Skip to content
InnoReviews

iPhone 12 mini vs iPhone SE (3rd gen)

iPhone 12 mini
41Inno Score
VS
iPhone SE (3rd gen)
41Inno Score
46.2Performance53
33.6Display21.3
33.5Camera31.9
23.7Battery27.7
89.3Features89.3
7 spec wins — iPhone 12 mini6 spec wins — iPhone SE (3rd gen)

InnoReviews verdict

This one is close to a dead heat: iPhone 12 mini scores 41 against 41 for iPhone SE (3rd gen). Pick by the categories that matter to you — iPhone 12 mini edges ahead in display and camera, or by price.

Which would you pick?

Key differences

Reasons to pick the iPhone 12 mini

  • Stronger display score: 34 vs 21
  • 92% higher Peak brightness: 1,200 nits vs 625 nits
  • 71% higher Front camera: 12 MP vs 7 MP
  • 60% higher Wireless charging: 12 W vs 8 W
  • 46% higher Pixel density: 476 ppi vs 326 ppi

Reasons to pick the iPhone SE (3rd gen)

  • Stronger performance score: 53 vs 46
  • Stronger battery score: 28 vs 24
  • 17% higher AnTuTu 11 (CPU): 363,916 vs 312,054
  • 11% higher AnTuTu 11 (GPU): 339,510 vs 305,179
  • 10% higher AnTuTu: 1,283,597 vs 1,171,808
  • Lower launch price: $429 vs $699

Display

Display comparison: iPhone 12 mini versus iPhone SE (3rd gen)
SpeciPhone 12 miniiPhone SE (3rd gen)
Screen size5.4 ″+15%4.7 ″
Panel typeOLEDRetina IPS LCD
Resolution2340x1080750x1334
Pixel density476 ppi+46%326 ppi
Refresh rate60 Hz60 Hz
Peak brightness1,200 nits+92%625 nits
Screen-to-body—65.4 %

Performance

Performance comparison: iPhone 12 mini versus iPhone SE (3rd gen)
SpeciPhone 12 miniiPhone SE (3rd gen)
ChipsetApple A14 BionicApple A15 Bionic
AnTuTu 111,171,808Bottom 30%1,283,597+10%Bottom 35%
AnTuTu 11 (CPU)312,054Bottom 19%363,916+17%Bottom 28%
AnTuTu 11 (GPU)305,179Bottom 31%339,510+11%Bottom 34%
AnTuTu 11 (Memory)154,008Bottom 15%166,374+8%Bottom 24%
AnTuTu 11 (UX)400,567Bottom 37%413,797+3%Bottom 41%
Geekbench 6 (single)2,080Top 32%—
Geekbench 6 (multi)4,900Top 40%—
RAM (max)4 GB4 GB
Storage options64GB / 128GB / 256GB64/128/256GB
Storage typeNVMeNVMe

Camera

Camera comparison: iPhone 12 mini versus iPhone SE (3rd gen)
SpeciPhone 12 miniiPhone SE (3rd gen)
Main camera12 MP12 MP
Main aperturef/1.6f/1.8
Ultra-wide12 MP—
Optical zoom—1 x
Max video4K@60fps4K@60fps
Front camera12 MP+71%7 MP
OISYesYes

Battery

Battery comparison: iPhone 12 mini versus iPhone SE (3rd gen)
SpeciPhone 12 miniiPhone SE (3rd gen)
Capacity2,227 mAh+10%2,018 mAh
Wired charging20 W20 W
Wireless charging12 W+60%8 W
Active use endurance—7 h

Design

Design comparison: iPhone 12 mini versus iPhone SE (3rd gen)
SpeciPhone 12 miniiPhone SE (3rd gen)
Weight135 g+6%144 g
Thickness7.4 mm7.3 mm+1%
IP ratingIP68IP67
Frame materialAluminumAluminum

Connectivity

Connectivity comparison: iPhone 12 mini versus iPhone SE (3rd gen)
SpeciPhone 12 miniiPhone SE (3rd gen)
5GYesYes
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.05.0
NFCYesYes
USBLightningLightning
eSIMYesYes

Software

Software comparison: iPhone 12 mini versus iPhone SE (3rd gen)
SpeciPhone 12 miniiPhone SE (3rd gen)
OS at launchiOS 14iOS 15
OS update pledge6 years6 years

Audio

Audio comparison: iPhone 12 mini versus iPhone SE (3rd gen)
SpeciPhone 12 miniiPhone SE (3rd gen)
Stereo speakersYesYes
3.5mm jackNoNo

Related comparisons

iPhone 12 minivs realme NARZO 70x 5GVSiPhone 12 minivs Sony Xperia 10 VIVSiPhone 12 minivs HONOR 200 SmartVSiPhone 12 minivs OPPO K14 5GVSiPhone SE (3rd gen)vs realme NARZO 70x 5GVSiPhone SE (3rd gen)vs Sony Xperia 10 VIVSiPhone SE (3rd gen)vs HONOR 200 SmartVSiPhone SE (3rd gen)vs OPPO K14 5GVS

Try another matchup