch iPhone on its original version, 5 to 8 hours of Screen-on time depending on usage. If you need more, buy the iPhone 11 or Xʀ. People that report a significant improvement coming from a 6s or a 7 probably have updated devices which are 3-4 iOS versions ahead. Not comparable, at all. Therefore, in my experience, processor improvements are negligible. Why? Because iOS 13 is more power-hungry than iOS 9, and the new processor merely compensates for that.
My point is, don’t buy the SE expecting 10 hours of Screen-on time with heavy use. You’ll be disappointed. I had a 6s on iOS 9. My Xʀ on iOS 12 lasts twice as much as the 6s. There’s no comparison.