Google Pixel 8a vs iPhone SE (2022): Which one is the better buy?

Apple first began selling the iPhone SE in March 2022 and it’s still on store shelves as the company’s most affordable smartphone. At its starting price of $429, it may seem like a bargain compared the Pixel 8a, which starts at $499. However, it’s worth noting that the base iPhone SE model only offers 64GB of storage vs the Pixel 8a’s 128GB.

Luckily, the iPhone SE is available in a 128GB variant for just $50 more. That’s still cheaper than Google’s offering, but the value comparison isn’t quite straightforward when you consider the Pixel 8a’s extra features — more on that in the next section.

You can buy the iPhone SE at Apple Stores and from various retailers and carrier stores worldwide. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8a is now available for pre-order and will go on general sale starting May 14, 2024 in North America, the UK, and Europe.

While the Pixel 8a and the iPhone SE are both mid-range phones, only Google diligently updates its lineup with the latest specs each year. The iPhone SE, on the other hand, hasn’t seen a refresh since 2022 and reuses the older iPhone 8 design. While this continuation is good for those familiar with legacy features like Touch ID, it’s a bit long in the tooth now. By comparison, the Pixel 8a looks almost indistinguishable from Google’s current-gen Pixel 8 at first glance. The only differences are the smaller size, plastic back, and slightly larger bezels.

The Pixel 8a’s full glass front also means you get a much larger 6.1-inch display compared to the iPhone SE’s 4.7-inch screen. The Pixel’s display also has the leg up in supplementary features like a 120Hz refresh rate, FHD+ resolution, HDR support, and up to 2,000 nits peak brightness. And given that the Pixel 8a has an OLED panel instead of the iPhone SE’s LCD, it’s also very close to matching the quality of the mainline Pixel 8 or iPhone 15.

Given that the iPhone SE hasn’t seen a refresh in two years now, it also stands to reason that the Pixel 8a will run circles around it in terms of performance. While the iPhone SE won’t buckle under daily tasks, it will fall behind the Pixel 8a in multitasking or demanding tasks. The SE’s 4GB RAM is also half as much as the Pixel 8a, although Apple’s iOS optimizations mean that it won’t be as wide of a gap as the numbers suggest.

Google’s triumph continues in the camera department. The iPhone SE has just one rear sensor, which is rare enough for a phone these days, but the hardware also hasn’t been updated since 2020. The Pixel 8a, meanwhile, has a larger sensor and supports Google’s suite of AI-assisted photography features such as Real Tone and Best Take. The Pixel 8a also packs an ultrawide lens for when you need to fit more of the scene. Finally, it’s worth noting that Apple hasn’t brought Night Mode to the iPhone SE yet, even though it has become a staple on smartphones for at least half a decade.

The 2,018mAh cell in the iPhone SE is quite small by modern standards but it should still get you through most days. This is thanks to its smaller display and various iOS software optimizations. The Pixel 8a’s 4,500mAh battery is unlikely to outlast it, especially if you use features like always-on display.

That said, both smartphones are neck and neck when it comes to wired and wireless charging speeds. The iPhone SE’s smaller battery means that it can fill up within an hour while the Pixel 8a will take nearly twice as long. The two phones are also more or less equal in terms of durability, with IP67 water resistance on offer. That said, you’ll have to contend with a glass back on the iPhone SE vs the Pixel 8a’s matte plastic rear.

All in all, the Pixel 8a offers better value in terms of hardware and features. The OLED display, modern chipset, Google’s promise of seven years of software updates, and more capable camera array all add up to make a very compelling package.

The iPhone SE delivers a decent core smartphone experience but it’s admittedly a bit lacking in the value department. It may still be worth considering in its current iteration if you’re deeply entrenched in Apple’s ecosystem with other devices like an iPad, AirPods, or Mac. Even then, most of them can be used in conjunction with an Android smartphone. Just keep in mind that some exceptions like the AirTag and Apple Watch do exist and will not work with an Android smartphone.