iPhone SE Vs. iPhone 13 Mini: Apple’s 2 Smallest Phones, Compared
Since March 2022, there have been two iPhone options for small phone fans: the iPhone 13 mini and the iPhone SE 2. Now, in April 2023 there are… still two options: the iPhone 13 mini and the iPhone SE 2.
If you really want a small iPhone, they’re both viable choices despite being outclassed by the latest generation. Apple is still selling both, and they will both run the latest version of iOS. But each comes with pros and cons.
At first blush, in comparing the two, the iPhone 13 mini seems hands-down like the better option; it has a bigger screen, higher-end camera systems front and rear, and packs more advanced features…but it’s also more expensive. The newest iPhone SE starts at $429, while the iPhone 13 mini starts at $599. So, what are the tradeoffs?
These two iPhones are actually a lot more alike than they are different. They have the same exact A15 Bionic processor, run the same operating system and pack features like support for 5G, meaning they’re essentially future-proof for at least the next five years. They also are relatively the same size (at least their bodies are, not their displays), so they feel very similar in your hand and pocket.
As somebody who has used both phones extensively, I can tell you it comes down to whether you’re willing to pay a premium for the best features and how much you like the familiar form factor and features of an older iPhone. There are some definite advantages to spending the extra $150 on the iPhone 13 mini. And, arguably, some reasons to even want the cheaper iPhone SE more.
Here are the biggest things that iPhone SE sacrifices compared to the iPhone 13 mini.
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Do you want Face ID or a Home button with Touch ID?
Tucker Bowe
The new iPhone SE is more or less the same size as the iPhone 13 mini, but it has a much smaller screen. While the iPhone 13 mini has a 5.4-inch display that takes up the entire front of the phone — it’s an edge-to-edge screen — the iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch display with some pretty large bezels at its top and bottom.
The bigger issue than screen size, for me, is the fact that the smaller iPhone SE needs its bezels to provide space for a dedicated Home button with Touch ID, while the iPhone 13 mini packs an advanced TrueDepth camera system in its notch for facial recognition. And this has a big impact on how you interact with each smartphone every time you use it as, in my experience, Face ID is way faster and easier (and according to Apple, more secure) than Touch ID.
The iPhone SE lacks MagSafe compatibility.
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I think maybe the biggest difference between the two is that the iPhone SE doesn’t support MagSafe, which is something that I’ve grown to really love. All the latest iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models have a special circular magnet built into the back of them that gives them two big benefits: it lets them wireless charge twice as fast (up to 15 watts when using a MagSafe charger) and it allows them to magnetically connect to an ecosystem of MagSafe accessories (like wallets, portable charges and cases).
It should be noted that the new iPhone SE does support wireless charging, but since it doesn’t MagSafe, it can’t charge as fast and — when connected to a MagSafe wireless charger, it doesn’t display the green circle (seen in the above photo) and make the chime to let you know it’s charging, which are both oddly satisfying.
The iPhone SE’s camera is good, not great.
Tucker Bowe
The new iPhone SE doesn’t have a bad camera — at all. And its A15 Bionic processor enables it to have some of the machine learning and camera capabilities of the iPhone 13 line, such as support for Smart HDR 4 and Deep Fusion, which helps it string multiple exposure shots together to deliver the best possible looking photo. But it’s just not as good as the camera on the iPhone 13 mini.
The iPhone SE has a single-lens rear camera system consisting of a single 12-megapixel wide lens, while the iPhone 13 mini has a dual-lens rear camera system consisting of a slightly better 12-megapixel wide lens and 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens. While both smartphones can shoot Portrait Mode photos and capture beautiful 4K video at up to 60 fps, the extra ultra-wide lens on the iPhone 13 mini just gives you more options on photos that you’ll actually use. And it supports Cinematic mode on videos — which are awesome — while the iPhone SE can’t capture those.
The price difference isn’t as big as it used to be.
Since the release of the iPhone 14, Apple has actually lowered the price of the iPhone 13 mini by $100. It previously started at $699, but now starts at $599. Apple did not reduce the price of the third-generation iPhone SE, which still starts at $429.
This means that the price difference between the two smallest iPhones has been cut in half — it’s only $150. And that’s even more of an incentive to go with the iPhone 13 mini.
Should you wait for a newer iPhone mini or iPhone SE?
Both the iPhone 13 mini (released: September 2021) and the most recent iPhone SE (released: March 2022) are technically older iPhones — at least compared to the current crop of iPhone 14s — so you might be thinking about waiting to upgrade to their next-gen models. Honestly, you probably shouldn’t.
The reason is that Apple isn’t likely to announce another “mini” iPhone anytime soon; there isn’t an iPhone 14 mini and there isn’t expected to be an iPhone 15 mini, either. As for the upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE, Apple isn’t expected to release that until 2024 (and it isn’t supposed to have a Home button), so you’re going to have wait quite a bit for those new models.
Should you buy an older iPhone in general?
The iPhone 13 lineup.
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There is always a risk-reward when buying an older iPhone. You’re going to get a better deal, but an older iPhone is likely going to be slower with worse battery life and it’s not going to have the latest display and camera technologies. The biggest concern, however, is if you buy too old an iPhone it’s going to become obsolete quicker.
Apple typically supports older iPhones with the latest software updates until they are approximately seven years old. For example, the 2016-released iPhone 7/7 Plus doesn’t support iOS 16 — all newest iPhones support it. You can still use an older iPhone that doesn’t support the latest iOS, but it won’t have the latest security patches and some apps might not be supported.
iPhone SE vs. iPhone 13 mini: the Verdict
The iPhone 13 mini is superior to the iPhone SE in pretty much every way, including ways other than the “big” ones that I’ve highlighted above. For example, it has a brighter and better display, it comes with more base storage, and comes with Apple’s U1 chip (which allows it to do things like more seamlessly hand-off music to a HomePod mini speaker). But again, the iPhone 13 mini is also almost twice as expensive.
Even though they’re roughly the same size — which is important in this age of huge smartphones — the new iPhone SE isn’t really meant to compete with the iPhone 13 mini. It’s an iPhone designed for people who haven’t upgraded to a new iPhone in years —and for those people, it’s going to seem like a huge leap forward — or for people buying their first iPhone. And if you’re somebody who fits one of those descriptions, then you probably don’t need to spend the nearly $150 extra on an iPhone 13 mini.
Apple
iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
SHOP NOW
- Small size is very pocket friendly
- Has a Home button
- $150 cheaper than the iPhone 13 mini
- Doesn’t support MagSafe
- No Face ID
- Smaller, worse display
Apple
iPhone 13 mini
SHOP NOW
- Small size is very pocket friendly
- Supports MagSafe and Face ID
- Bigger, brighter display than the iPhone SE
- Higher-end camera system
- $150 more expensive than iPhone SE
- No Home button
