Grade A – Apple iPhone SE 2022 – 64GB – Black

The Apple iPhone SE (2022) in 64GB Midnight, also known as the third-generation iPhone SE, was released in March 2022 as Apple’s compact, value-focused smartphone. The Midnight finish is a deep, dark tone that appears almost black with subtle blue undertones, paired with a classic design that mirrors the shape and build of older iPhone models, featuring an aluminium frame and glass on both the front and back. It measures 138.4 by 67.3 by 7.3 millimetres and weighs just 144 grams, making it exceptionally light and easy to use comfortably with one hand, while offering IP67 water and dust resistance for everyday peace of mind.

Its display is a 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD panel with a resolution of 1334 by 750 pixels, supporting True Tone and wide colour for clear, natural-looking visuals, though it is notably smaller than the screens found on most modern phones. Instead of Face ID, this model keeps the familiar home button with integrated Touch ID fingerprint recognition, which many people still find convenient and straightforward. Under the hood, it runs on the A15 Bionic chip — the same powerful processor used in the iPhone 13 series — meaning it delivers flagship-level speed, smooth performance, and excellent energy efficiency, and it comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage that cannot be expanded. It supports 5G connectivity alongside Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, and originally shipped with iOS 15.4 while remaining eligible for the latest iOS updates for years to come.

For photography and video, there is a single 12-megapixel wide-angle rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilisation to help steady shots, capable of capturing sharp photos and recording video up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, though it lacks extra lenses such as ultra-wide or telephoto, and does not include Night Mode for low-light scenes. The front-facing camera is a 7-megapixel sensor suitable for daily selfies and video calls. Battery life is good for routine use, offering around 15 to 16 hours of video playback, and it supports fast charging via the Lightning connector to reach roughly half charge in about 30 minutes, plus slower wireless charging at up to 7.5W.

In short, this iPhone SE model stands out because it packs top-tier processing power into a small, affordable, easy-to-hold body, and it retains the popular Touch ID feature that newer iPhones no longer have. The main trade-offs to consider are its compact but dated-looking screen, its single-camera setup with some advanced features missing, and the fact that 64GB of storage is quite limited for anyone who takes plenty of photos, records video, or downloads lots of apps and media. It also uses Apple’s older Lightning connector rather than USB-C, which may affect compatibility with newer accessories.