By Akriti Rana and Nimish Dubey
It is the iPhone that is different. It is released a few months after the "main" iPones have been launched. It comes with a strong nostalgia factor. And a price tag that is much lower than its siblings. Small wonder that Apple refers to it as the iPhone SE, with the SE standing for "special edition".
First introduced in 2016, with a sequel in 2020, the iPhone SE has been a bestselling device for Apple. And now it has its third edition, released by Apple at its recent "Peek Performance" event.
Its body might be of the now-ancient iPhone 8, complete with large bezels and a physical home button beneath an HD display, but its soul is the ultra-fast A15 Bionic processor, which is also seen in the iPhone 13 series. Most importantly for many people, At Rs 43,900, the iPhone SE (2022) is easily the most affordable new iPhone out there. It is priced well below the Rs 69,900 of the iPhone 13 mini. But with this lower price tag comes greater competition. Unlike its more expensive siblings that had to tussle with a few premium devices, the iPhone SE (2022) finds itself being challenged by a number of budget Android flagships, many of whom boast better specs.
So if you are considering the new iPhone SE, we would ask you to also consider the following devices. They might not be able to match the A15 Bionic chip or the amazing iOS software on the iPhone SE, but challenge it in other departments and in their own way, are every bit as good value for money:
Asus 8Z 5G — The Compact Competitor
Rs 42,999
If what attracts you to the iPhone SE is its compact form factor, then you should be definitely taking a close look at the Asus 8Z. It is not quite as small as the iPhone SE, but at 148 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm, it is one of the most compact Android flagships out there. It also comes with some very serious hardware muscle. It has a very good 5.9 inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor.
The phone comes with dust and water resistance and excellent stereo speakers. A 4000 mAh battery with 30W fast charging keep it going comfortably for over a day of heavy use. Best of all, it does not waste space on token cameras, with a 64 megapixel Sony IMX 686 main sensor and a 12 megapixel ultrawide being the only cameras on the back, and a 12 megapixel sensor handling selfie duties capably in front.
The design might seem a little on the plain side and we wish it came with Android 12 rather than 11, but if you value hand-friendly form factors, this is one of the very best that Android can offer in its flagship line up. A compact, capable performer.
Oppo Reno 7 Pro — Flaunt Factor Maxed Out
Rs 39,990
If you are a design enthusiast and were disappointed by the extremely dated design of the iPhone SE 2022, the Oppo Reno 7 Pro may be the device that hits the right design notes for you. The phone comes with a design that will not only embarrass the new iPhone SE but will also stand a league apart amongst the Android crowd as well. The front of the phone is in line with the trends of today.
It comes with a tall display, surrounded by thin bezels and a dot notch on the top left side. But the real show stopper is the back of the phone. The Oppo Reno 7 Pro comes with a flat, glittery-shimmery back which looks like it has packed in a thousand tiny diamonds under the glass layer. The phone looks like it has come straight out of a jewelry store. The camera unit placed on the top left side of the back is nothing close to ordinary either. The unit is divided into two and different lenses are encased in these spaces. The flat sides add another modern touch to its design.
The phone also comes with a really good triple camera set up on the back with a 50 megapixel main sensor leading the pack. The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 Max 5G chipset (not in the class of others in this list) and Android 11 might be a source of disappointment for some but the phone is the ultimate choice for those who want the flaunt factor maxed out in their smartphone.
Xiaomi 11T Pro — A Value-For-Money Star
Rs 39,999
The Xiaomi 11T Pro is perhaps the most value for money device present in this price range. The phone comes with a tall 6.67 inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor which is one the most powerful smartphone chipset offerings from Qualocmm at the moment. There is plenty of RAM and storage to go around as well.
A solid specs punch comes in the camera and battery department. The Xiaomi 11T Pro comes with a triple camera setup on the back with a 108 megapixel sensor leading the pack. It is powered by a massive 5,000 mAh battery but what takes the phone to another level is the 120W fast charging support which can charge that huge battery all the way from zero to 100 per cent in less than 20 minutes. That said, the phone has a very basic design which means it is unlikely to turn any heads but what the looks lack, the innards make up for easily. The Xiaomi 11T Pro is quite a formidable proposition.
OnePlus 9RT — For The Never Settlers
Rs 42,999
The phone may be the “T” variant of the OnePlus 9R but is actually more close to the flagship OnePlus 9, making it one of the best alternatives to the iPhone SE 2022. The OnePlus 9RT is actually a spec monster. The phone is powered by flagship level Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor, and in best OnePlus tradition, comes with stacks of RAM and storage.
It has a 6.62 inch full HD+ AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate, a triple camera set up with a 50 megapixel main sensor with OIS, stereo speakers, 5G support, and a 4,500 mAh battery with support for 65 W fast charging. With glass on both front and back, the OnePlus 9RT also brings all the premium feels one expects from a flagship phone. It does run on Android 11 and OxygenOS 11, both of which are slightly dated but still offers a clean, uncomplicated experience. The phone is the perfect iPhone SE 2022 alternative for those looking for a clean UI, powerful specs packed in with great design.
iQoo 9 5G - The New Kid In Town
Rs 42,990
The most powerful phone in this list comes from the newest brand in it. iQoo made its debut in India in 2020, but has been making its presence felt with very good value for money phones in both the premium and mid-segment. The iQoo 9 is a prime example of just that. Not only does it come with a very distinct design (with a touch of racing if you pick the white variant), but it also boasts a very powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ chip and comes with a 6.56 inch full HD+ AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate.
There is a very able triple camera set up on the back, spearheaded by a 48 megapixel snapper with gimbal stabilisation, and the 4350 mAh battery not only lasts a full day but can be charged in a matter of minutes thanks to the 120W charger in the box. To top it all, this is the only phone on the list to come with Android 12 out of the box. A new kid it may be, but for the new iPhone SE, it is definitely a challenger!