Apple iPhone 12 mini vs Apple iPhone SE (2nd generation)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

iPhone 12 mini compared with iPhone SE (2nd generation)
AppleiPhone 12 miniAppleiPhone SE (2nd generation)
Overview
ReleasedNovember 2020April 2020
Display
Screen size5.4″4.7″
Resolution2340 × 1080 (better)1334 × 750
Sharpness477 pixels per inch (better)326 pixels per inch
PanelOLEDLCD
Refresh rate60 Hz60 Hz
Peak brightness1,200 nits (better)625 nits
Display typeSuper Retina XDR all-screen OLED display with a notch for the TrueDepth camera; 5.42 inches measured as a standard rectangleRetina HD display; 4.7-inch (diagonal) widescreen LCD Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
Pixel density476 ppi326 ppi
Brightness detail625 nits max (typical); 1,200 nits max (HDR)625 nits max brightness (typical)
Always-on displayNo–
Screen protectionCeramic Shield front; fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coatingFingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Display featuresHDR; True Tone; Wide colour (P3); Haptic Touch; 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical)True Tone; wide colour display (P3); Haptic Touch; 1400:1 contrast ratio (typical); Display Zoom; Reachability
Performance
ChipA14 BionicA13 Bionic
Memory4 GB (better)3 GB
Storage64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB
CPU6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores; 4 GB of Micron LPDDR4 RAM (iFixit)6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores; 3 GB of RAM (GSMArena)
GPU4-core GPU4-core GPU
AI engine16-core Neural Engine8-core Neural Engine
Cameras
Main camera12 MP12 MP
Ultra wide camera12 MPNone
Telephoto cameraNoneNone
Optical zoomNoneNone
Front camera12 MP (better)7 MP
Main camera12MP Main, ƒ/1.6 aperture, optical image stabilisation, seven-element lens, 100% Focus Pixels12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilisation, six-element lens, LED True Tone flash with Slow Sync, sapphire crystal lens cover
Ultra wide camera12MP Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.4 aperture, 120° field of view, five-element lens–
Front camera12MP TrueDepth camera, ƒ/2.2 aperture7MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash
Zoom2x optical zoom out; digital zoom up to 5x (photos) and 3x (video)Digital zoom up to 5x (photos) and 3x (video)
Video recordingHDR video with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 30 fps; 4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; HEVC and H.2644K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; 720p at 30 fps; extended dynamic range up to 30 fps; optical image stabilisation for video; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; QuickTake; stereo recording
Front videoHDR video with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 30 fps; 4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 fps1080p HD at 25 or 30 fps
Camera featuresNight mode; Deep Fusion; Smart HDR 3; Portrait mode with Depth Control; Portrait Lighting with six effects; True Tone flash with slow sync; sapphire crystal lens coverNext-generation Smart HDR; Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control and six Portrait Lighting effects on both cameras; Live Photos; panorama (up to 63MP)
Battery and charging
Battery2,227 mAh (better)1,821 mAh
Video playback (maker's claim)Up to 15 hoursUp to 13 hours
Wireless chargingUp to 15 WYes (wattage not published)
Battery life detailUp to 10 hours streamed video playback; up to 50 hours audio playback; 2,227 mAh (GSMArena); 8.57 Wh (iFixit)Video playback up to 13 hours (8 hours streamed); audio playback up to 40 hours; 6.96 Wh (iFixit); 1,821 mAh (GSMArena)
Wired chargingUp to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)Up to 50% in 30 minutes with an 18W adapter or higher (sold separately)
Wireless chargingMagSafe up to 15W on the tech specs page, though Apple's MagSafe Charger guide gives up to 12W for iPhone 12 mini with a 9V/2.03A adapter; Qi up to 7.5WWorks with Qi chargers
Connectivity
Satellite messagingNo–
Mobile network5G with 4x4 MIMO (mmWave on US models); Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO and LAAGigabit-class LTE with 2x2 MIMO and LAA; VoLTE; Wi-Fi calling
SIMDual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMOWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO
BluetoothBluetooth 5.0Bluetooth 5.0
Ultra WidebandUltra Wideband chip for spatial awareness–
NFCNFC with reader mode; Express Cards with Power ReserveNFC with reader mode; Express Cards with power reserve
USBLightning connector; video out up to 1080p through the Lightning Digital AV Adapter (sold separately)Lightning connector; video mirroring and video out up to 1080p through the Lightning Digital AV Adapter and Lightning to VGA Adapter (sold separately)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou; digital compass; iBeacon micro-locationBuilt-in GPS/GNSS; digital compass; Wi-Fi; cellular; iBeacon microlocation
Design
TypeStandardStandard
Weight135 g (better)148 g
Thickness7.4 mm7.3 mm (better)
Height × width131.5 × 64.2 mm138.4 × 67.3 mm
Water and dust resistanceIP68IP67
MaterialsCeramic Shield front, glass back and aluminium designAerospace-grade aluminium and glass with an all-black front
ColoursBlack, White, (PRODUCT)RED, Green, Blue, PurpleBlack, White, (PRODUCT)RED
ButtonsRing/Silent switch; side button; volume up/downHome/Touch ID sensor; volume up/down; ring/silent; side button
Water resistance detailIP68 (maximum depth of 6 metres up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529IP67 (maximum depth of 1 metre up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529
BiometricsFace IDTouch ID fingerprint sensor built into the Home button
SensorsBarometer; three-axis gyro; accelerometer; proximity sensor; ambient light sensorTouch ID fingerprint sensor; barometer; three-axis gyro; accelerometer; proximity sensor; ambient light sensor
Speakers–Stereo playback
MicrophonesStereo recording–
Software
Operating systemiOSiOS
Software at launchiOS 14iOS 13
AI featuresApple Intelligence not supported–

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