Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) vs Xiaomi 13
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone SE 3 offers exceptional value at $429 with the flagship A15 Bionic chip, compact 4.7-inch design, and reliable iOS ecosystem, making it ideal for budget-conscious users prioritizing performance and brand loyalty. Xiaomi 13, priced at $799, delivers superior specs across nearly every dimension: a stunning 6.36-inch 120Hz AMOLED display (1900 nits), quad Leica camera system with 54MP main and 3.2x zoom, massive 4500mAh battery with 67W charging, and the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Battery life disparity is particularly stark,iPhone SE manages roughly 15 hours while Xiaomi 13 easily exceeds 24 hours. Display quality heavily favors Xiaomi with AMOLED technology versus basic IPS LCD. Camera capabilities aren't comparable; Xiaomi's multi-lens setup with optical zoom and professional tuning crushes SE's single-lens approach. However, iPhone SE excels in software optimization, longevity support, and compact portability. Choose SE for minimalism and tight budgets; select Xiaomi 13 for comprehensive feature superiority and real-world usability.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) if…
- →Most affordable iPhone with 5G
- →Powerful A15 Bionic chip
- →Compact and lightweight design
Buy the Xiaomi 13 if…
- →Compact flagship with flat display — rare in 2023
- →Leica-tuned triple camera system
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 at competitive pricing
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation)
Pros
- Most affordable iPhone with 5G
- Powerful A15 Bionic chip
- Compact and lightweight design
- Touch ID home button
- Long iOS software support
Cons
- Dated design with thick bezels
- Single rear camera
- Small 4.7-inch LCD display
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- Modest battery life
Xiaomi 13
Pros
- Compact flagship with flat display — rare in 2023
- Leica-tuned triple camera system
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 at competitive pricing
- Lightweight 185 g despite flagship specs
- 50W wireless charging
Cons
- 67W wired charging (slower than Xiaomi 13 Pro)
- No telephoto periscope
- MIUI ads and bloatware can be annoying
- USB-C 2.0 data speeds
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) | Xiaomi 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 13 (MIUI 14) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 144 g | 185 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm | 152.8 x 71.5 x 7.98 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 54 MP, f/1.8, OIS — Leica tuned |
| Front camera | 7 MP | 32 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP, f/2.0, 3.2x optical zoom — Leica tuned |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2, 120-degree — Leica tuned |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2018 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 67W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 4.7 inches | 6.36 inches |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1334 x 750 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1900 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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