Our Verdict
The iPhone 12 is a superior phone overall . It has good photographic camera , presentation and pattern , plus a processor that is n’t far off that of the A15 Bionic Apple confer on the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) . But the Mary Leontyne Price tag is hefty in comparing , which makes the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) good enough and low-priced enough for it to be the sensible choice for most hoi polloi .
Best Prices Today: Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Apple latterly unveiled the latest iteration of its staggeringly popular iPhone SE , with a few minuscule tweak to the already successful normal . But are the betterment enough to warrant the small price increase ( and to offset the aged design ) , or does an older flagship model offer a better symmetricalness of feature and toll ?
To test this out , we compare the new iPhone SE to the iPhone 12 .
iPhone history
These iPhones have been replaced with newer models . determine links below to our critique of all iPhone model , including the latest generation.iPhone 16is expected to establish in September 2024 ( seewhen is the better time to buy a raw iPhone ) . You might also like ouriPhone buying guide , best iPhone dealsandcomparison of every iPhone that is uncommitted to purchase today .
Design & build quality
On theiPhone SE ( 2022)Apple prefer once more to use the tried - and - tested chassis that it ’s been selling pretty much since the iPhone 6 that come up out in 2014 . So if you ’ve see an iPhone in the past eight years there ’s a good luck you ’ll recognize the older excogitation .
On the front panel there ’s a 4.7 in LCD display bordered above and below by large bezel , the latter of which is the location of the Home button .
Due to the latter , you wo n’t find any notches at the top of the screen , as Touch ID is built into the Home clitoris .
Apple did kick upstairs the trash cover on the front and back of the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) to what it claims is the ‘ knotty glass in a smartphone ’ , so it should survive a bit of light abuse . An IP67 waterproofed evaluation also means a nimble angle of dip wo n’t spell out the closing of the machine .
Otherwise , it ’s the same plan we ’ve all seen hundreds or even thousands of time over the geezerhood . Single camera on the back , volume controls and a power push button , plus the Lightning connector locate in the bottom edge next to the speaker .
With theiPhone 12 , Apple move away from curving edges and returned to a design with shade of the iPhone 4 and 5 era . The squared - edge frame face modern and elegant , unlike the tired iPhone SE ( 2022 ) , and there are several difference of opinion between the two devices . The most obvious is the larger 6.1 in OLED presentation , which comes with Face ID and the obligatory notch .
It ’s a bigger and gruelling handset overall , as you may see from the dimension below :
On the back of the iPhone 12 you ’ll find twice as many cameras , with Wide and Ultrawide units , plus there ’s support for MagSafe charging which is a whole tone up from the stock wireless charging on the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) .
The iPhone 12 is also more durable thanks to the IP68 certification , which mean it can be immersed in water up to depth of 6 MiB for a utmost of 30 minutes , whereas the SE can only go to 1 m.
Side by side , the iPhone SE has the esthetic of an almost vintage iPhone , while its handsome buddy is the epitome of a agiotage , modern smartphone . With this in mind , the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) design comes from a time when people still used headphone one - handed , so ( along with theiPhone 12 miniandiPhone 13 mini ) , those looking for a smaller , more manageable handset could discover the SE fits the bank note .
Features and specifications
The outsides are obviously worlds aside , but the portion Apple set in spite of appearance are not quite as one - side as you might distrust . Here ’s how they compare .
Processor
Apple has a scoundrelly sense of humour , as the intimately X - older outside stands in line to the latest reading of its A serial processor inside . The A15 Bionic is a beast ; it ’s the same chipset that power the iPhone 13 range , including the current flagship iPhone 13 Pro Max . This means you ’re getting incredible amount of great power in a lowly , cheap iPhone .
The iPhone 12 is no slouch at all , due to its A14 Bionic central processing unit , but it ’s not the latest bit and as such ca n’t quite twin the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) for world-wide public presentation .
Display
As well as the aim of the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) being pretty much the same as the iPhone 8 , the two devices have other elements in vulgar .
The display is a big one , as the iPhone SE come with the much indistinguishable 4.7 in Retina HD LCD control board that feature True Tone , Wide colour display ( P3 ) , a 1334×750 resolving at 326ppi , with the only discernible difference being tactual trace rather than 3D Touch and the knotty glass front on the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) .
It ’s different on the iPhone 12 , which has a high-pitched - quality Super Retina XDR OLED panel that measures 6.1 in , and boasts a 2532×1170 resolution at 460ppi , massively improved contrast proportion , HDR and brighter outturn . It ’s all round a much dainty display to use .
The one downside to the 12 ’s screen is the mountain pass along the top edge that creates space for the Face ID tv camera raiment .
Cameras
Again , the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) dig through Apple ’s division bin and come up up with basically the same 12MP , f/1.8 ( Wide ) camera as on the iPhone 8 . The difference here is that , thanks to the A15 Bionic processor , you may access more modes and features as the advanced silicon can use its computational artistry to handle thing like Portrait modes , Photographic Styles , Smart HDR 4 and Portrait Lighting effect .
The iPhone 12 can do all of this too , with the elision of Photographic Styles and bid only Smart HDR 3 , but it does so with two tv camera . These are comprised of a 12MP , f/1.6 ( Wide ) and 12MP f/2.4 ( Ultrawide ) that also blend to furnish a 2x optical zoom ( as well as the 5x digital that ’s on the iPhone SE ) and the all - important Night Mode that make shooting photograph in low light a more pleasing experience than on the SE .
Both capture TV at resolutions up to 4K/60fps and have Optical Image Stabilisation for smooth footage , but those matching lense intend the iPhone 12 can not only perform a 2x optical zoom but also an audio zoom as well to cut out undesirable background noises . It also has the ability to record HDR television at 4K/30fps , which is impressive .
It ’s a like story with the front - face camera , as the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) engage the old FaceTime HD camera from the iPhone 8 , but the performance is bolstered by the A15 Bionic , while the iPhone 12 has the True Depth television camera that also power face up ID , and has a bunch more features available .
If camera are a primary reason for using an iPhone , then the SE can certainly take some estimable photos and video , but the iPhone 12 only offers a greater range of choice and performance .
Connectivity
When the iPhone 12 go far it was the first multiplication of iPhones to offer 5 G connectivity . Now the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) brings that power to the more affordable end of the iPhone catalogue .
The big difference is that the SE only supports sub-6 bands , while the iPhone 12 also operates with the faster mmWave . This will only matter if the internet supplier you use offer these joining , and to be honest is n’t really going to be a sight - circuit breaker for most people .
Alongside this , both offer Bluetooth 5 , GPS , NFC and Wi - Fi 6 , so they are quite evenly matched .
Here ’s a breakdown of their technological specs :
Price & availability
The iPhone SE ( 2022 ) remains the cheapest iPhone you may bribe from Apple , with the following selection uncommitted :
Readwhere to pre - purchase order iPhone SEfor more details .
Apple still offers the iPhone 12 , and here are the prices :
If you care the estimate of a small handset , and a slightly small toll , then the iPhone 12 mini is also well deserving debate :
To see if you could save money on these machine , be indisputable to chink our roundup of thebest iPhone deals .
Verdict
The iPhone SE ( 2022 ) does a good job of offer the iPhone experience that most people are look for most of the time . It ’s tight and engage good pictures and videos , plus you get to use the same iOS and apps as all the other iPhones . The design is whine these Day , though , with the tiny display commence to feel cramp and something of a oddment when compare to most other smartphones .
The iPhone 12 is a better gimmick in pretty much all departments away from the CPU , but even that is n’t really an issue as the A14 Bionic is a hugely powerful chipset . The drawback remain price . If you want a decent everyday iPhone , then the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) is tough to bunk when you consider you ’ll be devote significantly less for it than the iPhone 12 . Even the cheaper iPhone 12 mini pushes the costs into the upper mid - range .
It might be skylark a look that should have long been retired , but in these unmanageable meter , the iPhone SE ( 2022 ) is just too dependable a tidy sum to pass up .
