Usually, the question "Which new iPhone model should I buy?" is not so difficult to solve. Just wait until the new iPhones come out each fall and choose the model with the screen size and price that you find most attractive. Or buy a generation earlier in a refurbished version and save money and resources.
But last year (2020) things got complicated. First, Apple introduced a new phone in the spring that turned out to be quite attractive. The iPhone SE 2020 had 1) the fastest processor you could find in a phone at the time of its release and 2) the lowest price of all the iPhones Apple currently offers.
Then, Apple’s usual September iPhone releases were delayed due to the coronavirus. But in the case of the new iPhone 12 models, the wait was worth it. We were impressed with the performance, camera improvements, and new features they bring to the mix.
Are all these changes worth the extra money you'd have to pay for the iPhone SE? Here's an iPhone 12 vs iPhone SE comparison, based on what we've observed after spending time with the latest iPhones.
iPhone 12 vs iPhone SE: The Specs
|
iPhone SE 2020 |
iPhone 12 |
||
|
Price new (at Apple) |
492.10 |
812.10 |
912.10 |
|
Price refurbished |
359 |
not yet known |
not yet known |
|
Screen size |
4.7 inch LCD |
5.4 inch OLED |
6.1 inch OLED |
|
Processor |
A13 Bionic |
A14 |
A14 |
|
working memory |
3GB |
4GB |
4GB |
|
Storage |
64, 128 & 256GB |
64, 128 & 256GB |
64, 128 & 256GB |
|
Camera (back) |
12 megapixel |
2 cameras |
2 cameras |
|
Camera (front) |
7 megapixel |
Truedepth |
Truedepth |
|
5G |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone SE: Price and Availability
There is an area where the iPhone SE the undisputed champion; it costs less than any new iPhone in Apple's current lineup. And within the refurbished segment, it's also a 'value for money' model. At €492, the iPhone SE costs considerably less than the cheapest iPhone 12 model - the €812,- iPhone 12 mini , let alone compared to the €912,- iPhone 12.
It's not just a matter of offering a low price. As we saw during this comparison between iPhone 12 and iPhone SE, Apple has created one of the best cheap phones you can buy right now.
Both models are available new, where refurbished (at the time of writing) only the iPhone SE 2020 is available. Leapp can usually offer refurbished models about a year after introduction. In the case of the iPhone 12, we are focusing on the fall of 2021.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone SE: Design and Display
The iPhone SE 2020 uses the aesthetics of the iPhone 8. This means a display without a notch for the camera and enough bezel to hold the phone without your fingers touching the screen.
The iPhone 12 design takes cues from iPhones of the past in one important way: Apple returns to the squared edges last seen on the iPhone 5, ditching the rounded edges of more recent models.
The big difference between the iPhone SE and iPhone 12 comes down to screen size, but if you're a fan of small phones that seems to work in the SE's favor. The iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch display in a very compact design. The iPhone 12, on the other hand, will come in a variety of sizes, from a 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini to a 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max .
The 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini will be especially appealing to small phone lovers because it’s actually smaller than the iPhone SE, even if the latter has the smaller screen. The iPhone 12 mini measures 5.18 x 2.53 x 0.29 inches. That’s shorter and not quite as wide as the iPhone SE, which measures 5.18 x 2.53 x 0.29 inches.
None of the iPhone 12 models feature the high refresh rate displays that were rumored ahead of their launch, but they do have at least one advantage over the iPhone SE — they all use OLED panels, even the cheaper mini and iPhone 12 models.
That translates into slightly more colors on the iPhone 12 screens. The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro capture 117.8% and 115.6% of the sRGB color spectrum, respectively, up from the SE's 111.2%.
However, avoid the iPhone 12 mini if you need the brightest screen, as its 505-nit value was the lowest we measured. The iPhone SE's LCD screen puts out 653 nits, which is also better than the iPhone 12 (569 nits)
iPhone 12 vs iPhone SE: Cameras
The camera differences between the iPhone SE and iPhone 12 models start with the number. The iPhone SE has just one, while the iPhone 12 and 12 mini have two cameras.
Notably, the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 share the same configuration: a 12-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens. The main sensor has a larger f/1.6 aperture to let in more light, and there’s a seven-element design that’s also aimed at improving low-light performance.
The iPhone SE keeps things simple with a single 12-megapixel camera on the back. While that certainly limits its flexibility when it comes to zooming in and pulling back to capture different details, it still does a very good job. Since the iPhone SE shares the same A13 Bionic processor with the iPhone 11 series, it benefits from a neural processor on that chipset. That allows the iPhone SE to take portrait photos and bring out highlights in faces with Smart HDR.
There is one area where the iPhone SE lags behind Apple’s current iPhones. There’s no Night mode support on the iPhone SE, so consider the iPhone 12 if you expect to do a lot of night photography.
iPhone 12 vs iPhone SE: Performance
We mentioned that the iPhone SE uses the A13 Bionic chipset, a processor that outperforms even the best Android devices. That means you're getting a flagship-level phone in a sub-€400 device (refurbished, mind you) – one of the iPhone SE's biggest selling points.
The iPhone 12, however, outdoes that with the A14 Bionic, a 5-nanometer processor that's more powerful and energy-efficient than the 7nm A13.
A common test method is the program Geekbench. In it, the iPhone 12 scores 3,859 points and the iPhone SE 3,226. That is a very neat score for the iPhone SE (considerably more powerful than, for example, many Android top models)... but slower than the iPhone 12 with the A14 processor.
How does this translate into practice? In daily use you won't really notice anything, but if we want to re-code a 4K video to 1080 (an intensive job), the SE will need tens of seconds more time to do this.
In terms of network/internet performance; the iPhone 12 has support for 5G , the iPhone SE does not yet. Now this is not yet fully rolled out, but do you expect to absolutely need 5G? Then the iPhone 12 is the only choice.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone SE: Battery
The SE battery lasts a little longer than the iPhone 12 or the iPhone 12 mini , but all models remain stuck around 9 hours of effective use. The iPhone 12 does have an advantage over the SE and that is charging via 'MagSafe'; a charging method in which the wireless charger can be 'attached' to the iPhone via magnets. Both the SE and the 12 support wireless charging, in addition to the lightning cable .
iPhone 12 vs iPhone SE: Final Verdict
With the iPhone 12, Apple introduced an impressive lineup of devices. And as good as the iPhone SE is, we find that the iPhone 12 models are superior in almost every way, from design to performance to cameras. Only in terms of battery life does the iPhone SE hold its own.
The size of the device and the screen is of course a personal consideration. It is often heard that the newer models are found unpleasantly large. Both the iPhone SE 2020 and the iPhone 12 mini could solve that.
But price is of course of great importance. A new iPhone SE 2020 for under 500 euros or the same refurbished for 359 euros. And with the content of the iPhone SE 2020 you certainly won't make a blunder. Strong processor, longest battery life and capable camera.
The iPhone 12 models are the phones to get if you want the absolute best features, but the iPhone SE remains a great alternative, especially for budget-conscious shoppers who want to save on their smartphone purchase or prefer a smaller screen.
Both models are now also available at leapp. Check out Refurbished iPhones and compare them yourself again!
