iPhone 13 Pro • Unlocked vs iPhone SE (2022) • Locked Verizon

The iPhone 13 Pro, released in September 2021, and the iPhone SE 2022, launched in March 2022, represent distinct offerings within Apple's smartphone lineup. While both devices operate on the same core software platform, they cater to different user preferences through variations in design, display technology, and camera capabilities. The iPhone 13 Pro emphasizes advanced features and a premium experience, whereas the iPhone SE 2022 focuses on a compact form factor with robust internal performance.

The longevity of a smartphone is influenced by its build quality, software support, and ease of repair. Both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone SE 2022 benefit from Apple's commitment to extended software updates, ensuring they remain functional and secure for several years.

• Software Support: Both devices are powered by the same generation of processor, suggesting a similar duration of major iOS updates. The iPhone SE 2022, having been released later, is likely to receive software support for approximately one year longer than the iPhone 13 Pro.
• Repairability: The iPhone 13 Pro received a repairability score of 5 out of 10 from iFixit, noting that while display and battery replacements are prioritized in its design, other repairs can be challenging due to various screw types and software limitations that can affect features like Face ID with non-genuine parts. The iPhone SE 2022 generally scores slightly better, around 5.5 or 6 out of 10, with screen and battery replacements being relatively straightforward. Notably, the iPhone SE 2022 does not present screen repair warnings for non-genuine parts, a difference from the iPhone 13 series.
• Physical Durability: The iPhone 13 Pro features a Ceramic Shield front cover and a stainless steel frame, contributing to its robust feel and IP68 water resistance, allowing submersion up to 6 meters for 30 minutes. The iPhone SE 2022 also includes a Ceramic Shield front and an aluminum frame, offering IP67 water resistance, which protects against submersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

Both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone SE 2022 deliver strong performance for daily tasks and demanding applications, largely due to their shared core processing unit, though there are distinctions in their configurations and overall endurance.

• Processing Power: Both devices are equipped with the same generation of processor, enabling smooth operation across applications and efficient multitasking. The iPhone 13 Pro features a graphics processing unit with an additional core compared to the iPhone SE 2022, which can translate to a noticeable advantage in graphically intensive tasks such as high-fidelity gaming or complex video editing.
• Memory and Storage: The iPhone 13 Pro comes with 6GB of RAM, facilitating seamless transitions between numerous open applications. The iPhone SE 2022 includes 4GB of RAM, which is sufficient for typical smartphone usage and multitasking. Storage options for the iPhone 13 Pro range from 128GB up to 1TB, offering extensive space for media and applications. The iPhone SE 2022 is available with 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of internal storage.
• Battery Performance: The iPhone 13 Pro offers extended usage times, providing up to 22 hours of video playback and 75 hours of audio playback. The iPhone SE 2022 provides up to 15 hours of video playback and 50 hours of audio playback. This difference is primarily due to the iPhone 13 Pro's larger battery capacity and the efficiency of its display technology.

The visual experience on these two iPhones differs significantly, primarily due to their display technologies and physical dimensions.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The iPhone 13 Pro features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, which delivers deep blacks, high contrast, and vibrant colors. It has a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels, resulting in a sharp 460 pixels per inch. The iPhone SE 2022 utilizes a 4.7-inch Retina HD IPS LCD, offering good color accuracy and viewing angles, with a resolution of 1334 x 750 pixels at 326 pixels per inch.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: The iPhone 13 Pro's display can reach a typical brightness of 1000 nits and a peak HDR brightness of 1200 nits, making it highly visible in bright outdoor conditions and excellent for HDR content. It also features ProMotion technology, offering an adaptive refresh rate that can dynamically adjust from 10Hz to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and more responsive gaming. The iPhone SE 2022 has a typical brightness of 625 nits and a standard 60Hz refresh rate.
• Viewing Experience: The larger OLED screen of the iPhone 13 Pro provides a more immersive viewing experience for videos and games, enhanced by its higher resolution and dynamic refresh rate. The iPhone SE 2022's smaller LCD screen is well-suited for users who prefer a more compact device that is easy to operate with one hand.

The camera systems on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone SE 2022 offer distinct capabilities, catering to different levels of photographic ambition.

• Rear Camera System: The iPhone 13 Pro boasts a versatile triple 12MP camera system, including Wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto lenses, complemented by a LiDAR Scanner for enhanced depth sensing and improved low-light focusing. This setup allows for 3x optical zoom in and 2x optical zoom out, providing a 6x optical zoom range. The iPhone SE 2022 features a single 12MP Wide camera.
• Photography Features: The iPhone 13 Pro excels in various lighting conditions, offering larger sensors and wider apertures for superior light gathering, along with Night Mode support across all its lenses for impressive low-light photography. It also supports advanced features like Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, and Photographic Styles. The iPhone SE 2022 benefits from computational photography features like Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, and Photographic Styles, but it lacks a dedicated Night Mode, which can impact its performance in very dim environments.
• Video Recording: For video enthusiasts, the iPhone 13 Pro offers Cinematic Mode for cinematic depth-of-field effects, ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 frames per second, and HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 frames per second. The iPhone SE 2022 is capable of 4K video recording at up to 60 frames per second and includes cinematic video stabilization, though it does not feature the sensor-shift stabilization found in the Pro models. Both devices provide good microphone quality for recording and calls, and stereo speakers for media consumption.