iPhone SE vs iPhone 13
Apple’s latest iPhone series sees the return of the budget-friendly SE model with a 3rd Gen iteration, alongside the more expensive hero handset in the range, iPhone 13. Below we take a look at the difference between the two phones – including camera, battery, and power – to help you choose your next upgrade.
iPhone SE vs iPhone 13: Design and Display
The immediate difference between these two handsets is the size. iPhone SE is a pocket-friendly 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mm, while iPhone 13 comes in at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65mm.
This also translates to the size of the display – with iPhone 13 delivering the more premium visual experience that you’d expect from the higher-spec handset in the series. iPhone 13 has a spacious 6.1-inch all-screen OLED and Super Retina XDR display – Apple’s latest visual offering. The OLED display gets up to 28% brighter, so it’s easier to see when it’s sunny. While iPhone SE has a compact 4.7-inch Retina HD, widescreen LCD display.
Both the front and back of iPhone SE are glass, which has an oleophobic coating to resist fingerprint marks. iPhone 13, on the other hand, features Apple’s new Ceramic Shield, which is tougher and more durable than any smartphone glass and can handle knocks, bumps, and drops with.
Each handset is water-resistant, with iPhone SE rated IP67 and iPhone 13 rated IP68, so you don’t have to worry about spills or dust – they can even be submerged (within limits).
iPhone SE vs iPhone 13: Camera
While iPhone 13’s camera system offers more advanced technology and tools, iPhone SE’s camera is more than capable of capturing stunning images of your treasured memories.
iPhone SE’s camera system includes a 12MP wide camera with 5x digital zoom and a 7MP front camera. The Smart HDR 4 automatically refines the contrast, lighting, and skin tones of up to 4 people – so all your friends look their best in shot. In mid to low light, Deep Fusion studies multiple exposures pixel by pixel to capture even the most subtle of details.
iPhone 13, meanwhile, features Apple’s most advanced dual-camera system yet, with 12MP wide and ultra-wide cameras, 2x optical zoom, and 5x digital zoom. Designed diagonally, the lenses have been turned 45 degrees to fit Apple’s biggest wide camera sensor, which can capture 47% more light, revealing more details in the dark. As well as making room for the new sensor-shift optical image stabiliser, which steadies shots, even when you’re not.
Both models also include Portrait Mode, which has advanced bokeh, Depth Control, and Portrait Lighting with 6 effects (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High-Key Light Mono) – so you can draw attention to your subject. You can also adjust your images using Photographic Styles – such as Warm and Cool – giving you creative control to achieve your desired image style.
When it comes to video recording, iPhone SE can capture a 4K video with stereo and pick up details like contours, shadows, and highlights even in low light. While iPhone 13 can also record in 4K with stereo, the main difference is its Cinematic Mode, which shoots in Dolby Vision HDR.
Cinematic Mode allows you to shoot professional-grade content using an industry technique called rack focus: shifting focus from one subject to another. Simply start recording and it will automatically focus on your subject while simultaneously creating a picturesque depth of field around them – you can even adjust the depth of field after you shoot.
Both phones can take 8MP photos while recording 4K video, as well as interesting features for you to explore such as slo-mo, time-lapse, and night mode time-lapse.
iPhone SE vs iPhone 13: Power
When it comes to power, both handsets are surprisingly similar, which comes down to both handsets being fitted with Apple’s new, powerful A15 Bionic chip. The A15 Bionic boosts speed, power, graphics, privacy, and more – creating the fastest CPU in a smartphone for a seamless and fluid experience. To really speed things up, they also both feature 5G – which is a new addition to the SE range – providing faster downloads, faster streaming, and faster gaming.
Both devices also come equipped with Apple’s latest IOS 15, which includes all the classic features such as Touch ID, Apple Pay, and wireless charging. Plus, new and exciting features like SharePlay, which lets you share your screen while on FaceTime, so you can watch a video together, listen to a song, or show your friend the holidays you’ve been browsing.
iPhone SE vs iPhone 13: Battery
iPhone SE is a powerful little smartphone, thanks to the efficient A15 Bionic chip, enhanced battery, and IOS 15 working together to boost battery life. You’ll get up to 15 hours of video playback (10 hours video playback streamed) or up to 50 hours of audio playback.
Meanwhile, iPhone 13 edges ahead of iPhone SE when it comes to battery life, offering up to 19 hours of video playback (15 hours video playback streamed) and up to 75 hours of audio playback – that’s up to 2.5 hours more battery life than the previous similar model.
When you do need to charge up, both are capable of fast charging, going from 0% up to 50% in just 30 minutes with a 20W adaptor or higher – plus, wireless charging is also an option.
So, whether you’re looking for a compact, budget-friendly phone or a more premium offering, you can explore all the latest handsets from Apple – as well as Android makes like Samsung and Oppo – at Mobiles.co.uk, where you’ll find contract and SIM-only deals.