Apple iPhone SE (2022) Review: Still worth it in 2023?

Verdict

The iPhone SE 2022 is each a roaring success and a missed alternative. Internally, this dinky telephone makes a robust proposition with top-drawer efficiency and years of software program updates forward of it. It’s only a disgrace the identical drained design and tiny show are arduous to get enthusiastic about.

Introduction

The iPhone SE 2022 is Apple’s most reasonably priced 5G gadget, sitting under the iPhone 14 vary.

This can be a telephone aimed toward people who find themselves nonetheless utilizing a earlier era iPhone SE, or something older than an iPhone 8, and it presents notable upgrades on these ageing gadgets in a number of areas.

With an A15 Bionic chipset much like the one you’ll discover within the iPhone 14, an array of fantastic digital camera options and helpful extras usually missed at this value like wi-fi charging and water resistance, the iPhone SE 2022 might be seen as a cut price.

However does an previous design and cramped show hamper the expertise? Let’s have a deeper look and see the way it carried out throughout our lab and real-world checks.

Design and Display screen

• One of many smallest shows on a telephone
• The design will probably be acquainted to most
• Three colors: Midnight, Starlight and Product RED

Let’s get the elephant within the room out of the way in which first. The show is the brand new iPhone SE’s most disappointing function. Measuring 4.7 inches, it’s small and I discover it very cramped when utilizing the on-screen keyboard. I do know some folks like smaller telephones, however for me, this is only one step too far.

It’s additionally only a pretty mundane panel. There’s no OLED tech for best-in-class blacks, no quick refresh charge for smoother scrolling and a chunky bezel giving the telephone a retro appear and feel.

Watching movies on it isn’t an amazing expertise and whereas it will get vibrant sufficient to fight a sunny day, it’s not a standout performer on the subject of immersiveness or distinction. Different telephones on this value vary have OLED panels for deeper and richer colors, many even have 90 or 120Hz tech. This can be a cool function that makes them smoother to make use of by growing the variety of pictures per second the display screen renders. All-in-all the display screen is the most important space the place the iPhone SE 2022 might have been a lot extra.

The iPhone SE 2022’s design wants little rationalization to iPhone followers. I’m certain everybody studying that is aware of the look of this gadget because it has been round, in a single type or one other, since 2014 when the iPhone 6 launched. That’s simply shy of a decade in the past.

No less than the iPhone SE 2022 is fantastically well-built and completed to the identical normal as Apple’s different higher-end telephones. There’s more durable glass on the back and front (no Ceramic Protect although) and helpful extras just like the mute toggle and an IP67 ranking. Water resistance has historically been uncommon on the value level, nevertheless it has additionally made an look on equally priced rivals just like the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G in 2023, barely lessening the iPhone’s attraction.

The bodily house button is a fast and efficient means of unlocking, and there’s one thing reassuring about it. It feels old style as I’ve spent so lengthy with Apple’s extra trendy gadgets, however in the event you’re coming from an iPhone 6 to an iPhone 8 or an older SE and also you just like the button you then’ll be glad it stays.

The dimensions of this telephone will probably be a professional to some and a dealbreaker for others. Subsequent to the iPhone 14 Professional Max, it appears to be like comically tiny; dwarfed by the 6.7-inch display screen on the Max mannequin. I do know many individuals who love smaller gadgets that may be comfortably held in a single hand and this gadget is catering to them. I’d nonetheless say the iPhone 13 Mini is a greater total dimension although, because it avoids the cramped show problems with the SE 2022 I’ve skilled throughout testing.

Digicam

• A single rear digital camera and flash
• Deep Fusion and Good HDR 4 added from the iPhone 13
• Full lack of evening mode

The one 12-megapixel digital camera on the again of the iPhone SE 2022 takes very nice photos in daylight conditions. In a well-lit atmosphere, I discovered the distinction between snaps taken with this and with an iPhone 13 are minimal, when seen on the telephone display screen. Nevertheless, this yr’s Google Pixel 7a arguably surpasses what Apple has to supply with extra superior taking pictures modes and higher high quality.

When it comes to {hardware}, it appears as if the iPhone SE 2022 is utilizing principally the identical sensor because the older mannequin. The place the updates come are within the software program and picture processing, and these are due to the A15 Bionic chipset powering the telephone.

The talents of the A15 Bionic and its neural engine permit for each Deep Fusion and Good HDR 4, two software program options that actually assist image high quality. Deep Fusion works in weaker lighting, serving to to deliver out extra element and works notably nicely at including extra texture to photographs. Shoot a snap of somebody in a woollen jumper, for instance, and the strands of the material are far clearer than what I captured on competing Android telephones.

Good HDR 4 focuses on dynamic vary and actually helps add extra pop to pictures. You’ll be able to’t toggle this on or off – it’s simply all the time there – nevertheless it helps stage out colors, shadows and highlights whenever you’re taking pictures on sunnier days. There’s additionally the Images Kinds function from the iPhone 13, which alters a picture’s profile permitting for it to be cooler or extra vibrant.

These are slightly bit like filters as they alter the look of images, nonetheless they’ve way more management as they’re inserted contained in the imaging pipeline slightly than simply sitting on the highest. The types are good, and even mimic among the different telephones round. Vibrant, as an example, jogs my memory lots of Galaxy S23’s pictures when it comes to wealthy colors.

The massive lacking function right here is any kind of devoted Night time Mode and it’s an actual disgrace. The iPhone SE 2022 shoots the identical in daylight as at evening and it might probably’t mechanically bounce right into a devoted mode to spice up brightness. Whereas utilizing the iPhone SE 2022 at a gig, it simply couldn’t deal with the powerful lighting situations very nicely, pulling out a slightly darkish and missing picture. The iPhone 13, together with cheaper choices just like the Xiaomi Redmi Notice 12 Professional+ 5G each deal with evening images a lot better than the iPhone SE.

The 7-megapixel selfie digital camera can be in want of a freshen-up. Snaps listed here are a bit dim and missing intimately. This entrance digital camera doesn’t possess the identical TrueDepth expertise because the notched iPhones, so there’s no Face ID.

The dearth of any secondary sensors may additionally put some folks off. Not having a zoom (except for the digital possibility) is restrictive, whereas the shortage of an ultrawide does restrict creativity considerably. I can’t consider one other telephone I’ve reviewed prior to now few years that has only one digital camera. Saying that, focussing on an excellent predominant digital camera is best, a minimum of in my eyes, than including ineffective secondary zoom and macro cameras which might be nothing greater than window dressing.

iPhones have, for the previous couple of generations, excelled at videography. The iPhone SE 2022 may not have the stabilisation expertise to match the flagship Apple telephones, however the video I captured was steady and vibrant, with reasonable pores and skin tones. The gimmicky portrait video Cinematic Mode isn’t right here (seemingly because of the lack of a number of focal lengths) however you may nonetheless shoot as much as 4K 60fps.

Different lacking options you’ll discover on the pricier iPhone 14 and 14 Professional collection embrace ProRes and HDR recording and RAW seize. None of those are large misses for a telephone like this in my view and can seemingly stay unique to the Professional telephones Apple makes.

Efficiency

• Powered by the identical A15 Bionic because the costlier iPhones
• Bigger battery than the earlier iPhone SE
• As much as 256GB storage

It’s on the within the place it actually counts for the iPhone SE 2022. Whereas the design feels drained, the internals are bleeding edge and in some methods not far off what’s powering the iPhone 14.

Nevertheless it’s not simply the advantages of velocity boosts and higher gaming efficiency that having a high-end chip brings. Arguably the most important improve is longevity and the way lengthy this telephone will probably be supported. Purchase the iPhone SE 2022 now, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see it decide up iOS updates for a minimum of seven years based mostly on Apple’s help for previous iPhones we’ve reviewed. The unique iPhone SE, for instance, was launched in 2016 and solely stopped receiving software program updates with iOS 16 in 2022.

Lengthy software program help, each for safety patches and new function updates, isn’t one thing you’ll actually discover on Android telephones at this value. Samsung at present boasts among the greatest improve guarantees for its mid-range blowers, providing 4 OS upgrades and 5 years of safety patches, however decide up a Motorola, Realme or Xiaomi gadget and also you’ll be fortunate to get two years of updates.

I see the iPhone SE 2022 as a telephone that’ll final and that might be an actual cause to decide on this over many of the competitors in the event you don’t wish to improve your telephone frequently.

The precise chipset used right here is the A15 Bionic – the chipset discovered within the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. It’s among the many quickest cell silicon round discounting the A16 Bionic of the Professional fashions, outshining the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and even the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in benchmarks and flying by way of each real-world activity we threw at it throughout testing.

To have that energy in a telephone that not solely prices lower than £500/$500, however one which’s additionally this small is extremely uncommon.

Within the Geekbench 5 take a look at – an artificial all-around efficiency benchmarking instrument – the iPhone SE 2022 matches the scores of the iPhone 13 Professional and beats the Galaxy S22 Extremely, although it might probably’t fairly beat the newer Galaxy S23 Extremely and its customized Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset. Nonetheless, that’s two telephones that value greater than double its value.

Benchmarks don’t imply every little thing, and in real-world use, the iPhone SE 2022 shines. The dinky show means I can’t see this being a favorite for cell players, however the telephone can simply play prime titles like Genshin Affect and Asphalt 9 if you want. I’ve preferred having the ability in a small form-factor for picture modifying in Lightroom too.

Apple by no means mentions the quantity of RAM inside its telephones, however the iPhone SE 2022 has an additional 1GB when in comparison with the older mannequin. The 4GB at play right here ought to once more assist with that longevity facet and, after all, guarantee apps keep in reminiscence longer, which can assist launch occasions.

The brand new SE is the most cost effective Apple telephone to help 5G because of the Qualcomm modem inside. In contrast to the iPhone 13 collection there’s no mmWave 5G, so in the event you’re within the USA or different places the place the sooner 5G tech is reside, then that’s one thing to notice. I wouldn’t improve to this telephone purely for 5G, though I’m beginning to discover its advantages extra, nevertheless it’ll be a pleasant function to have a couple of years down the road. Once more, all of it feeds into the concept that the iPhone SE 2022 will final a very long time.

Battery Life

• Improved endurance when in comparison with the earlier iPhone SE
• No included charger, no MagSafe
• A full cost in roughly an hour

The very first thing that may be mentioned concerning the battery life right here is that it’s a notable improve over the iPhone SE 2020. It doesn’t have a bodily bigger battery inside, however the extra environment friendly chipset helps it eke extra juice out.

While you’re not utilizing the telephone it barely drops in any respect – leaving it unplugged in a single day noticed a mere 2% battery drop and duties like music streaming, looking Safari and WhatsApp messaging all sip juice slowly. In the event you’re a really gentle consumer who cares about battery initially, it’s value taking a look at this telephone. Throughout my time with it, the brand new SE has by no means struggled to make it by way of a full day of normal use.

An hour of Netflix streaming with the battery set to a snug brightness took the battery down 5%, which isn’t that shocking contemplating the small show and relatively low decision. I can’t say I’ll be watching hours of Netflix on this display screen although, given its dimension.

However that is nonetheless a meaty processor together with a reasonably small cell and when pushed the battery drain is seen. Gaming is a noticeable wrongdoer, as is something that pushes the chipset to work arduous. Simply because it’s simple to make it by way of a day with gentle use, it’s equally simple to burn by way of 20% of an prolonged gaming session and a few Google Maps use. The addition of 5G On: At all times isn’t overly form on endurance, particularly in the event you’re utilizing it for lots of downloads.

There’s no charger contained in the field, so in the event you don’t have one round I’d recommend investing in a USB-C plug that may cost a minimum of 20w. At this velocity, you’ll get a full cost in simply over an hour. Wi-fi charging is way slower and there’s no MagSafe help for that additional quick wire-free charging.

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