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- ✓ Fastest performance for the money
- ✓ Very good photo quality
- ✓ More durable design
- ✓ Compact and easy to use with one hand
- ✗ Small display with big bezels
- ✗ No Night mode for camera
- ✗ Doesn't support mmWave 5G
The iPhone SE (2022) is a phone that packs current functionality into a vintage style that is so compact as to be nearly charming. It might also be true to say that it is antiquated. For those on a budget, nonetheless, the finished product is really appealing despite the nostalgic undertones.
You can have the same A15 Bionic CPU seen in the iPhone 13 together with 5G connection for $429, which translates to best-in-class performance and stunning images. Along with a more robust build, Apple also claims two hours greater battery life with the new SE compared to the previous iPhone SE (2020). And although if Face ID isn't available, some people could find that their phone unlocks more fast using the recognizable Home button with Touch ID.
To acquire an iPhone this cheap, you'll have to make certain compromises, including putting up with the large bezels, not having night mode, and not having Verizon Ultra Wideband. However, as my review of the iPhone SE (2022) will show you, there's no resisting the allure of having a phone this little that is so incredibly powerful and functional. Indeed, it's among the best inexpensive phones available.
Some people might want to hold off on buying the iPhone SE 4 as there are reports that it will come with a bigger 6.1-inch OLED display. However, that phone isn't scheduled to be released until 2024. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of the iPhone SE 2022. Also, don't forget to watch our comparison between the Pixel 6a and the iPhone SE 2022.
iPhone SE (2022) review: Cheat sheet
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The iPhone SE (2022) delivers flagship-level performance, thanks to its A15 Bionic chip, so you should expect iPhone 13-like speed when multitasking and playing games.
5G performance is solid. We saw close to 195 Mbps downloads on T-Mobile. But you don't get Verizon Ultra Wideband support.
4.7 inches is tiny for a phone display in 2022, so you really need to want a small phone if you're shopping for the iPhone SE.
The overall camera quality from the new iPhone SE is excellent and in many cases beats the Pixel 5a. But we wish there was a Night mode.
Review of the iPhone SE (2022): Price and Release Date
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The iPhone SE (2022) will go on sale on March 18 and is now available for order. The new iPhone SE (2020) has a starting price of $429, which is $30 higher than the previous model.
For the iPhone SE (2022), there are three storage choices available. The base pricing is for 64GB; additional storage is available for $479 for 128GB or $579 for 256GB. Check out our iPhone SE offers page to get the most recent savings. Just be aware that pre-order delivery for the iPhone SE 2022 have already shifted to late March, so you might have to wait for your iPhone SE to come.
If you're still not sure, you could choose to go for the reconditioned iPhone 12, which Apple has recently begun to offer.
Review of the iPhone SE (2022): Design
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For me, picking up the iPhone SE (2022) is like traveling through time. Instead of Face ID, there is a Touch ID button, and the bezels surrounding the screen occupy a large amount of space when compared to devices like the Google Pixel 5a or iPhone 13 mini (see our comparison of the two devices here).
However, this phone isn't made for me. With a virtually same look and the same display size as the iPhone 8, it's presumably a step forward for those who prefer compact phones.
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And at 5.45 x 2.85 x 0.29 inches and 5.09 ounces in weight, this gadget is undoubtedly little. My iPhone 13 Pro Max seems to be a skyscraper thanks to it, and I did like having a phone that was small enough to fit in my pocket. I also like that I could use one hand for almost everything.I tested the IP67 water resistance of the iPhone SE (2022) by submerging it in a fountain. Additionally, because it employs the same strong glass as the iPhone 13, this phone is more resilient than the prior generation.Apple handed us the iPhone SE (2022) in the Midnight color, which is a deep navy that turns lighter blue in the daylight. Starlight, a variation on off-white, and Product Red are more options. Carbon-free aluminum was one among the materials utilized to create the iPhone SE (2022), a first for Apple.If durability is a concern, drop tests were conducted on the iPhone SE (2022), and it fared almost as well as the iPhone 13. It only sustained minor scratches after surviving two of the three drop tests. The new iPhone was subjected to two different drops in those tests: one on its side from the same height, and the other face-down onto a sidewalk from six feet away.The back-down drop test from six feet was the only drop test that resulted in damage to the iPhone SE (2022). Nevertheless, you have to give one of the top iPhone SE (2022) cases some thought.
Review of the iPhone SE (2022): Display
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To put it mildly, viewing television episodes and films on the iPhone SE (2022) lacks immersive experience. With a resolution of 1344 x 750 pixels, this phone's 4.7-inch LCD display is not full HD, and when viewing movies or videos, it's hard to see past the very thick bezels.
The iPhone SE (2022) did a good job of capturing the warm hues of Tatooine and the worried, weathered appearance of Ewan McGregor when viewing the Obi-Wan Kenobi teaser on YouTube, but the black bars above and below the action proved to be distracting. To enlarge the photo, I intended to pinch-to-zoom.You may argue that the 6.34-inch display of the Pixel 5a caters to a different demographic, but you can't deny that for an additional $20, you can have a considerably larger full HD OLED screen.
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Nevertheless, our lab testing showed that the iPhone SE (2022)'s display functioned perfectly. The panel displayed 81.2% of the more difficult DCI-P3 color space and 114.7% of the sRGB color range. That's strong, but not as good as the Pixel 5a's 119.3% and 84.5%. The Pixel 5a had a Delta-E score of 0.32, whereas the new iPhone SE received a score of 0.21, which is still superior in terms of color fidelity.
Review of the iPhone SE (2022): Cameras
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The hardware for the camera in the iPhone SE (2022) has not changed, which is terrible news. There is only one 12MP wide camera on the back, not an ultra-wide lens like the one in the iPhone 11 ($499) and Pixel 5a. Additionally, the 7MP sensor on the front camera remains rather low-resolution.
The good news is that computational photography allows for the integration of new camera functions and capabilities made possible by the A15 Bionic processor. This features Deep Fusion for greater details and textures, Photographic Styles to give you more creative freedom, and Smart HDR 4 to handle challenging lighting while rendering faces more accurately.I shot a bunch of pictures on the iPhone SE (2022) and compared them to the Pixel 5a to test out the camera. The new iPhone SE performed admirably overall, however the lack of a Night mode is a significant flaw and the Portrait mode is still very constrained.
The iPhone SE (2022) has a little advantage in this indoor shot of flowers because it produces a brighter blue and yellow and adds a little bit more contrast. However, in terms of detail, the two cameras are about equal.
The iPhone SE (2022) typically captures this eagle statue well, even in challenging lighting situations when there is a strong contrast between sunlight and shadows. Although I think the iPhone's photo has a nicer tone, the Pixel 5a exposes the eagle itself more effectively since its feathers and beak are easier to see.
It should be noted that taking a photograph with the iPhone SE (2022) necessitates getting quite near to your subject. And the reason for that is because it uses focus pixels—Apple's euphemism for phase detection auto-focus—to blur away the backdrop in order to get by with just one lens. Some phones that have two genuine cameras allow you to put your subject a little bit further back.
However, I'm pleased with how the iPhone SE captures a brighter image of my face in this situation—without oversaturating it—in terms of image quality. Furthermore, my hoodie's minor design is visible.This is another one of my favorite Pixel 5a portraits since it makes me stand out from the backdrop even more thanks to a stronger bokeh effect.
I wouldn't put too much stock in the 5x digital zoom of the iPhone SE (2022). You can see how the Pixel 5a's 7x zoom draws you closer to the subject in this photo of several Canadian geese. Furthermore, the iPhone's propensity to take warmer photos in this instance detracts from the photograph since the ducks are less prominent. Additionally, the wood in the front and the feathers in the Pixel's image show a little bit more detail.
This indoor fruit shot shows off the iPhone SE (2022) a little bit more. There is more depth to the picture and a brighter appearance for the apples, oranges, and lemons. Although vibrant, the Pixel 5a's image appears rather flat and dull in contrast.
One area in which the iPhone SE (2022) is lacking is a Night mode. Longer exposures are just not possible for it, unlike the iPhone 11 and iPhone 13 mini. Additionally, the Pixel A series has had a Night mode available for years.
Capture this image of the Star Wars figures in a room with some natural light streaming in via a window to the right. The Pixel 5a photo makes Darth Vader and Han Solo appear considerably brighter, and it also makes the green ornamental plant in the backdrop easier to view.
Additionally, unless you utilize the flash, you should not attempt to take photos in the dark with the iPhone SE (2022). While the figurines are still visible in the Pixel photo, despite their graininess, you can hardly tell they were there when we closed the curtains in the same room.
The iPhone SE (2022) was then used outside to test its performance in low light. The response is inadequate. You can still see the bench and shrubs in the absence of a Night mode, but the Pixel 5a's image is much brighter overall, particularly in the brickwork and boxwoods, as well as the window curtains.
The iPhone SE (2022), with its low-res 7MP front camera, managed to take a rather crisp and colorful selfie in this instance. The contour effect on my face is more prominent than I would want, but my hair, jacket, and sweatshirt all have nice detail, and the blue sky appears richer in the iPhone photo than it does in the Pixel 5a. Even if the Pixel's image is a little bit softer, I like how it manages the shadows because they're not as harsh.
Performance Review: iPhone SE (2022)
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Because to the A15 Bionic chip's efficiency increases and a slightly bigger battery, the iPhone SE (2022) is expected to have a battery life of up to two hours longer than the previous model.
In the Tom's Guide Battery Test, which involves continuous web browsing over 5G at 150 nits of screen brightness, the new iPhone SE lasted 9 hours and 5 minutes. it's actually a little less than the 9:18-hour runtime of the iPhone SE (2020), but it was with a 4G LTE connection, which consumes less energy. The extended battery life of the 5G-enabled Google Pixel 5a was 9 hours and 45 minutes.
One advantage of the iPhone SE is that it can charge rather rapidly if you have an Apple 20W charger. We exceeded Apple's 30-minute promise by reaching 61% in just 30 minutes.
Conclusion: iPhone SE (2022)
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The iPhone SE (2022), priced at $429, is a phone that exists in both the present and the past. This phone's A15 Bionic processor, which costs hundreds less than the iPhone 13, provides premier performance. Furthermore, despite having just one back camera, the image quality is often quite good. All I want is that Apple figure out how to add a real Night mode.
The iPhone 13 mini, which costs $699, demonstrates that a bigger 5.4-inch display can be crammed into a small phone, but the design of the new iPhone SE, with its small 4.7-inch display and massive bezels surrounding the display, appears like a throwback.
With a bigger 6.34-inch display, Night mode, and a significantly longer battery life for $449, the Google Pixel 5a is maybe a better option if you're not set on purchasing an iPhone and want to stay in the Apple ecosystem. However, it lacks the speed of the recently released iPhone SE. However, with its Tensor chip and twin camera setup, the Pixel 6a, which is scheduled to arrive in July, may provide additional competition for the new SE.
The iPhone SE (2022) largely succeeds in offering excellent value overall. However, the next time, I want to see a design that more closely reflects the internals' cutting edge feel