iPhone SE review (2022): A small throwback of a phone

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Since the iPhone 5c, Apple’s approach to making a more affordable iPhone has been to stuff premium processors into cases belonging to older models. With the third generation of the iPhone SE, the company has stuck to that strategy. With its home button, top and bottom bezels and rounded corners, the new iPhone SE is nearly identical to the 2020 model, at least on the outside. Inside, this year’s version packs an A15 Bionic chip and a 5G radio, promising a serious speed boost. Apple is also touting longer battery life and improved durability on this year’s model, which will set you back a modest $429. That’s $30 more than the last iPhone SE, but still cheaper than Apple

Pros

• Familiar home button and TouchID
• Speedy A15 Bionic chip for the price
• Camera takes surprisingly good photos

Cons

• Base model’s 64GB of storage is measly
• Just one rear camera
• Small and lackluster screen

Still, in spite of its stodgy design, I like the way the SE feels. It’s very similar to the Pixel 3: slim, slightly curved and solidly built. The iPhone 13 mini is a little smaller and thicker, with flatter edges and a notch at the top of its 5.4-inch screen that houses its front camera. If you hate notches but for some reason don’t mind bezels, the iPhone SE’s retro look is for you.

Gallery: iPhone SE (2022) review | 11 Photos

/11

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Gallery: iPhone SE (2022) review | 11 Photos

/11

More importantly, Apple says the iPhone SE is covered in the same hardy glass used on the iPhone 13. While I have yet to drop my review unit, knowing that this will be more scratch resistant offers some peace of mind. I don’t use a case with the iPhone 13, and it’s still pristine, despite having been tossed into bags with keys and other sharp objects. It does pick up fingerprints and smudges very easily, though. It’s also nice that the iPhone SE is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance — something the Galaxy A52 5G and the Pixel 5a also offer.

Display and audio

Like many the Galaxy S22 series, and even came close to matching the iPhone 13 Pro. That makes sense, given Apple equipped its budget phone with the same powerful A15 Bionic chip found in its flagship series.

In everyday use, the A15 Bionic was powerful enough for most of my tasks, including editing and exporting a minute-long video in iMovie and using the camera’s Live Text feature to scan product labels around me. I did notice some delays while setting up the phone, with a noticeable pause from when I tapped “Continue” to when the next page came up. I also couldn’t screen record while using SharePlay on a FaceTime video call to show my home page to my colleague which, according to an alert, was a buffering issue. Apple also doesn’t allow you to record your screen while SharePlaying, which I wish was what the notification explained instead. But everything else ran smoothly.

The iPhone SE did get a little warm while I ran tests and used the camera’s Live Text feature to scan addresses on a bottle and look them up in Maps. Thankfully, it cooled back down quickly.

As someone who’s grown accustomed to gesture-based navigation, I needed to reacquaint myself with using a home key. It doesn’t physically depress; like on the previous iPhone SE this is a touch sensor that vibrates in response when you push it. That said, as strange as it felt to navigate iOS with a home button, I did welcome the convenience of Touch ID.

Unlocking the phone was a breeze, too, and if you’re familiar with the last iPhone SE’s sensor you’ll be used to this, especially since the hardware is exactly the same. In fact, if you’ve never known life without the button below the screen and don’t want to give it up, this is the only modern phone around with it.

Battery life and connectivity

One area where small devices like the iPhone SE and iPhone 13 mini tend to fall short is battery life. Apple promised that the A15 Bionic would bring better endurance to this year’s iPhone SE, which turned out to be true. While it did outlast its predecessor, the latest iPhone SE made it just about 12 hours on our video rundown battery test. The iPhone 13 mini clocked a few hours more, while the Pixel 5a notched an impressive 22 hours and 56 minutes.

In daily use, the new iPhone SE typically lasted about a day before needing a charge. I spent one morning and afternoon testing its camera and display, and by 6pm it had dropped to 46 percent. At about 9pm it had fallen to 37 percent, and I hadn’t done much besides taking nighttime photos. The iPhone SE definitely won’t survive your after-work nights out.

I do appreciate that, in addition to the Lightning port, the iPhone SE charges wirelessly. It also supports sub-6 5G, and can work with midband networks as well. Those hoping for ultrawideband for more precise AirTag locations will be disappointed; Apple didn’t include it here. mmWave 5G is also a missing feature, though with the lack of widely available reliable coverage, that’s more understandable.

The competition

If you’re considering the iPhone SE, you’ve probably already decided Android isn’t for you. But I feel it’s my duty to tell you that in this price range, non-Apple offerings tend to offer better specs. Sure, the A15 bionic is the most powerful chip you’re going to get at this price, but nowadays most mid-range phones come with competent processors. You probably won’t notice a huge difference in daily performance between the iPhone SE and the Pixel 5a, which uses a Snapdragon 765G.

What you’re likely to miss out on by sticking to Apple is beautiful OLED panels with faster screen refresh rates. The Pixel 5a and Galaxy A52 also come with multi-camera systems that will make shooting landscapes or faraway objects easier. But if you’d rather stick to a familiar ecosystem, or if the person who you’re buying this for doesn’t need those things, the iPhone SE is a safe choice.

Apple currently got your eye on the iPhone 13 mini. For about $270 more, it brings a nicer, fullscreen display, additional rear camera, updated design and slightly longer battery life. You’ll have to finally let go of the home button and Touch ID, sure, and get used to a notch for the selfie camera. But those are fairly minor tradeoffs. I do want to point out that the base model’s 64GB of storage is measly. I’ve barely installed all my apps on my review unit and there’s already about 22GB gone. You’ll definitely want to iPhone SE offers many advanced features, like a premium processor, 5G support and iOS 15. With these, Apple’s mid-range phone is likely to keep running respectably for at least two more years. But some of its other aspects are practically ancient, like its cramped screen and limited camera setup. If you’re hellbent on getting an iPhone for under $500, and don’t want a refurbished version of previous flagships, the iPhone SE is good enough. Plus, this is the only iPhone around that still has Touch ID, which many people prefer over Face ID.

Those who want superior cameras and displays, though, should at least consider the Galaxy A52 or the iPhone 13. If you can wait a little longer and don’t mind Android, there’s also a chance Google’s next mid-range Pixel will be a better deal. For now, it’s nice to see a new iPhone SE that brings modern performance and connectivity in a design that fans of smaller phones will enjoy. It’s basic, but it gets the job done.

Key specs