Apple iPhone SE (2022) vs. iPhone 13: spec comparison

Image: Apple

The dust has settled from Apple's event and we know that the newest addition to the lineup is the iPhone SE. The new iteration of the budget model from 2020 is set to launch on March 18th with pre-orders opening on March 11th. The entry-level offering from Apple, the new iPhone SE, comes in at a slightly higher price of $429 and is equipped with the latest A15 Bionic processor, 5G compatibility, a slightly larger battery, and more durable glass on the front and rear.

Even if you love the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and home button, the smaller screen and big bezels of the 2020 iPhone SE is still a good choice. How does it stack up to the other phones? Can the budget darling compete with the big guns at the flagship level? Let's compare the new iPhone SE to the other models in the iPhone 13 lineup, specifically the iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

iPhone SE (2022): what’s new, what’s the same

I assure you that your eyes are not deceiving you. The new iPhones look similar to the ones of the year 2017: the iPhone 8 and the iPhone SE. It comes in three colors,midnight, starlight, and red, and it has a familiar, 4.7-inch Retina display with 1334 x 750 resolution, and a glass rear that allows wireless charging.

In addition to sharing the same A15 BionicCPU as all of the iPhone 13 models, Apple was able to squeeze in a bigger battery, a 5G modem, and stronger glass coverings. The front and rear glass of the SE is said to be the same as the rear glass of the iPhone 13, which Apple claims is the toughest glass in a phone.

Camera hardware is a holdover from the 2020 SE. The A15 allows a newer software generation of computational photography with Smart HDR 4. We will have to see how much of a difference the phone makes in real-world use. It's all sounding familiar in the meantime.

Image: Apple

iPhone SE (2022) versus iPhone 13

What do you get when you choose a more premium device in the iPhone 13 line? The larger screen and better quality displays of the 13 models of the phone make it a better choice than the 10 models of the phone. The Pro models have faster screens that can support up to 120Hz, allowing for smooth scrolling and animations. TheSE's Touch ID and home button are no longer used in the iPhone 13 models, as they use Face ID and gesture controls. The base 13 and Mini have dual-lens modules, while the Pros have triple-camera array with a macro mode.

If you prefer the budget-friendliness of the iPhone SE, you need to have a single wide-angle camera and lens. All of the extras and accessories in the iPhone 13 line come at a much higher price, each starting at 128GB of storage with the option to go up from there for more money. The 6.1-inch iPhone 13 starts at $829, while the 5.8-inch iPhone 13 Mini starts at $729, thanks in part to its smaller screen and lower-capacity battery.

If you want to go up to the Pros, you need to spend at least $999 on a 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro or $1,099 on a 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max. The new phone? It is still cheaper than the base iPhone 13 and the higher-end models, with the 64GB variant starting at $429. It will cost you $479 and $579 if you opt for 128 or 256 gigabytes. It all depends on what you value in your decision and what works with your budget.

Take a look at our detailed, spec-to-spec comparison to see how the new iPhone SE stacks up.