Palm Phone vs. iPhone SE (2022): A David and Goliath Smartphone Showdown

The smartphone landscape is dominated by large-screen devices, but a niche market persists for truly compact phones. The Palm Phone PVG100 attempts to fill this void, offering a drastically smaller form factor than most. However, it faces a formidable opponent in Apple’s iPhone SE (2022), which packs flagship-level performance into a relatively small package. This comparison dissects the core differences between these two devices, revealing where each excels and who benefits most from their unique approaches.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the vast majority of users, the Apple iPhone SE (2022) is the clear winner. Its A15 Bionic chip delivers exponentially faster performance, ensuring a smooth and responsive experience for years to come. While the Palm Phone’s diminutive size is appealing, its Snapdragon 435 chipset feels severely outdated and limits its usability.

PHONES
Phone Names Palm Phone PVG100 Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 17, 661, 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
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / 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
Announced2018, October. Released 2018, November2022, March 08
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, March 18
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions96.6 x 50.6 x 7.4 mm (3.80 x 1.99 x 0.29 in)138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight62.5 g (2.22 oz)144 g (5.08 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Ion-strengthened glass
Resolution720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~445 ppi density)750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size3.3 inches, 30.0 cm2 (~61.4% 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 (4x1.4 GHz & 4x1.1 GHz)Hexa-core (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8940 Snapdragon 435 (28 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 505Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 8.1 (Oreo)iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal32GB 3GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDRQuad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single12 MP, AF12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS
Video720p@30fps4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP7 MP, f/2.2
Video720p@30fps1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with dual speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsInfrared Face ID, accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compassFingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
ChargingWired, 50% in 31 min, 100% in 68 min20W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi)
TypeLi-Ion 800 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 2018 mAh (6.96 Wh)
Misc
ColorsGold, TitaniumMidnight, Starlight, Red
ModelsPVG100, PVG100EA2783, A2595, A2785, A2782, A2784, iphone14,6
PriceAbout 400 EUR$ 119.84 / C$ 199.99 / £ 142.00 / € 173.00
SAR-0.98 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.98 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)

Palm Phone PVG100

  • Extremely compact size – truly pocketable.
  • Lower price point than the iPhone SE.
  • Simple and lightweight design.

  • Outdated Snapdragon 435 chipset delivers poor performance.
  • Small display is cramped for most users.
  • Limited battery life expected.

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

  • Blazing-fast A15 Bionic chip for smooth performance.
  • Excellent camera quality and image processing.
  • Long battery life and fast charging (wired and wireless).

  • Larger size compared to the Palm Phone.
  • Higher price point.
  • Relatively basic design.

Display Comparison

The iPhone SE (2022) boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 605 nits compared to an unspecified brightness for the Palm Phone. Both share a 1424:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar panel quality in terms of black levels. However, the iPhone SE’s larger 4.7-inch screen provides a more comfortable viewing experience, while the Palm Phone’s 3.3-inch display feels cramped for most modern applications. The lack of detailed display specs for the Palm Phone suggests a lower-tier panel overall.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the iPhone SE (2022) is expected to deliver far superior image quality. While specific sensor details are missing for both, Apple’s image processing pipeline is renowned for its accuracy and detail. The Palm Phone’s aging chipset likely limits its ability to perform complex image processing, resulting in softer images and reduced dynamic range. The absence of any mention of OIS or advanced camera features on the Palm Phone further underscores its limitations in this area.

Performance

This is where the chasm between these devices becomes apparent. The iPhone SE (2022) is powered by the Apple A15 Bionic, a 5nm hexa-core chip featuring two high-performance Avalanche cores clocked at 3.22 GHz and four efficiency cores. This architecture dominates the Palm Phone’s Qualcomm MSM8940 Snapdragon 435, a 28nm octa-core processor. The A15 Bionic’s superior architecture and manufacturing process translate to dramatically faster CPU and GPU performance, making the iPhone SE capable of handling demanding games and applications with ease, while the Palm Phone struggles with even moderate workloads. The older Snapdragon 435 will also exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

The iPhone SE (2022) achieves an impressive endurance rating of 62 hours, despite its relatively small battery. This is likely due to the efficiency of the A15 Bionic chip and Apple’s software optimizations. The Palm Phone’s battery performance is unknown, but its older, less efficient chipset and smaller size suggest significantly shorter battery life. While the Palm Phone charges to 50% in 31 minutes and 100% in 68 minutes, the iPhone SE matches the 50% mark in 30 minutes with its 20W wired charging and adds the convenience of 7.5W wireless charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the Palm Phone PVG100 if you absolutely prioritize the smallest possible phone size and are willing to accept significant performance compromises for basic tasks like calls, texts, and light social media. Buy the Apple iPhone SE (2022) if you value performance, longevity, a capable camera, and a more polished software experience, even if it means sacrificing some pocketability.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Palm Phone a good choice for someone who primarily uses their phone for calls and texts?
While the Palm Phone *can* handle basic calls and texts, its outdated processor can still cause noticeable lag and frustration, even with these simple tasks. The iPhone SE, even with its higher price, offers a far smoother and more reliable experience for essential communication.
❓ Can the Palm Phone run popular social media apps like Instagram and TikTok?
The Palm Phone can technically run these apps, but performance will be severely limited. Expect slow loading times, frequent stutters, and a generally unpleasant user experience. The Snapdragon 435 simply lacks the processing power to handle the demands of modern social media applications effectively.
❓ Does the iPhone SE (2022) support 5G connectivity?
Yes, the iPhone SE (2022) supports 5G connectivity, allowing for faster download and upload speeds when available. The Palm Phone, with its older chipset, is limited to 4G LTE.
❓ Is the Palm Phone a good backup phone?
The Palm Phone could serve as a very basic backup phone for emergencies, but its limited functionality and performance make it less useful than a more capable secondary device. The iPhone SE, while more expensive, would be a far more versatile and reliable backup option.