Which One Should You Buy?

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

If you’re eyeing an iPhone in the sub-$600 price bracket, your options are limited to these two models. But which one gives you more bang for your buck? Let’s find out below, as we pit the iPhone SE 3 against the iPhone 12 mini.

1. Price

Let’s get the most important factor out of the way: the price. As mentioned earlier, both of these smartphones fall in the sub-$600 price bracket, but the iPhone SE (2022) is far cheaper than the iPhone 12 mini. The base 64GB variant of the iPhone SE (2022) costs $429, whereas the equivalent variant of the iPhone 12 mini will set you back at $599.

Now, that’s a price difference of $170, which is significant for most people looking to buy a budget iPhone. So, if you want the most affordable iPhone you can get, the iPhone SE is the clear winner here. However, the iPhone 12 mini makes up for this price difference with its feature set and design language, which we’ll discuss in the following sections.

2. Performance

iPhone SE performance — Image Credit: Apple

Performance is another area where the iPhone SE (2022) trumps the iPhone 12 mini. Despite being significantly cheaper than the 12 mini, the iPhone SE packs Apple’s flagship A15 Bionic chip that launched alongside the iPhone 13 lineup. And since the iPhone 12 mini is a whole year older than the iPhone 13 series, it packs the inferior A14 Bionic processor.

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Now, the real question is whether or not you’ll notice any performance difference between these two devices in real-world use. And the answer is no, because both of the processors are extremely capable of handling almost any task you throw at them. However, if you plan to use your iPhone for several years, the iPhone SE may have the upper hand in terms of software support since it packs a newer chip.

At this point, you may be leaning towards the iPhone SE 3, but we haven’t gotten to the iPhone 12 mini’s strengths yet. That comes next.

3. Design

Apple’s decision to use 2018’s iPhone 8 design for the iPhone SE 3 disappointed a lot of its fans. This is not the design language that people expect from a smartphone in 2022, even if it costs around $400. Android smartphones in the same price bracket look much better; look at Google’s Pixel 5a.

So if you think the iPhone SE’s ancient design is a deal-breaker, then the iPhone 12 mini is exactly the budget iPhone you’re looking for. You get the modern iPhone design with the Face ID notch and a near-bezel-less screen. Its edges are squared off, it lacks a physical Home button, and overall it’s more visually appealing.

One important thing to note here is that the iPhone SE (2022) is slightly smaller than the iPhone 12 mini. But despite being bigger, the SE still sports a smaller display, and you can blame the chunky bezels at the top and bottom for that. As you can tell by now, the iPhone 12 mini easily takes the cake with design.

4. Display

The iPhone SE (2022) not only has a smaller 4.7-inch display, but it also uses an inferior IPS LCD panel, which is no longer the industry standard for smartphones. On top of that, the resolution of this display is closer to 720p than it is to 1080p. At 750×1334 pixels, you get a mediocre 326ppi pixel density, while most smartphone displays today have 450ppi or higher.

On the other hand, the iPhone 12 mini sports a 5.4-inch OLED display that Apple calls the Super Retina XDR display. OLED displays are much better than LCDs in 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 iPhone 12 mini’s OLED display can go up to a peak brightness of 1200 nits, you can consume Dolby Vision and HDR10 content.

5. Face ID vs. Touch ID

For a near-bezel-less screen, Apple had to ditch the Home button, meaning it had to sacrifice Touch ID on the 12 mini. However, Face ID has improved to the point that it works equally fantastic, even if you’re wearing a mask.

Regardless, this point comes down to personal preference. Some users prefer Touch ID, whereas others prefer Face ID. Most fans want both of them in future iPhones, with a fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button, like the iPad Air.

So, if you’re a huge fan of Touch ID, you may lean towards the iPhone SE 3. But if you want to get with the times, you’ll be pleased with the Face ID sensor on the iPhone 12 mini. Either way, they both provide top-notch security.

6. Camera

If taking pictures using your iPhone is one of your top priorities, you should lean towards the iPhone 12 mini. It features a much more advanced dual-camera setup with a 12MP f/1.6 wide camera and a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide camera, making it useful for various scenarios.

On the other hand, the iPhone SE 3 packs the same single 12MP f/1.8 wide camera as the 2020 SE model. For its price, the iPhone SE still takes excellent photos, and most other smartphones in its price range would struggle to match it.

As for the selfie camera, you get a 7MP sensor on the iPhone SE 3, whereas the iPhone 12 mini sports a 12MP sensor that can even shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second.

7. Battery

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

In comparison, the iPhone 12 mini sports an even bigger, 2227mAh battery despite having a smaller footprint, allowing it to last up to an hour longer than the iPhone SE (2022). Even though the A14 Bionic isn’t as efficient as the newer A15 chip, the OLED display’s energy efficiency makes up for it.

Which Budget iPhone Should You Buy?

The iPhone SE 3 offers Apple’s flagship mobile chip for an affordable price. However, this flagship-level performance comes at the cost of an outdated body, display, and cameras. At $429, it’s still not a bad deal; it’s simply not a smartphone one would expect in 2022.

However, if you’re willing to spend $170 more for the iPhone 12 mini, you’ll get a much better experience—from better cameras to the OLED display—even though you’re settling for a slightly older processor. And don’t forget its other key features, like MagSafe, which opens the door to a slew of MagSafe-compatible accessories.