Apple iPhone SE (2022) review: fast internals but a single camera

Apple's new iPhone SE continues the tradition of great entry-level hardware for less than a normal iPhone. This year's SE adopts the super-fast A15 Bionic SOC, the same as in the normal iPhone and iPhone Pro, but pairs it with a mediocre screen and single camera lens. If you're an Apple fan on a budget, it's probably the phone for you, but otherwise Android has some compelling choices at a similar price.

Get More Engadget:

[wandiletembe]

Wow. That design still looks good after all these years. 👍🏾

[christopherfortineux]

Having used every high end iPhone pro, many high end Samsung phones, and an iPhone XR the resolution of the screen isn’t everything and oled is over hyped honestly. This seems like a great option for a budget phone. Just wished they had just made an updated XR for 500$. It was one of the best iPhones I ever had. I switch phones up every year or two. There’s a lot of marketing going behind reviews honestly. Ps- don’t buy a google phone they’ll drop support for it faster than you think. That might be okay if you’re good with only getting security updates and that’s really it after a year or two. Won’t ever buy another one myself. Anyone telling you otherwise is lying to you.

[derek]

Everyone says the se doesn’t have night mode but there are like a dozen night mode camera apps in the App Store with long exposure that can essentially give you night mode.

[FireMedic]

YOU all totally miss the whole point of this phone … I’m so tired of all the big tech reviews and tech enthusiast bashing this phone !!!! You all are obviously NOT the target for this device. If you all want big huge heavy phones with a stupid notch then you all have plenty of phones to chose from … Some of us don’t want a big phone and don’t want to give up the older design or Touch ID so this is a perfect phone for us… I appreciate that apple still keeps this design around and updates the internals for us from time to time.. You all seem to think that EVERYONE is just like you !!! Please choose from one Of the many HUGE iPhones with no Touch ID available and leave us people who are true to the order design and only have ONE to choose from alone…

[rossydv]

Is "Night Mode" something that can be included in some sort of software update? Or does the hardware prohibit it?

[steveb]

Still really important as the only LCD iPhone you can buy NEW for the 10% of us that can’t use OLED due to PWM

[antsgamingvideosnb]

I got a Telstra prepaid SE last week, love mine!

[frostbyte]

A good entry phone to have with a first Apple Watch paired

[steveb]

Using the apps Focos and NeuroCam (both free) and a MagSafe case soles the majority of the missing aspects on the SE.

[xxzmk]

I mean it is not a bad phone but I would honestly tell people to look for only a year old used iPhone 12 Minis because they will most likely be in the same ball park of pricing and might be even a better deal and package in total.

[truthseeker]

I got the se 2020 for $250. Se are good phone. I recommend for people who don’t use their phone for long hours.

[theodorosalexopoulos]

Why are saying it like it is a disappointment? It kinda is but not because of the camera. It's camera is pretty decent, even if you don't have ultra wide.

[NickVsTheWorrld]

Does it take portrait photos of objects?

[Victoria-smsj]

Ordered one today ☺️ My first ever iPhone 😃

[erickvon]

I wish apple would've increased the screen size to a 5-inch LCD screen 1080 p in the same body and a 12 MP front facing camera. Also, use the XR or 11 back camera instead of the iPhone 8 camera.

[younessmosir]

Why they didn't use a buddy of an iPhone 8 plus to made this new SE They already have that design So no need for new resources or changing that design At least you can have a bigger battery bigger screen and deal camera set up on the back Also they can put a 90 Hz refresh rate on the screen

[CF]

I have to believe that the SE was only updated because of the rollout of 5G across the nation. This phone is primarily for older or very young people who want an iPhone without the high price tag. When my father's iPhone 5S started to fail, the SE was the perfect (and only) choice for his next iPhone.

[Mondo_Monchi]

I owned both 1st & 2nd gen SE. While my S8 was better at being a camera, I've stuck to my SE for size and the home button. I've already pre-ordered the 3rd gen SE, as I was holding off on rebuying my 2nd gen after hearing about the 5G update. Super stoked and I hope apple continues the "budget" lineups. I love my apple products, but I'll never justify buying a phone that's more than $450.

[adrianstuart]

I love the se everyone tells me how old and crap it is but I enjoy it and isn’t that all that matters

[ssaini]

Tech Community doesnt seem to understand why Apple made this phone and who they made it for.