iPhone 13 Pro & 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 Pro rather than the iPhone SE.
Why Do I Recommend The iPhone 13 Pro?
- The iPhone 13 Pro features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 120Hz ProMotion for smoother scrolling, sharper visuals, and a more immersive viewing experience, whereas the iPhone SE uses a smaller 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD at 60Hz with thicker bezels.
- iPhone 13 Pro comes with A15 Bionic chip with a 5-core GPU for stronger graphics performance in gaming, video editing, and AR apps, while the iPhone SE has the same A15 Bionic chip with 4-core GPU.
- It includes 6GB RAM for faster multitasking, smoother app switching, and better future-proofing, whereas the iPhone SE has 4GB RAM.
- The iPhone 13 Pro has a triple 12MP camera system with wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses for versatile photography and optical zoom, while the iPhone SE comes with a single 12MP wide camera.
- iPhone 13 Pro supports Night Mode and Deep Fusion on all cameras for brighter low-light photos and improved detail in dark environments, whereas the iPhone SE lacks Night Mode and produces less usable images at night.
- It comes with a 12MP TrueDepth front camera with 4K video and Night Mode for sharper selfies and higher-quality video calls, while the iPhone SE uses a 7MP front camera limited to 1080p without Night Mode.
- The iPhone 13 Pro features a larger 3095 mAh battery that delivers up to 22 hours of video playback for longer daily usage, while the iPhone SE uses a smaller 2018 mAh battery that lasts up to 15 hours of video playback.
- iPhone 13 Pro features stainless steel and matte glass materials for premium durability and scratch resistance, while the iPhone SE uses aluminum and glossy glass.
- It supports MagSafe charging and accessories for faster wireless charging and convenient snap-on cases or wallets, whereas the iPhone SE only supports standard Qi wireless charging without MagSafe compatibility.
Maybe the iPhone SE price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the iPhone 13 Pro. 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 Pro | iPhone SE |
| Display Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Retina HD LCD |
| Display Size | 6.1 inches | 4.7 inches |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz standard |
| Resolution | 2532 × 1170 pixels | 1334 × 750 pixels |
| Pixel Density | ~460 ppi | ~326 ppi |
| Peak Brightness | 1200 nits HDR / 1000 nits typical | 625 nits |
| Bezels | Slim with notch | Thick with Home button |
| Biometric System | Face ID | Touch ID |
| Rear Camera Setup | Triple 12MP (wide, ultra-wide, telephoto) | Single 12MP wide |
| Optical Zoom | 3x in, 2x out | None |
| Night Mode | Supported | Not supported |
| LiDAR Scanner | Present | Absent |
| Front Camera | 12MP with Night Mode | 7MP without Night Mode |
| Video Features | ProRes, ProRAW, Cinematic Mode 4K HDR | Standard 4K video, no ProRes/ProRAW |
| GPU | 5-core A15 GPU | 4-core A15 GPU |
| RAM | 6GB | 4GB |
| Storage Options | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| Battery Life (Video Playback) | Up to 22 hours | Up to 15 hours |
| Wireless Charging | MagSafe + Qi | Qi only |
| Build Material | Stainless steel + matte glass | Aluminum + glossy glass |
| Weight | 203g | 144g |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
| 5G Connectivity | Sub-6 + mmWave | Sub-6 only |
| Color Options | Graphite, Silver, Gold, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green | Midnight, Starlight, (Product)RED |
| Price | Check iPhone 13 Pro Price | Check iPhone SE Price |
What Common Both Can Do?
- A15 Bionic Processor: Both devices run on Apple’s A15 Bionic, ensuring flagship-level performance in app loading, multitasking, and gaming, even though the GPU core count differs.
- 6-core CPU: Each uses a 6-core CPU (2 high-performance, 4 efficiency cores), providing strong balance between speed and energy efficiency.
- 16-core Neural Engine: Both integrate the same Neural Engine for advanced AI tasks like real-time translation, image recognition, and on-device machine learning.
- 5G Support: Both support 5G connectivity for faster download, streaming, and lower latency, though the Pro model adds mmWave in some regions.
- iOS Version: Both launched with iOS 15 and are eligible for long-term iOS updates, ensuring security patches and new features for years.
- App Store Access: Both access the same App Store, meaning identical apps, games, and updates are available on either device.
- Apple Services: Both integrate seamlessly with Apple’s ecosystem services such as iCloud for storage, Apple Music for streaming, Apple Pay for contactless payments, and Apple TV+ for entertainment.
- Secure Enclave: Each device has a Secure Enclave to protect sensitive data like Face ID/Touch ID credentials, passwords, and Apple Pay transactions.
- NVMe Storage: Both use NVMe storage, which provides much faster read/write speeds compared to older storage types, improving app responsiveness and system performance.
- 12MP Wide Camera: Each has a 12MP main wide camera, ensuring high-quality still photography with advanced computational photography features.
- 4K Video Recording: Both can record 4K video at up to 60fps, enabling smooth, detailed video capture for professional-grade recording.
- Qi Wireless Charging: Both support Qi wireless charging, making them compatible with the same third-party wireless charging pads.
- 20W Fast Charging: Both support fast wired charging up to 20W, enabling about 50% charge in roughly 30 minutes with the right adapter.
- Dual SIM (nano + eSIM): Both support using one physical SIM card and one eSIM at the same time, useful for travel or separating work and personal numbers.
- Stereo Speakers: Both devices feature stereo speakers, enhancing movie watching, gaming, and music playback with spatial audio effects.
- Lightning Connector: Both still use Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector for charging and wired accessories, keeping compatibility with existing cables.
Common Features
| Feature | iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone SE |
| Chip Generation | A15 Bionic processor | A15 Bionic processor |
| CPU Architecture | 6-core CPU | 6-core CPU |
| Neural Engine | 16-core Neural Engine | 16-core Neural Engine |
| 5G Support | Supported | Supported |
| iOS Version | iOS 15 at launch, upgradable | iOS 15 at launch, upgradable |
| App Store Access | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Services | iCloud, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Pay | iCloud, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Pay |
| Secure Enclave | Integrated | Integrated |
| Storage Type | NVMe fast storage | NVMe fast storage |
| Rear Camera Main | 12MP wide camera | 12MP wide camera |
| Video Recording | 4K up to 60fps | 4K up to 60fps |
| Wireless Charging | Qi standard supported | Qi standard supported |
| Fast Charging | 20W wired | 20W wired |
| Dual SIM Capability | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Stereo Speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Lightning Connector | Present | Present |
| Price | Check iPhone 13 Pro Price | Check iPhone SE Price |
FAQ
Does the iPhone 13 Pro have a better display than the iPhone SE? Do both iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone SE use the same processor? Which iPhone has better battery life, the 13 Pro or SE? How do the cameras differ between iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone SE? Does the iPhone SE support MagSafe accessories like the iPhone 13 Pro? Which iPhone is more durable in terms of water resistance? Do both models support 5G connectivity? Which front camera is better between the iPhone 13 Pro and SE? Do both iPhones support iOS updates equally? What are the storage options for each model? Is there a weight difference between the iPhone 13 Pro and SE? Which iPhone has better audio performance? How do the build materials compare between the two phones? Can both iPhones use two SIMs? |
