iPhone SE 3rd Gen 128GB Prices & Plans

iPhone SE 3rd Gen 128GB Review

The iPhone SE design may firmly be rooted in the past, but the latest iteration of Apple's budget phone is all about future-proofing. It's the kind of phone that should easily last you half a decade, if not more, which isn't exactly something you can say about most budget devices. And while many upgrade phones on a faster cycle, the new iPhone SE clearly isn't designed for anyone on the leading edge, or within a 1km radius of it.

Dead ringer

If you've used any modern handset from the last couple of years, the new iPhone SE will feel like a step back in some regards. It's a dead ringer for the 2020 iPhone SE, which itself was all but identical to 2017's iPhone 8. The design itself harkens back to 2014's iPhone 6. Given the speed of the tech world, the new iPhone SE is decidedly vintage.

You get a comparatively tiny 4.7-inch display paired with a physical home button, all wrapped between two chunky bezels. It's a far cry from the all-screen aesthetic that has dominated the industry across supersized devices. The new iPhone SE is the last remaining bastion of the first decade of smartphones.

A big part of the buying decision comes down to whether the 4.7-inch screen is right for you. It's great for one-handed usage, but using two hands to bang out a message faster doesn't feel cramped. It also makes the iPhone SE more pocketable than the majority of modern devices, although the iPhone mini is actually just a little smaller. If you're looking for a more compact device, the iPhone SE could be it.

A small screen does come with trade-offs, however. It's not exactly comfortable to use the iPhone SE for reading long-form articles or watching video. Sure, a short clip looks just fine, but watching anything over a few minutes in length just made me want a larger screen. I had a similar experience looking up restaurants on Google Maps, where I ended up moving to a laptop just so I could see more.

For the most part, the iPhone SE's smaller display is fine. If you're using your phone as more of a communication device rather than a consumption device, it will more than do the trick.

Pint-sized powerhouse

The secret to the iPhone SE's longevity is its A15 processor. That's not only the same chip you'll find inside the iPhone 13 Pro Max, but the fastest mobile chip on the market. The iPhone SE is faster than the Galaxy S22 Ultra. That's to say the day-to-day experience is excellent; the pint-sized powerhouse will handle anything you can throw at it as well as any other phone.

Zippy performance is only part of the equation, however. The real benefit of the latest and greatest processor is the aforementioned future-proofing. It's hard to tell exactly how long Apple will support a phone, but even 2015's iPhone 6S was upgraded to iOS 15 last year. Based on that math, we’re expecting the new iPhone SE to get at least six major operating system updates, which would take it all the way to iOS 21.

This kind of lifespan is unheard of when it comes to more affordable phones. With some cheaper devices, there's very little clarity as to how long the manufacturer will support it. You're lucky to even get two operating system upgrades with Android phones. Samsung has however recently changed its support policy, and many of its phones will now get four major operating system upgrades, and five years of security. This includes some of its cheaper options, such as the newly announced Galaxy A33 5G and Galaxy A53 5G.

The new iPhone SE benefits from 5G this time around. 5G still isn't a huge selling point for phones - we haven't really seen a genuine killer app for the next-generation network yet - but it's nonetheless one of those features that's nice to have, especially if you're planning on holding onto your phone for a while. Who knows, 5G could genuinely become a must have feature in a few years.

Vintage photography

The new iPhone SE is a little more underwhelming when it comes to camera. It's fine, and can take a good photo in many circumstances, but isn't much of an update over the 2020 iPhone SE. It's a slower lens than every other recent iPhone, and is the only handset Apple currently sells that's missing night mode. 

The slower lens means you may need to a few takes when shooting moving objects. I found it very hard to get a sharp shot of Billie, even with good lighting. She's a very animated dog, so most photos I took had at least some motion blur. 

The iPhone SE can also struggle in even somewhat dim lightning. This pub parmi photo looks just a little too dark:

You also miss out on a dedicated night mode, which is a fairly big omission for any phone in 2022. Here's a shot from the iPhone SE, taken in a completely dark room, with some light in the hallway behind me: 

Here's the same image from the standard iPhone 13, without night mode. It's still too dark, but the colour is more natural, the image is sharper, and there's less visible noise.  

And here's the same shot from the iPhone 13 with night mode on. It's a touch soft due to the long exposure time - especially when it comes to the carpet in the bottom right-hand corner - but the iPhone SE simply isn't capable of taking these kinds of photos.  

You can still get good enough shots in low light environments, it just takes a bit of luck and work. I got some solid shots of Regurgitator, but I ended up with more duds than sharp images.

It's also worth noting that the iPhone SE has just one rear-facing camera; many Android phones have multiple lenses at this price point. These lenses do however tend to represent a not-insignificant drop off in quality when compared to the primary lens. Of course, some still may like the versatility of a secondary lens even if the pictures aren't quite as good.

All in all, the iPhone SE camera isn't bad. It's just not the reason you should buy the phone, and the biggest compromise it makes when compared to its flagship brethren. Even 2019's iPhone 11 represents a step up in camera quality.

Low power mode 

Battery was a weak spot on the 2020 iPhone SE, and isn't exactly a strength for the new iPhone SE. It's possible to get a full day per charge with the iPhone SE, but only with lighter usage. I was getting prompted to turn on low power mode every single night of my testing. This translates to about three and four hours of screen time per charge. For many, this means the iPhone SE is the kind of device you'll need to top up during the day if you're planning on being out during the night.

Admittedly, the new iPhone SE lasts longer than the previous generation, and still represents an upgrade for anyone upgrading from an iPhone 8 or older. Especially considering batteries degrade over time.

The new iPhone SE also features wireless charging, which is a premium trimming you don't see on too many mid-tier phones. You'll also get IP67 water-resistance and a glass back, neither of which are given when it comes to devices in this price range. The $699 Samsung Galaxy A53 5G also has IP67 water-resistance, for example, but has a plastic back.

Apple iPhone SE (2022) - Final Thoughts

The new iPhone SE is a pocket powerhouse firmly rooted in the past. It's clearly designed for those still on an iPhone 8 or older, who aren't quite ready to give up a home button. And by that metric, the iPhone SE is a success. It's a solid phone for upgraders, and it's going to over huge improvements over any other iPhone with a home button. Best of all, you can hang on to it for years if you want to.

For anyone else, the iPhone SE is a bit of an oddity. It's not the kind of device that will appeal to the mass market in the same way a shiny new iPhone 13 does. The $719 price tag is great, as is the promise of future upgrades, but in 2022, the iPhone SE is a relic. Even if it will still happily chug along for many years, there's every chance the majority of app and web designers will stop optimising for small displays.

If you really love the classic iPhone design, the iPhone SE will satisfy you. If the smaller form factor is the key drawcard, I'd consider spending a little extra and going for an iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 13 mini. While it's a smaller phone overall, it has a larger screen that feels less cramped. And if you're just thinking about getting the cheapest new iPhone around, I'd still consider spending $130 more on the iPhone 11. The processor isn't quite as new and you miss out on 5G, but you get a bigger screen in a more modern package, better cameras, and a more reliable battery.

There's still a certain charm to the new iPhone SE, but throwback tech ultimately needs to make way for newer innovations. Time's unrelenting march can be cruel like that.

Apple iPhone SE (2022) camera samples