The Apple iPhone SE (2022) is the corporate’s newest reasonably priced flagship. The cellphone not solely replaces the earlier iPhone SE in Apple’s line-up of gadgets but in addition takes on the may of some well-liked Android gadgets from the high-end phase. Curiously, the iPhone SE (2022) does so by bringing with it some main inner upgrades — just like the presence of the corporate’s newest chipset, the A15 Bionic SoC — however little change in what’s outdoors. The cellphone nonetheless follows the identical design language discovered on the iPhone 8, making it look a bit of plain in entrance of its opponents. 

In our time with it, we discovered the iPhone SE (2022) to be a really attention-grabbing gadget that is full of promise, but in addition one which asks you to make some severe compromises. In the course of the course of this evaluation, we’ll check out what works for the iPhone SE (2022), and in addition what would not, so as to offer you an thought if this cellphone is value your cash.

iPhone SE (2022) evaluation: Design

Let’s begin with what’s arguably probably the most boring bit in regards to the iPhone SE (2022) — its design. As we talked about above, the cellphone gives the identical design language that we first noticed on the iPhone 8. It is compact, it is light-weight and it will possibly slide out and in of your pocket with out a lot fuss. However as a cellphone launched in 2022, it gives higher peace of thoughts over its predecessors because it makes use of a toughened glass — the identical because the one discovered on the again of the iPhone 13 gadgets launched in the direction of the tip of final yr.

Apple’s strategy to creating the cellphone seems to be very minimalistic, with the again panel solely that includes the corporate’s emblem and a single-lens digital camera enclosure together with a flash. And since it is Apple’s tackle a dated design language, we now have chunky bezels on the entrance and in addition a mechanical residence button that additionally hides the corporate’s TouchID tech beneath. 

However to the corporate’s credit score, it has machined the iPhone SE (2022) for excellent ergonomics. The gadget with its compact kind issue, curved edges and extraordinarily light-weight body — 144 grams —  feels nice within the hand, thereby enhancing the expertise of utilizing the iPhone SE (2022). 

iPhone SE (2022) evaluation: Show

The first motive why Apple’s managed to maintain the cellphone light-weight and manageable is that the iPhone SE (2022) flaunts a fairly compact, 4.7-inch IPS LCD panel. Nevertheless, that is precisely the final advantage of this show. For a high-end phase cellphone launched in 2022, not solely is that this panel too small, nevertheless it additionally would not reduce it by way of high quality that you just’d come to anticipate from a cellphone from the phase. 

It is a panel that runs at a static decision of 1334×750 pixels and is able to churning out visuals at a pixel density of 326ppi. This ensures textual content, movies and pictures look sharp sufficient on the gadget, however most often not as sharp sufficient as a competing cellphone sitting subsequent to the iPhone SE (2022). It is also not a quick refresh price panel and runs at 60Hz. Once more, this is probably not a giant deal when you’re transferring to the iPhone SE (2022) from a earlier technology iPhone. Nevertheless, there will probably be some disappointment ready for you when you’re transferring from a high-end Android smartphone or when you’re evaluating the gadget to every other Android cellphone accessible in the identical worth bracket. 

The show on the cellphone in our exams managed to hit a peak typical brightness of 472 nits. Whereas this doesn’t make it the brightest within the phase, we discovered it to be lots vivid for many use case eventualities. When not utilizing the cellphone below direct daylight, we discovered it to output vibrant and punchy visuals. The show can also be well-calibrated and gives good color accuracy ranges as effectively. This truthfully, wasn’t a lot of a shock as Apple has a historical past of constructing telephones with very well-calibrated panels. 

iPhone SE (2022) evaluation: Efficiency

The iPhone SE (2022) additionally gives quite a bit relating to efficiency. It is because the gadget makes use of the identical highly effective chipset discovered on the iPhone 13. As a tool that will get Apple’s new A15 Bionic SoC, we additionally get some severe upgrades with the iPhone SE (2022) over its predecessor, and extra importantly, its greatest competitor, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. 

As such, the efficiency on the gadget is in some circumstances even higher than what you get on some flagship Android telephones. In benchmarks as effectively, the efficiency was consistent with what we have seen on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Professional. Gaming efficiency too, was usually fairly good, with video games working like a attraction on the gadget. We ran Name of Obligation Cell and Asphalt 9 Legends on the cellphone, and with Gamebench powering within the background solely to understand each the video games ran with none hitches on the cellphone. The identical was the case for different GPU benchmarks akin to GFXBench and 3D Mark WildLife. The 2 benchmarks utilised the highly effective efficiency provided by the GPU of the iPhone SE (2022).

 

Our efficiency testing additionally noticed us look at the battery efficiency of the iPhone SE (2022). Right here the outcomes have been as anticipated, with the gadget proving to be one of many higher performing gadgets within the division within the phase. In our time with it, we managed to recover from a day’s work on reasonable utilization. It additionally managed to run for about 640 minutes on a single cost in our battery loop check. This good battery efficiency was the results of primarily two elements. The primary is the well-optimized chipset that the A15 Bionic SoC is, and the second is the small-sized show that it is tasked to deal with.

The iPhone SE (2022) additionally will get help for 20W quick wired charging, which helps it go from 0-50 per cent round half-hour. Nevertheless, a full cost took us round 80 minutes. Contemplating the scale of the battery at hand, it is truthfully not a foul return. 

iPhone SE (2022) evaluation: Cameras

Let’s speak in regards to the cameras on the iPhone SE (2022) — or fairly, the single-camera lens on the iPhone SE (2022). The digital camera system on this reasonably priced iPhone is as primary as primary will get. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply it isn’t good. In truth, it is nonetheless a very good point-and-shoot digital camera for many customers. 

On the coronary heart of the set-up is a single 12-megapixel wide-angle lens on the again, and there is additionally a 7-megapixel wide-angle lens on the entrance for clicking selfies. However extra on this one later. Let’s deal with the rear digital camera. 

So the rear digital camera is definitely not an improve by way of {hardware} over what we have seen on the earlier technology iPhone SE. Nevertheless, as a result of the iPhone SE (2022) is now powered by the A15 Bionic SoC, the brand new reasonably priced iPhone will get entry to some neat computational pictures tips. Sure, you do not clearly get all the flamboyant options accessible to the iPhone 13 collection of telephones — for instance, the Evening Mode is lacking. But, you do get sufficient to click on some very nice photos. 

Because of this, photos clicked utilizing the iPhone SE (2022) come out with a very good quantity of element, nevertheless, they do not look as wealthy and punchy as those clicked utilizing the opposite current-gen iPhones — or for the matter, even those from a number of the competing Android telephones within the price range phase. Once more, as a result of we now have the A15 Bionic in play, the shutter response is sweet and the cellphone’s digital camera app throws up virtually no observable lag to disrupt the image clicking expertise.

Low gentle efficiency, nevertheless, is a special story altogether, with the rear lens leaving a bit of to be desired from its efficiency. Its frailities are uncovered when fed with an insufficient quantity of sunshine, because it fails to seize sufficient quantity of element. The one saving grace right here is that due to Apple’s sturdy efficiency within the computational pictures division, the iPhone SE manages to deal with noise effectively in these low-light photos. However as a bundle, total the iPhone SE (2022) simply works fantastic as a very good level and shoot digital camera, regardless of its apparent failings within the low gentle division.

The selfie lens on the cellphone gives related efficiency because it captures a very good quantity of element and correct color tones. There is no oversharpening of textures as effectively, thereby making it good for clicking selfies in well-lit conditions. Nevertheless, the low gentle efficiency of this lens as effectively is just not at all times on top of things.

iPhone SE (2022) evaluation: Verdict 

The iPhone SE (2022) gives quite a bit to love when you’re a fan of compact kind issue smartphones. It’s a cellphone that guarantees you good battery life, and in addition brings with it the promise of highly effective efficiency for just about something you do on the gadget. To high it off, it additionally gives a fairly good point-and-shoot digital camera expertise with its single-lens digital camera set-up on the again. And a very powerful factor is it does all of this regardless of being probably the most reasonably priced current-gen iPhone from the corporate. 

Nevertheless, it might nonetheless not be the cellphone for everybody. And the explanations are apparent. The shortage of an even bigger show, the outdated design, and common low-light digital camera efficiency are all causes to disregard the iPhone SE (2022) in favour of one thing from the world of Android. However, that is solely if you’re comfy taking place that path. 

For anybody who needs to stay throughout the Apple ecosystem, there actually is not every other alternative. Until after all, you are wanting on the iPhone 11 as an choice. It is dated (solely in identify) and isn’t as future-proof as a result of it’s powered by an older technology chipset. But, it makes up for this by bringing extra versatile cameras and a design and a show that is extra consistent with the instances.