Two years after the second-gen iPhone SE announcement, Apple unveiled the third generation of its affordable iPhone. The iPhone SE “2022” (Apple still calls it SE without additional markings) is visually the same as the previous-gen model and iPhone 8. All the new stuff lurks inside the smartphone and focuses on three key points: CPU, network support, and camera.
The lack of visual distinction between the second and third-gen iPhone SE makes it harder for less-proficient users to decide whether it is worth upgrading to the latest model. This article will help you find all the differences between iPhone SE 2022, 2020, and iPhone 8.
If you own a second-gen iPhone SE, upgrading to the latest model may not sound like a good decision. There are simply not that many benefits to justify the upgrade (not to mention that iPhone SE is now $30 more expensive). The 2020 model is still more than powerful enough to handle daily tasks and even some heavy games (minus the battery life, of course).
Apple itself does not compare the newest iPhone SE with the previous generation. Instead, the company positions the iPhone SE 2022 as a replacement for the now five-year-old iPhone 8.
Some users may think that 5G is a solid reason to switch from the second-gen SE to the third-gen. Although true, you need to note that the iPhone SE 2022 supports only sub-6 GHz networks that often operate at the same speeds as 4G. mmWave is only present in the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups.
Finally, battery-wise, the iPhone SE 2022 should provide users with a slightly longer standby time thanks to a more efficient A15 CPU. Also, Apple says the smartphone has a new "battery chemistry." Still you should not get your hopes too high (the capacity is most likely unchanged). The battery life will remain the weakest point of iPhone SE.
Here is a direct spec comparison of the third-gen iPhone SE, vs second-gen iPhone SE, and iPhone 8.
| iPhone SE 3rd gen | iPhone SE 2nd gen | iPhone 8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 4.7-inch IPS Retina HD with 1334x750 resolution (326 ppi), 625 nits max brightness and 1400:1 contrast ratio. | ||
| CPU | 6-core A15 Bionic, 4-core GPU, and 16-core neural engine. | 6-core A13 Bionic, 4-core GPU, and 8-core neural engine. | 6-core A11 Bionic, 3-core GPU, and 2-core neural engine. |
| RAM | 4 GB | 3 GB | 2 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB. | 64 GB and 128 GB. | |
| Network | 5G (sub-6 only), LTE-Advanced, UMTS/HSPA, and GSM/EDGE. | LTE, UMTS/HSPA, CDMA, LTE, GSM/EDGE. | |
| SIM | Dual-SIM support. Single nano-SIM and single eSIM (simultaneous). | Single Nano-SIM. | |
| Rear Camera | Single-lens wide 12-megapixel camera with f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization. | ||
| Features | Portrait mode with Depth Control and six lighting effects. Smart HDR4 for photos, Photographic styles. | Portrait mode with Depth Control and six lighting effects. “Next-generation Smart HDR” for photos. | Auto HDR for photos. |
| Video | 4K and FullHD video recording at 25, 30, or 60 FPS. QuickTake video, Stereo recording. | 4K and FullHD video Slo-mo video at 1080p | |
| Front Camera | 7-megapixel FaceTime HD camera with f/2.2 aperture and Retina Flash. | ||
| Features | Smart HDR 4 for photos, Photographic Styles, Portrait mode with Depth Control, and six lighting effects. Slo-mo video support at 1080p with 120 FPS, Deep Fusion. | Auto HDR for Photos, Portrait mode with Depth Control, and six lighting effects. | Auto HDR for Photos. |
| Battery | Unknown (most likely unchanged). Fast charging via the Lightning port. Qi wireless charging. | 1821 mAh (6.96 Wh) with fast charging support via the Lightning port. Qi wireless charging. | |
| Battery life | Up to 15 hours of video playback. | Up to 13 hours of video playback. | |
| Protection | IP67 water and dust-resistant | ||
| Colors | Starlight, Midnight, Product Red. | Black, White, Product Red. | Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Product Red. |
| Price | $429 for the base model. | $399 for the base model (no longer available). | $699 for the base model (no longer available). |
The third-gen iPhone SE will go on sale on March 18, 2022. Preorders start on March 11, 2022. The base model with 64 GB will set you back $429, and configs with 128 GB and 256 GB cost $479 and $579, respectively.
iPhone SE 2022 looks like a solid upgrade for those who own an older iPhone and do not want to give up the classic TouchID-based design. As for the users with a previous-gen iPhone SE, the latest model probably offers too little to consider buying it. Do you plan to upgrade from your current phone to the latest iPhone SE?
Update: The first Geekbench tests of the iPhone SE 3 show that the smartphone has 4GB of RAM instead of initially assumed 3GB. We have updated the table above with the updated information.