iPhone SE 2022 vs iPhone 12: A Head-to-Head Comparison
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone 12 generally wins due to its superior display, camera system, and longer battery life. However, the iPhone SE 2022 is a compelling choice for those prioritizing performance on a budget and appreciating its smaller form factor. It's a powerhouse in a tiny package.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone SE (2022) | Apple iPhone 12 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2783, A2784, A2785 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2172 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2783, A2784, A2785, A2782 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - A2172 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2595 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 08 | 2020, October 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 18 | Available. Released 2020, October 23 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in) | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | 144 g (5.08 oz) | 164 g (5.78 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Ion-strengthened glass | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) | 1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 26.1 | iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
| NVMe | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.6" |
| Features | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS | - |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec. | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 30fps), stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | Lightning, USB 2.0 | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi) | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update |
| Type | Li-Ion 2018 mAh (6.96 Wh) | Li-Ion 2815 mAh (10.78 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight, Starlight, Red | Black, White, Red, Green, Blue, Purple |
| Models | A2783, A2595, A2785, A2782, A2784, iphone14,6 | A2403, A2172, A2402, A2404, iPhone13,2 |
| Price | $ 119.84 / C$ 199.99 / £ 142.00 / € 173.00 | $ 190.00 / C$ 307.99 / £ 190.00 / € 219.00 / ₹ 54,900 |
| SAR | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.20 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 62h | Endurance rating 84h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1424:1 (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.2 LUFS (Very good) | -24.4 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 723486 (v9) GeekBench: 4629 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 568674 (v8) GeekBench: 4067 (v5.1) GFXBench: 58fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
- Powerful A15 Bionic chip
- Compact and lightweight design
- More affordable
- 5G connectivity
- Smaller display
- Shorter battery life
- Single camera system
- Older design
Apple iPhone 12
- Larger OLED display
- Versatile dual-camera system
- Longer battery life
- Modern design
- MagSafe wireless charging
- More expensive
- Larger size may not suit everyone
Display Comparison
The iPhone 12 boasts a significantly larger 6.1-inch OLED display with an 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The iPhone SE 2022 has a smaller 4.7-inch LCD display with a 1424:1 contrast ratio. While the SE's display is bright (605 nits), the iPhone 12's OLED technology provides a noticeably better viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 12 has a dual-camera system (12MP Wide and Ultra Wide) offering more versatility for photography. It also features Night mode on both front and rear cameras. The iPhone SE 2022 has a single 12MP wide camera. While the SE takes good photos in well-lit conditions, the iPhone 12's additional features and dual-camera setup provide a more comprehensive photographic experience.
Performance
Both phones are incredibly fast, thanks to Apple's silicon. The iPhone SE 2022 features the A15 Bionic chip, the same chip found in the iPhone 13 series, delivering flagship-level performance. The iPhone 12 uses the A14 Bionic, which is still very capable. In real-world usage, both phones handle demanding apps and games with ease, but the A15 offers a slight edge.
Battery Life
The iPhone 12 has a clear advantage in battery life, with an endurance rating of 84 hours compared to the iPhone SE 2022's 62 hours. This means the iPhone 12 will comfortably last a full day of moderate to heavy use, while the SE may require a top-up before the end of the day.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the iPhone SE (2022)? Users seeking a powerful, compact iPhone at a lower price point, those who prefer a smaller phone, and those who value raw processing power. Who should buy the iPhone 12? Users wanting a larger display, a more versatile camera system, and longer battery life, and those who appreciate a more modern design.