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iPhone 12 mini
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iPhone SE (2022)
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What we think

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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

If you're looking for a phone with a larger screen and better overall camera quality, the iPhone 12 mini would be a suitable option. However, if you prefer a newer model with possibly better battery life and marginally better performance, consider the iPhone SE (2022). Keep in mind that although the iPhone SE (2022) has a newer processor, the iPhone 12 mini's processor is also quite powerful, and it offers better camera capabilities. The SE (2022) is slightly heavier than the 12 mini. Both phones have glass backs, do not have 3.5mm headphone jacks, and support wireless charging. 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 mini
  • 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 mini.

Key differences

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Overall Camera Quality

7.3
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone SE (2022)
5.7
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has good overall camera quality, while the Apple iPhone SE (2022) has poor overall camera quality.

Photo Quality

7.1
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone SE (2022)
5.5
The Apple iPhone 12 mini takes good photos, while the Apple iPhone SE (2022) takes poor photos.

Video Quality

7.2
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone SE (2022)
6.6
The Apple iPhone 12 mini takes good videos, while the Apple iPhone SE (2022) takes only fair videos.

Cost

$300
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone SE (2022)
$429
Product image
Product image

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a price of $300 and the Apple iPhone SE (2022) costs $429.
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Key similarities

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Battery

5.1 Hours
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone SE (2022)
4.9 Hours
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has 5.1 hours of battery life. The Apple iPhone SE (2022) has 4.9 hours of battery life.

Screen Size

The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a screen size of 5.4 inches and the Apple iPhone SE (2022) is 4.7 inches.

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We’re constantly working to improve.

How the Apple iPhone 12 mini and the Apple iPhone SE (2022) compare to other phones

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Spec Comparison

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Apple iPhone 12 miniApple iPhone SE (2022)
Apple iPhone 12 miniApple iPhone SE (2022)

GENERAL

Price
$300
$429
Brand
AppleApple
Operating System
iOSiOS
Release Date
November 13, 2020March 18, 2022

SCREEN

Screen Size
5.4"4.7"
Resolution
2340 x 10801334 x 750
Variable refresh rate
NoNo
Pixels Per Inch
476326
Display Type
OLEDLCD

INTERNAL

Processor
A14A15
Internal Storage
64 GB64 GB
RAM
4 GB4 GB

CAMERA

Overall Camera Quality Score
7.4/105.8/10
Photos Score
7.1/105.6/10
Videos Score
7.3/106.6/10
Rear Cameras
Main, UltrawideMain
Main Camera
12 megapixels + OIS12 megapixels + OIS

BATTERY

Battery Life
5.1 Hours4.9 Hours
Battery Capacity
2227 mAh2018 mAh
Wireless Charging
YesYes
Wireless charging Speed
12 W7.5 W
Reverse wireless charging
NoNo

PHYSICAL

Size
5.18" x 2.53"5.45" x 2.65"
Weight
4.76 oz5.08 oz
Back Material
GlassGlass
Stereo Speakers
NoNo

CONNECTIVITY

Dual SIM
YesYes
Bluetooth Version
5.05.0
A2DP
YesYes
WiFi Version
66
NFC
YesYes
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
Face unlockFingerprint sensor: Front
Unlockable Bootloader
NoNo
Color
Blue, Purple, Green, White, Black, RedMidnight, Starlight, Red
SD Card
NoNo
Custom ROM Support
NoNo

Shopping

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Apple iPhone 12 mini

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Dig into reviews and images

TechRadar

James Peckham | September 2022
"If you’re going to opt for an iPhone and you want a smaller device without buying up the latest iPhone 13 mini, this is the perfect option for you – and it’s one of the smallest 5G phones on the market too. The camera is versatile, the screen is fantastic, it comes with reams of power and the added benefits of 5G and MagSafe mean this is a phone that will last you for years to come."

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

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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 mini 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

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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

68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
132,600
Recommendations made
75,140
Consumer hours saved

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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