Apple recently unveiled the iPhone SE 3 as its latest budget iPhone, and while it’s technically the best version of the iPhone SE that there’s ever been, it’s also the series’ most disappointing entry to date. Following an abundance of leaks and rumors, the iPhone SE 3 made its grand debut on March 8 during Apple’s ‘Peek Performance’ event. The Mac Studio and accompanying Studio Display undeniably stole the show, as did Apple’s new M1 Ultra chip. But there was also a lot of excitement building for the new iPhone SE.
The SE has long been an interesting addition to Apple’s iPhone portfolio. The first generation launched in 2016 with the old iPhone 5 design, modern specs (for the time), and a competitive $399 price. Apple continued that formula in 2020 with the second-gen iPhone SE. Along with better specs and longer software support, it also ditched the iPhone 5 body for the more recent iPhone 8 design. For the person who wanted an iPhone without spending a ridiculous amount of money, it was hard to dislike the iPhone SE 2.
That’s part of what makes the iPhone SE 3 feel like such a no-brainer. It keeps everything that worked with the iPhone SE 2, but in doing so, swaps out the aging A13 Bionic chip for the newer A15 one. The newer chip comes with the expected leaps in CPU and GPU performance — allowing the iPhone SE 3 to handle demanding apps and games with ease. But that’s not all. The A15’s more efficient design also adds an extra two hours of battery life to the iPhone SE 3. And in the camera department, the SE 3 gets Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion image processing, and the Photographic Styles feature that debuted on the iPhone 13. Add all of that together with the addition of sub-6 5G, and the iPhone SE 3 should be a home-run for $429. Right?
The iPhone SE 3 Could Have Been So Much More
While it may be for some shoppers, it’s difficult to look at the iPhone SE 3 and not be disappointed. The A15 Bionic brings a lot of notable upgrades, but that’s all Apple changed. The design? It’s the same one as the iPhone SE 2, which is to say it’s the design Apple introduced back in 2017 with the iPhone 8. It has comically large bezels, a single rear camera, and a cramped 4.7-inch display. There’s also no MagSafe, no Night mode for the camera, and no mmWave 5G (making the iPhone SE 3’s 5G speeds considerably slower than the iPhone 13). It’s a pretty lazy upgrade.
And this is happening against a backdrop where the budget/mid-tier Android space is better than ever. The Google Pixel 6 is a fantastic example of this. It has Google’s Tensor chipset, one of the industry’s best camera systems, a big OLED display, and a design unlike anything else on the market. And you get all of that for $599 — just $170 more than the iPhone SE 3. The Pixel 5a is an even better value. It has a more advanced camera than the iPhone SE 3, a higher-quality display, a bigger screen, and a vastly larger battery. The price? Just $449.
That’s not to say there isn’t a market for the iPhone SE 3. There’s probably a good chunk of people who still like the old iPhone design with a small screen and a home button. Apple probably knows that too, and that’s why the iPhone SE 3 looks the way it does. But even with that in mind, I can’t help but wish Apple had done something more. Give us an ultra-wide camera. Ditch the iPhone 8 design for one like the iPhone 12 or 13. Add MagSafe support. Do something to make the new iPhone SE more than just a processor upgrade and call it a day.
The good news is that those changes are likely coming in the future. Rumors point to Apple working on a large, more dramatic iPhone SE upgrade slated for 2023 or 2024. That future model is expected to have an all-screen design, new cameras, and a bigger screen. And that’s great! But until that day comes, the iPhone SE 3 remains the only new budget iPhone in Apple’s lineup. And on its own, it’s a boring and uninspired device. A boring device that’ll likely still sell in droves, but a boring one nonetheless.
