The iPhone SE 3 has a high bar to clean. For only $ 399, the iPhone SE (2020) delivered the same powerful A13 Bionic chip in a compact pickup. Despite some weaknesses, the phone was generally an incredible value.
Some Apple viewers expect the company to release an iPhone SE 3 only in the spring, but the release date is in the air. But we have heard of improvements through early leaks, including design and specifications.
The struggles of the iPhone 12 mini suggest that there may be a limited appetite for a premium small phone. But the iPhone SE 3 needs to have a strong value component that will be hard to ignore. Here’s what we know so far.
iPhone SE 3 name: will it be the SE 3 or the SE Plus?
We’ve heard of an iPhone SE Plus, which may or may not be the same as the iPhone SE 3. Rumor has it that it’s a bigger affordable iPhone, and it’s hard to know if it’s actually the iPhone SE 3.
At the moment we just do not know. Apple may release two new models, a smaller and a larger version. Both devices are aimed at the affordable middle market. We’ll just have to wait for further leaks about Apple’s plans.
Release Date for iPhone SE 3
This is where things get a little cloudy. Obviously, we would guess that the iPhone SE 3 will be released in April, but previous leaks leave us questioning it. Back in October, Display Supply Chain Consultants’ Ross Young said Apple does not plan to release a sequel to the iPhone SE (2020) until 2022.
Meanwhile, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, speaking to 9to5Mac, suggested that the iPhone SE 3 will be released later in 2021. Apple seems to be very happy with the sales of SE (2020) so far, so a follow-up is unlikely to come soon. We hope this is not the case.
However, Japanese blog MacOtakara says that according to Chinese suppliers, the iPhone SE 3 will arrive in April 2021.
iPhone SE 3 price
We know nothing at the moment about the price of the iPhone SE 3, but we think that Apple will still aim for the price point of $ 399. This is the price-to-performance ratio that makes the SE (2020) so attractive to many people, and it would be foolish for Apple to do so.
If there is an iPhone SE 3 Plus or iPhone SE Plus with a larger screen, we can see that the device costs $ 499. But then it has to be a replacement for the iPhone XR, which remains one of the best iPhones because of the $ 499 price tag.
Specifications for iPhone SE 3
The iPhone SE (2020) packed some striking specs considering the price – no Android phone could be compared. The A13 Bionic is still an excellent chip, but we think Apple will use the newer A14 Bionic for the iPhone SE 3.. This is the same 5nm processor that drives the iPhone 12 series.
Screen size and resolution remain unknown for the time being, but rumors suggest a 5.5-inch or 6.1-inch screen.
The current storage options for the iPhone SE are 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB. The iPhone SE 3 will likely stick with the same options, though Apple may make the base option 128 GB, as it will save costs by not including a charger. This trend started with the iPhone 12 and we do not see it disappearing.
iPhone SE 3 design
The iPhone SE (2020) used the same body as the iPhone 8. It was an effective cost-saving measure, even though the design of the phone looks very outdated by today’s standards.
Draft designer 4RMD has released a video on YouTube showing possible versions for the iPhone SE 3. It shows a phone that looks like the iPhone XR without the notch. Instead, there is a Touch ID sensor at the bottom. Everything looks sleeker and more modern, including the dual camera system at the rear.
There have also been rumors that Apple could put a Touch ID sensor in the on / off button of the new iPhone SE, similar to the new iPad Air.
iPhone SE 3 cameras
The iPhone SE 2020 takes beautiful photos, thanks to Apple’s computer photography, but it only contains a single lens. We’d like to see Apple add an ultra-large lens for the iPhone SE 3.
Apple also needs to give the iPhone SE 3 a night mode to better compete with Google Pixel 4a. The front camera can also use an upgrade on the iPhone SE 3, as the current selfie shooter is fixed at 7MP.
iPhone SE 3 battery and charging
A notable weakness for the iPhone SE (2020) was the battery life. It may not match the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro in our best battery life list for phone. In the Tom’s Guide battery life test, the iPhone SE (2020) managed 9 hours and 18 minutes.
This time, however, beat the Pixel 4a, which lasted only 8:55. We expect the iPhone SE 3 to have a larger battery, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
iPhone SE 3: What we want to see
As good as the iPhone SE (2020) is, we would like to improve a few things for its successor.
5G: Now that other phone makers are releasing 5G phones for less than $ 500 and even less than $ 400, it’s time for Apple to do the same for its budget phone. Although 5G networks are still being deployed, buyers deserve future stability.
OLED screen and higher resolution: The LCD screen on the iPhone SE (2020) is good, but we would like a better OLED screen on the iPhone SE 3. This will mean more relative colors and deeper blacks with better contrast. We would also like to see a fierce resolution. The pixel density on the iPhone SE (2020) is also not that great at 1334 x 750.
Better battery life: As we said above, the battery life on the iPhone SE (2020) is just fine. It does not reach the average of 10 hours we would like to see in our battery tests, but it can switch through a day with light to medium use. For the iPhone SE 3, we hope Apple uses a bigger battery.
More cameras and night mode: The iPhone SE (2020) uses a single 12MP wide-angle camera. It delivers decent photos, but in some cases Apple lags behind the Pixel 4a. If the iPhone SE 3 adds an extra camera, we would expect it to be an ultra-large sensor like you have on the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12. We would also very much like the night mode, as the SE (2020) does not do not have.
Slimmer edges: The iPhone 8 was a beautiful device for its time, but it preceded the radical redesign of the iPhone X. As phones use slimmer and slimmer edges, the iPhone 8 body is starting to look old and out of fashion. We hope Apple will update the design of the iPhone SE 3 and make it look more modern. Other affordable phones, like the Pixel 4a, look really nice in comparison.