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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value a larger, higher-quality screen and better overall camera performance, the iPhone 12 would be a better option, despite its higher price. However, if you prefer a more compact phone and you're looking for value for money, the iPhone SE (2022) offers a newer processor with decent performance, though you would compromise on screen size, display quality, and battery life. Both phones run iOS and support 5G, but only the iPhone 12 has an OLED screen, a dual-camera system, and a longer battery life. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 12
- Good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good display quality
Advantages of the Apple iPhone SE (2022)
- The Apple iPhone SE (2022) has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 12.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.3
5.7
The Apple iPhone 12 has good overall camera quality, while the Apple iPhone SE (2022) has poor overall camera quality.
The iPhone 12 offers a better camera experience across the board with higher performance in software, dynamic range, low light capabilities, and versatility, including a significantly better selfie camera compared to the iPhone SE (2022). While both phones take decent photos and have acceptable camera features, if the camera quality, especially for selfies, is a high priority, the iPhone 12 outshines the iPhone SE (2022), which has a fairer selfie quality and generally poorer camera capabilities.
Photo Quality
7.1
5.5
The Apple iPhone 12 takes good photos, while the Apple iPhone SE (2022) takes poor photos.
The iPhone 12 has a higher quality selfie camera which means it can take better selfie photos compared to the iPhone SE (2022) which has a fair selfie camera quality. Along with a better overall photos software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance, the iPhone 12's camera capabilities are superior, providing crisper and more detailed images even in challenging conditions.
Video Quality
7.2
6.6
The Apple iPhone 12 takes good videos, while the Apple iPhone SE (2022) takes only fair videos.
The iPhone 12 takes better videos than the iPhone SE (2022) due to its superior video resolution and frame rate, along with a more advanced video software experience. It also offers more effective stabilization, greater dynamic range for capturing detail in varied lighting, better low light performance, and higher microphone quality.
Battery
6.2 Hours
4.9 Hours
The Apple iPhone 12 has 6.2 hours of battery life. The Apple iPhone SE (2022) has 4.9 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 12 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Apple iPhone SE (2022) is 4.7 inches.
Cost
$600
$429
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Apple iPhone 12 has a price of $600 and the Apple iPhone SE (2022) costs $429.
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How the Apple iPhone 12 and the Apple iPhone SE (2022) compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 12 | Apple iPhone SE (2022) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $429 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Apple | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | iOS | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 23, 2020 | March 18, 2022 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 4.7" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 1334 x 750 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 326 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | LCD | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A14 | A15 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 64 GB | 64 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.2 Hours | 4.9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2815 mAh | 2018 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 7.5 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.78" x 2.81" | 5.45" x 2.65" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.78 oz | 5.08 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Fingerprint sensor: Front | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue, Purple, Green, White, Black, Red | Midnight, Starlight, Red | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Custom ROM Support | |||
Custom ROM Support | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 12
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Dig into reviews and images
Pocket-lint
Stuart Miles | March 2022
"The iPhone 12 offers many of the important things that you want from the iPhone: a decent camera, 5G, great screen, fast processor. For the group of people who want a new iPhone without the price tag of the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 13 range, this is a great choice. There's no settling for second best with this smartphone."
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Ars Technica
Samuel Axon | March 2022
"Thanks to the inclusion of the A15 chip, the SE is likely to be supported for years to come. That makes it the best deal in smartphones today for folks who just want something simple and don't care about the frills. The iPhone SE is a great deal if you're more interested in the basics than the latest flashy features.. It's also a great option for people who prefer to use their phones one-handed—a dying breed, we know."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 12 or the Apple iPhone SE (2022)
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Phones evaluated
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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