iPhone SE (2022) vs iPhone 7: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone SE (2022) is the clear winner thanks to its significantly faster A15 Bionic chip, brighter display, and modern features. While the iPhone 7 remains a decent option, the SE's performance and future-proofing make it the superior choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone SE (2022) | Apple iPhone 7 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - A1660, A1778 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - A1660, A1778 |
| 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 - A1660, A1778 |
| 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 (3CA) Cat9 450/50 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 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO & TD-SCDMA - A1660 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 08 | 2016, September 07. Released 2016, September 16 |
| 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) | 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm (5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 144 g (5.08 oz) | 138 g (4.87 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Ion-strengthened glass | Ion-strengthened glass |
| Resolution | 750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) | 750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) | Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) |
| - | 3D Touch display & home button | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) | Quad-core 2.34 GHz (2x Hurricane + 2x Zephyr) |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) | Apple A10 Fusion (16 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | PowerVR Series7XT Plus (six-core graphics) |
| OS | iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 26.1 | iOS 10.0.1, upgradable to iOS 15.8.5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM, 256GB 2GB RAM |
| NVMe | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/3.0", PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec. | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@240fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Face detection, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 7 MP, f/2.2, 32mm (standard) |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| 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 | 4.2, 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, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi) | - |
| Talk time | - | Up to 14 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2018 mAh (6.96 Wh) | Li-Ion 1960 mAh, non-removable (7.45 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight, Starlight, Red | Jet Black, Black, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Red |
| Models | A2783, A2595, A2785, A2782, A2784, iphone14,6 | A1660, A1778, A1779, A1780, A1853, A1866, iPhone9,1, iPhone9,3 |
| Price | $ 119.84 / C$ 199.99 / £ 142.00 / € 173.00 | About 180 EUR |
| SAR | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.20 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) | 1.38 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -92.4dB / Crosstalk -80.9dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 62h | Endurance rating 61h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1424:1 (nominal) | Contrast ratio: 1603:1 (nominal), 3.964 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.2 LUFS (Very good) | Voice 67dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 75dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 723486 (v9) GeekBench: 4629 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | Basemark OS II 2.0: 3416 |
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
- Significantly faster A15 Bionic chip
- Brighter display
- Faster charging (wired & wireless)
- Modern features and software support
- Improved camera performance
- Still uses an older iPhone design
- No significant design changes
Apple iPhone 7
- More affordable
- Compact size
- Decent camera for its age
- Outdated A10 Fusion chip
- Slower charging
- Dimmer display
- Limited software updates
- Older design
Display Comparison
The iPhone SE (2022) boasts a measured peak brightness of 605 nits, significantly brighter than the iPhone 7's 3.964 in sunlight. While both offer excellent contrast ratios (1424:1 vs 1603:1 nominal), the SE's brightness provides better visibility outdoors. The iPhone 7's display is still respectable, but the SE's is noticeably more vibrant.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable cameras, but the iPhone SE (2022) benefits from Apple's computational photography advancements. While specific camera specs aren't detailed, the SE's image processing generally produces better results, especially in low light. The iPhone 7's camera is still usable, but the SE offers a more modern and refined experience.
Performance
This is where the iPhone SE (2022) truly shines. The A15 Bionic chip is a massive upgrade over the iPhone 7's A10 Fusion. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The A15 handles demanding tasks with ease, while the A10 is starting to show its age.
Battery Life
Both phones have very similar endurance ratings (62h vs 61h), suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite the SE's more powerful chip. However, the SE supports faster charging (20W wired vs 5W for the iPhone 7) and wireless charging (7.5W Qi).
Buying Guide
Who should buy the iPhone SE (2022)? Users seeking a compact, powerful iPhone with a modern chipset and good camera at a reasonable price. Who should buy the iPhone 7? Those on a very tight budget who prioritize affordability over cutting-edge performance and are comfortable with an older device.