Compact flagships are not a trend, but Apple keeps releasing them and a lot of people choose them due to their compact dimensions. The latest compact flagship released by Apple is the iPhone 13 mini: it has nothing to envy if compared to all the other devices from the iPhone 13 series, but it comes with smaller dimensions. A lot of people are wondering whether it is worth spending more for this handset or to get the very affordable iPhone SE released in 2020 which is currently the most affordable iPhone on the shelves. This comparison will highlight the differences between the specifications of the iPhone 13 mini and the 2020 version of the iPhone SE.
Apple iPhone SE vs Apple iPhone 13 mini
| Apple iPhone SE | Apple iPhone 13 Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm, 148 g |
131.5 x 64.2 x 7.7 mm, 141 g |
| DISPLAY | 4.7 inches, 750 x 1334p (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 A15 Bionic hexa-core 3.22 GHz |
| MEMORY | 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – 3 GB RAM, 128 GB – 3 GB RAM, 256 GB | 4 GB RAM, 512 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | iOS 13 | iOS 15 |
| 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 front camera |
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 | 2438 mAh, Fast Charging 20W, Qi wireless charging 7.5W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | SIM, optional eSIM, Touch ID, IP67 water resistant | 5G, optional dual SIM, optional eSIM, MagSafe 15W, IP68 waterproof |
Design
You just need to look at them to recognize them: the iPhone 13 mini has the best design ever seen on a smartphone by Apple, with a borderless display and a notch 20 percent smaller than the one found on the iPhone 12 series. The handset is built with a glass back and an aluminum frame and it has the IP68 certification making it waterproof and dustproof. The iPhone SE, instead, has a very old design: the same as the old iPhone 8 with thick bezels around the display, a glass back, an aluminum frame, and the IP67 certification guaranteeing water resistance. Despite the iPhone 13 mini having a bigger display, it is more compact thanks to its narrow bezels around the screen. It also comes with better water resistance and higher resistance thanks to Ceramic Shield.
Display
The display of the iPhone 13 mini is 10 times better if compared to the iPhone SE 2020. Unlike the SE, it has a Super Retina XDR OLED panel with the HDR10 certification and Dolby Vision support, as well as a higher Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. The iPhone SE 2020 has a lower-end IPS panel with an HD+ resolution. The iPhone 13 mini relies on 3D facial recognition for authentication, while the iPhone SE 2020 has the old Touch ID which consists of a fingerprint reader. There is definitely no challenge when it comes to the display: the iPhone 13 mini wins with a wide margin.
Specs & Software
The iPhone 13 mini wins the hardware comparison as well because it has a stronger processor and a higher quantity of RAM. The Apple A15 Bionic found on the iPhone 13 mini provides a 50% CPU performance boost compared to the Apple A14 Bionic and a 30 percent GPU performance boost. The iPhone SE 2020 has the Apple A13 Bionic chipset which you can also find on the iPhone 11 lineup: it is still a high-end chipset, but it is very inferior to the A15 Bionic. Further, the iPhone SE 2020 has just 3 GB of RAM instead of the 4 GB found on the iPhone 13 mini. Last but not least, iPhone 13 mini runs iOS 15 out of the box and it will get two more years of software support, while iPhone SE 2020 ships with iOS 13.
Camera
The iPhone 13 mini has a stronger camera department composed of a 12 MP main camera with an f/1.6 focal aperture and a 12 MP ultrawide sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. The iPhone SE 2020 has just a single sensor on the rear: a 12 MP camera with an f/1.8 focal aperture. With the iPhone 13 mini you can shoot better photos under every light condition and record better videos.
Battery
With a capacity of 2438 mAh, the iPhone 13 mini provides a bigger battery and a longer battery life. Besides its bigger battery, it also provides a lower energy consumption thanks to its efficient OLED display and a 5 nm chipset.
Price
You can currently find the iPhone SE 2020 for less than €400/$400, while you need at least €800 or $700 to get the iPhone 13 mini. The 13 mini is a superior phone from every point of view (display, camera, battery, hardware, and software), but you can save a lot of money with the SE while still getting great performance and a solid user experience.
Apple iPhone SE vs Apple iPhone 13 mini: PRO and CONS
Apple iPhone SE
PRO
- More affordable
- Thinner
- Lighter
- Touch ID
CONS
- Inferior hardware
Apple iPhone 13 Mini
PRO
- Better design
- Superior water resistance
- Better hardware
- Bigger battery
- Superior cameras
- iOS 15 out of the box
CONS
- Higher price
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