Compact phones are not a trend, but Apple is still releasing several compact phones in the last years. In 2020, the Cupertino giant came up with the iPhone SE 2020, the second model ever from the SE lineup. Right after, the company launched the iPhone 12 Mini alongside the other variant from the iPhone 12 series, which is the first Mini variant of an iPhone. A lot of people are wondering whether they should go for the affordable iPhone SE 2020 or spend more on the iPhone 12 Mini in order to get the best compact phone out there. If you are one of them, you are in the right place: this specs comparison will highlight the differences.
Apple iPhone SE vs Apple iPhone 12 Mini
| Apple iPhone SE 2020 | Apple iPhone 12 Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm, 148 g |
131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm, 135 g |
| DISPLAY | 4.7 inches, 750 x 1334 pixels (HD+), Retina IPS LCD | 5.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED |
| PROCESSOR | Apple A13 Bionic hexa-core 2.65 GHz | Apple A14 Bionic hexa-core 3.1 GHz |
| MEMORY | 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – 3 GB RAM, 128 GB – 3 GB RAM, 256 GB | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | iOS 13 | iOS 14 |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS |
| CAMERA | Single 12 MP, f/1.8 7 MP f/2.2 |
Dual 12 + 12 MP, f/1.6 + f/2.4 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 |
| BATTERY | 1821 mAh, fast charging 18W and Qi wireless charging | 2227 mAh, Fast Charging 20W, Qi wireless charging 12W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | optional eSIM, IP67 water resistant | 5G, optional dual SIM, optional eSIM, MagSafe, IP68 waterproof |
Design
The iPhone SE 2020 has a very old design: it is the design of the iPhone 8 series which makes it the only last-generation iPhone with the Touch ID. The iPhone SE 2020 has thick bezels around the display and a 16:9 aspect ratio: very outdated. But it still comes with a great build quality: it has a glass back, an aluminum frame, and the IP67 certification making it dustproof and water resistant. The iPhone 12 Mini has the most modern design ever made by Apple: it is the same design as the other devices from the 12 series, but with smaller dimensions. Despite it has a wider display than iPhone SE 2020, it is more compact thanks to its bezel-less front panel. Further, it is very thin and lightweight. It also comes with the IP68 certification: it is dustproof and waterproof up to 6 meters deep. The iPhone 12 Mini does not have Touch ID but it relies on Face ID for the authentication.
Display
With the iPhone 12 Mini, you can actually get a way better display. Instead of the IPS panel of the iPhone SE 2020, you get an amazing Super Retina XDR OLED panel with HDR10 and Dolby Vision, as well as a higher Full HD resolution providing a higher level of detail. The color accuracy is better, colors are more brilliant and blacks are deeper. The panel is also wider with 5.4 inches and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The iPhone SE 2020 still comes with a good display, but it is inferior. It has an HD+ panel with a diagonal of 4.7 inches and True-tone technology.
Specs & Software
Besides offering a better design and display, the iPhone 12 Mini also packs better hardware components. It is powered by the Apple A14 Bionic chipset which is much better than Apple A13 Bionic and, unlike the A13, it supports 5G. The iPhone 12 Mini also comes with more RAM (4 GB vs 3 GB) which allows for a better multi-tasking experience. The internal storage is the same for each device: you get a version with 64 GB of storage, a 128 GB configuration, and a 256 GB one. Note that iPhone SE 2020 runs iOS 13 out of the box, while iPhone 12 Mini is based on iOS 14. This means the Mini will get longer software support.
Camera
The iPhone 12 Mini wins the camera comparison too, thanks to a superior camera setup. It has a 12 MP main camera with a bright f/1.6 aperture, alongside a 12 MP ultrawide sensor and OIS support. The iPhone SE 2020 has just a single camera on the rear side which has a 12 MP resolution and an f/1.8 aperture. The iPhone 12 Mini is also a better selfie phone with its 12 MP front camera (iPhone SE 2020 has a 7 MP sensor).
Battery
Last but not least, the iPhone 12 Mini has longer battery life. The reasons are pretty simple: first of all, it has a bigger battery capacity. Further, its display has a lower energy consumption, and its processor is built with a production process making it more efficient. Both the phones support fast charging and wireless charging, but the Mini has the MagSafe technology which is not present in its rival.
Price
You can actually find the iPhone SE 2020 for less than €400/$400, while iPhone 12 Mini starts from €550/$550 thanks to online street prices (note that prices vary depending on the market). The iPhone 12 Mini is a much better option due to its great design, superior display, more powerful chipset, longer battery life, and better cameras. You should go for SE 2020 only if your main intention is to save as much money as possible.
PRO and CONS
Apple iPhone SE 2020
PRO
- More affordable
- Touch ID
- Quad-LED flash
CONS
- Inferior hardware
- Smaller battery
Apple iPhone 12 Mini
PRO
- More compact
- Better design
- Superior hardware
- Better cameras
- 5G
- Superior display
CONS
- Price
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