The Apple iPhone SE (2022) is Apple's cheapest and smallest recent iPhone, pairing a compact classic design with a fast chip. It is the last iPhone with a Touch ID home button, and one of very few small phones still on sale, though its LCD screen and short battery life are the main compromises.
iPhone SE (2022): Display
The 4.7-inch Retina IPS LCD has a 750 x 1334 resolution and a quoted 625 nits, with GSMArena measuring 605 nits of maximum brightness in its lab test.
This is a small, low-resolution LCD with thick bezels, well behind the sharp OLED screens on other current iPhones, the clearest sign of its older design.
iPhone SE (2022): Camera
The single 12MP main camera with OIS produces reliable, natural photos helped by Apple's processing, with a 7MP selfie camera on the front.
There is no ultrawide or telephoto, so this is a single-lens setup, though rear video still reaches 4K at 60fps.
iPhone SE (2022): Battery
The 2,018mAh battery is small and returned only a modest endurance rating in GSMArena's test, the phone's clearest weak point, with 20W wired charging at 50% in 30 minutes and 7.5W wireless.
Heavy users will likely need a midday top-up, so battery life is the main thing to weigh.
iPhone SE (2022): Size, Weight and Build
At 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mm and 144g with an aluminium frame, glass back and IP67 water resistance, the SE is compact, light and easy to use one-handed, in Midnight, Starlight and Red.
It uses the older Lightning port rather than USB-C, and the front-mounted Touch ID home button will appeal to buyers who prefer a fingerprint reader to Face ID.
iPhone SE (2022): Performance
The A15 Bionic with 4GB of RAM is the same class of chip as the iPhone 13, so performance is excellent for the price, launched on iOS 15 and since updated, with years of iOS support still ahead.
The chip is far quicker than the phone's screen and design suggest, so it stays smooth and fast.
iPhone SE (2022): Who Should Buy
Buy the iPhone SE (2022) if you want the cheapest current iPhone in a small body with a Touch ID home button, and can accept an LCD screen and modest battery. Buyers who want a bigger OLED screen, Face ID and longer battery life should compare the iPhone 14. Buyers comparing contract terms will find current network pricing in the table above.