Phones · 2022 · Apple

Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation, 2022)

The iPhone SE (3rd generation) is Apple’s 2022 compact phone with a 4.7-inch LCD and Touch ID. It keeps the iPhone 8 design but adds the A15 Bionic chip, 5G, Wi-Fi 6 and IP67 resistance. Its single 12MP rear camera and small screen are limits, while performance matches the iPhone 13 family.

iPhone SE (3rd generation, 2022): 64, 128 or 256 GB; Midnight, Starlight, (PRODUCT)RED. The A13-based iPhone SE (2nd generation, 2020) and the original iPhone SE (2016) are separate models.

Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation, 2022) — Apple’s iPhone SE (3rd generation) image: (PRODUCT)RED, Starlight and Midnight.
Apple’s iPhone SE (3rd generation) image: (PRODUCT)RED, Starlight and Midnight.

Specifications

SpecificationValue
Display4.7-inch Retina HD LCD with IPS; 1334 × 750 pixels, 326 ppi; True Tone, wide colour (P3), Haptic Touch

Typical maximum brightness is 625 nits and typical contrast 1400:1. As an LCD, blacks are not as deep as on OLED and the screen runs at 60 Hz; the small size makes one-handed use easy but leaves little room for video and games.

ChipA15 Bionic: 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency), 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

It is the same chip as in the iPhone 13 and 13 mini, which is the main reason it handles heavy tasks such as 4K video editing and keeps getting updates for a long time.

Storage64 GB, 128 GB or 256 GB

Storage cannot be expanded later; 64 GB can fill quickly if you shoot 4K 60 fps video.

Size and weight138.4 × 67.3 × 7.3 mm; 144 g
ColoursMidnight, Starlight, (PRODUCT)RED
Water and dust resistanceIP67 (IEC 60529; maximum depth of 1 metre up to 30 minutes)

Apple notes this resistance is not permanent and may decrease with normal wear.

Rear camera12MP main camera, ƒ/1.8, optical image stabilisation; Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, Photographic Styles; Portrait mode; digital zoom up to 5x

There is a single rear camera with no ultra-wide or optical telephoto. Apple’s list does not include Night mode for photos, only Night mode time-lapse video.

Video4K at 24/25/30/60 fps; 1080p at 25/30/60 fps; 1080p slo-mo at 120/240 fps; optical stabilisation for video; stereo recording
Front camera7MP, ƒ/2.2; Portrait mode, Smart HDR 4; 1080p video at 25/30 fps
AuthenticationTouch ID fingerprint sensor in the Home button

There is no Face ID; the phone unlocks and approves Apple Pay payments with a fingerprint instead of face recognition.

Connectivity5G (sub-6 GHz, 2x2 MIMO), 4G LTE Advanced, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax, 2x2 MIMO), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC with reader mode; GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou

The model on the UK page is A2783; supported 5G and LTE bands vary by model and country.

Battery and chargingApple rates up to 15 hours video, up to 10 hours streamed video, up to 50 hours audio; 50% in 30 minutes with a 20 W or higher adapter; Qi wireless charging; Lightning

No adapter is in the box. MagSafe is not supported, but standard Qi chargers work. The port is Lightning, not USB-C.

SensorsTouch ID, barometer, three-axis gyro, accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor
Operating systemShipped with iOS 15

From the manufacturer

Apple presents the iPhone SE as the most affordable iPhone, bringing the A15 Bionic and 5G to a familiar design with Touch ID. Apple Support

Strengths and limitations

  • TechRadar tested the phone in Midnight. With 5G on all day and heavy use it got about 12 hours of battery life; Geekbench 5 results matched the A15 Bionic in the iPhone 13 mini, and games such as Call of Duty ran smoothly. The 12MP camera was found colour-accurate and quick; Portrait mode separated details like hair better than the previous SE but works only on human faces. The 4.7-inch LCD was good indoors but weak in direct sunlight; the screen is small and there is no Night mode for photos. The phone was accidentally dropped in water and survived. The 64 GB base storage was considered too little.

    TechRadar review (Lance Ulanoff, 14 March 2022); Midnight unit, daily use on 5G.

    TechRadar: iPhone SE (2022) review

Tags

2022APPLEIPHONEIOS5GTOUCH-IDKOMPAKTLIGHTNING

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Sources

  1. Apple Support: iPhone SE (3rd generation) technical specifications
  2. TechRadar: iPhone SE (2022) review