iPhone SE (2022) vs. Moto G Stylus: Which Smartphone Reigns Supreme?

The iPhone SE (2022) and Motorola Moto G Stylus represent opposite ends of the smartphone spectrum. Apple offers a concentrated burst of flagship-level performance in a diminutive package, while Motorola prioritizes affordability and features like a built-in stylus. This comparison dissects their core differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw speed and long-term software support, the iPhone SE (2022) is the clear winner. However, the Moto G Stylus provides significantly better battery life and the convenience of a stylus at a much lower price point, making it ideal for budget-conscious users.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Moto G Stylus Apple iPhone SE (2022)
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, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 711, 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
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
EDGEClass 10-
GPRSClass 10-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 600/100 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 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
Announced2020, February 07. Released 2020, April 162022, March 08
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, March 18
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, aluminum frame (6000 series)Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions158.6 x 75.8 x 9.2 mm (6.24 x 2.98 x 0.36 in)138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight192 g (6.77 oz)144 g (5.08 oz)
 Stylus Water-repellent coatingIP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Ion-strengthened glass
Resolution1080 x 2300 pixels (~399 ppi density)750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 100.7 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio)4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDRetina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)Hexa-core (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 610Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 11iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Call recordsYes-
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal128GB 4GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
Phonebook1000 contacts, Photocall-
 -NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, LED flash, HDR, panoramaQuad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single1.3 MP12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS
Triple48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), dedicated video camera (1080p) 2 MP (macro)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm7 MP, f/2.2
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
BrowserWAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML-
GamesYes-
JavaYes, MIDP 2.0-
MessagingSMS, MMS, Email-
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximityFingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging10W wired20W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi)
Stand-byUp to 470 h-
Talk timeUp to 14 h 20 min-
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Ion 2018 mAh (6.96 Wh)
Misc
ColorsMystic indigoMidnight, Starlight, Red
ModelsXT2043, XT2043-4A2783, A2595, A2785, A2782, A2784, iphone14,6
PriceAbout 70 EUR$ 119.84 / C$ 199.99 / £ 142.00 / € 173.00
SAR-0.98 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.84 W/kg (head)     1.20 W/kg (head)     1.19 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 62h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: 1424:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 723486 (v9) GeekBench: 4629 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Moto G Stylus

  • Blazing-fast performance with the A15 Bionic chip
  • Compact and pocketable design
  • Excellent software support and updates from Apple

  • Limited battery life compared to competitors
  • Outdated design with large bezels
  • Higher price point

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

  • Long battery life for all-day use
  • Integrated stylus for note-taking and creativity
  • Significantly more affordable price

  • Slower performance with the Snapdragon 665
  • Less refined software experience
  • Slower charging speeds

Display Comparison

The iPhone SE (2022) boasts a peak brightness of 605 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors, while the Moto G Stylus’s brightness is not specified, suggesting it will likely be lower. Both displays share a contrast ratio of 1424:1 (nominal), indicating similar color reproduction capabilities. However, the iPhone SE’s smaller 4.7-inch display results in a higher pixel density, offering a sharper image. The iPhone SE’s older design features larger bezels compared to modern smartphones, a trade-off for its compact size.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but details are limited. The iPhone SE benefits from Apple’s renowned image processing algorithms, which optimize photos for color accuracy and dynamic range. While sensor size and aperture are unknown for both, Apple’s computational photography typically compensates for hardware limitations. The Moto G Stylus likely relies more heavily on software enhancements to improve image quality. Without specific details, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Apple’s track record suggests a superior camera experience.

Performance

The performance gap is substantial. The Apple A15 Bionic, fabricated on a 5nm process, features a hexa-core CPU (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) and delivers significantly faster processing speeds than the Motorola’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11nm). The A15’s architecture, with its focus on efficiency, also translates to better sustained performance under load. The Snapdragon 665’s octa-core configuration (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) is adequate for everyday tasks, but will struggle with demanding games and applications. The iPhone SE’s superior GPU will also provide a much smoother gaming experience.

Battery Life

The iPhone SE (2022) and Moto G Stylus both achieve an endurance rating of 62 hours, but this is achieved through different means. The Moto G Stylus likely has a larger battery capacity to reach this rating, while the iPhone SE relies on the efficiency of the A15 Bionic chip and iOS optimization. The iPhone SE supports 20W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes) and 7.5W wireless charging (Qi), offering faster charging speeds than the Moto G Stylus’s 10W wired charging. This means the iPhone SE can quickly top up its battery when needed, despite its smaller capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Moto G Stylus if you need extended battery life, a built-in stylus for note-taking and creative tasks, and a lower upfront cost. Buy the Apple iPhone SE (2022) if you prioritize blazing-fast performance, a premium user experience, and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, even if it means sacrificing battery endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 665 in the Moto G Stylus powerful enough for modern mobile games?
The Snapdragon 665 can handle less demanding mobile games, but it will struggle with graphically intensive titles at higher settings. Expect reduced frame rates and potential lag in games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile. The iPhone SE’s A15 Bionic offers a vastly superior gaming experience.
❓ How does the iPhone SE (2022)'s battery life hold up with heavy usage, like streaming video or using GPS?
The iPhone SE (2022)'s battery life is its biggest weakness. Heavy usage will quickly drain the battery, requiring a recharge before the end of the day. While the A15 Bionic is efficient, the small battery capacity limits its endurance under sustained load. The Moto G Stylus offers significantly better battery life for these scenarios.
❓ Does the Moto G Stylus stylus offer pressure sensitivity for drawing and artistic applications?
While the Moto G Stylus includes a stylus, it offers limited pressure sensitivity. It's suitable for basic note-taking and navigation, but it's not a replacement for a dedicated stylus like the Apple Pencil or Samsung S Pen for professional artistic work.
❓ What is the long-term software support like for both devices?
Apple provides significantly longer software support for the iPhone SE (2022), with updates expected for at least 5-6 years. Motorola’s software support is typically limited to 2-3 years of major Android updates and security patches, meaning the Moto G Stylus will become outdated faster.