Comparison: iPhone SE 2022 vs iPhone 11

The Apple iPhone SE 2022 at $429 is a great smartphone for those on a budget. However, the $499 iPhone 11 is also an excellent option, with comparable features and benefits like a larger display and dual camera.

iPhone SE 2022 vs iPhone 11

If you’re having a hard time deciding between the two, think about which aspects are most important to you. 5G networks are now available on the new iPhone SE 2022, which may not be vital right now but might be in the future. It also utilizes Apple’s newest mobile processor. The iPhone 11, on the other hand, offers a larger screen and a secondary ultrawide camera lens for more expansive photos.

Is 5G a must-have for you?

The iPhone 11 is the only iPhone Apple offers that does not support 5G, as of today. Is it a major problem? The answer to this question is somewhat nuanced.

The simple answer is no, you don’t need 5G right now, especially if you’re happy with the speeds you get from your current 4G smartphone. However, within the next two to three years, you’ll probably want 5G. Even then, you won’t have to worry about your smartphone becoming obsolete anytime soon. After 20 years of service, 3G networks will be phased out by carriers in 2022. Because 4G LTE networks have been in place for a few years, carriers are unlikely to phase them out until around 2030 because they began rolling out in 2010.

The longer answer is that today’s widely available 5G networks are only somewhat faster than 4G LTE, and coverage may differ depending on your location and carrier. As a result, many individuals haven’t seen a significant difference in their speeds or coverage as of yet, and the move to 5G isn’t likely to be felt right away.

The iPhone SE 2022 does not support millimeter wave, the fastest form of 5G. However, even if it did, you wouldn’t likely use it very often or at all. Because this type of 5G has difficulty penetrating buildings and other structures, it only works at short distances. There’s a high chance that the network doesn’t reach your desired location. As a result, you’ll only be able to find it in certain places, such as specific stadiums and intersections in select cities. Other 5G smartphones around this price range don’t support millimeter-wave either, such as the Pixel 5A 5G or Galaxy A52.

The iPhone SE features mid-band 5G, which is the optimal balance between coverage and speed. Because nothing in this world is ever simple, there are a few variations of this flavor of 5G. However, the iPhone SE 2022 can support most current carrier variants.

iPhone SE 2022: Pros and cons

For people who want the cheapest iPhone and prefer smaller phones, the iPhone SE is the best option. Other than its low price, one of the iPhone SE’s biggest advantages is that it includes Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, and supports 5G. That’s the same processor found in the iPhone 13, so the iPhone SE has some of Apple’s most up-to-date internal camera advancements.

The iPhone SE 2022, for example, has the most up-to-date version of Apple’s high dynamic range (HDR) image processing available, dubbed Smart HDR 4. According to Apple, this technology modifies noise reduction, color, and contrast adjustments around the subject compared to the background of an image in order to make the subject stand out.

The iPhone SE has a feature known as Photographic Styles, which was introduced on the iPhone 13. It allows you to apply pre-defined color and contrast profiles to the camera app that activates each time you snap a shot and may be altered. In addition to the primary camera, Apple’s pixel-by-pixel picture processing technology, which should lead to sharper clarity and texture, is used on the selfie camera as well. This function is known as Deep Fusion.

The upgraded iPhone SE 2022 should have significantly enhanced photo-taking capabilities over the original. However, whether it is superior to the iPhone 11 is a more difficult question. The A13 Bionic chip in the iPhone 11 does not support some of the latest software processing features seen on the new iPhone SE 2022. Photographic Styles and Apple’s most recent high dynamic range capabilities are just two examples of this.

The iPhone 11, on the other hand, has a few features that photographers might find more useful than the iPhone SE 2022. The most significant of them is a dual-lens camera with a regular lens and an ultrawide lens, allowing you to capture much wider vistas when compared with the iPhone SE.

Aside from general performance and some minor camera upgrades, having the newest Apple processor guarantees that the iPhone SE will be able to take advantage of future iOS features. To make things clear, iOS 15 can be used on iPhones as old as the iPhone 6S from 2016 and the first-gen iPhone SE from 2016. As a result, it doesn’t appear that the iPhone 11 from 2019 will be left out of software upgrades any time soon.

The A15 Bionic inside the iPhone SE rather than the 11’s slightly older chip might allow more new features for years to come. Even though previous phones may still run the software, certain newer functions in iOS, such as 3D audio in FaceTime and Siri’s on-device processing, only work on Apple’s 2018 iPhones and later.

However, even with its more advanced processor, the iPhone SE 2022 has hardware limitations that limit its capabilities. The technology that allows your iPhone to provide turn-by-turn directions when locating lost AirTags is not available on the iPhone SE, unlike the iPhone 11. This isn’t a deal-breaker, and it shouldn’t affect your regular usage. However, if you own or are considering purchasing AirTags, this is something to consider.

The iPhone SE is the only model sold by Apple that still has a physical home button with Touch ID. If you’re upgrading from an older phone like the iPhone 8, this may be convenient. It’s also excellent if you don’t particularly enjoy Face ID, especially since you won’t need to make any changes to Touch ID while wearing a face mask.

Overall, the iPhone SE is the ideal option if you prefer small smartphones and want the cheapest iPhone available. It’s the perfect phone for you if you want a phone that feels fast and supports many general iOS capabilities for years to come but don’t mind having a smaller screen or less versatile camera.

iPhone 11: Pros and cons

The iPhone 11, on the other hand, is far more reminiscent of a contemporary phone than the iPhone SE 2022. It has a larger, 6.1-inch display, which is identical to that of the iPhone 13. It also includes Face ID and a dual-lens camera like Apple’s other flagship smartphones. The iPhone 11 has Apple’s current design with a nearly borderless screen, while the iPhone SE has bezels.

The display is one of the most crucial elements of any phone since it’s how we interact with them. As a result, the size of the screen should be important when comparing the iPhone SE and iPhone 11. Both phones feature an LCD display with identical pixels per inch, therefore they should provide comparable quality. However, in terms of sheer size, there is a significant difference. If you use your smartphone to do a lot of reading and TV viewing, the iPhone 11 might be a better option than the iPhone SE 2022.

Another key element to consider is the camera. The A15 Bionic processor in the iPhone SE offers some advantages, but the iPhone 11’s twin-lens camera has more modes of operation.

If you like taking group photographs with friends or family, or enjoy capturing panoramic vistas while on a hike, the iPhone 11’s second lens with a wider field-of-view could be ideal. The iPhone 11 also has Night Mode, which improves the phone’s ability to capture pictures in low light. The iPhone SE doesn’t include either of them, however, Apple claims that the new phone can capture superior videos in low lighting.

According to Apple’s predictions, the iPhone 11 should offer two additional hours of film playback battery life compared to the iPhone SE.

iPhone SE 2022 vs iPhone 11: Specs

iPhone SE 2022 vs iPhone 11: Final verdict

The iPhone SE is more durable in terms of long-term usage thanks to its A15 Bionic processor and 5G compatibility, on paper. However, we would argue that both phones were made to be upgraded after two to three years for various reasons.

The iPhone 11’s CPU is two generations old, and it doesn’t support 5G, so you may miss out on quicker speeds and certain iOS capabilities if you wait too long. However, depending on your tastes, the iPhone SE’s diminutive screen and a single-lens camera might grow restricting after a few years.

The iPhone 11 is a better all-around option if you don’t mind upgrading in the next two to three years for 5G. However, if you simply want a regular iPhone that is less expensive and built to last a long time, the iPhone SE 2022 is the best choice. Remember that you’ll be giving up newer features like a dual-lens camera, a bigger screen, and improved low-light photography.

Either phone should offer a noticeable step up for anyone upgrading from an iPhone that’s at least 3 to 4 years old. We hope that this article was useful to you and can help you make up your mind on whether you should pick up an iPhone SE 2022 or iPhone 11.