iPhone SE (2022) vs iPhone 13 mini: The Ultimate Compact Showdown

Apple's compact phone lineup offers two compelling options: the budget-friendly iPhone SE (2022) and the slightly more premium iPhone 13 mini. Both deliver powerful performance in a pocketable size, but cater to different needs and budgets. This comparison breaks down every aspect to help you choose the perfect fit.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 13 mini edges out the SE (2022) thanks to its superior display, significantly better battery life, and improved camera system. While the SE offers incredible value with its A15 Bionic chip, the 13 mini provides a more well-rounded and enjoyable user experience for a slightly higher price.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone SE (2022) Apple iPhone 13 mini
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 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, A27851, 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 - A2628, A2629, A2630
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2783, A2784, A2785, A27821, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 Sub6/mmWave - A2628
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / 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 - A25951, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2629, A2630
Launch
Announced2022, March 082021, September 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 18Available. Released 2021, September 24
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in)131.5 x 64.2 x 7.7 mm (5.18 x 2.53 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight144 g (5.08 oz)141 g (4.97 oz)
 IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionIon-strengthened glassCeramic Shield glass
Resolution750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~476 ppi density)
Size4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio)5.4 inches, 71.9 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeRetina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetApple A15 Bionic (5 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUApple GPU (4-core graphics)Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSiOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 26.1iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM
 NVMeNVMe
Main Camera
Dual-12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.9", 1.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm
FeaturesQuad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@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 60fps), stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single7 MP, f/2.212 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBLightning, USB 2.0Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometerFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging20W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi)Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Ion 2018 mAh (6.96 Wh)Li-Ion 2438 mAh (9.34 Wh)
Misc
ColorsMidnight, Starlight, RedStarlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Red, Green
ModelsA2783, A2595, A2785, A2782, A2784, iphone14,6A2628, A2481, A2626, A2629, A2630, iphone14,4
Price$ 119.84 / C$ 199.99 / £ 142.00 / € 173.00€ 299.00 / $ 240.00 / £ 244.89
SAR0.98 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)1.19 W/kg (head)     1.19 W/kg (body)
SAR EU1.20 W/kg (head)     1.19 W/kg (body)0.97 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 62h Endurance rating 75h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1424:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.2 LUFS (Very good) -25.9 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 723486 (v9) GeekBench: 4629 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 772512 (v9) GeekBench: 4681 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

  • Incredible value for money
  • Powerful A15 Bionic chip
  • Compact and pocketable design
  • 5G connectivity

  • Outdated design
  • Short battery life
  • Lower screen brightness
  • Basic camera system

Apple iPhone 13 mini

  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • Longer battery life
  • Improved camera system with Cinematic mode
  • MagSafe wireless charging

  • Higher price
  • Still relatively small screen
  • No significant design overhaul

Display Comparison

The iPhone 13 mini boasts a significantly brighter display (831 nits vs 605 nits) and an 'infinite' contrast ratio, offering richer colors and deeper blacks compared to the SE (2022)'s 1424:1 ratio. While both displays are excellent for their size, the 13 mini's is noticeably more vibrant and easier to view in bright sunlight.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 13 mini's camera system offers a clear advantage. It features larger sensors, sensor-shift stabilization, and Cinematic mode for video recording, resulting in better low-light performance and more professional-looking videos. The SE (2022) delivers good photos, but lacks the advanced features of the 13 mini.

Performance

Both phones share the same powerful Apple A15 Bionic chip, ensuring blazing-fast performance for any task. You'll experience smooth multitasking, responsive gaming, and effortless app loading on both devices. Differences in real-world performance are minimal.

Battery Life

Battery life is a major differentiator. The iPhone 13 mini provides significantly longer endurance (75h) compared to the iPhone SE (2022) (62h). This means you can comfortably get through a full day of use without needing to recharge the 13 mini.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the iPhone SE (2022)? Users prioritizing affordability and raw processing power, especially those upgrading from older iPhones. Who should buy the iPhone 13 mini? Users seeking a premium compact experience with a better display, longer battery life, and a more versatile camera system.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the iPhone SE (2022) worth it if I already have an iPhone 8?
Yes, the A15 Bionic chip provides a significant performance boost over the iPhone 8, and 5G connectivity is a welcome addition. However, the battery life and camera improvements might not be substantial enough to justify the upgrade for everyone.
❓ Does the iPhone 13 mini support MagSafe?
Yes, the iPhone 13 mini supports MagSafe wireless charging, offering convenient and faster charging options. It also supports Qi2 wireless charging with iOS 17.2 or later.