iPhone 13 mini & iPhone SE share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the iPhone 13 mini rather than the iPhone SE.
Why Do I Recommend The iPhone 13 mini?
- The iPhone 13 mini features a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display for sharper resolution, deeper blacks, and HDR brightness in movies and games, whereas the iPhone SE uses a 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD with lower resolution and brightness.
- iPhone 13 mini has a dual-camera system with 12 MP wide and ultra-wide lenses for versatile photography and wider scene capture, while the iPhone SE includes only a single 12 MP wide camera.
- It supports Night Mode on both the rear and front cameras for clearer low-light photos, whereas the iPhone SE does not support Night Mode at all.
- The iPhone 13 mini comes with Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K60 for cinema-grade video quality, while the iPhone SE records standard HDR video without Dolby Vision support.
- iPhone 13 mini has the A15 Bionic with a 5-core GPU for stronger graphics performance in gaming and demanding apps, whereas the iPhone SE uses the same A15 Bionic with a 4-core GPU.
- It includes MagSafe support for faster magnetic charging and accessory compatibility, whereas the iPhone SE only supports standard Qi wireless charging.
- The iPhone 13 mini comes with up to 512 GB storage to store more space for photos, apps, and videos, whereas the iPhone SE is capped at 256 GB.
- iPhone 13 mini features an IP68 water-resistance design that withstands up to 6 meters for 30 minutes, whereas the iPhone SE has an IP67 rating limited to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
Maybe the iPhone SE price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the iPhone 13 mini. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.
Side By Side Comparison
| Feature | iPhone 13 mini | iPhone SE |
| Display Size | 5.4-inch | 4.7-inch |
| Display Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Retina HD LCD |
| Resolution | 2340 × 1080 pixels, 476 ppi | 1334 × 750 pixels, 326 ppi |
| Brightness | 800 nits typical, 1200 nits HDR | 625 nits typical |
| Contrast Ratio | 2,000,000:1 | 1,400:1 |
| Design | All-screen with notch | Thick bezels with Home button |
| Biometrics | Face ID | Touch ID |
| Rear Cameras | Dual 12 MP wide + ultra-wide | Single 12 MP wide |
| Night Mode | Supported | Not supported |
| Photographic Styles | Supported | Not supported |
| Cinematic Mode | Available | Not available |
| HDR Video | Dolby Vision HDR up to 4K60 | Standard HDR up to 4K60 |
| Front Camera | 12 MP TrueDepth | 7 MP FaceTime HD |
| Front Camera Features | Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Portrait mode | Basic Portrait mode, no Night Mode |
| GPU | A15 Bionic with 5-core GPU | A15 Bionic with 4-core GPU |
| Battery Capacity | ~2406 mAh | ~2018 mAh |
| Video Playback | Up to 17 hours | Up to 15 hours |
| Charging | MagSafe and Qi wireless | Qi wireless only |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
| Weight | 140 g | 144 g |
| Build | Ceramic Shield front, glass back, aluminum frame | Standard glass front/back, aluminum frame |
| Storage Options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| 5G Bands | Broader support for more regions | Fewer 5G bands |
| Price | Check iPhone 13 mini Price | Check iPhone SE Price |
What Common Both Can Do?
- A15 Bionic Chip: Both phones feature the A15 Bionic processor, ensuring fast performance for gaming, apps, and multitasking.
- 6-Core CPU: Each model comes with a 6-core CPU, delivering efficient power use and smooth everyday operation.
- Neural Engine: Both devices include a 16-core Neural Engine, enabling advanced AI tasks like photo enhancements and Siri requests.
- 12 MP Main Camera: Each phone has a 12 MP wide camera, capturing detailed and sharp photos in various lighting conditions.
- Smart HDR 4: Both models support Smart HDR 4, balancing highlights and shadows for natural-looking images.
- Deep Fusion: Each device uses Deep Fusion, improving textures and details in mid- to low-light photos.
- Portrait Mode: Both phones feature Portrait mode, allowing users to blur backgrounds and highlight subjects.
- 4K Video Recording: Each model supports 4K video at up to 60 fps, delivering crisp and smooth video quality.
- Slow-Motion Video: Both support 1080p slow-motion recording at 120/240 fps, making it easy to capture dramatic action shots.
- Stereo Recording: Each device records stereo sound, improving audio quality in videos.
- Spatial Audio: Both support Spatial Audio, creating immersive 3D sound for movies and music.
- Dolby Atmos: Each model includes Dolby Atmos support, enhancing depth and clarity in audio playback.
- 5G Connectivity: Both devices support 5G, providing faster download speeds and better streaming performance.
- Wi-Fi 6: Each phone supports Wi-Fi 6, enabling faster and more stable wireless connections.
- Bluetooth 5.0: Both models include Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring strong connections with headphones and accessories.
- Wireless Charging: Each supports Qi wireless charging, allowing cable-free power convenience.
- Fast Charging: Both phones feature 20W wired fast charging, reaching up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes.
- iOS Updates: Each device shipped with iOS 15 and supports iOS 17+, ensuring long-term software compatibility.
- Apple Services: Both integrate iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple Arcade, and FaceTime, offering consistent Apple ecosystem features.
Common Features
| Feature | iPhone 13 mini | iPhone SE |
| Chipset Family | A15 Bionic | A15 Bionic |
| CPU Performance | 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores | 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores |
| Neural Engine | 16-core Neural Engine | 16-core Neural Engine |
| Rear Camera Resolution | 12 MP main wide camera | 12 MP main wide camera |
| Camera Features | Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, Portrait mode | Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, Portrait mode |
| Optical Zoom Range | Digital zoom up to 5× | Digital zoom up to 5× |
| Video Recording | 4K at 24/25/30/60 fps | 4K at 24/25/30/60 fps |
| Video Modes | 1080p at 30/60 fps, 720p at 30 fps | 1080p at 30/60 fps, 720p at 30 fps |
| Slow Motion | 1080p at 120/240 fps | 1080p at 120/240 fps |
| Stereo Recording | Supported | Supported |
| Audio Playback | Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos support | Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos support |
| 5G Connectivity | Supported | Supported |
| Wi-Fi Standard | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Wireless Charging | Qi wireless charging supported | Qi wireless charging supported |
| Fast Charging | 20W wired fast charging supported | 20W wired fast charging supported |
| iOS Version | Shipped with iOS 15 and supports iOS 17+ | Shipped with iOS 15 and supports iOS 17+ |
| Apple Services | iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple Arcade, FaceTime HD | iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple Arcade, FaceTime HD |
| Price | Check iPhone 13 mini Price | Check iPhone SE Price |
FAQ
Is the iPhone 13 mini more powerful than the iPhone SE? Does the iPhone 13 mini have a better display than the iPhone SE? Which phone has better cameras, iPhone 13 mini or iPhone SE? Can both iPhone 13 mini and iPhone SE take portrait photos? Do the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone SE support 5G? Which phone has better battery life? Do both phones support wireless charging? Are both phones water resistant? Which iPhone is lighter to carry? Do both phones get the latest iOS updates? Is the iPhone 13 mini more expensive than the iPhone SE? Which iPhone has better video recording features? Do both iPhones support Face ID? Which phone has more storage options? Are both iPhones part of the Apple ecosystem? |
