The new iPhone SE comes out today — here's what you need to know

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Did you know there’s a new iPhone on sale today? But, you ask, weren’t there just new iPhones a few months ago? Yes, there were, but the handset going on sale this week isn’t a replacement for the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro that just came out. So if you’ve already upgraded to one of those stellar devices you’ve still got the latest and greatest from Apple. What the company released today is a new iPhone SE, a cheaper midrange device for people who love Apple devices but don’t want to pay the Apple tax.

Shop iPhone SE at Apple starting at $429 Shop iPhone SE at Best Buy starting at $430

So what is a mid-range phone anyway?

A midrange phone is a device that is missing features or uses slightly older technology to cut down on costs. It’s all still solid, proven hardware inside, but it’s not at the level of a flagship phone like the iPhone 13 Pro or Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra. Most people don’t need all that power anyway, and not everyone can afford to drop $1,000 just to get the latest tech. A midrange phone will usually cost between $400 and $600. (Anything below that is usually considered a “budget” device.)

Does the iPhone SE use old parts?

No! The iPhone SE has Apple’s A15 Bionic chip — that’s the processor that powers all of the company’s other iconic devices like the iPhone 13, last year’s iPad Mini and even the iPad Air that also comes out this week. Where the SE is different from other recent iPhone devices is that it has fewer cameras; there’s only a 12MP wide shooter on the back and another 12MP lens on the front for selfies and FaceTime calls.

The other big difference is the size: The new iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch screen, while other iPhone models start with a 5.4-inch display and top out at a crazy 6.7 inches. The SE is the most pocket-friendly phone Apple offers right now.

I’m confused, wasn’t there already an iPhone SE?

There have been two, actually! The original SE came out in 2016 and shared its design with the iPhone 5S. (But its insides were more like the 6S.) The second version of the SE came out in 2020 and looked like the iPhone but had iPhone 11 insides. The 2022 SE uses the same exterior design as its immediate predecessor, so when you buy one make sure it actually is the new model, with the A15 Bionic chip and 5G.

What’s great about this new iPhone SE?

A few things. Our friends over at Engadget put the SE through its paces and they were big fans of its sturdy, scratch-resistant screen, loud speakers and powerful A15 Bionic chip. But they found the design to be a bit retro, and weren’t thrilled by the dim LCD screen compared to the bright OLEDs you’ll see on other similarly-priced devices like the Pixel 5a and Galaxy A52. But it’s still a solid device that Engadget ultimately awarded an 80 out of 100. Check out their video review below:

Is this an upgrade for me?

As I said, if you own an iPhone 13,13 Pro or 13 Pro Max, you already have one of the best three phones Apple sells right now. So you can sit tight until the iPhone 14 or even the iPhone 15 next year. But if you have an iPhone 12 or earlier, the chip inside the SE would be a definite upgrade. However, those earlier flagship phones have more rear cameras. If you’re a real shutterbug you might not appreciate the downgrade and would be better served waiting for the 13 to go down in price.

I’m an Android user. Is this phone worth the switch?

Depends on what you’re switching from. If you have a Pixel 4 or 5 or any Galaxy S phone, you’ll also be trading down from the multiple cameras on those flagship handsets. If you’re coming from a budget (less than $300) Android, the iPhone SE is a definite upgrade if you’re okay with leaving Android behind. If you’re not, we recommend buying a Pixel 5a instead. It’s a solid midrange device with two great rear cameras and, at $449, it’s only $20 more.

Shop the iPhone SE at Apple starting at $429Shop the iPhone SE at Best Buy starting at $430

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