Worst vs. cheapest: iPhone 14 Plus vs. iPhone SE 2022 camera test

The most cost effective new iPhone you should buy is the iPhone SE (2022), however what’s the worst iPhone? That doubtful honor goes to the iPhone 14 Plus, an oddly out-of-place mannequin within the in any other case glorious present lineup of recent iPhones. However what occurs if you examine the 2 cameras? Can the iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone few folks perceive or appear to need, beat the most affordable iPhone? We discovered.

The telephones and cameras

If this appears like an uncommon pairing to match, you’re proper, it’s. Nevertheless, the outcomes are invaluable as whereas we’re utilizing the iPhone 14 Plus in opposition to the iPhone SE (2022), the Plus’s digicam system is similar because the one fitted to the again of the common iPhone 14 too, that means the take a look at additionally exposes simply how totally different the digicam expertise is on the fundamental iPhone in comparison with the most affordable iPhone.

The iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 have a 12-megapixel important digicam with an f/1.5 aperture and optical picture stabilization, plus a 12MP wide-angle digicam with an f/2.4 aperture. Each have a 2x optical zoom, Apple’s Deep Fusion and Good HDR know-how, a Night time mode, an in depth Portrait mode, plus a 12MP entrance digicam too.

On the again of the iPhone SE (2022) is a single 12MP digicam with an f/1.8 aperture. It additionally has Apple’s Good HDR 4 and Deep Fusion know-how, but it surely doesn’t have an optical zoom or a devoted Night time mode. The Portrait mode is analogous, however solely works with faces and never objects, in contrast to the iPhone 14’s digicam. The selfie digicam has seven megapixels.

Because of the variations in cameras, we gained’t be capable to immediately examine wide-angle or portrait mode pictures, however we’ll nonetheless present you what’s potential if you select an iPhone 14 or 14 Plus over the SE (2022) on the finish of the take a look at. Throughout it, we’ll be trying on the important digicam efficiency, zoom efficiency, entrance digicam high quality, and the night time mode too.

Fundamental digicam

You might assume the iPhone 14 Plus has received this whole take a look at within the bag, and I admit, earlier than analyzing the handfuls of images taken with every digicam, I used to be ready for the costlier iPhone to take all of the wins. But it surely’s not the case, and the iPhone SE (2022)’s single digicam has confirmed (once more) that more-cameras-doesn’t-always-mean-better-photos. We’re going to begin with some cake. Mmm, beautiful.

It’s going to set the tone for the remainder of the principle digicam take a look at, and in addition exhibits Apple has not tweaked the iPhone 14 Plus’s digicam efficiency since I reviewed it upon launch. It nonetheless exposes images much less successfully than it ought to, leaving photos just a little washed out and missing visible punch. The iPhone SE (2022) avoids this, and at first look, takes higher images for it. The cake has a deeper brown coloration, the chocolate appears richer, and the plate is much less starkly white within the SE (2022)’s picture.

The picture of the Porsche emblem exhibits all this and one other subject in additional element. I tapped on the symbol to pressure focus right here, and the iPhone SE (2022) retains extra of the scene in focus than the iPhone 14 Plus. Within the picture of the cake, I didn’t faucet to focus, however the 14 Plus nonetheless blurs out greater than the SE (2022). The colours within the SE (2022)’s picture are extra vibrant, and if you look carefully, the element within the emblem is sharper too.

Within the picture of the pond, we will see the place the iPhone SE 2022 makes use of extra smoothing know-how than the iPhone 14 Plus, particularly within the bushes, grass, and foliage within the background — but it surely doesn’t cease the SE (2022)’s colours and total tone being extra shareable. That is actually the takeaway in our important digicam part. Whereas the iPhone 14 Plus can take extra correct, pure, and detailed images, it’s the iPhone SE (2022)’s images my eye is extra generally drawn to, and that’s a really large constructive level for the small, low cost telephone.

Nevertheless, the iPhone 14 Plus’s indoor efficiency in tougher lighting was much better than the SE (2022)’s, as our final picture exhibits. The colour of the Lego is extra vibrant and pure, there’s much less noise and grain within the darker areas, and the main focus is sharper too. It backs up the technical capability of the iPhone 14 Plus, but it surely’s a disgrace the images in additional normal circumstances are colder and fewer interesting than the SE (2022).

Winner: Apple iPhone SE (2022)

Zoom mode

This can be a little bit of an unfair comparability, because the iPhone 14 Plus has a 2x optical zoom, whereas the iPhone SE (2022) solely has a digital zoom. Within the Digital camera app, although, neither gives a 2x shortcut and forces you to pinch-to-zoom. The iPhone SE (2022) doesn’t actually have a numbered information as to how shut you’re getting. In different phrases, Apple actually doesn’t need you to zoom in. However what occurs if you do?

The rooftop picture exhibits the grain and noise launched into the SE (2022)’s images if you shoot in something apart from 1x. There’s significantly much less definition, and it’s instantly apparent you’ve zoomed in to seize the scene. The iPhone 14 Plus’s picture nonetheless has noise within the clouds, however the rooftops are way more clearly outlined.

Within the second picture, taken indoors on a dismal day, the iPhone 14 Plus has higher white stability and fewer noise. It’s positively the higher picture total, however the iPhone SE (2022)’s picture isn’t that far behind, and plenty of will think about it acceptable for a function that might not be used that usually. However look carefully, and the iPhone 14 Plus’s zoom images are superior, so those that might wish to zoom in additional usually ought to think about it the higher possibility.

Winner: Apple iPhone 14 Plus

Night time mode

The iPhone SE (2022) doesn’t have the identical automated Night time mode because the iPhone 14 Plus, so efficiency between the 2 might be totally different, however simply how drastically? The primary picture was taken indoors with a small quantity of ambient gentle, and whereas there are clear variations between them, the iPhone SE (2022) nonetheless hasn’t accomplished a foul job. Nevertheless, the iPhone 14 Professional has higher white stability and fewer grain.

It’s in our second picture that the large variations seem. Taken in darkness, however with avenue lights close by, the iPhone SE (2022) did not seize the picture effectivity. The iPhone 14 Plus’s picture is completely totally different, with lots of element, pure colours, and even stars within the sky being seen. It exhibits the effectiveness of the telephone’s prolonged shutter in Night time mode.

The ultimate picture, taken of a floodlit church, exhibits that whereas extra gentle helps the iPhone SE (2022) take first rate images at night time, it will possibly’t match the iPhone 14 Plus. The bigger iPhone’s picture has extra pure textures, extra element within the darker areas, much less noise, and fewer smoothing.

It’s hardly a shock, given the technical variations between them, but it surely’s fascinating to see simply how a lot of a distinction there may be.

Winner: Apple iPhone 14 Plus

Selfie digicam

In something apart from very vibrant circumstances, the iPhone SE (2022)’s selfie digicam is dangerous. Sadly, climate circumstances have been poor throughout my take a look at, and that has meant all of the selfies taken with the SE 2022 have been poor. However this exhibits the fact of residing with the entrance digicam on the telephone. The iPhone 14 Plus isn’t an enormous enchancment and nonetheless struggles in low gentle, but it surely’s higher than the SE (2022).

These selfies weren’t taken in darkness, simply not in daylight, and with Portrait mode energetic. Edge recognition is first rate from each, however improved with the iPhone 14 Plus. The digicam additionally appears to guage pores and skin tone higher than the SE (2022). Neither cameras impress, however the iPhone 14 Plus handles the poor lighting higher than the SE (2022), so it will get the win right here.

Winner: Apple iPhone 14 Plus

Extensive-angle and portrait mode

What concerning the issues the iPhone SE (2022) can’t do? The iPhone 14 Plus has a wide-angle digicam on the again, and the Portrait mode acknowledges objects, whereas the iPhone SE (2022) solely takes portrait images with a blurred background when it sees a face. Listed below are a few examples exhibiting how the iPhone 14 Professional is extra versatile than the iPhone SE 2022.

Extra versatile it could be, however there’s solely one among these two extra options you’ll wish to commonly use, and that’s the wide-angle digicam. There’s strong consistency between it and the principle digicam, and infrequently it will increase the vibrancy if you do, leading to extremely shareable images. The Portrait mode is hit-and-miss, the place it usually fails to seize the picture you count on, or requires you to shift place to activate the Portrait mode a lot, the picture turns into pointless.

The iPhone 14 Plus wins however doesn’t dominate

Sure, the iPhone 14 Plus wins our take a look at. It actually ought to, because it has a extra versatile, technically extra spectacular digicam on the again, so it could be an enormous upset if it did not beat the less complicated iPhone SE (2022). Nevertheless, it didn’t win the principle digicam part. It’s a detailed factor, and I struggled with the choice. Nevertheless, the iPhone SE 2022’s digicam takes extra emotionally partaking images on the whole circumstances, and that makes an enormous distinction.

I seen one thing related after I in contrast the iPhone 12 Professional to the iPhone 13 Professional. There was a refined distinction between the images, and the older telephone’s images usually had extra character. It’s the identical right here, the place the iPhone 14 Plus impresses with its technical capability, however barely lacks feeling. Not everybody will agree, and I’m not saying I’d select the iPhone SE (2022) over the iPhone 14 Plus (which is why it wins the take a look at total), however I do assume there’s some life lacking from the iPhone 14 Plus’s digicam. There’s one thing enjoyable about taking images with such a tiny telephone nowadays; it’s virtually liberating. Nevertheless, the iPhone 14 Plus’s bigger display makes composition a lot simpler.

The ultimate factor to consider right here is value. At $430, the iPhone SE 2022 doesn’t embarrass itself in opposition to the iPhone 14 Plus, which prices greater than twice its value. It represents good worth for somebody wanting the most affordable iPhone expertise you will get, however nonetheless have a enjoyable digicam.

At the moment’s tech information, curated and condensed in your inbox

Test your inbox!

Please present a sound e mail deal with to proceed.

This e mail deal with is at present on file. In case you are not receiving newsletters, please test your spam folder.

Sorry, an error occurred throughout subscription. Please strive once more later.