The iPhone SE (2022): A Contradictory Beast in an Ever-Changing Market
It’s impossible to evaluate the new iPhone SE (2022) without dissecting Apple’s entire product and pricing strategy. While marketed as the company’s most affordable iPhone, its "affordable" price tag still sits firmly in premium territory. This phone presents a curious paradox, combining a familiar design that feels almost outdated with modern 5G network capabilities. Apple has equipped it with the top-of-the-line A15 Bionic mobile SoC, but paired it with a tiny, low-resolution screen that feels inadequate for most modern tasks. You get wireless charging and an IP rating, but only a single camera. Does this contradictory mix of features justify its price? Is there even a market for a phone that seems to straddle two worlds so awkwardly? I’ve spent a considerable amount of time with the iPhone SE (2022), testing its capabilities and limitations, to help you answer these very questions.
The Price Tag: A Confusing Dilemma
The iPhone SE (2022), priced starting at Rs. 43,900 for 64GB, presents a perplexing proposition in the Indian market. Even the base storage option goes head-to-head with competitive, feature-packed Android phones like the Asus 8z, OnePlus 9RT 5G, Vivo V23 Pro 5G, and Oppo Reno 7 Pro 5G.
If you crave more storage, the price climbs to Rs. 48,900 for 128GB and Rs. 58,900 for 256GB, bringing it into the territory of flagship Android devices like the Asus ROG Phone 5s, Vivo X70 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S21, and OnePlus 9 Pro. These Android alternatives boast impressive features and capabilities, particularly in the camera department.
Adding to the confusion, older iPhone models, like the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 11, and iPhone XR, are frequently available at significant discounts online in India. All of these models often fall within the price range of the new iPhone SE (2022). Even the previous generation iPhone SE (2020), while not officially sold on Apple’s website, has been seen on sale for as low as Rs. 25,999. Taking into account sales, exchange offers, and occasional incentives, buyers in India can find incredibly compelling deals on older iPhones, making the appeal of the latest model even more questionable.
Design & Usability: Familiar, But Limiting
The iPhone SE (2022) immediately stands out for its small, compact design. It features a 4.7-inch, 9:16 panel, which feels dated compared to today’s standard of 6-inch or larger displays. This small screen creates a cramped experience for most content, including the iOS UI. It presents a real challenge when enjoying videos or games, and typing can feel cumbersome for those with larger hands. Maps, creative apps, document readers, and even web pages feel significantly limited by the small screen real estate.
While the design might feel old-fashioned (adopting practically the same template as the iPhone 6 from 2014), it can also be seen as a positive for certain users. For those who appreciate familiarity and don’t embrace the shift to gesture navigation, the iPhone SE (2022) offers a comfortable, predictable experience. Furthermore, it’s surprisingly slim and light, a welcome departure from the bulkier trend in recent phone designs. With a weight of only 144g, the iPhone SE (2022) is significantly lighter than most modern smartphones.
The large Home button with its integrated Touch ID fingerprint sensor is a throwback feature that many Android manufacturers have abandoned, but it’s a welcome addition for those who’ve missed its convenience, particularly in the era of face masks.
Despite its size, the iPhone SE (2022) maintains excellent build quality. The front and back are made of glass, while the frame is aluminum, ensuring a premium feel. It even boasts an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, adding to its durability.
Specifications: Powerhouse Performance With A Small Catch
Despite its position at the bottom of Apple’s current lineup, the iPhone SE (2022) doesn’t compromise on processing power. It leverages the same A15 Bionic SoC as the entire iPhone 13 family, ensuring top-notch performance, including high-quality graphics for gaming. It’s important to note that Apple specifies only four GPU cores are active (similar to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini) as opposed to the five in the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Although it might not seem like much, the 4GB of RAM works efficiently within the iOS ecosystem.
Apple’s meticulous integration of its in-house SoCs with camera capabilities shines in the iPhone SE (2022). The phone leverages Apple’s Deep Fusion computational photography for enhanced colors, contrast, and focus through machine learning. Smart HDR 4 optimizes exposures by individually calibrating up to four people in a frame with different skin tones. Photographic Styles act as filters at the processing level, allowing for customization of color tone and temperature. While these features mirror the iPhone 13 series, the iPhone SE (2022) sadly lacks Cinematic Mode due to its single-camera setup, which can’t capture depth information.
The A15 Bionic also brings 5G compatibility to the table. While not a game-changer in India’s current 5G landscape, it might have greater relevance a year or two down the line. Apple is known for its long software support, pledging updates for up to seven years. This longevity provides reassurance for users transitioning from older iPhones like the iPhone 8 or earlier, ensuring continued security and functionality for a considerable time.
While the SoC is a major strength, the LCD screen is a definite weakness. The 4.7-inch display with its below-full-HD resolution of 750×1334 pixels feels underwhelming in today’s high-resolution smartphone market. Although it offers True Tone for dynamic color temperature adjustments and covers the wide DCI-P3 color gamut, it falls short of the larger, high-refresh rate AMOLED panels, often with HDR support, found in competing devices.
The absence of Apple’s 3D Face ID system and the U1 ultra-wideband chip limits security and spatial awareness features found in higher-end iPhones. However, the iPhone SE (2022) does include 19 5G bands, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, GPS, and NFC (with limited functionality in India).
Software Experience: iOS’s Pros & Cons
iOS, alongside Apple’s ecosystem, delivers a number of advantages to the iPhone SE (2022). The assurance of software updates for several years is a key draw, particularly for users concerned about security and privacy. Apple’s reputation for strong data protection policies and tight control over app functionality sets it apart from Google and other Android manufacturers, though at the cost of some functionality and flexibility for users. While recent iPhones occasionally display ads within Apple’s own apps, the iPhone SE (2022) generally avoids blatant third-party advertising, bloatware, and promotional content.
For existing iPhone users, features like iMessage, FaceTime, iCloud backups, AirPlay, and the Find My network provide invaluable continuity and seamless integration with other Apple devices and services, adding to its appeal for those invested in Apple’s ecosystem.
However, iOS lacks essential features valued by Android users, including the ability to run multiple instances of messaging apps, separate user profiles, gaming optimizations, UI personalization, file system access, and split-screen multitasking. This might mean the iPhone SE (2022) feels like a downgrade from a more feature-rich Android phone.
Cameras: Simplicity Meets Limitations
Apple’s decision to equip the iPhone SE (2022) with a single 12-megapixel rear camera is a bold one. While multiple cameras and high resolutions can be gimmicky, they offer flexibility that is often overlooked, especially in the competitive Android market.
The f/1.8 aperture camera falls behind the f/1.6 of the iPhone 13’s primary rear camera but benefits from optical image stabilization and offers video recording at up to 4K 60fps and slow-motion 1080p at up to 240fps. On the front, you get a simple 7-megapixel f/2.2 camera.
While the iPhone SE (2022) supports Photographic Styles, it misses out on Cinematic Mode, and surprisingly, Night Mode, too. Despite the lack of a dedicated depth sensor, the A15 Bionic enables Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting effects, effectively creating the illusion of depth even with a single camera. And while Deep Fusion was lacking in the previous iPhone SE, it is now supported on both cameras.
Daytime photos are typically impressive, boasting excellent detail and exposure. Colors are accurate and not overly saturated. Magnification allows for exploration without excessive grain. The depth of field is natural, even without Portrait Mode. Close-ups can struggle with focus, requiring a slightly wider shot for optimal results.
Nighttime photography presents a different story. The absence of Night Mode becomes noticeable, resulting in brighter but less detailed photos with unavoidable noise. Textures appear slightly soft, and shots can exhibit a lack of focus.
Apple’s approach to face beautification is refreshingly subtle. Faces maintain natural textures and skin tones appear realistic. Portrait Mode’s background separation, despite the single camera, is surprisingly accurate, especially when capturing humans. The Portrait Lighting effects are fun and can be adjusted or undone after the shot. Nighttime selfies, while adequate for social media, suffer from softness and noise.
1080p video in the daylight exhibits dull colors and contrast but maintains smooth motion. 4K video offers more vibrancy and crisper detail but occasionally exhibits subtle juddering. Nighttime video is underwhelming, lacking detail and clarity in low-light conditions. 4K video in particular shows inconsistencies and warping around bright objects against dark backgrounds.
For those content with simple, point-and-shoot photography, the iPhone SE (2022) delivers. However, those accustomed to ultra-wide-angle cameras or seeking creative photographic flexibility will find themselves limited by the single-camera setup.
Performance & Battery Life: A Powerful Engine in a Small Body
The iPhone SE (2022) boasts the A15 Bionic SoC as a major selling point, but how does it translate to everyday use? Given the small screen and low resolution, even demanding apps and games should function smoothly. In reality, the SoC is likely overkill for the iPhone SE (2022), driven primarily by Apple’s need for 5G compatibility.
The raw performance is undeniable, evident in benchmark scores. The iPhone SE (2022) achieved 741,325 on AnTuTu, compared to 478,156 for an iPhone SE (2020) running the same software version. Geekbench 5 yielded scores of 1,714 and 4,236 in single-core and multi-core tests respectively, significantly outperforming the previous model’s 1,326 and 2,894. All GPU tests in GFXBench maxed out at 60fps, unsurprisingly, as they are heavily influenced by screen resolution. The 3DMark Wild Life Extreme score reached 2,257.
While powerful, the iPhone SE (2022) does experience heat issues. The upper back of the device can get uncomfortably warm during benchmark tests, and also warms up during gaming sessions or prolonged camera use.
Asphalt 9: Legends showcases impressive graphics with smooth gameplay, even with rain and other effects enabled. Call of Duty: Mobile, however, feels constricted by the small screen and cramped on-screen controls, although it still runs smoothly.
Playing videos on the small, low-resolution screen might not be ideal for a truly immersive experience. However, the stereo speakers provide adequate audio quality for casual entertainment. While lacking the immersive qualities of a larger display, the phone still delivers enjoyable gaming and movie-watching experiences.
Battery life, a weakness of the iPhone SE (2020), has improved due to the more power-efficient A15 Bionic. I consistently managed a full day of use with at least 20 percent battery remaining, though I found myself using it less frequently for quick tasks or downtime compared to a larger, more capable device. In our HD video loop battery test, the iPhone SE (2022) achieved 11 hours, 46 minutes, a substantial improvement over its predecessor.
While a charger is not included in the box, charging with a 30W USB Type-C adapter (from a MacBook Air) resulted in 32 percent charge in 50 minutes and 87 percent in an hour. It’s worth noting that the phone can get quite warm during charging. Wireless charging, a welcome feature for some, is supported, including compatibility with recent MagSafe wireless chargers (though they won’t magnetically latch on).
Verdict: A Phone With A Niche Audience
The iPhone SE (2022) offers a mixed bag. It’s old on the outside, yet new within, offering powerful performance but held back by a small screen and limited camera setup. While you might feel a longing for the modern smartphone experience, it does boast a glass-and-metal body, wireless charging, and an IP rating.
Priced too high to be considered an entry-level device, the iPhone SE (2022) caters specifically to those upgrading from older iPhones, particularly the iPhone 8 or older, who seek familiarity and ease of use. In markets with widespread 5G availability, like the US and many others, the price point finds its footing, allowing for a smooth transition to a new device with long-term functionality. This might also explain the discontinuation of the previous iPhone SE model.
However, India presents a different landscape. We don’t have 5G networks yet, and the iPhone SE (2020) remains available at significantly reduced prices through third-party retailers. You can buy it for under Rs. 30,000, and it’s even been seen on sale for around Rs. 25,000, making it a far more compelling value proposition than the iPhone SE (2022). While it might have a less powerful SoC and a slightly weaker camera, the target user isn’t seeking heavy gaming or professional photography. The money saved now could be used to invest in a more advanced phone a year or two down the line. Battery life is the only noticeable drawback, but the iPhone SE (2020) delivers comparable performance for significantly less.
Furthermore, the widely discounted iPhone XR and iPhone 11 also present strong alternatives. These models, available with substantial discounts during sales, offer bank offers and exchange bonuses. They include larger screens, Face ID, and a more modern feel. Battery life tends to be better, and the iPhone 11 even offers an ultra-wide-angle camera. While both models are noticeably bulkier, their overall capabilities and iOS support are comparable to the iPhone SE (2022).
Let’s not forget the wealth of impressive Android phones available in India for around Rs. 40,000. Even if your heart is set on an iPhone, you have a multitude of compelling options.
Apple’s reputation for premium pricing sometimes leaves buyers feeling frustrated rather than delighted. Rumors circulated before the launch that the new iPhone SE would be priced below Rs. 30,000, a claim that sadly proved laughable. At that price, the new iPhone SE would have been a slam dunk for upgraders and those entering the Apple ecosystem. Instead, the device lingers in a confusing middle ground, competing with its siblings and lacking clear justification for its price tag. The iPhone SE (2022), while capable, seems to have missed its mark in India’s competitive smartphone market.
