iPhone SE (2022) vs Motorola One 5G: Which 5G Phone Wins?

The iPhone SE (2022) and Motorola One 5G represent opposite ends of the smartphone spectrum. Apple offers a compact, high-performance experience with its A15 Bionic chip, while Motorola focuses on affordability and 5G connectivity with the Snapdragon 765G. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and long-term software support, the iPhone SE (2022) is the clear winner. However, the Motorola One 5G provides a compelling 5G experience at a significantly lower price point, making it ideal for budget-conscious consumers.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola One 5G 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 bands2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA1, 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
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / 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 - A2595
Launch
Announced2020, September 01. Released 2020, September 142022, March 08
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, March 18
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions168 x 74 x 9 mm (6.61 x 2.91 x 0.35 in)138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight207 g (7.30 oz)144 g (5.08 oz)
 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 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio)4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90Hz, HDR10Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.3 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)Hexa-core (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765 5G (7 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 620Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 10iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal128GB 4GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
 UFS 2.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, ring flash (macro camera), panorama, HDRQuad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro), AF Auxiliary lens-
Single-12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.0µm 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1.12µm-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-7 MP, f/2.2
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, 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
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging15W wired20W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi)
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 2018 mAh (6.96 Wh)
Misc
ColorsOxford BlueMidnight, Starlight, Red
Models-A2783, A2595, A2785, A2782, A2784, iphone14,6
PriceAbout 420 EUR$ 119.84 / C$ 199.99 / £ 142.00 / € 173.00
SAR-0.98 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-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 One 5G

  • Unmatched performance with the A15 Bionic chip
  • Faster charging speeds (20W wired, 7.5W wireless)
  • Long-term software support from Apple

  • Smaller display size
  • Higher price point
  • Outdated design with large bezels

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

  • Affordable 5G connectivity
  • Larger display size (assumed)
  • More budget-friendly price

  • Significantly slower performance compared to the A15
  • Slower charging speeds (15W wired)
  • Less consistent software updates

Display Comparison

The iPhone SE (2022) features a smaller 4.7-inch display with a measured peak brightness of 605 nits and a 1424:1 contrast ratio. While the contrast is respectable, the smaller size and lower resolution compared to the Motorola One 5G’s larger panel will be noticeable for media consumption. The Motorola One 5G’s display specs are not provided, but its larger size likely offers a more immersive viewing experience, though potentially at the cost of pixel density. Both displays share the same 1424:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar panel technology in terms of contrast performance.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but details are limited. The iPhone SE (2022) benefits from Apple’s renowned image processing pipeline, which consistently delivers excellent results even with a single-lens camera system. The Motorola One 5G’s camera performance is less well-defined, and without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to assess its low-light capabilities. The absence of details on the Motorola’s camera suggests it’s unlikely to compete with the iPhone SE’s image quality, particularly in challenging conditions.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. Apple’s A15 Bionic, fabricated on a 5nm process, boasts a hexa-core CPU (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) and delivers significantly higher performance than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 5G (7nm) found in the Motorola One 5G. The A15’s architecture, with its focus on high-performance cores, translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming capabilities. While the Snapdragon 765G is capable for everyday tasks, it will struggle with demanding applications and graphically intensive games compared to the iPhone SE. The A15’s neural engine also provides a substantial advantage in machine learning tasks.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 62 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities. However, the iPhone SE (2022) offers faster charging with 20W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes) and 7.5W wireless charging (Qi), while the Motorola One 5G is limited to 15W wired charging. This faster charging capability gives the iPhone SE an edge in convenience, allowing for quicker top-ups when needed. The endurance rating suggests efficient power management on both devices.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola One 5G if you need affordable 5G access, a larger display, and aren't heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem. It's a practical choice for everyday tasks and streaming. Buy the Apple iPhone SE (2022) if you demand the fastest possible performance in a compact form factor, value iOS and its app ecosystem, and prioritize long-term software updates and resale value.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 765G in the Motorola One 5G powerful enough for demanding mobile games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 765G can run Genshin Impact, you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a playable frame rate. The A15 Bionic in the iPhone SE (2022) will provide a much smoother and more consistent gaming experience at higher settings.
❓ How long will the iPhone SE (2022) receive software updates compared to the Motorola One 5G?
Apple typically provides 5-7 years of software updates for its iPhones, ensuring long-term security and feature enhancements. Motorola's update commitment is less predictable, generally offering 2-3 years of major Android updates and a few years of security patches. This makes the iPhone SE a better long-term investment.
❓ Does the Motorola One 5G support carrier aggregation for faster 5G speeds?
The Snapdragon 765G does support carrier aggregation, but the specific bands and capabilities depend on the carrier and region. Check with your mobile provider to confirm compatibility and available 5G speeds.
❓ Is the iPhone SE (2022)'s smaller screen size a significant drawback for media consumption?
The 4.7-inch display is noticeably smaller than many modern smartphones. While it's still usable for videos and browsing, users accustomed to larger screens may find it cramped. The Motorola One 5G's larger display (spec not provided) would be more suitable for extended media viewing.