Is the iPhone SE 2022 worth it?

a few years ago the Apple has been launching parallel to the main line of the iPhone a cheaper model, seeking consumers who want a more affordable smartphone without leaving the company's ecosystem. This year was launched iPhone SE 2022 - some people also call him iPhone SE 3, for being the third generation of the iPhone SE — and let's evaluate its aspects and features, adding impressions from the international press to arrive at the verdict: is it worth the investment? Check with us!

Design

knowing the iPhone SE 2020, you can see that there were no design changes. This is because, like its predecessor, the iPhone SE 2022 it also comes with rounded edges, aluminum body and glass on the back. And speaking of the rear, we also have in the upper left corner a single-lens camera, with 12 MP of resolution.

The aluminum housing is smooth, clean and, in our test model, a brilliant Midnight. It looks black when we're indoors, but the blue glows in the sunlight.

Tech news outlet TechRadar on the design of the iPhone SE 2022

On the sides we have the buttons that make up the standard on iPhones: on the right side the lock button, and on the left side the volume buttons and the “switch” to turn silent mode on or off. Still on the left side there is the entry for the telephone operator chip, even though this model supports the eSIM.

At the bottom are the speakers, the Lightning input for charging and headphones, as well as the microphones. Despite Apple investing in Face ID as a security method to access the iPhone and other functionalities, the new iPhone SE did not bring the feature present on the main line since the iPhone X. He came with the old touch ID included in the Home button, which despite being one of the safest for biometric reading, was not expected for an Apple smartphone in 2022 — even if it is a cheaper model.

Fabric

If you are not a fan of the format of smartphones with large screens, this may be the ideal model. At 4,7 inches, the Retina HD display of the iPhone SE 2022 maintains Apple quality in touch response and performs more than satisfactory indoors. However, the LED display does not cope very well under high sun exposure, unlike the OLED used since the iPhone 12. Color reproduction is very good, aided by True Tone, a feature that adjusts the color temperature according to the ambient light conditions. .

Anyone who went from the iPhone 7 or 8 to the SE 2022 probably won't see that much difference in this regard. Other Android smartphones, even in lower price ranges, have OLED displays and higher screen resolutions — however, each manufacturer chooses what to invest in and what to sacrifice in a device, and this was probably Apple's choice.

The amount of detail and contrast Apple is able to reproduce from this screen is impressive. However, for a $429 phone, I found the screen to be brighter, especially in sunlight.

CNET, over iPhone SE 2022 screen

Camera

One of the tools that usually draw the most attention when we talk about smartphones is the camera. As iPhone SE 2022 there is not much to expect as a novelty, since we see in it the same rear camera as its predecessor, with a wide-angle lens of 12 SM of resolution. However, the smartphone's processor allows these 12 megapixels to offer very good photo quality, taking into account its market value.

In low-light locations, the iPhone SE 2022's front camera captures slightly more light than the 2020 model's.

PCMag, about the iPhone SE 2022 camera

The processor A15 Bionic not only improves image quality but also speeds up processing. The chip provides the new iPhone SE support to Smart HDR4 — which improves the color reproduction of the photo — and when Deep Fusion, which takes 9 photos and uses artificial intelligence to combine them into a better quality image. At the Portrait Mode it is possible to control how blurred the background will be, giving more focus to the central object of the photo. However, there is a downside: as the feature identifies a face for focus, taking pictures of other things, such as plants or animals, is not very exciting.

And just as the rear camera gains an edge when paired with the A15 Bionic, so we see with the front camera. It has 7 MP of resolution and produces good photographs — although it doesn't do as well with more distant shots. Recording videos on both cameras is also satisfying, as it is possible to record in 4K at 60 fps.

Performance

We talked so much about it in the previous topic, that here we are again: the processor A15 Bionic. He's present across the board iPhone 13 and also in the iPhone SE 2022 — that is, despite buying the cheapest model, you are getting Apple's best processor so far. Even with 4 GB of RAM memory, it ends up being enough to run several applications, watch streaming videos and perform any other slightly heavier task on the new iPhone SE.

In summary, almost all improvements in the iPhone SE 2022 can be assigned to the processor A15 Bionic. Even being an intermediate device, its performance is of a premium model. As with the iPhone 13, the third-generation iPhone SE also heats up when used in intense tasks, such as playing a game for more than 20 minutes.

The A15 Bionic is Apple's most powerful mobile processor, and putting it in the tiny frame of the iPhone SE is like putting rocket engines on a bicycle.

TechRadar, about the iPhone SE 2022 processor

The iPhone SE 2022 comes with three different storage capacities: 64 GB, 128 GB e 256 GB of internal storage, which will determine the value of the device.

Connectivity

Another very important aspect here is the inclusion of the 5G on the device. The latest mobile connectivity technology is also included here. But of course with every bonus, there is also some cost, and when 5G is on, the battery doesn't usually last very long.

It is also good to take into account the places where you try to access 5G, as not all environments have the possibility of accessing the mobile internet. Even in a closed place, like in a building, it is still possible to reach more or less 60 MB in download speed. The iPhone SE 2022 also has Wi-Fi 5.

If you're experiencing serious network congestion on your current iPhone (with lots of bars of service but surprisingly slow speeds), 5G support here helps.

But since I'm the mobile network guy, I should point out that the iPhone SE 2022 has the worst network performance of all 5G iPhones.

PCMag, about using 5G on iPhone SE 2022

Battery

Apple does not usually reveal some information about its devices, but specialized websites provide some data such as battery capacity. O iPhone SE 2022 brings a 2018 mAh battery, an increase of almost 11% in capacity over the 2020 model, with 1820 mAh. This subtle change brings the device around 12 hours of runtime in regular use — even though Apple claims it's 15 hours. At the end of the day you will still need to recharge your smartphone at least once a day.

It is worth remembering that this value considers the use of 5G at all times, so it is possible to increase autonomy by turning off access to higher speed networks. Speaking of battery charging, this device supports fast charging with up to 20 Watts of power, as well as wireless charging with standard Qi chargers — the new iPhone SE is not compatible with MagSafe, Apple's own wireless charger.

Inside, the SE has a larger battery, which — when combined with the new design, iOS 15 and the A15 Bionic chip — gives the device longer battery life than the previous iPhone SE.

CNET, about the iPhone SE 2022 battery

Conclusion

There are reasons why you might not like this device, such as the battery that lasts a little over ten hours, but it is definitely worth buying the iPhone SE 2022 for its advantages. Even if the target audience is users who intend to switch from Android to Apple's system, those who are coming from the iPhone 8 and earlier can consider it as a great evolution. For the initial value of R$3330 you already guarantee a 64 GB model with the same processor as Apple's premium model.

You can find the iPhone SE 2022 for sale in the following models:

• 64 GB - R $ 3.330 in Magazine Luiza
• 128 GB - R $ 3.780 in Magazine Luiza
• 256 GB - R $ 5.015 at Fast Shop

Technical specifications

Córdoba	iPhone SE 2022
Brand	Apple
Fabric	HD retina 4,7-inch (diagonal) Multi-Touch widescreen LCD with IPS technology Resolution of 1334 x 750 pixels at 326 dpi Contrast ratio: 1400:1 (typical) True tone Wide color tone (P3) tactile response Max brightness 625 nits (typical) Fingerprint and oil resistant coating Screen Zoom reachability
Capacity	64 GB 128 GB 256 GB
Weight	144 gr
Electrical	IP67 (water, splash and dust)
chip	A15 Bionic
Cameras	12 MP (wide-angle) rear camera Aperture ƒ/1.8 Digital zoom up to 5x True Tone LED Flash with Slow Sync 7 MP TrueDepth Front Camera Aperture ƒ/2.2 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps or 30 fps Time-lapse with Night mode
Connectivity	5G (sub-6 GHz) with 2×2 MIMO4 LTE Advanced with 2×2 MIMO and LAA4 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 5.0 NFC with read mode Express cards with battery backup
Sensors	Touch ID fingerprint sensor Barometer three axis gyroscope Accelerometer Proximity sensor ambient light sensor
Audio	Supported formats: AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus Stereo sound playback User configurable maximum volume limit
Battery	Video Playback: Up to 15 hours video streaming: Up to 10 hours Audio playback: up to 50 hours Fast recharge compatible: Up to 50% recharge in 30 minutes9 with 20W or higher power adapter (sold separately) Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery Wireless charging (works with standard Qi chargers)10 Recharge via computer USB or power adapter
Price	64 GB - R $ 3330 128 GB - R $ 3780 256 GB - R $ 5015

See also:

Check out our review and comparison of iPhones 13 e iPhone 13 Pro!

Pig iron: TechRadar, CNet e PCMag.