Apple iPhone SE (2022) assessment

At a press occasion held March 8, 2022, Apple introduced the subsequent era of Apple iPhone SE. From a design standpoint, it retains the identical 4.7-inch display, residence button design, and value vary as its 2020 predecessor. Now, nevertheless, Apple’s entry-level iPhone totes 5G compatibility and the identical A15 Bionic chip discovered within the iPhone 13 lineup. I’ve spent a number of days with the brand new iPhone SE and had the possibility to match it to Apple’s present flagship, in addition to an unique iPhone 8. We’ll replace this first-look assessment after spending extra time with the brand new iPhone SE however, as of now, it’s a strong entry level into the iPhone lineup or improve for individuals nonetheless clinging to years-old units. It additionally could also be a viable technique to downsize for individuals seeking to declutter their pockets and a focus spans. 

What’s the iPhone SE?

The automotive world has a apply it calls restomodding. It includes upgrading basic vehicles with trendy engines and electronics whereas maintaining them wanting completely inventory from the surface. Apple has taken the same method with the iPhone SE. Choose up an SE from 2020 or the most recent mannequin we’re reviewing right here and also you’d be completely forgiven for pondering it’s an iPhone 8. The SE has the identical rounded edges because the 2017 funds iPhone, the identical 4.7-inch display, and a Contact ID residence button. 

Inside, nevertheless, issues are a lot totally different. The 2022 SE comes toting Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, which is a large leap from the chip contained in the iPhone 8 and a two-generation bounce from the A13 Bionic discovered within the 2020 iPhone SE. You’ll really feel that bounce far more from an older chip for the reason that A13 remains to be very succesful.

In contrast to the 2020 model, the brand new iPhone SE helps 5G sub-6GHz, which is the most typical taste of 5G. It lacks mmWave compatibility, nevertheless, so for those who’re hoping for blazing quick ultra-wideband help, you’re out of luck. That 5G compatibility additionally tacks on an additional $30 to the worth, bringing the 2022 SE value as much as $429, up from $399 for the 2020 mannequin. 

Who should purchase the iPhone SE?

In case you’re contemplating a brand new iPhone SE, you’re probably both seeking to downsize from an enormous current-gen system or step up from an iPhone that’s getting previous. I spent a number of days with the SE as my foremost system and in contrast it in opposition to some present and older iPhones, together with my common iPhone 13 Professional Max and my son’s getting older iPhone 8. 

Switching from a much bigger iPhone

In case you’re used to a display bigger than 6 inches, the SE’s 4.7-inch show will completely really feel tiny and typically cramped—at the least when you get used to it. After a number of days, although, it grew to become the norm. Cutting down for a short time truly helped me notice how preposterously massive the 6.7-inch 13 Professional Max actually is. 

Switching again to Contact ID for logging in is straightforward, however breaking the swipe-up behavior and going again to the house button for navigation took a bit of longer to get the muscle reminiscence again. 

In case you’re used to a higher-end iPhone, you might miss among the different creature comforts that include the pricier, extra feature-rich fashions. The SE fees wirelessly however doesn’t have the magnets at the back of the system that will enable it to snap simply onto a MagSafe charger. 

Whereas the iPhone SE’s digital camera has improved over the earlier model when it comes to the general picture and video high quality, the dearth of night time mode makes a substantial distinction in relation to media shot in very low mild. When the lights get actually low, the SE feels a bit of outdated. 

In relation to battery life, the brand new SE will probably final you all day except you’re pushing it actually exhausting, however you’ll positively must cost it each night time. Go to sleep with out it on the charger and also you’ll get up to a lifeless battery the place you won’t on an iPhone 13 or larger. 

If you may get previous variations like that, nevertheless, the SE is a really succesful system. I edited some uncooked pictures in Lightroom CC, did some Apple Arcade gaming, and scrolled by means of a bunch of TikToks whereas ready for automotive service and it was all simply effective. It wasn’t as luxurious as an enormous flagship cellphone, but it surely additionally doesn’t really feel like the huge downgrade I anticipated. Plus, it gave my pinky a much-needed relaxation from holding a large system.

Upgrading from an older iPhone

There are nonetheless loads of iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 units on the market on the planet performing simply effective. Because the compatibility restrict begins creeping up on them, although, individuals will probably be seeking to improve to one thing with an extended shelf life. Apple at the moment helps units again to the iPhone 6S, which fits all the best way again to 2015, so the brand new SE will probably have software program help for a very long time to return. 

From a usability standpoint, the SE actually does really feel like utilizing an iPhone 8 with a turbo booster on it. You’ll discover a distinction extra with resource-intensive actions like gaming and media creation, however the whole lot feels snappier normally on the SE. My son’s beat-up iPhone 8 doesn’t come near lasting him a full day on a single cost anymore, which is probably going the case for a lot of older iPhone units on the market, so this extra environment friendly efficiency will probably be an enormous boon in that regard. 

The digital camera can also be considerably higher than it was on iPhones even only a few generations in the past. Apple’s latest flavors of HDR and different computational images options have made massive leaps of late, which suggests you’ll take pleasure in drastically higher picture high quality general, even when that doesn’t apply to conditions with extraordinarily low mild. 

In case you’re already used to a cellphone with out an enormous display, Face ID, or MagSafe, you received’t miss them. You’ll, nevertheless, discover the higher battery life, sooner efficiency, and a whole lot of {dollars} you save. 

As a result of Apple upgraded the glass on the back and front of the brand new SE, it also needs to be extra sturdy, although I haven’t had an opportunity to check that as a result of I haven’t dropped it—but. 

iPhone SE vs. iPhone 13 Mini

In case you’re out there for a small cellphone, then you might be curious how the SE differs from the Mini and I can say that they’re very totally different units. The Mini gives all of these further options like Face ID, MagSafe, Night time Mode, and extra as a result of it’s a full-fledged iPhone 13. It instantly feels extra superior from a utilization standpoint, which helps justify the roughly $300 value distinction between the 2. 

Weirdly, the Mini’s 5.4-inch display nonetheless makes it really feel significantly bigger than the 4.7-inch SE, so for those who’re searching for one thing actually pocket-friendly, the shape issue benefits discovered within the SE may outweigh these bells and whistles that include the 13 Mini.

Some ultimate ideas concerning the iPhone SE

A few of us are too far gone to forgo the world of gigantic telephones and return to a 4.7-inch display just like the iPhone SE’s. However, at $429 earlier than any reductions apply, the SE represents an essential entry level into Apple’s smartphone lineup. Harder glass and an ordinary design make it extra sturdy throughout its lifespan and simpler to restore and recycle as soon as it’s broken. The brand new processor and continued software program updates imply it can probably be a cellphone that might final 5 or extra years earlier than it wants changing so long as you’ll be able to resist the lure of fancy new options. 

Personally, I’d like to see a much bigger, barely dummer iPhone alongside the strains of an SE Plus model. I had an iPhone 8 Plus for a while and preferred the shape issue so much. A less expensive 5.5-inch cellphone with guts quick sufficient to do on a regular basis duties and a few mild content material creation would make a ton of sense from a shopper standpoint. Possibly we’ll see one thing like that sooner or later.

In the end, the Apple iPhone SE isn’t flashy, however it can do the whole lot you want an iPhone to do whereas saving some money—and perhaps your pinky—alongside the best way.