Apple iPhone SE (2022) Review: Annoyingly Great

Smartphone Apple iPhone SE 2 64GB 12.0 MP com o Melhor Preço é no Zoom

O iPhone SE 2 traz um design bem parecido ao do iPhone 8, pode se dizer que o aparelho é uma opção mais barata de celular Apple 2020. Esse celular top de linha tem um preço bastante acessível quando se compara com modelos mais potentes da marca, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11 e iPhone 12. Além de possuir as novas tecnologias e recursos atuais da fabricante, o smartphone Apple conta com um design atraente, bom desempenho e áudio de qualidade.

Design e tela

O design do iPhone SE 2 é bem parecido com o do iPhone 8, não muda quase nada. Na verdade, a Apple reaproveitou a carcaça do iPhone 8 e integrou o hardware semelhante ao do iPhone 11. É possível identificar na parte frontal a presença do botão home junto ao Touch ID. A tecnologia de reconhecimento facial dessa vez ficou de fora. Nas lateiras, há três botões para ligar/desligar o aparelho, aumentar/diminuir o volume e um outro para ativar ou desativar o modo silencioso do celular. Na parte traseira, nada mudou comparando ao 8: continua o revestimento em vidro, uma câmera e o flash ao lado. Ele também possui dois alto-falantes na parte inferior e certificação IP67.

A tela do iPhone SE 2 conta com 4,7", resolução HD+ e painel Retina IPS LCD. Seu trabalho em conjunto entrega um bom nível de brilho e imagens enriquecidas em detalhes. Vale a pena ressaltar que os recursos de tela presentes no iPhone 11 também estão integrados ao iPhone SE 2 e acaba sendo um ponto muito positivo.

Desempenho

O iPhone SE 2 conta com o mesmo hardware dos modelos mais recentes da fabricante, seu processador é o A13 Bionic, que juntamente com seus 3GB de memória RAM entrega ótimo desempenho, pronto para rodar o que quiser. Ele está disponível nas cores vermelho e preto e nas versão de 64GB, 128GB e 256GB.

Câmeras

Sua câmera traseira possui 12MP com abertura de (f/1.8). Seus registros são bem satisfatórios e seu Modo Retrato não decepciona. Mas vale lembrar que, graças ao processador A13 Bionic, o iPhone SE 2 conta com a função Neural Engine que entende e mapeia a profundidade dos campos entregando fotografias em níveis profissionais. As gravações podem ser feitas em ótima qualidade também, pois o SE 2 filma em 4K a 60 quadros por segundos.

Na parte frontal, temos um sensor de 7MP com abertura de (f/2.2) que faz ótimos registros em locais iluminados. Esse celular Apple entrega bons resultados em fotografias mesmo com a ausência de algumas funcionalidades, o que acaba sendo compreendido pelo preço mais baixo. O iPhone SE 2 dá oportunidade para aquelas pessoas que sempre almejaram ter um smartphone Apple, mas talvez nunca pensaram em comprar por conta do preço.

Bateria

Segundo a fabricante, esse celular top de linha consegue chegar a até 13h de uso moderado. Sua autonomia de bateria também se parece com a do iPhone 8, o que pode ter sido um pecado da Apple. Ele possui compatibilidade com carregamento rápido e compartilhamento de bateria via Wireless PowerShare. O carregador de 18W que permite fazer essa recarga rápida, é vendido separadamente.

Touch ID, Review, Price

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Apple rarely goes for the budget side of a product line, but it always comes with some surprises when it does. The 2022 iPhone SE is everything you’d expect in an Apple flagship, packed into a classic design.

The budget iPhone has never been more enticing with Touch ID, 4K video recording, an A15 processor, and a 4.7-inch display. It is a device for users who want a great deal or are not fond of Face ID and the lack of a Home Button.

iPhone SE (third-generation) Features

The classic Touch ID Home Button makes the iPhone SE instantly familiar

The iPhone SE continues to be a budget-focused device with no new flashy features or gimmicks. During its 2022 "Peek Performance" Apple event, Apple announced the new device with a processor bump and new 5G capabilities.

Design

There is nothing remarkable about the budget iPhone design, but for a good reason. It is built to look like the iPhone 8, which was similar to the iPhone 6. That means users have a modern option without Face ID, but without much compromise.

Apple was able to keep the price low thanks to keeping the old design. It has front and back glass panels made with the same glass used in the rear of the iPhone 13 for scratch protection, but notably not Ceramic Shield. The aluminum frame remains the older, curved candy bar design.

The third-generation iPhone SE maintains the same rounded candy bar design

The lack of changes to external design is purposeful, one of Apple's strengths is its supply chain, which drives component prices down the longer a form factor is produced. Changing internal components but keeping the exterior the same drives manufacturing costs down.

The phone ships in three colors: Midnight, Starlight, and (RED). Regardless of what you choose, you will have a black glass faceplate. In the iPhone 6 through iPhone 8, the white, gold, and rose gold variants had a white faceplate. Apple's shift to all-black fronts, regardless of back color, is likely for simplicity and a design choice started by Face ID-equipped devices.

A teardown of the second-generation iPhone SE revealed an almost identical configuration to the iPhone 8. Component locations were similar and could even be moved between the cases without issue. The only notable difference is the label distinguishing the chipsets.

Display

The iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch Liquid Retina display

The 4.7-inch Retina HD display returns with True Tone and Night Shift built-in. It has the same 326ppi density as the previous model, so the screen should look identical.

The P3 color gamut means HDR content can be displayed on-screen with no issue, and Apple supports the latest codecs in the iTunes Store, including HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

Despite having a lower resolution than competing smartphones, the image remains crisp and clear due to the high pixel density. Viewing video at 1080p will not be noticeably different from viewing the same video on high-resolution devices.

Chipset

The A15 has 1.2x graphics performance over the A13

Apple used the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 in the third-generation iPhone SE, meaning you get all the computational power of a flagship smartphone in a device that costs half as much. This includes exporting a video edit, playing games from Apple Arcade, and using an Augmented Reality app, which is faster and smoother because of the chip.

Even as a budget device, running the latest chipset means getting around five years of iOS updates. Apple's competitors cannot offer the same power or longevity at this price point, and most cannot compete at their high end with this budget iPhone's processing power.

Apple has been flexing its strength with its custom Apple Silicon. The company is so confident in its processors that it has shifted the Mac lineup to Apple-made M1 processors. Products like the budget-conscious iPhone benefit from the power and the lower cost of custom processors.

Camera

The 12MP rear camera is improved with the A15 ISP

The front-facing camera is 7MP, which will record in 1080p at 30 FPS. Even without a Face ID sensor for depth-sensing, you can take Portrait Mode selfies using advanced algorithms.

The rear camera is the same module as the iPhone 8, meaning you can take 4K video and capture 12MP photos. The image signal processor in the A15 improves photo quality across generations and introduces new features like Deep Fusion.

Unique to this iPhone is a new Portrait Mode system that relies entirely on machine learning. It is called "Single Image Monocular Depth Estimation," using the power of the A15 to process image depth maps entirely on the device.

Wireless capabilities

The third-generation iPhone SE has sub-6Ghz 5G capabilities

Apple moved the iPhone SE to 5G with its 2022 model. This means every modern iPhone being sold by Apple now has a 5G modem.

Not all 5G modems are identical. The modem used in the third-generation iPhone SE is only capable of sub-6GHz speeds. This means the ultra-wideband speeds offered on some networks in the United States won't work.

However, most users won't notice the difference as sub-6GHz 5G is still noticeably faster than LTE. Everything from downloads to streaming should be noticeably faster given decent network conditions.

Specs compared

2022 iPhone SE 2020 iPhone SE iPhone 8 Year 2022 2020 2017 Base price $429 $399 $449 Colors Starlight, Midnight, PRODUCT(RED) White, Black, PRODUCT(RED) Space Gray, Silver, Gold (also PRODUCT(RED) at times) Capacity 64GB, 128GB, 256GB 64GB, 128GB, 256GB 64GB, 128GB Screen 4.7-inch Retina HD 1334x750 at 326ppi 4.7-inch Retina HD 1334x740 at 326ppi 4.7-inch Retina HD 1334x740 at 326ppi Wireless charging Yes Yes Yes Wi-Fi 6 Yes Yes No Brightness 625 nits 625 nits 625 nits Dimensions 5.45 inches (138.4mm) by 2.65 inches (67.3mm) by 0.29 inch (7.3mm) 5.45 inches (138.4mm) by 2.65 inches (67.4mm) by 0.29 inch (7.3mm) 5.45 inches (138.4mm) by 2.65 inches (67.4mm) by 0.29 inch (7.3mm) Rear cameras Single 12MP Wide Single 12MP Wide Single 12MP Wide Front camera 7MP FaceTime HD with 1080p video at 30fps 7MP FaceTime HD with 1080p video at 30fps 7MP FaceTime HD with 1080p video at 30fps Biometrics Touch ID Touch ID Touch ID Processor A15 Bionic A13 Bionic A11 Bionic Battery life Video playback up to 15 hours Video playback up to 13 hours Video playback up to 14 hours Fast Charging Capable Yes, charge to 50% in 30 minutes Yes, charge to 50% in 30 minutes Yes, charge to 50% in 30 minutes Water resistance To a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes To a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes To a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes

iPhone SE 3 review

The third-generation iPhone SE is positioned as the cheapest new iPhone you can buy while offering the benefits of top-end models. It comes with the most recent A15 chipset and a 5G antenna while retaining everything else found in the previous iteration.

Apple did increase the price of this model by $30, but it is still cheaper than the next best device, the iPhone 13 mini, by $270. Even if you max out the storage to 256GB, you're $120 under the next model.

The design aspects are basically identical in every metric except for the colors, and even those were only slightly tweaked. The 4.7-inch Retina display with Home Button below the display is a classic design that has remained consistent since the iPhone 8.

Apple says it used tougher glass for the display, but that's the only material change made to the external enclosure. The processor bump makes the most significant difference for this new iPhone.

Benchmarking the A15

Benchmarking tool Geekbench 5 shows similar performance to the iPhone 13 Pro with 1744 single-core and 4315 multi-core scores. However, the iPhone SE has only 4GB of RAM versus 6GB in the iPhone 13 Pro, so peak performance and apps stored in memory will be less overall.

We were disappointed at the lack of MagSafe, but battery life is extended by a bit, at least. Thanks to the improved efficiency in the A15, video playback is extended by two hours, and audio can be played for up to 50 hours.

With the third-generation iPhone SE, you know exactly what you're going to get. Everything is borrowed from the aging iPhone 8 design to the A15 processor.

The iPhone SE gets you into the Apple ecosystem for $270 less than the flagship model

You won't get advanced features like Face ID, telephoto camera, macro photography, mmWave 5G, or MagSafe. But, the price reflects the lack of flagship features.

For those who want an inexpensive iPhone without sacrificing performance or longevity, Apple's got you covered with the iPhone SE. Tech-savvy users looking for more features are covered by the flagship iPhone lineup.

iPhone SE Compared

iPhone SE vs iPhone 13 mini

Apple sells the iPhone SE as an entry point into the iPhone lineup, with the iPhone 13 mini available at the next tier for $270 more. These devices have major differences in design, cameras, storage, and display.

The third-generation model has the same design as the iPhone 8, which dates back to the iPhone 6. The 4.7-inch display fits within a prominent chin and forehead, making the device similar in size to the all-screen iPhone 13 mini.

The dimensions are very close, with the iPhone SE coming in slightly taller and longer despite having a smaller display. The iPhone 13 mini makes much better use of its available space with an edge-to-edge screen and a notch cutout for Face ID.

The iPhone 13 mini uses OLED in its Super Retina XDR display. It is a 2340-by-1080-pixel display compared to the 1334-by-750-pixels in the LCD iPhone SE Retina HD display.

Both devices have the A15 Bionic processor, which means the performance will be nearly identical. Benchmarks show similar scores for single and multi-core performance.

The camera systems for each device are another big differentiator. The iPhone 13 mini has three 12MP cameras — one Wide, one Ultra Wide, and one selfie camera. The iPhone SE only has a 7MP selfie camera and a 12MP rear camera.

While each device supports 5G, only the iPhone 13 mini has mmWave 5G. That is the faster version of 5G available only in select areas of the United States.

The iPhone 13 mini also has a handful of features not available on the budget iPhone. MagSafe accessories, Ceramic Shield, and Face ID, to name a few.

Read the entire spec breakdown and comparison in the full article: New 2022 iPhone SE vs iPhone 13 mini.

iPhone SE 3 vs iPhone SE 2

The external design, color options, display, cameras, and biometrics are identical across generations. However, Apple hopes a processor bump and 5G connectivity will be enough to entice people to upgrade.

Benchmarks show that the third-generation iPhone SE is significantly faster thanks to the A15 processor. It scores nearly double in multi-core performance and has much-improved graphics.

The A15 also brings improved camera processing to the new model. The camera specs didn't change but added features like Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, and Photographic Styles make for a much better image.

5G connectivity, sans mmWave, means the new iPhone SE has faster and more stable network connections versus the LTE model it replaces. Some users may not notice much difference in network connections depending on their cell plan and area's 5G availability.

Read the entire spec breakdown and comparison in the full article: New 2022 iPhone SE vs 2020 iPhone SE.

iPhone SE (second-generation)

The second generation is nearly identical to the third generation. It used the A13 processor and was only 4G capable.

The colors changed slightly across models as Apple moved from white to Starlight and black to Midnight. It was based upon the same iPhone 8 case design.

Release and reception

Years of rumors surrounding a new budget iPhone circulated before anything concrete emerged from Apple. From calling it the elusive "iPhone 9" to speculating over Face ID versus Touch ID, the rumor cycle was varied and long for this device. Speculation about such a product began in 2017, only a year after the first iPhone SE was launched.

Ming-Chi Kuo had the whole device pinned down back in October 2019, with the price, colors, and storage all accurately noted for investors.

Leaks surrounding the actual product began ramping up in early 2020, with Apple even leaking the product's name on its website. Ultimately the release was still somewhat a surprise, given the modern A13 chipset and low entry price.

Portions of what is earned by (PRODUCT)RED sales go to COVID-19 relief

One thing that makes the iPhone SE special is that its release took place in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. To mark its significance, Apple is donating a portion of what is earned from sales of the (PRODUCT)RED model directly to the Global COVID-19 Relief Fund.

iPhone SE (first generation)

The iPhone SE (2020) next to the 2016 model

Apple introduced the original iPhone SE in 2016 as the company's first attempt at a budget iPhone. Its design mimicked the iPhone 5s but had some bells and whistles thrown in.

The flat sides, 4-inch display, and button-on-the-top design were some of the most all-time popular iPhone designs. As the iPhone 5s aged, people began to worry that there would be no successor, and everyone would be forced into the new soap-bar iPhone design of the iPhone 6 and later.

Apple finally revealed the budget device with modern chipsets and a 12MP camera in March 2016. It launched with 16GB of internal storage at $399 and 64GB at $499.

The revamped handset also included better LTE coverage and “Hey Siri” support.

The following year, Apple upgraded the base storage to 32GB and bumped the second tier to 128GB for the same prices.

The device was discontinued in 2018, with new models still for sale on clearance into 2019. Since the storage update in 2017, rumors circulated about a refreshed iPhone SE, which finally came to fruition in April 2020.

iPhone SE Pricing

iPhone SE 3 The 2022 iPhone SE starts at $429, but wireless carriers are offering aggressive incentives on the budget-friendly smartphone with 5G support. Buy at AT&T Buy at Verizon Buy at Visible

Apple iPhone SE (2022) Review: Annoyingly Great

8/10 ? 1 - Absolute Hot Garbage

2 - Sorta Lukewarm Garbage

3 - Strongly Flawed Design

4 - Some Pros, Lots Of Cons

5 - Acceptably Imperfect

6 - Good Enough to Buy On Sale

7 - Great, But Not Best-In-Class

8 - Fantastic, with Some Footnotes

9 - Shut Up And Take My Money

10 - Absolute Design Nirvana Rating: Price: $429.99

Apple’s third-generation iPhone SE (released in March 2022) stands out from the company’s family of smartphones, not only because of its budget-friendly price, but also its outdated design. Although it’s hard to recommend a phone that’s lacking so much, it’s perfect for a very select audience.

Here's What We Like Best-in-class performance

Small form factor

Cheapest iPhone available And What We Don't Outdated design

Lackluster camera

Only 64GB of storage in base model

The iPhone SE is a mesh of both current and past iPhones. Basically, you get the form factor (which includes a Touch ID fingerprint sensor) of the iPhone SE (2020) and the brains and processing power of the top-of-the-line iPhone 13. It’s the best of both worlds if you’re not looking for the cutting edge.

Unfortunately, Apple had to cut corners to keep the phone’s price below $500. This means you’ll miss out on camera performance, a high-definition display, and other features found on other mid-tier and budget smartphones.

Here’s everything you need to know about the iPhone SE (2022) before buying one for yourself or a loved one.

Note: I have spent the last seven days using the iPhone SE (2022) as my daily driver for this review. The handset was running iOS 15.4, included 128GB of storage, and was purchased by How-To Geek’s parent company, LifeSavvy Media.

Hardware and Design: Premium but Aging

67.3 x 138.4 x 7.3mm, 144g

Lightning Port, No Headphone Jack

Front-Facing Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor

IP67 Water and Dust Resistant

The iPhone SE (2022) is instantly recognizable if you’ve ever used an iPhone 8, second-gen iPhone SE, or any 2017-era Apple smartphone. It has a solid, thin, and rounded frame design that feels premium in hand, even though it seems like a device of the past.

This metal-framed phone is sandwiched between two pieces of glass, providing the look and feel that we’ve all become familiar with. The large bezels, forehead, and chin surrounding the display are what ages the iPhone. No matter the price point, most devices have pushed the screen closer to the edges of the phone and minimized the black bezels.

Of course, Apple couldn’t change much regarding the screen-to-bezel ratio because the iPhone SE retains the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The physical sensor that sits on the phone’s surface, which also acts as a Home button, takes up a ton of real estate. Until Apple adopts under-display fingerprint sensors, there’s not much that the company can do to modernize the look of this budget handset.

There are two other features found in a growing number of phones missing from the iPhone SE (2022): mmWave 5G and Ultra Wideband support. The first is something you will most likely never miss as, at the time of writing, you can only enjoy mmWave while standing within eyeshot of a 5G tower that offers the frequency. These can be found mostly in large cities and some sports stadiums.

The second means you won’t be able to locate devices such as AirTags in a given space. Ultra Wideband, which uses Apple’s U1 chip, allows you to use radio waves to pinpoint the exact location of supported objects. Of course, you can still use your iPhone to activate an AirTag’s speaker to help you find it.

Lastly, the iPhone SE is missing the Ceramic Shield display found on modern iPhones. This exclusion isn’t the end of the world (and most won’t notice a difference), but if dropped, there’s a higher chance that the iPhone SE’s screen might crack. It’s probably best that you grab a case if you’re worried about any damage that might come

The Best iPhone SE Cases of 2022 Best iPhone SE Case Overall iPhone SE Silicone Case Best Budget iPhone SE Case Spigen Tough Armor Best iPhone SE Wallet Case TUCCH iPhone SE Case Best Rugged iPhone SE Case OtterBox Defender Series Case Best Clear iPhone SE Case ZAGG Crystal Palace Case Best Thin iPhone SE Case Spigen Thin Fit Case Best Leather iPhone SE Case Snakehive Vintage Wallet Case

Display: The Weakest Link

4.7-inch LCD Display

1,334 x 750px, 326ppi

625 Nits Peak Brightness

There’s no getting around this: the screen is the worst part of the iPhone SE. It’s a cramped 4.7-inch LCD that barely offers better than 720p resolution. This combination leads to smaller on-screen text and buttons with tiny touch targets.

If you’re coming from the second-gen iPhone SE from 2020, you’ll find that nothing has changed. It’s the same 16:9 display with the exact resolution. Anyone coming from a flagship iPhone will instantly notice a downgrade in color accuracy and sharpness.

Additionally, open some of your favorite apps, whether those are social media apps such as Facebook or Twitter or a game like Call of Duty, and you’ll find that the companies have started designing interfaces for larger screens with more pixels. Text is cramped, harder to read, and it makes for a less than pleasing viewing experience.

In all, the screen isn’t horrible to use, but the display might be a dealbreaker if you plan on using this phone for the next three to four years. It’s already outdated at launch, and it’ll only look worse compared to other devices in the years to come.

Performance and Software: Flagship-Level

A15 Bionic CPU, 6-core with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores

4-core GPU

16-core Neural Engine

4GB of RAM

iOS, the operating system found on all iPhones, is nearly identical in appearance and performance on any modern Apple smartphone. You won’t find any surprises here unless you’ve never used an iPhone or iPod Touch.

The interface is still centered around home pages with app shortcuts and widgets, with additional widgets to the left and the App Library to the right. It’s a simplistic setup that doesn’t offer too much customization but is easy enough for anyone to understand and use.

If you’re coming from an iPhone that includes Face ID (iPhone X or newer), you’ll have to reacquaint yourself with some aspects of iOS. Some features, like Control Center, are found in different places.

For example, on newer iPhones, you can find the quick settings panel by swiping down from the right side of the front-facing camera notch. But on the iPhone SE, just like with older Touch ID phones, you open the panel by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.

As far as performance is concerned, the iPhone SE (2022) handled everything I threw at it without issue. Want to play a game from the App Store? You can expect smooth playback, zero dropped frames, and an enjoyable experience. Need to edit a document or want to surf the internet? The iPhone can do that in its sleep.

We ran Geekbench 5 on the iPhone SE and compared it to the iPhone 13 Pro if you’re looking for benchmark scores. As you might expect, since the A15 Bionic CPU powers both handsets, the scores were nearly identical. The iPhone SE (2022) had 1734 single-core and 4549 multi-core scores. The iPhone 13 Pro received a 1723 single-core score and a 4650 multi-core score.

The inclusion of Apple’s top-of-the-line CPU is the iPhone SE’s saving grace. Most $500 budget smartphones run slower and/or older processors that age faster, resulting in you needing to upgrade sooner. Having the A15 Bionic means the iPhone SE is comparable to flagship smartphones in performance and longevity.

Cameras: Gets the Job Done

I can sum up the iPhone SE (2022)’s cameras in one statement: you get what you paid for. Under perfect conditions, the phone can take stunning pictures and record videos that look better than that from most Android devices. But push the handset a little, and quality starts to degrade.

Rear Camera

12MP Wide Camera

ƒ/1.8 Aperture

Up to 4K Video Recording

The single 12MP rear camera is the same sensor as that found on the iPhone SE (2020). There is no secondary lens for taking telephoto or ultra-wide photos. Instead, you’ll have to rely on optical zoom (up to 5x) if you want a different perspective.

Looking through the photo samples below, you’ll find that good light conditions lead to solid images. The shots of the sign and flowers were all taken on my porch, where the sun wasn’t beating down on the scene. Here, the iPhone SE (2022) captured the color of each subject accurately.

Move out to where the sun played a more significant influence, and you start to see some decline in quality. For example, the “Smart HDR” feature is pushed to its limits when trying to take a photo of an over or under-exposed scene (such as the neighborhood and shrub images).

The most disappointing photos are those taken at night. Apple, for some reason, did not include a Night mode, resulting in grainy and murky-looking images. Well-lit areas retain a decent amount of detail, but anything in the shadows will resemble a watercolor painting.

Front-Facing Camera

7MP Camera

ƒ/2.2 Aperture

1080p HD Video Recording

The front-facing camera on the iPhone SE (2022) is also excellent in most lighting conditions. The 7MP sensor does a good job capturing details of both the subject and the background. Color accuracy can sometimes be a problem with selfie cameras on other phones, but I didn’t experience those issues with the iPhone SE.

The iPhone SE also retains Apple’s ability to take some of the best Portrait mode photos. Unlike many of its competitors, the fake bokeh (blurred background) effect doesn’t include an overly noticeable halo around my head. It’s not perfect, though, as you can see by how the phone melted some of my wind-blown hair into the background.

Battery Life: It’ll Get You Through the Day

2,018mAh Battery

20W Wired Charging, 7.5W Wireless Charging

Qi Wireless Charging, No MagSafe

Small phones mean small batteries. Fortunately, Apple is great at battery management, so you don’t have to sacrifice all-day usage just because you chose the company’s smallest smartphone.

During my testing, I saw an average of seven to eight hours of battery life while on Wi-Fi and five to six hours while on cellular. Turning off 5G would likely get you more juice while on the go.

Of course, all of this was with moderate use, such as scrolling through Twitter, browsing the web, and checking my email. Playing resource-heavy games and watching videos on TikTok and YouTube for extended periods caused my battery percentage to drop dramatically. I recommend buying a charger to top back up, especially since one no longer comes in the box.

Unfortunately, you won’t find fast charging in the iPhone SE like you would on similar-priced Android handsets. The good news is that since the device has a physically smaller battery, it doesn’t take too long to charge fully. Using a 20W or faster brick, you can expect to go from 0 to 50% charge in about half an hour while plugged in. Since Apple didn’t bring MagSafe or its 15W wireless charging to the iPhone SE, you’ll be stuck with 7.5W Qi charging.

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Should You Buy the iPhone SE (2022)?

The third-generation iPhone SE is the total package if you want to hold onto the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and the 2017-era design of the second-gen iPhone SE but with modern internals. It’s also perfect for those looking to get their kids their first smartphone or if you simply need a budget handset (and don’t want to grab an Android).

The very fact that Apple has a track record of updating its devices for five to seven years and the inclusion of the A15 Bionic CPU found in the company’s flagships means that this iPhone SE will stand the test of time. Its design and screen technology are both looking more and more outdated each day, but if that doesn’t bother you, it’s not a reason to avoid buying this phone.

But if you’re looking at the iPhone SE because it’s a small phone, I’d recommend the iPhone 13 Mini or the iPhone 12 Mini. Both phones are physically smaller than the iPhone SE (2022) but with modern (and slightly larger) displays, Face ID, and other niceties like MagSafe. Of course, the tradeoff is that you’ll have to spend a couple hundred dollars more.

You can buy the iPhone SE in Starlight (pictured above), Midnight (Black), and (Product)Red. The base 64GB model starts at $429, but we’d recommend you spend a little extra for the 128GB or 256GB version, costing $479 and $579, respectively.

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