Don't buy the SE new. These devices pop up in bulk on the used market for half the price all the time - some even unactivated.
I have the SE 2022 in Starlight. A reseller in my area sold a factory-sealed 128GB model to me for 350 EUR, which is a bargain. I sold my third-party refurbished 12 for this phone, as it started getting problems and the SE was all I could afford from the new line-up. So, I actually switched from the iPhone 11 64GB. I wanted more storage and a longevity upgrade (particularly updates and using the widespread 5G coverage in my area). From time to time I miss the edge-to-edge display and ultra wide-angle lens, but I can live with these shortcomings. The SE will get updates for years to come, is no slouch (same chip as the 14), marks the return of Touch ID, has daylight image processing on par with the iPhone 13, has the best video recording quality in its price class, and the design is classy and pocketable. The battery life is just fine. It gets me through the day, but I started carrying a power bank. The battery is the weakest aspect of this phone, but a major improvement over the SE 2020 (which I had, and it was horrid). I think I get 6 hours of SOT and I end my days with 20-30% left in the tank, after a day of reading news, scrolling on social media and watching videos.
I used some really extravagant Android flagships from 2016 onwards, but when I entered the Apple ecosystem, I had to get an iPhone as well. I don't want anything else now. Everything works together so well with my Mac and iPad. The phone just works for me and is reliable in every aspect, as expected from an iPhone - so I could give up the luxuries the more expensive phones have given me. The screen, albeit an LCD, is nice and accurate (and I have experienced OLED for a short period on a 12, but didn't miss it at all). The camera, albeit a single-lens, outputs reliable photos, quality 4K60 video and Instagram-worthy selfies, the speed is no joke and it'll outclass every Android phone in this price category when it comes to updates.
The SE 2022 is a boring high-end phone. A stripped down iPhone 13 that's trapped in a design that was already dated in 2017. So if you think the SE will bore you, splurge on a higher-end iPhone. But overall, it's a solid device for someone who doesn't need all the bells and whistles and wants something that just works. And it'll work really well the coming years.
