Pavel Jelic Last week, after a few more weeks of waiting, we finally saw the introduction of the new iPhone 12. To be precise, Apple introduced four new Apple phones - iPhone 12 mini, 12, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. The smallest iPhone 12 mini is of course the cheapest and is designed for users looking for a compact phone. Nowadays, there are still users who do not want to carry so-called "shovels" in their pockets - they are mostly older generations. From the range of smaller phones, Apple still offers the second-generation iPhone SE, which is about half a year old. Let's take a look at the comparison of these two models together in this article so that you know which one to choose.
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Amaya Toman Processor, memory, technology
As is usual with our comparisons, we will first focus on the hardware of both compared models. If you decide to buy an iPhone 12 mini, you can look forward to the currently most powerful A14 Bionic processor, which, among other things, beats in, for example, the iPad Air 4th generation, or in flagships with the designation 12 Pro (Max). This processor offers a total of six computing cores, while the graphics accelerator has four cores. As for the Neural Engine cores, sixteen of them are available. The maximum clock speed of this processor is 3.1 GHz. As for the older iPhone SE 2nd generation (below only as iPhone SE), users can look forward to a year older A13 Bionic processor, which, among other things, beats in all "2.65" iPhones. This processor has six computing cores, eight Neural Engine cores, and the graphics accelerator offers four cores. The maximum clock frequency of this processor is XNUMX GHz.
iPhone 12 and 12 mini:
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As for RAM memory, you can look forward to a total of 12 GB in the iPhone 4 mini, while the older iPhone SE has 3 GB of RAM. iPhone 12 mini offers Face ID biometric protection, which is based on advanced facial scanning. The iPhone SE is then from the old school – it is the only model currently offered to have Touch ID biometric protection, which is based on fingerprint scanning. In the case of Face ID, the apple company reports an error rate of one individual in a million, while in the case of Touch ID, the error rate is stated to be one in fifty thousand individuals. Neither device has an expansion slot for an SD card, on the side of both devices you will find a drawer for a nanoSIM. Both devices then support Dual SIM (i.e. 1x nanoSIM and 1x eSIM). Compared to the SE, the iPhone 12 mini supports connection to the 5G network, which is not a decisive factor in the Czech Republic for the time being. The iPhone SE can then of course connect to 4G/LTE.
Batteries and charging
Even though the iPhone 12 mini was introduced a few days ago, we cannot say with accuracy how big a battery it has. At the same time, unfortunately, we cannot derive the size of the battery in any way as with other models, since the 12 mini is the first of its kind. In the case of the iPhone SE, we know that it has a battery of 1821 mAh. When comparing, it can be seen that the iPhone 12 mini will probably be a little better with the battery. Specifically, for the newer 12 mini, Apple claims a battery life of up to 15 hours for video playback, up to 10 hours for streaming, and up to 50 hours for audio playback. According to these figures, the iPhone SE is noticeably worse - the battery life on a single charge is up to 13 hours for video playback, 8 hours for streaming and up to 40 hours for audio playback. You can charge both devices with up to a 20W charging adapter. If you use it, the battery can be charged from 0% to 50% in just 30 minutes, which is definitely useful in many situations. As for wireless charging, both devices offer classic Qi wireless charging at 7,5 W, the iPhone 12 mini also offers MagSafe wireless charging at 15 W. Neither iPhone compared is capable of reverse charging. At the same time, it must be noted that if you decide to order one of these apple phones directly on the Apple.cz website, you will not get a charging adapter or EarPods - you will only get a cable.
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Design and display
If we look at the construction of the iPhones themselves, we find that their chassis is made of aircraft-grade aluminum. In terms of construction, the difference between these two models is the glass, which is located on the front and back. While the iPhone SE offers "ordinary" tempered Gorilla Glass on both sides, the iPhone 12 mini now offers Ceramic Shield glass on its front. This glass was created in cooperation with the company Corning, which is also responsible for Gorilla Glass. Ceramic Shield glass works with ceramic crystals that are applied at high temperatures. Thanks to this, the glass is up to 4 times more durable compared to classic Gorilla Glass tempered glasses - for now it is not certain whether this is just marketing or whether there is really something more behind it. As for resistance under water, the iPhone 12 mini can last up to 30 minutes at a depth of 6 meters, while the iPhone SE can last up to 30 minutes at a depth of only 1 meter. But in no case will Apple advertise a water-damaged device to you.
iPhone SE (2020):
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If we look at the display, we will find that this is where the huge differences come into play. The iPhone 12 mini offers an OLED panel labeled Super Retina XDR, while the iPhone SE offers a classic, and nowadays quite outdated, LCD display labeled Retina HD. The display of the iPhone 12 mini is large 5.4″, can work with HDR and offers a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels at 476 PPI. The iPhone SE display is large 4.7″, cannot work with HDR and has a resolution of 1334 x 750 pixels at 326 PPI. The contrast ratio of the iPhone 12 mini display is 2:000, the iPhone SE has a contrast ratio of 000:1. The maximum typical brightness of both devices is 1 nits, in HDR mode the iPhone 400 mini can then produce a brightness of up to 1 nits. Both displays also offer True Tone, a wide P625 color range and Haptic Touch. iPhone 12 mini has dimensions of 1200 mm × 3 mm × 12 mm, iPhone SE then 131,5 mm × 64.2 mm × 7,4 mm. The iPhone 138,4 mini weighs 67,3 grams, while the iPhone SE weighs 7,3 grams.
Camera
The differences are more than noticeable in the camera of both compared apple phones. The iPhone 12 mini offers a double 12 Mpix photo system with an ultra-wide-angle and a wide-angle lens. The aperture of the ultra-wide-angle lens is f/2.4, while the wide-angle lens has an aperture of f/1.6. In contrast, the iPhone SE only has a single 12 Mpix wide-angle lens with an aperture of f/1.8. The iPhone 12 mini then offers Night Mode and Deep Fusion, while the iPhone SE offers none of these functions. iPhone 12 mini offers 2x optical zoom and up to 5x digital zoom, iPhone SE only offers 5x digital zoom. Both devices have optical image stabilization and True Tone flash – the one on the iPhone 12 mini should be a bit brighter. Both devices also have a portrait mode with improved bokeh and depth of field control. The iPhone 12 mini offers Smart HDR 3 for photos and the iPhone SE "only" Smart HDR.
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Benjamin Levicek The iPhone 12 mini can record HDR video in Dolby Vision at 30 FPS, or 4K video at up to 60 FPS. The iPhone SE does not offer Dolby Vision HDR mode and can record up to 4K at 60 FPS. The iPhone 12 mini then offers an extended dynamic range for video at up to 60 FPS, the iPhone SE at 30 FPS. The iPhone 12 mini offers 2x optical zoom, while both devices offer up to 3x digital zoom when shooting video. The iPhone 12 has the upper hand in sound zoom and time-lapse in night mode, both devices then support QuickTake, slow-motion video in 1080p resolution up to 240 FPS, time-lapse with stabilization and stereo recording. As for the front camera, the iPhone 12 mini offers a 12 Mpix TrueDepth front camera, while the iPhone SE has a classic 7 Mpix FaceTime HD camera. The aperture on both of these cameras is f/2.2 and both offer Retina Flash. The front camera on the iPhone 12 mini is capable of Smart HDR 3 for photos, while on the iPhone SE "only" Auto HDR. Both front cameras have a portrait mode. In addition, the iPhone 12 mini offers an extended dynamic range for video at 30 FPS and cinematic video stabilization in up to 4K (iPhone SE in 1080p). As for video recording, the front camera of the iPhone 12 mini can record HDR Dolby Vision video at up to 30 FPS or 4K at 60 FPS, while the iPhone SE offers a maximum of 1080p at 30 FPS. Both front cameras are capable of QuickTake, the iPhone 12 mini is also capable of slow-motion video in 1080p at 120 FPS, Night mode, Deep Fusion and Animoji with Memoji.
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Colors and storage
With the iPhone 12 mini, you can choose from a total of five different colors – specifically, it is available in blue, green, red PRODUCT(RED), white and black. You can then buy the iPhone SE in white, black and (PRODUCT)RED red. Both iPhones are available in three sizes – 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. In the case of the iPhone 12 mini, the prices are CZK 21, CZK 990 and CZK 23, while the iPhone SE will cost you CZK 490, CZK 26 and CZK 490. You will be able to pre-order the iPhone 12 mini as early as November 990, while the iPhone SE has of course been available for several months.
- Newly introduced Apple products will be available for purchase at, for example Alge, Mobile Emergency or u iStores
| iPhone 12mini | iPhone SE (2020) | |
| Processor type and cores | Apple A14 Bionic, 6 cores | Apple A13 Bionic, 6 cores |
| Maximum clock speed of the processor | 3,1 GHz | 2.65 GHz |
| 5G | year | ne |
| RAM | 4 GB | 3 GB |
| Maximum performance for wireless charging | 15 W - MagSafe, Qi 7,5 W | Qi 7,5W |
| Tempered glass - front | ceramic shield | Gorilla Glass |
| Display technology | OLED, Super Retina XDR | Retina HD |
| Display resolution and finesse | 2340 x 1080 pixels, 476 PPI |
1334 x 750, 326 PPI |
| Number and type of lenses | 2; wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle | 1; wide angle |
| Lens resolution | All 12 Mpix | 12MP |
| Maximum video quality | HDR Dolby Vision 30 FPS | 4K 60 FPS |
| Front camera | 12 MPx | 7 MPx |
| Internal storage | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Color | white, black, red (PRODUCT)RED, blue, green | white, black, red (PRODUCT)RED |
Hello, I will now switch from SE to 12 mini and the biggest problem, rather a habit, seems to be the absence of the home button. Do you know of any article or instructions on how to replace the home button? For example, I often use a triple click on "Reduce white point". Thanks.
Don't want to spoil the beautiful look with something that doesn't belong :) there are still buttons on the phone, and the manufacturer thought of that. Everything that was used with the home button has an alternative for phones with faceID - for example, you can set this to the side button in the access to shortcuts :-)