One of the most unique and interesting phones released in 2020 is the iPhone 12 Mini: it is one of the smallest flagship phones of this year and it looks gorgeous, despite it is still not in commerce. But it is not the only compact phone released by Apple in 2020. Did you already forget the iPhone SE 2020 or it is still in your mind like the first day it was launched? Is it worth spending a lot more money to grab a unit of the iPhone 12 Mini once it will be available or the iPhone SE 2020 is enough for your needs? Through this comparison, we will try to let you find out.
Apple iPhone 12 Mini vs Apple iPhone SE 2020
| Apple iPhone 12 Mini | Apple iPhone SE 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| THICKNESS | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm, 135 grams | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm, 148 grams |
| DISPLAY | 5.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 476 ppi, Super Retina XDR OLED | 4.7 inches, 750 x 1334p (HD+), Retina IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Apple A14 Bionic, hexa-core | Apple A13 Bionic, hexa-core 2.65 GHz |
| MEMORY | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB | 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – 3 GB RAM, 128 GB – 3 GB RAM, 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | iOS 14 | iOS 13 |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS |
| CAMERA | Dual 12 + 12 MP f/1.6 + f/2.4 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 front camera |
Single 12 MP, f/1.8 7 MP f/2.2 selfie camera |
| BATTERY | 2227 mAh Fast charging 20W, fast wireless charging 15W |
1821 mAh, Fast Charging 18W, and wireless charging |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | 5G, waterproof IP68, optional eSIM | Optional eSIM, water resistant IP67 |
Design
The iPhone SE 2020 has a very outdated design. It has the same aesthetics as the iPhone 8, with very thick bezels around the display and still Touch ID instead of Face ID. Even the rear side is almost identical. This handset has a very good build quality, including a glass back, an aluminum frame, and water resistance with the IP67 certification, but it has a very old design. The iPhone 12 Mini is a lot fresher with its narrow bezels around the display and its notch. Further, despite having a wider display than the iPhone SE 2020, it is even more compact. Last but not least, it is a lighter phone weighing just 135 grams. If you need the best and most compact design, there are no reasons why you should go for the iPhone SE 2020.
Display
Besides being more beautiful, the iPhone 12 Mini has a better display than the iPhone SE 2020. We are talking about an OLED panel with more brilliant colors, higher resolution (Full HD+), and deeper blacks, against a classic IPS panel with a lower resolution. Both are great displays, but there is no way the iPhone SE 2020 can compete with the iPhone 12 Mini. However, if you do not need an awesome quality and you are an average user, the iPhone SE 2020 should be enough for you.
Specs & Software
Both the iPhone SE 2020 and the iPhone 12 Mini provide high-end performance: they are incredibly fast and stable thanks to their powerful chipsets and the great optimization of the iOS operating system. With the Apple A14 Bionic processor found on the iPhone 12 Mini, you get higher performance and lower energy consumption. Further, the iPhone 12 Mini offers one more gig of RAM. The memory configurations are the same for each device and they range from 64 GB to 256 GB. iPhone SE 2020 runs iOS 13 out of the box, while iPhone 12 Mini runs iOS 14.
Camera
With the iPhone 12 Mini, you get one more camera on the rear side and a brighter focal aperture, so better photos in low light conditions and ultrawide shots. The iPhone SE 2020 has just a single camera on the rear side. Both support OIS and click great shots. The iPhone 12 Mini also comes with a superior front camera: a 12 MP sensor against the 7 MP one found on the iPhone 12 Mini. Further, the iPhone 12 Mini has an additional sensor for 3D facial recognition.
Battery
Despite its bigger dimensions, the iPhone SE has a smaller battery than the iPhone 12 Mini. Besides having a bigger battery, the iPhone 12 Mini has a more efficient display (thanks to the OLED technology) and a more efficient chipset (thanks to the 5 nm production process), so it lasts more than iPhone SE 2020 on a single charge. The iPhone 12 Mini even supports faster charging technologies (both wired and wireless charging).
Price
If we compare it with the iPhone 12 Mini, the only advantage of the iPhone SE 2020 is the price. The handset starts from just €499/$399, making it the most affordable and value for money phone released by Apple. For the iPhone 12 Mini, you need at least €839/$699: the price is more than 50 percent higher if you choose the latest compact phone by Apple. The iPhone 12 Mini offers a better design, a better display, higher performance, better cameras, and even a bigger battery. But for average users, the price difference might not be justified. The differences between the two phones are definitely noticeable by everyone, but a lot of average users should not need the advantages offered by the iPhone 12 Mini. Despite that, the iPhone 12 Mini wins the comparison without any doubt.
Apple iPhone 12 Mini vs Apple iPhone SE 2020: PRO and CONS
Apple iPhone 12 Mini
PRO
- Better hardware
- Superior cameras
- Beautiful design
- Bigger battery
- Better display
- More compact
CONS
- Price
Apple iPhone SE 2020
PRO
- More affordable
- Touch ID
- Smallest display of 2020
CONS
- Outdated design