Apple’s current cheapest iPhone is the new iPhone SE, which costs $429. It also has a lot going for it, including 5G and a powerful A15 CPU, all at $179 less than the next model up. Is it worth the money, and what are you giving up by not purchasing a more expensive model?
Of course, we’ll have all the answers when we evaluate the iPhone SE. However, for the time being, we have some thoughts based on the spec sheets.
Breakdown of the research
iPhone SE 2022 vs. iPhone SE 2020
| iPhone SE (2022) | iPhone SE (2020) | |
| Display Size and Type | 4.7-inch LCD | 4.7-inch LCD |
| Display Resolution | 1,334 by 750 pixels | 1,334 by 750 pixels |
| Display Brightness | 625 nits | 625 nits |
| Processor | Apple A15 Bionic | Apple A13 Bionic |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 128GB |
| Front-Facing Camera | 7MP F/2.2 | 7 MP F/2.2 |
| Rear-Facing Camera | 12MP F/1.8 | 12MP F/1.8 |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 5.45 by 2.65 by 0.29 inches | 5.45 by 2.65 by 0.29 inches |
| Weight | 5.09 ounces | 5.22 ounces |
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The 2020 iPhone SE isn’t available directly from Apple, but you might be able to find some in stock at stores. It has a fast processor and many of the same capabilities as the 2022 model.
The main benefit of the new SE is the potential for increased performance and coverage from 5G. T-coverage Mobile’s might be improved by adding low-band 5G, while T-Mobile, Verizon, and soon AT&T will benefit from mid-band 5G.
The iPhone SE versus the iPhone 12 mini
| iPhone SE (2022) | iPhone 12 mini | |
| Starting Price | $429 | $599 |
| Display Size and Type | 4.7-inch LCD | 5.4-inch OLED |
| Display Resolution | 1,334 by 750 pixels | 2,340 by 1,080 pixels |
| Display Brightness | 625 nits | 625 nits |
| Processor | Apple A15 Bionic | Apple A14 Bionic |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| Front-Facing Camera | 7MP F/2.2 | 12MP F/2.2 |
| Rear-Facing Camera | 12MP F/1.8 | 12MP F/1.6 Wide; 12MP F/2.4 Ultra-Wide |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 5.45 by 2.65 by 0.29 inches | 5.18 by 2.53 by 0.29 inches |
| Weight | 5.09 ounces | 4.76 ounces |
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The iPhone 12 mini has a higher-resolution display and a more advanced camera system. With 4×4 MIMO, the iPhone 12 mini may have higher cellular range and speeds than the SE. In addition to being smaller, the iPhone 12 mini is also lighter. I have a hunch that the mini has a shorter battery life than the SE, but it’s just a hunch, and we’ll have to test the SE to be sure.
The iPhone SE versus the iPhone 13 mini
| iPhone SE (2022) | iPhone 13 mini | |
| Starting Price | $429 | $699 |
| Display Size and Type | 4.7-inch LCD | 5.4-inch OLED |
| Display Resolution | 1,334 by 750 pixels | 2,340 by 1,080 pixels |
| Display Brightness | 625 nits | 800 nits |
| Processor | Apple A15 Bionic | Apple A15 Bionic |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Front-Facing Camera | 7MP F/2.2 | 12MP F/2.2 |
| Rear-Facing Camera | 12MP F/1.8 | 12MP F/1.6 Wide; 12MP F/2.4 Ultra-Wide |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 5.45 by 2.65 by 0.29 inches | 5.18 by 2.53 by 0.30 inches |
| Weight | 5.09 ounces | 4.97 ounces |
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The iPhone 13 small has a brighter screen and considerably longer battery life than the iPhone 12 mini, though we don’t know how they compare to the iPhone SE. Check back soon for our iPhone SE review, which will have all the specifics.
Also, see our article on the best iPhone to buy in 2022. We’ll update the list once we’ve had an opportunity to test the new iPhone SE.
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