iPhone SE 2022 vs. 2020: Which Budget Phone is a Better Deal?

  • Apple iPhone SE (2020)


        $350 at Target
        

  • Apple iPhone SE (2022)


        $429 at Apple
        


    


    The 2022 iPhone SE is here. Apple’s new affordable iPhone made its debut at the company’s event last week, alongside the updated iPad Air. It’s a new-and-improved model of the last iPhone SE, which launched in 2020 and features the iPhone 11’s A13 processor and an iPhone 8-like body for $399.?
    Apple’s new SE is the same concept, retaining an iPhone 8 shell and a Touch ID home button, except it’s outfitted with the iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic processor and 5G support. It’s now available starting at $429 — a slight price hike from its 2020 predecessor.
    
    Apple
    Apple iPhone SE (2022)
    The long-awaited successor to the iPhone SE (2020) was announced by Apple during its March 8 “Peek Performance” event. It features Apple’s A15 chip (which is the same one found in the iPhone 13 series), 5G and stronger glass, but the same overall design as the previous generation.
    Pricing for the new iPhone SE starts at $429 and it’s available now.
    Read our iPhone SE (2022) review.


    


    $429 at Apple
    
    John Kim/CNET
    Apple iPhone SE (2020)
    Apple’s $399 iPhone SE, released in 2020, looks like an iPhone 8 but works like Apple’s newer iPhone 11 Pro. Note that Apple no longer sells this model and most models you’ll find online are preowned or refurbished.
    $350 at Target
    Here’s how the specs for the new 2022 iPhone SE compare to those of the previous iPhone SE.
    iPhone SE 2022 specs vs. iPhone SE 2020 specs
    

iPhone SE 2022 iPhone SE 2020
Display size, resolution 4.7-inch 4.7-inch
Material Glass and aluminum, same durable glass used on the back of the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro Glass and aluminum
Colors Midnight (black), starlight (white), red Black, white, red
Mobile software iOS 15 iOS 13
Cameras Back: 12-megapixel with feature upgrades (Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, and Deep Fusion) Back: 12-megapixel; front: 7-megapixel; video capture: 4K
Processor Apple A15 Bionic Apple A13 Bionic
Storage 64GB, 128GB, 256GB 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Special features Home button with Touch ID, water-resistant and dust-resistant (IP67), wireless charging, fast charging, 5G support, longer battery life Home button with Touch ID, Water-resistant (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM, e-SIM); wireless charging
Price off-contract (USD) Starting at $429 $399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB)
Price (GBP) Starting at £419 £419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB)
Price (AUD) Starting at AU$719 AU$749 (64GB), AU$829 (128GB), AU$999 (256GB)


    Read more: Best Apple SE Case for 2022
    For more on Apple’s latest, check out our roundup of all the features iOS 15.4 will bring to your iPhone. Here’s everything announced at Apple’s recent event, including the new iPad Air and the new green color options for iPhone 13 models. Plus, is the iPhone SE 2020 still a good buy in 2022?
    


    See also

  • Mac Studio, iPhone SE and More: Everything Apple Announced
  • iPhone SE 2022: Apple’s $429 Phone Gets 5G, A15 Bionic Chip
  • Mac Studio, Studio Display: Apple’s New Desktop for Creatives