Should I buy iPhone SE (2022) or iPhone 12 mini?

iPhone SE 3, released in 2022, and iPhone 12 mini are two of the most compact and affordable iPhones you can buy from Apple right now. However, these two devices are different in many ways, from internal hardware to design.

If you’re eyeing an iPhone in the sub-$19 million price bracket, your options are limited to these two models. But which option will give you more benefits? Let’s compare iPhone SE 3 with iPhone 12 mini with Quantrimang.com to find the answer through the article below!

1. Price

Let’s find out the most important factor: Price. As mentioned earlier, both of these smartphones are in the sub-$19 million price bracket, but the iPhone SE (2022) is much cheaper than the iPhone 12 mini. The basic 64GB version of the iPhone SE (2022) costs only nearly 13 million VND, while the equivalent version of the iPhone 12 mini will cost up to nearly 19 million VND.

Currently, the price difference is up to 6 million VND, which is very important for most people who want to buy a cheap iPhone. So if you want the most affordable iPhone, the iPhone SE is the clear winning option here. However, the iPhone 12 mini makes up for this price difference with its feature set and modern design language (the article will be discussed in the following sections).

2. Performance

Performance is another aspect where the iPhone SE (2022) outperforms the iPhone 12 mini. While it’s significantly cheaper than the 12 mini, the iPhone SE is still powered by Apple’s flagship A15 Bionic chip that debuted with the iPhone 13 series. And since the iPhone 12 mini is a year older than the iPhone 13 series, it has a microprocessor. processing A14 Bionic worse.

Now, the real question is whether you’ll notice any performance difference between these two devices in real-world usage. And the answer is no, because both of these processors are capable of handling almost any task you need. However, if you’re planning on using your iPhone for a few more years, the iPhone SE could prevail in terms of software support, as it has a newer chip.

3. Design

Apple’s decision to use the 2018 iPhone 8 design for the iPhone SE 3 has disappointed a lot of fans. This is not the design language people expect from a smartphone in 2022, even if it is cheap. Android smartphones in the same price bracket look much better; For example, Google’s Pixel 5a.

So, if you think the classic design of the iPhone SE is a break, the iPhone 12 mini is exactly the cheap iPhone you’ve been looking for. You get a modern iPhone design with Face ID notch and a nearly bezel-less display. Its edges are squared, remove the physical Home button, and overall, it looks more visually appealing.

One important thing to note here is that the iPhone SE (2022) is a bit smaller than the iPhone 12 mini. But despite the larger size, the SE still has a smaller screen than the mini version. In short, the iPhone 12 mini easily dominates the design compared to the iPhone SE 2022.

4. Screen

The iPhone SE (2022) not only has a smaller 4.7-inch screen, but also uses a poor quality IPS LCD panel, which is no longer the norm for modern smartphones. On top of that, the resolution of this monitor is closer to 720p than 1080p. At 750×1334 pixels you get a pixel density of 326ppi which is nothing short of outstanding, whereas most smartphone screens these days hit 450ppi or higher.

The iPhone 12 mini, on the other hand, has a 5.4-inch OLED display that Apple calls a Super Retina XDR display. OLED screens are much better than LCD screens in terms of color accuracy, viewing angles, and black levels. The screen resolution is also higher at 1080×2340 pixels, which equates to a pixel density of 476ppi.

Furthermore, since the OLED screen of the iPhone 12 mini can reach a maximum brightness of 1200 nits, you can watch Dolby Vision and HDR10 content.

5. Face ID vs Touch ID

To have a nearly borderless screen, Apple had to remove the Home button, which means sacrificing Touch ID on the 12 mini. However, Face ID has improved to the point where it works equally well, even when you’re wearing a mask.

However, choosing to use Face ID or Touch ID depends on personal preference. Some users prefer Touch ID, while others prefer Face ID. Most users want both of these features in future iPhones, with the fingerprint scanner built into the power button, like the iPad Air.

So, if you’re a big fan of Touch ID, you can lean towards the iPhone SE 3. But if you want to keep up with the times, you’ll be satisfied with the Face ID sensor on the iPhone 12 mini. Either way, both options offer top-notch security.

6. Camera

If iPhone photography is one of your top priorities, then you should lean towards the iPhone 12 mini. It has a much more advanced dual-camera setup, with a 12MP f/1.6 wide camera and a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide camera, useful in a variety of situations.

On the other hand, the iPhone SE 3 has the same wide single 12MP f/1.8 camera as the SE 2020 model. At its low price point, the iPhone SE still takes excellent photos and most other smartphones in its price range will be hard to beat. it.

As for the selfie camera, you get a 7MP sensor on the iPhone SE 3, while the iPhone 12 mini has a 12MP sensor that can even record 4K videos at 60fps.

7. Battery

Since these are two compact smartphones, battery performance is not their strong point. However, Apple has managed to improve the battery performance of the iPhone SE 3 over the previous generation by equipping a slightly larger 2018mAh battery. This still isn’t necessarily a great option, but coupled with the efficiency of the A15 Bionic chip, the iPhone SE (2022) can last an hour longer on average than the older model.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 mini has a larger battery, 2227mAh which, despite its smaller size, allows it to last up to an hour more battery life than the iPhone SE (2022). While the A14 Bionic isn’t as efficient as the newer A15 chip, the power efficiency of the OLED screen makes up for this weakness.

So should buy iPhone SE (2022) or iPhone 12 mini?

iPhone SE 3 offers Apple’s flagship mobile chip at an affordable price point. However, this top performance comes at the expense of an outdated body, screen and camera. At nearly VND 13 million, this is still hardly an acceptable option, simply because it is not a smartphone one would expect in 2022.

However, if you’re willing to spend another 6 million dong for the iPhone 12 mini, you’ll get a much better experience – from better cameras to an OLED display – even if you’re using a slightly older processor. And let’s not forget the other key features of the iPhone 12 mini, like MagSafe, which will open the door to a host of other exciting MagSafe-compatible accessories.