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If you’re thinking of getting rid of your old phone as part of your springtime clear out then you’ll be sure to be looking for a capable replacement.

One of the latest phones to hit the UK’s shelves is the new iPhone SE 2022 edition from Apple. Read our quick Gadget Cover guide to this smart little gadget to decide whether it might be right for you.

Considering which are the most popular models is an important part of any buyer’s research. According to the latest statistics, just two manufacturers make up the top five smartphone models in the UK at the moment.

With Apple’s iPhones boasting a massive 52% market share. As of January 2022, the iPhone 13 was the most popular model in the UK, picking up 29% of sales. The only non-iPhone model in the top five is Samsung’s Galaxy A12 accounting for 7% of sales.

We don’t yet know how popular the SE 2022 will prove to be. But what we do know for sure is that whatever iPhone you buy you’ll need the right iPhone insurance to keep it covered. From accidental damage and loss to theft and breakdown, insurance arranged through Gadget Cover is definitely worth adding to your must-buy list.

Finding the right phone for you

From those looking for the latest flagship device with all the mod cons to those with simpler tastes, we all have different needs when it comes to deciding what we want out of a phone. Just like we all have different budgets to play with.

Whether you’re talking about Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Google or any other phone manufacturer, they all release a wide variety of phones offering different styles and price points, at any one time. Ultimately, it’s the best way of making sure their devices appeal to as many consumers as possible and get ahead of their rivals.

But this wealth of choice can leave buyers feeling a little overwhelmed. So that’s why we always suggest reading Gadget Cover’s ultimate guide to buying a mobile phone first so you know where to begin. Even if you’ve done this many times before, it’s still well worth a reminder.

The guide is stuffed with ideas perfect for anyone swapping their trusty old handset for the very latest tech marvel. It offers in-depth guidance on the features to look out for, the top smartphone brands, price plans, network choices, how to protect your new phone with iPhone insurance, and so much more.

US-based tech giant Apple is lauded by tech fans for doing everything that little bit differently from everyone else. As we already mentioned, its range of iPhones are always among the very best-selling smartphone models every year. But with such cutting-edge tech, high quality manufacture, and great looks their top-of-the-range models do have a notoriously high price tag.

So, if you’re looking for something a little more affordable but with the Apple seal of approval then we might just have the answer for you. The SE 2022 is the latest model from Apple aimed at the more price-conscious end of the market.

Introducing the new iPhone SE - super powers wrapped up in an iconic design

Apple picked this year’s ‘Spring Event’ to launch the third-generation iPhone SE – or the iPhone SE 2022. Following up on the 2020 second-generation edition, the latest member of the iPhone line-up was eagerly awaited. Particularly after Apple sent out colourful invites to the ‘Peek Performance’ virtual event in March.

And for all the fanfare, the March announcement certainly didn’t disappoint. While a budget-friendly phone might not always get the ‘techeratti’ excited, the prospect of a new compact iPhone with flagship power and 5G meant there was plenty of attention for the debutant. For those who love power at a great price, the SE 2022 is a tantalising prospect. Let’s take a look at what all the fuss was about.

Getting your hands on the latest iPhone SE 2022

As we’ve already mentioned, the SE 2022 was released back in March so it’s now possible to grab yourself one of these brilliant yet budget devices. It’s on sale throughout the UK as well as the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan and more than 30 other countries and regions.

The price for the handset starts at a wallet-friendly £419 and there are three storage options to choose from: 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. For the 128GB option you’ll spend £469, while for the 256GB option you’re looking at £569. While those are reasonable prices for a new Apple device, you’ll still want to get iPhone insurance to protect your investment.

For a price comparison, the iPhone 13 mini starts at £679 while the iPhone 12 mini starts at £579. Making the SE 2022 easily the cheapest 5G option for iPhone fans.

How does the new iPhone SE 2022 compare?

Apple is known for launching new products and convincing buyers that this really is the latest must-have device. But what is the latest edition of the SE line actually like? Well, the reviewers have certainly been impressed with the amount you get for the price. Cramming some impressive modern tech into its diminutive yet classic frame has certainly won the plaudits.

From the geeky guys at Tom’s Guide to trusted tech website TechRadar, this pint-sized powerhouse is heartily recommended. For those searching for a budget smartphone with flagship credentials it’s hard to beat.

Let’s take a look at its main features and how they stack up in today’s competitive marketplace.

iPhone SE 2022 tech specs – at a glance

• Display: 4.7-inch widescreen LCD Multi-Touch display. 1344 x 750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi.
• Processor: A15 Bionic chip, 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine.
• Operating system: iOS 15.
• Storage capacity: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB.
• Rear camera: 12MP Wide camera, f/1.8 aperture. 5x digital zoom.
• Video: 4K video recording up to 60 fps.
• Front camera: 7MP camera, f/2.2 aperture.
• Size: 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 inches (138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm).
• Weight 144 g.
• Colours: Midnight, Starlight, (PRODUCT)RED.
• Splash, water and dust resistance: IP67.
• Touch ID: Yes.
• 5G: Yes.

Retro design details

Retro is a term that appears in a lot of reviews looking at the design of the new SE 2022. Anyone taking the SE 2022 out of its box could be forgiven for feeling like they’ve stepped back in time to 2017 when the iPhone 8 burst onto the scene.

The 2020 edition of the SE did a great job of mimicking this earlier device, and Apple has continued this into the 2022 edition.

So, you can expect a smooth and clean look which feels light and super-comfortable in hand. Unlike the recent sharp-edges of the iPhone 13, you’ve got lovely smooth edges here.

But with bezels taking up a lot of room around the display, the look might not be for everyone. You’ve also got a home button and a single rear-facing camera to complete the retro look.

Unfortunately, lovers of yesteryear will be disappointed in one respect – there’s still no return for the 3.5mm headphone jack. While few new handsets have this port now, it’ll undoubtedly be a disappointment for some.

So, you’ll either have to buy a pair of Apple’s AirPods or another manufacturer’s Bluetooth headphones. But if you’ve got a favourite pair of wired headphones then you’ll need a lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter.

Headphones can be pretty pricey nowadays, so make sure your iPhone insurance covers accessories lost, damaged or stolen at the same time as your iPhone.

In terms of colours, the new SE 2022 is not trying anything revolutionary. The model comes in three thoughtfully-chosen shades, Midnight, Starlight and PRODUCT(RED).

Our favourite is Midnight, which appears as a deep Navy that shifts colours in sunlight to a lighter blue. For more details on these colours read this article from the design critics over at TechRadar.

And finally, it’s also water and dust resistant, with IP67 certification. Although even if your handset does suffer damage after an accidental dunking, if you have iPhone insurance from Gadget Cover then we’ll repair or replace it.

Display details

Okay, the 4.7-inch LCD display on the SE 2022 is certainly not ‘immersive’. It’s no match for its more expensive monster-sized contemporaries with their adaptive refresh rates and full HD OLED displays. And it’s pretty much impossible not to notice those large bezels when watching movies and videos on the phone.

That said, when viewed in isolation it still offers decent quality for those browsing the internet, watching videos and taking photos. Particularly when viewed indoors.

Both the front and back of the SE 2022 are made from the same super-tough glass as the iPhone 13 models so you do have decent protection against scruffs and scratches. Even minor screen cracks are covered. So, if the item cannot be repaired, we will replace it.

Camera capabilities

Camera capabilities are a big part of any modern phone buyer's wish-list when out shopping for a new phone. Often when we see an update to any phone model we’ll talk about the additions and changes to the cameras. After all, tweaking the camera hardware is a popular way for a manufacturer to show that the ‘new’ phone is worth upgrading to.

So, with the SE 2022, Apple is clearly taking a bit of a risk as it incorporates just two lenses. And they’re the same as those offered by the ‘old’ SE 2020. That means you’ll only get a single 12MP rear wide camera, no ultra-wide (unlike the iPhone 11 or Pixel 5a), and a fairly low resolution 7MP front camera. 

However, the big change (and it is a big change) is they’re now backed by the A15 Bionic chipset’s super-powerful image processing. Smart HDR 4 is also included for handling tricky lighting. While Deep Fusion provides better details and textures and Photographic Styles give you even more creative control.

But looking at the results of camera tests it looks like the risk may have paid off. With the new SE 2022 performing remarkably well. Although something noted by several reviewers is the lack of Night Mode. While the Portrait Mode is still fairly limited as you can't shoot bokeh shots of cats, food, plants, or anything else without a human face.

On the video front, the SE 2022 can shoot all the way up to 4K 60fps. And the shot footage looks good on screen. Although, as you would expect, some resolution is lost on the display. When the reviewer at Tom’s Guide compared the video with the Pixel 5a, the SE 2022 more than held its own.

We can confidently say the photo quality on this mid-range phone will rival that of many competitor's handsets. And at almost half the price, that’s a triumph for Apple’s tech knowhow.

Performance that wows

As you will no doubt have noticed, the SE 2022 packs the same lightning-fast A15 Bionic chip as the iPhone 13 range. So, you shouldn’t be surprised when we say the speed and performance of the phone blows many of its competitors out of the water. One reviewer even likened it to ‘strapping rocket motors to a bicycle’!

Just as Apple claims in its marketing blurb, the A15 makes nearly every experience better, from photo editing to power-intensive operations like gaming and augmented reality.

And don’t forget the SE 2022 also supports 5G. To have such an affordable phone with such powerful tech is impressive indeed.

Battery boost

With so much power under the hood any buyer will be left wondering whether the battery will be up to the job. After all, no one wants to be tied to a charger to feed that stellar performance.

Apple never reveals the spec for its batteries, but it claims the SE 2022’s battery offers two hours more video playback than its second-generation predecessor. Thanks to its more efficient A15 Bionic chip and other optimisations, even a heavy user will be looking at a full day’s use before reaching for the charger.

In tests by Tom’s Guide experts, the SE 2022 performed well compared to the SE 2020 and was not far off the rival Google Pixel 5a. But if you want longer endurance then you’ll really want to opt for the regular iPhone 13.

And when you do need to charge, the SE 2022 supports wireless charging and is compatible with Qi-certified chargers. Or you can connect a 20W or higher adapter to fast-charge from zero to up to 50% in 30 minutes flat.

Should you buy the iPhone SE 2022?

Still unsure whether the latest iPhone SE is the right phone for you? We know not everything is as straightforward as finding the right iPhone insurance with Gadget Cover. Here’s a couple of quick points to help you decide.

The SE 2022 could be perfect for you if…

• You’re looking for a powerful phone at a decent price
  With the A15 Bionic chip and 5G on board, this is undoubtedly one of the most powerful phones around at a great price. It’s also got a decent camera, Touch ID, and good battery life.
• You appreciate classic design
  While the SE 2022 may hark back to a couple of years ago, there’s still a lot to be said for its classic design. And because Apple is such a great manufacturer, much of the tech is still impressive and doesn’t look out of place among today’s phones. Just make sure you have the right iPhone insurance in place in case you have any slip ups.
• You want something compact and easy to use
  In these days of monster phones, the compact and lightweight SE 2022 is a welcome relief for those with smaller hands.
• You want something that will last
  As well as offering improved durability, the SE 2022 also gets iOS 15. With Apple saying the SE 2022 will get updates for years to come.

The SE 2022 might not be right for you if…

• You crave that big screen experience
  The 4.7-inch screen isn’t great in direct sunlight and is a bit too small for anyone who appreciates a more cinematic experience. And those chunky bezels are rather irritating.
• You’re a keen night photographer
  While the camera on the SE 2022 is good it is rather limited. No Night mode, no optical zoom, no ultra-wide, no Portrait Mode shots of your dog…
• You want Face ID
  The SE 2022 uses Touch ID. So, if touch-free unlocking is what you’re after then look elsewhere.

Anything else to add to your Apple shopping list?

Alongside the new SE 2022 there were a couple of other new arrivals at Apple's Spring Event worth considering. Just make sure you have gadget cover to complement your iPhone insurance policy.

• iPad Air 2022
  The latest iPad Air now comes with the M1 chip with its 8-core CPU that’s 60% faster than its A14 predecessor.
• Mac Studio and Studio Display
  An entirely new Mac desktop and display designed to give users everything they need in a personal computer. The Mac Studio is powered by the M1 Max and the new M1 Ultra, the world’s most powerful chip for a personal computer.
• If you don't feel like buying the newest handset why not consider the iPhone 13 Pro Max and check out our recent tutorial on this device.

Keep your iPhone protected with Gadget Cover

While the SE 2022 offers excellent value for money, it’s certainly not ‘cheap’ and needs to be well protected with the right insurance policy. The team here at Gadget Cover knows the pressures on everyone’s budget at the moment, so we’ll do our best to find a policy that’s right for you.

Accidental damage, liquid damage, theft and breakdown are all covered as well as loss and unauthorised usage. Choose a policy through us and cover will automatically be extended to your immediate family, too. Thinking of travelling again this year? We can also cover your beloved iPhone anywhere in the world, up to 180 days in any one year.

Get a quote for iPhone/phone insurance from Gadget Cover today.