We still recommend the iPhone SE (2022) if you’re looking for a smaller iPhone. And while the iPhone 11 offers the cheapest iPhone on a plan right now, the iPhone SE (2022) is a more current handset, with the iPhone 11 limited to 4G connectivity.
With the 2nd-gen iPhone SE, iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini no longer available at Telstra, Optus or Vodafone, the iPhone SE (2022) is the only option for a smaller iPhone on a plan. It could also be a while before the 4th-gen iPhone SE is released, and it looks like there’s no plans for a mini option with the iPhone 15, so the iPhone SE (2022) is your best option for a compact iPhone.
The newest iPhone SE has a starting price AU$719, which is slightly more expensive than the 2020 version was at launch. So what’s new? Well, the processor is the biggest improvement, as it sports the A15 Bionic chipset, which is the same hardware at the heart of the iPhone 13 family. It’s also Apple’s most affordable phone with 5G connectivity.
It appears that Vodafone has sold out of the iPhone SE at its online store, so you’ll have to go through either Telstra or Optus to pick it up on a plan. Right now, Optus has the cheapest plan, though you’ll only get 30GB of data included, so if you need more you might want to consider Telstra instead.
With a lower retail price than Apple’s premium handsets, you can also purchase the iPhone SE (2022) outright. You can even save more by picking up one of the best SIM-only plans to pair it with.
Best iPhone SE (2022) plans: our picks
Best overall iPhone SE (2022) plan
Best premium iPhone SE (2022) plan
Cheap iPhone SE (2022) plans
The iPhone SE (2022) is already the cheapest iPhone that Apple has on offer, so if you want an equally affordable plan to go with it, you’ll be looking at the 64GB model on a 36-month contract. It’s important to note that while a 36-month contract will lower your monthly bill, you’ll ultimately end up paying more in the long run, so always weigh up your options:
Compare telco plans for iPhone SE (2022)
We have three comparison tables below which outline how much the iPhone SE (2022) costs at Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, as well as how much you’ll pay monthly for each storage option. If you’d prefer to buy outright, we’ve also got a list of retailers selling the device.
iPhone SE 2022 @ Telstra (24m term)
| Basic (40GB) | Essential (180GB) | Premium (300GB) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64GB | AU$87.95p/m | AU$97.95p/m | AU$118.95p/m |
| 128GB | AU$91.29p/m | AU$101.29p/m | AU$122.29p/m |
| 256GB | AU$98.37p/m | AU$108.37p/m | AU$129.37p/m |
iPhone SE 2022 @ Optus (24m term)
| S (30GB) | M (100GB) | L (220GB) | XL (360GB) | Plus (500GB)* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64GB | AU$78.94p/m | AU$88.94p/m | AU$98.94p/m | AU$118.94p/m | AU$98.94p/m |
| 128GB | AU$82.27p/m | AU$92.27p/m | AU$102.27p/m | AU$122.27p/m | AU$102.27p/m |
| 256GB | AU$89.35p/m | AU$99.35p/m | AU$109.35p/m | AU$129.35p/m | AU$109.35p/m |
* Pay AU$69p/m price for first 12 months, then reverts to AU$89p/m.
iPhone SE 2022 @ Vodafone (24m term)
| Small (40GB) | Medium (150GB) | Large (300GB) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64GB | AU$74.95p/m | AU$84.95p/m | AU$94.95p/m |
| 128GB | AU$78.29p/m | AU$88.29p/m | AU$98.29p/m |
| 256GB | AU$85.37p/m | AU$95.37p/m | AU$105.37p/m |
Buying outright? The iPhone SE (2022) is available from these retailers:
If you have an older iPhone you’d like to trade-in, Apple has its own offer, which will allow customers to get between AU$50 to AU$950 off the iPhone SE (2022) when trading in an iPhone 8 or newer. It’s not unique to Apple, though – Telstra, Optus and Vodafone also have trade-in offers that might prove to be worthwhile if you’re planning on an upgrade.
iPhone SE (2022) at a glance: what you need to know
OS: iOS 15 | Screen size: 4.7-inch Retina HD (60Hz)| Resolution: 1334 x 750 | CPU: Apple A15 Bionic | Memory: 4GB | Weight: 144g |Storage: 64GB / 128GB / 256GB | Battery: N/A | Rear camera: 12MP wide | Front camera: 7MP
The iPhone SE (2022) is Apple’s new affordable phone, with a starting price of AU$719 for the model with 64GB of storage. It’s also available with 128GB of storage for AU$799, or 256GB for AU$969. When it comes to colours, you’ll have your pick of black, white or red.
The headline feature of the iPhone SE 2022 is undoubtedly its A15 Bionic chip, which is the same processor that powers the high-end iPhone 13. To put such a mighty chipset into a mid-range device makes this affordable iPhone a challenger to the most premium Android phones out there, at least in terms of power.
With Apple’s A15 Bionic silicon inside, the new iPhone SE is able to better handle demanding tasks such as 4K video shooting and editing, AI-enhanced photography and gaming. All told, you’re getting a powerful device for the cost.
You can also expect improved battery life, with our review finding it lasted 12 hours with non-stop activity and connection to 5G networks. Speaking of which, this is the first time that Apple’s budget iPhone has featured 5G capabilities, which helps future-proof the device and bring it up to speed with its Android competition.
The iPhone SE 2022 has the same design as the old iPhone SE 2020, and while Apple is calling it “an iconic design,” we would have liked to have seen the phone revamped. It’s a look that’s been around in some form since the iPhone 8, which means you’ll be getting thick bezels and a relatively small 4.7-inch display. It pales in comparison to the edge-to-edge OLED screens on Apple’s iPhone 13 devices, but keeping it simple has kept costs down.
Outright iPhone SE (2020) deals
At launch, the iPhone SE 2020 retailed from AU$749 for the 64GB capacity version, but Apple dropped the price after the launch of the iPhone 12. Now that the newer iPhone SE (2022) is available, you can generally expect to pay AU$679 for the 64GB model, AU$759 for the 128GB model or a AU$929 for the 256GB version. It’s available in white, black or red colour options.
Because Apple has now discontinued this device, buying outright is the most feasible option for many people. With that in mind, you’ll be in need of a great SIM-only deal to pair with the phone.
- See the best SIM-only plans in Australia
