Making phone calls, sending messages, surfing the internet - for most people, everyday life is hardly conceivable without a smartphone. It is therefore all the more important to be able to rely on the devices. The Stiftung Warentest smartphone test answers the question of which model is the test winner and which ones lack stability or basic functions...
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
256 GB, Midnight, 4.70", SIM + eSIM, 12 Mpx, 5GStorage capacity
Product details
You'll love it. From the power to the price. Lightning-fast A15 Bionic chip. Great battery life and a super strong camera. Plus, the toughest glass in a smartphone and a home button with secure Touch ID.
• 4.7" Retina HD display (11.94 cm diagonal)
• Advanced single-camera system with 12 MP wide-angle camera, Smart HDR 4, photographic styles, portrait mode, and 4K video up to 60 fps
• 7 MP FaceTime HD camera with Smart HDR 4, photographic styles, portrait mode, and 1080p video recording
• A15 Bionic chip for super-fast performance
• Up to 15 hours of video playback
• 5G capable
• Robust design and IP67 water resistance
• Home button with Touch ID for secure authentication
• iOS 15 is packed with new features, allowing you to do more with the iPhone than ever before.
Memory | 4 GB |
Storage capacity | 256 GB |
Display size (inches) | 4.70" |
Image resolution | 1334 x 750 pixels |
Operating system | iOS |
Capacity | 2018 mAh |
Number of cameras | Single Camera |
Item number | 19817067 |
Manufacturer | Apple |
Category | Smartphones |
Manufacturer no. | MMXM3ZD/A |
Release date | 18.3.2022 |
Sales rank in Category Smartphones | 470 of 2098 |
Colour | Black |
Exact colour description | Midnight |
Case material | Metal |
Material | Aluminium |
Model range | iPhone SE |
Mobile features | Fingerprint |
SAR value | 0.98 W/kg |
Operating system | iOS |
Operating System Version | iOS 15 |
Display size (inches) | 4.70" |
Screen technology | Retina |
Panel technology | IPS |
Image resolution | 1334 x 750 pixels |
Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
Pixel density | 326 ppi |
Display size (inches) | 4.69" |
Pixel density | 326 dpi |
Mobile phone standard | 5G |
5G Mode | SA (Standalone) |
Connectivity | Bluetooth, NFC, WLAN |
Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6 / 802.11ax |
Bluetooth version | 5.0 |
Audio features | AAC |
Number of cameras | Single Camera |
Camera resolution | 12 Mpx |
F number main camera | 1.80 f |
Camera feature | HDR, Night mode, Portrait mode, Wide-angle |
Image stabilisation | Optical (OIS) |
Zoom | Digital Zoom |
DXOMARK Camera Score | 100 |
Front camera resolution | 7 Mpx |
F number front camera | 2.20 f |
Max. Video resolution | 3840 x 2160 Pixels |
Max. video resolution standard | 4K |
Images per sec. at max. Resolution | 60p |
USB connector type | Lightning |
Mobile processor | Apple A15 Bionic |
Number of processor cores | 6 -Core |
Clock frequency | 3 GHz |
Memory | 4 GB |
Storage capacity | 256 GB |
SIM card type | eSIM, Nano SIM |
SIM type | SIM + eSIM |
SIM slot | Nano SIM |
Sensors | Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer, Proximity sensor |
Localisation technology | Compass, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, QZSS |
Navigation software | Apple Maps |
Battery type | Li-ion |
Capacity | 2018 mAh |
Charging technology | Fast Charge, Qi Wireless Charging |
Protection type (IP code) | IP67 |
Smart home ecosystem | Apple Siri |
Communication standard | Apple HomeKit |
Manufacturer commitment | RE100, SBTi |
Manufacturer compensation | According to RE100, the manufacturer Apple fully compensates for its energy consumption, leading to a reduction in emissions. |
CO₂-Emission | |
Climate contribution |
Scope of delivery | Documentation, Smartphone, USB-C to Lightning cable |
The reparability index | 6.5 |
Height | 7.30 mm |
Width | 67.30 mm |
Length | 138.40 mm |
Weight | 144 g |
Length | 15.70 cm |
Width | 8.80 cm |
Height | 3 cm |
Weight | 282 g |
Product Safety |
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Reviews & Ratings
Statutory warranty score
How often does a product of this brand in the «Smartphones» category have a defect within the first 24 months?
Source: Galaxus- 1.Apple0,6 %
- 1.Zebra0,6 %
- 3.Samsung0,8 %
- 4.HMD1,3 %
- 4.Motorola1,3 %
Statutory warranty case duration
How many working days on average does it take to process a warranty claim from when it arrives at the service centre until it’s back with the customer?
Source: Galaxus- 7.Nothing3 days
- 7.Samsung3 days
- 13.Apple4 days
- 13.Xiaomi4 days
- 15.OnePlus5 days
Return rate
How often is a product of this brand in the «Smartphones» category returned?
Source: Galaxus- 1.Samsung2 %
- 2.Doro2,1 %
- 3.Apple2,4 %
- 3.HMD2,4 %
- 5.Crosscall2,5 %

- Top performance at a lower price, 5G, good camera
- No night mode
The sensible iPhone. There are trade-offs in display technology, size and camera, but in terms of performance and connectivity, the SE is on a par with the iPhone 13.
- outstanding performance
- strong sound
- current iOS operating system
- Good camera overall
- antiquated design
- Obsolete display technology
In its current edition, the iPhone SE is losing its status as the clear price tip among iPhones. On the one hand, Apple has raised the price of the SE, on the other hand, the 12 mini, which has been available for one and a half years but is better equipped, is hardly more expensive...
- Excellent performance
- Long battery life
- Low entry price for an iPhone
- Low display resolution
- Very long charging time for a small battery
- Not good photo quality in low light
The iPhone SE is a successful upgrade for trend-avoiders who love the classic design of the iPhone 8 with home button: The processor is blazingly fast, making the SE future-proof together with 5G. The tiny screen is weak, but the camera and battery offer decent performance. But if you're looking for an affordable and handy iPhone, you should go for the 12 mini with OLED and a better camera.