iPhone SE 2 vs iPhone SE 3: the comparison

The iPhone SE 5G presented this Tuesday evening succeeds a very popular second-generation model. Are the two mid-range smartphones comparable?

Apple unveiled the long-awaited iPhone SE 5G. Two years after the second generation, Apple presented a somewhat improved iPhone Special Edition, both from a PowerPoint of view and from a connectivity point of view. In terms of design, the 2020 and 2022 models are true twins.

An unchanged design

Impossible to differentiate the iPhone SE 2 from the iPhone SE 3. Apple took no risk on this point, even if it meant disappointing people. We find exactly the same smartphone, and this, two years later. The Home button with Touch ID remains the main button and we find this very small screen surrounded by unsightly borders. The notch is therefore not for this year.

The front and back of the smartphones are covered with Ceramic Shield glass, considered ultra-resistant by Apple. The rear also retains this unique photosensor with a small flash to its right. Apple hasn’t chosen to splurge on colors either, since the same colors as the iPhone SE 2, namely Midnight, Starlight and RED, are offered.

An identical screen in all respects

On this point, there is not much to say since the iPhone SE 2022 retains exactly the same screen as its predecessor. With a size of 4.7 inches, the screen maintains a resolution of 1334×750 pixels, a brightness of 625 nits, and 326 pixels per inch. It is still an LCD panel with a refresh rate of 60Hz. Nothing really amazing then.

Boosted performance

It is mainly on the performance side that the iPhone SE 2022 differs from its big brother. Where it shipped the Apple A13 Bionic SoC of the iPhone 11 two years ago, the third-generation iPhone Special Edition has the luxury of having an A15 Bionic chip, the same as the iPhone 13, released barely 6 months ago.

Suffice to say that the technical gap crossed is impressive and that the iPhone SE 2022 is supercharged. A better chip, therefore, undeniably translates into 1.2x faster graphics performance than the previous generation and a longer video playback time of two hours. Difficult to do better for an iPhone under 558$;

Improved connectivity

Here too, Apple has taken a big step forward by making its low-end iPhone compatible with the 5G cellular network. A considerable gain in speed is the key, whether in downloading applications, streaming viewing, or video streaming. What was offered on the iPhone SE 2020 remains relevant this year and has not taken a hit: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, Lightning, MagSafe.

Same quality photos

Again, there are no changes from a material point of view. The only lens onboard the iPhone SE 2022, and the iPhone SE 2020 by deduction, is a 12-megapixel photosensor with an aperture of f1.8. No optical zoom, but the same digital zoom in x5. The smartphone is still capable of filming in 4K at 60FPS, a very good resolution for a low-end smartphone. The front lens remains 7MP with an aperture of f2.2.

It is mainly on the side of camera-related features that the iPhone SE 2022 is leading its small revolution. Like the iPhone 13, the iPhone SE 5G brings with it Photographic Styles or Night Mode for videos.

Conclusion

Apple seems to have been somewhat stingy in updating its new “Special Edition” smartphone. Let’s be honest, there isn’t much that differentiates the two models. The screen, design, and camera have remained the same two years later, only the A15 chip and 5G compatibility seriously boost the capabilities of the machine and justify the purchase of this model.

However, we must not overlook the fact that this smartphone is mainly aimed at smaller budgets. It is mainly for this reason that Apple has reduced the number of novelties to a strict minimum, in order to reduce production costs on a phone that is sold for “only” 537usd. For people wishing to buy a smartphone that will be updated for at least 4 years and with a good technical data sheet, the new iPhone SE remains a safe bet.