Next Friday, October 7th, marks the arrival of Apple’s newest line of smartphones in Brazil: the iPhone 14 . But because it is a new wave of devices, the value can scare away potential buyers who don’t want to spend so much money. So if you want to have an iPhone but can’t afford one of the new releases, why not check out some from previous years? Today we will compare the iPhone SE launched this year with the iPhone 12 , from 2020 — which are the most affordable current models. Come on?
design
The iPhone SE has a classic design that harks back to 2014’s iPhone 6 , with large spaces above and below the screen. This makes the screen size considerably smaller than the overall dimensions of the device. In comparison, newer models like the iPhone 12 have narrower screen edges that make the device look sleeker and the screen larger while keeping the size a little more compact.
For some users this compact appearance makes the device more comfortable to use while maintaining a perfect screen size. The iPhone 12 ‘s design includes the notch , which houses the camera and Apple’s Face ID sensor for unlocking the phone. The iPhone SE uses the old screen model, but still with the reliable fingerprint sensor — the Touch ID — at the bottom, which works like the Home button. Many actually prefer Touch ID over Face ID, but whether it’s worth sticking with an older iPhone design and a small screen because of Touch ID is up to you.
Screen
The iPhone SE ‘s 4.7-inch screen is small by today’s standards. Some people prefer smartphones with smaller screens, either because of the overall size of the device or because its handling fits better in a smaller model. In this sense there is no winner, choosing an iPhone from the screen turns out to be a totally individual factor.
The iPhone 12 has a superior 6.1-inch screen with OLED technology that offers deeper colors and contrast that make apps and content look more current. Compared to the LCD screen of the iPhone SE, the iPhone 12 has an advantage.
The resolution of the iPhone 12’s OLED screen is also higher (2,532 x 1,170) than that of the iPhone SE (1,334 x 750), which makes the screen view clearer. However, as the iPhone SE’s screen is smaller, it may end up giving that impression of being a little sharper too.
Hardware and performance
The iPhone SE is powered by the A15 Bionic processor , while the iPhone 12 uses the A14 Bionic . That is, the iPhone SE runs on the same processor as the iPhone 13, 13 Pro and iPhone 14 , which means it’s fast and powerful. Still, the A14 Bionic on the iPhone 12 should not be underestimated, bringing great performance to the model.
The 3rd Gen iPhone SE was released in 2022. Compared to the 2020 iPhone 12, that means it can get an extra two years of iOS support even more, which includes important security updates.
As an example, iOS 16 released in 2022 continues to support the 2017 iPhone 8 — a five-year-old device. So choosing the iPhone 12, a 2020 model, is still advantageous in that sense. If your plans are to keep your iPhone for more than five years , the iPhone SE might be the best option. But if you want to upgrade before five years , then consider the iPhone 12 .
cameras
Possibly the biggest criterion for choosing a smartphone, the differences between the cameras can certainly define the choice between the two models. The iPhone SE supports Smart HDR 4 , which captures color, contrast, and lighting better, compared to the iPhone 12 ‘s Smart HDR 3 . Overall, the iPhone SE and iPhone 12 take similar quality photos with their 12 MP resolution cameras , but the iPhone 12 offers extra versatility with its additional ultra wide camera that is also 12 MP resolution.
The ultra wide-angle camera is not only ideal for capturing vast landscapes, it can also be useful for capturing some things up close. As for the front camera, the iPhone 12 ‘s 12MP camera takes sharper selfies when compared to the iPhone SE ‘s 7MP camera .
Drums
One of the main complaints about the iPhone SE — or even iPhones before the 13 — is the short battery life. Despite Apple improving battery performance for the 2022 model, it still doesn’t last as long as the iPhone 12.
The iPhone SE and iPhone 12 support wireless charging at 7.5 Watts of power by the Qi standard, but the iPhone 12 is also compatible with Apple’s MagSafe wireless chargers , which the iPhone SE is not capable of . The MagSafe magnetically attaches the charger to the back of the iPhone 12 and even charges quickly with 15 Watt power.
And the iPhone 12 also supports MagSafe accessories, including charging hubs, wallets, PopSockets and more. For wired charging, the iPhone SE and iPhone 12 support Apple’s fast charging via a 20 Watt or higher charger. Fast charging means iPhones can charge from 0% to 50% in about 30 minutes.
connectivity
The iPhone 12 was the first generation of Apple phones to offer 5G connectivity . Now the iPhone SE also brings the 5G connection, but this time to a more accessible category in Apple’s smartphone catalog. The big difference is that the SE only supports sub-6 bands, while the iPhone 12 also works with mmWave, which is faster.
It will only matter if the network provider you use offers these connections, which doesn’t necessarily end up being a problem for most people. In addition, both offer Bluetooth 5, GPS, NFC and Wi-Fi 6, so they are quite compatible with current connection technologies.
prices
Because they have variations in internal memory, all iPhone models also have variations in their values — the greater the internal memory, the more expensive. And, of course, the newer also makes the device more expensive. Check it out:
- iPhone SE (2022) 64GB for BRL 2,973.52 ;
- iPhone SE (2022) 128GB for BRL 3,365 ;
- iPhone SE (2022) 256 GB for R$ 3,871 .
Conclusion
The iPhone SE does a good job of delivering the iPhone experience most people are looking for. It’s fast and takes good photos and videos, plus it can use the same iOS and apps as the latest iPhone 14. The design is a bit dated for today, with the small screen starting to feel cramped.
The iPhone 12 is a better device in pretty much every way despite the processor, but even that isn’t really an issue as the A14 Bionic is a component that is still extremely powerful. The downside remains the price. If you want a rugged everyday iPhone, it’s hard to compare to the iPhone SE when you consider you’ll pay significantly less for it than you would with the iPhone 12.
It may even have a look that should have been retired a long time ago, but in these trying times, the iPhone SE is still too good a smartphone to pass up, especially considering its value and processor. But possibly the iPhone 12 could be the best option here, as it carries a superior camera set, has Face ID security, charges wirelessly via MagSafe and can still have a greater resale effect than the iPhone SE.
Technical specifications
| Specifications | iPhone 12 | iPhone SE (2022) |
| Screen | 6.1″ OLED Super Retina XDR 60 Hz True Tone 2532 x 1170 pixels at 460 dpi 460 ppi |
4.7″ (diagonally) with IPS technology 60 Hz True Tone 2532 x 1170 pixels at 460 ppi |
| processing and memory |
Apple A14 Bionic + 4GB RAM 64GB + 126GB + 256GB |
Apple A15 Bionic + 4GB RAM 64GB + 128GB + 256GB |
| ONLY | iOS 15 | iOS 15 |
| rear cameras | 12 MP Wide, f/1.6, OIS 12 MP Ultra wide f/2.4 120° |
12 MP Wide, f/1.8, OIS PDAF |
front camera |
12 MP, f/2.2 | 7 MP, f/2.2 |
Camera features |
HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 30 fps Optical image stabilization for video (wide) 2x optical zoom out Up to 3x digital zoom True Tone flash |
Portrait Mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control Portrait Lighting with six effects (Natural Light, Studio Light, Contour Light, Stage Light, Stage Light Mono, Bright Light Mono) Optical Image Stabilization Autofocus with Focus Pixels Wide-color capture for photos and Live Photos Deep Fusion Smart HDR 4 |
| Sound | Stereo audio No P2 Mic input for noise canceling |
Supported formats: AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus Stereo sound playback User configurable maximum volume limit |
| Drums | 2815 mAh MagSafe Wireless Fast Charging up to 15W |
2018 mAh Fast charging at 20W Wireless charging with Qi standard |
extra features |
Face ID IP68 Wi-Fi 6 Certification |
Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor Certified IP67 Wi-Fi 6 |
| prices | From BRL 2,973 | From BRL 3,832 |
Source : MacRumours , Insider and Macworld .
More:
