iPhone SE (2022) vs iPhone 5s: A Generational Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone SE (2022) is the clear winner, boasting a significantly faster processor, brighter display, and improved battery life. While the iPhone 5s holds a nostalgic charm, the SE offers a vastly superior user experience and future-proofing.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone SE (2022) | Apple iPhone 5s |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all models |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - A1533 (GSM), A1453 |
| 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, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25 - A1533 GSM, A1533 CDMA |
| 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 | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 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 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 39, 40 - A1530 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 08 | 2013, September 10. Released 2013, September 20 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 18 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Corning-made glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in) | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 144 g (5.08 oz) | 112 g (3.95 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Ion-strengthened glass | Corning Gorilla Glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) | 640 x 1136 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~60.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) | IPS LCD |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) | Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based) |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) | Apple A7 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | PowerVR G6430 (quad-core graphics) |
| OS | iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 26.1 | iOS 7, upgradable to iOS 12.5.7 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM | 16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 1GB RAM, 64GB 1GB RAM |
| NVMe | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS | 8 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3.0", 1.5µm, AF |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec. | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | face detection, HDR, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular |
| Single | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 1.2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard) |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS | 720p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| - | 16-bit/44.1kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS |
| 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, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi) | - |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 250 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 10 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2018 mAh (6.96 Wh) | Li-Po 1560 mAh, non-removable (5.92 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight, Starlight, Red | Space Gray, White/Silver, Gold |
| Models | A2783, A2595, A2785, A2782, A2784, iphone14,6 | A1453, A1457, A1518, A1528, A1530, A1533, iPhone6,1, iPhone6,2 |
| Price | $ 119.84 / C$ 199.99 / £ 142.00 / € 173.00 | About 330 EUR |
| SAR | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) | 1.12 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.20 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) | 1.00 W/kg (head) 0.80 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -90.3dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 62h | Endurance rating 54h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1424:1 (nominal) | Contrast ratio: 1219:1 (nominal) / 3.565:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.2 LUFS (Very good) | Voice 68dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 69dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 723486 (v9) GeekBench: 4629 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | Basemark X: 14341 |
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
- Blazing-fast A15 Bionic chip
- Bright and vibrant display
- Excellent camera performance
- Longer battery life
- Modern features like 5G
- Design is dated
- No significant camera hardware upgrades over previous SE models
- Still uses Lightning port
Apple iPhone 5s
- Compact and lightweight
- Nostalgic design
- Affordable (used)
- Simple to use
- Extremely slow performance
- Outdated camera
- Short battery life
- No 5G support
- Limited app compatibility
Display Comparison
The iPhone SE (2022) features a significantly brighter display (605 nits vs nominal 1219:1 for the 5s, and a remarkable 3.565:1 in sunlight for the 5s). While both offer good contrast ratios (1424:1 vs 1219:1), the SE's brightness makes it much easier to see outdoors. The SE also has a more modern display technology, though both are LCD.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the iPhone SE (2022)'s camera is vastly superior. It benefits from Apple's computational photography advancements, resulting in better image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The 5s camera is adequate for basic shots but struggles in challenging conditions.
Performance
This is where the SE (2022) truly shines. The A15 Bionic chip is a monumental leap over the A7. Expect drastically faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and the ability to handle demanding games with ease. The A7 in the iPhone 5s feels sluggish by today's standards.
Battery Life
The iPhone SE (2022) provides a noticeably longer battery life, with an endurance rating of 62 hours compared to the 5s's 54 hours. This difference is further amplified by the SE's more efficient processor.
Buying Guide
The iPhone SE (2022) is ideal for users who want a compact, powerful iPhone with modern features like 5G and a great camera, without breaking the bank. The iPhone 5s might appeal to collectors or those seeking a very budget-friendly, basic smartphone, but its age limits its functionality.