Apple just release its new iPhone SE 2022 with the most powerful processing power that rivals most of its $1000 Android competitors. With the price tag starting at $429, it seems no brainer to pick one up, especially for people who do not need the biggest screen in the world while still appreciating a home button, and conveniently will last longer than most Android competitors.
Key Technical Specs
- 4.7-inch display with IPS
- 1334-by-750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi
- A15 Bionic chip
- Rated IP67
- 12MP Wide camera (Main)
- 7MP camera (Front)
- Fingerprint sensor built into the home button
- 5G capable (Sub-6 Only)
- nano-SIM and eSIM
The Good?
The A15 Bionic chip is the same one that is found inside the most powerful iPhone 13 Pro Max which starts at $1099. Having a such powerful chip makes the phone a total beast. No matter what kind of applications you are going to run, the phone wouldn’t even lag a bit.
Although it shares the same camera hardware as the 5-year-old iPhone 8, the new iPhone SE 2022 will also perform well because iPhone 8 had one of the best camera systems. When it comes to video taking, it will actually blow some of the Android counterparts away due to Apple’s great optimizations.
At $429, there are little to no competitors if only comparing the pure performance and photography capabilities. The Google Pixel 6 starts at $599, but it was riddled with software issues. Google’s in-house Tensor Chip performs even worse than last year’s flagship chip, Snapdragon 888. You might be able to pick up a OnePlus 9 at a sub $600 price point, but the camera just isn’t as good as neither phone. And with the recent rumored Oxygen OS and Color OS merge, the future of “Pure OnePlus” is very dimmed.
iPhone SE 2022 will be running IOS 15 out of the box. If history provides any indication, iPhone SE 2022 will be the most future-proof budget phone because I will not be surprised to see IOS 16, IOS 17, IOS 18 supported.
The Not So Good?
In 2022 most Android manufacturers offer phones with higher screen resolution, higher refresh rate, larger battery, faster-charging speed, and yet Apple is still using the old formula from the old iPhone 8: a 720P IPS display, 60hz refresh rate, mediocre battery size, 5-year-old design with big “forehead” and “chin”. Also, it is disappointing to see a $30 price hike possibly due to that 5G modem which will most likely consume more battery from its already small battery capacity.
The conclusion
The iPhone SE 2022 is still a great purchasing option if you just want an iPhone that does not break your wallet, lasts for years, a great camera system, a classic home button, and the most powerful chip. However, if you want a phone with a higher resolution and higher refresh rate, then the OnePlus 9, Pixel 6, and Samsung S21 FE might provide better alternatives.
