The iPhone SE 3 has a high bar to clean. For a mere $ 399, the iPhone SE (2020) delivered the same powerful A13 Bionic chip in a compact body. Despite some weaknesses, the phone, in general, had incredible value.
Some Apple watchers expect the company to release an iPhone SE 3 this spring, but the launch date is still up. But we heard about some improvements through early leaks, including design and specifications.
The difficulties of the iPhone 12 mini suggest that there may be a limited appetite for a small premium phone. But the iPhone SE 3 must have a strong component that will be hard to ignore. Here’s what we know so far.
IPhone SE 3 name: Will it be SE 3 or SE Plus?
We have heard of an iPhone SE Plus, which may or may not be the same as the iPhone SE 3. Rumors suggest that this may be a larger, more affordable iPhone and it is difficult to say whether it really is the iPhone SE 3.
At the moment, we just don’t know. Apple could launch two new models, a smaller version and a larger one. Both devices would target the affordable mid-range market. We just need to wait for more leaks about Apple’s plans.
iPhone SE 3 release date
This is where things get a little muddy. Obviously, we would guess that the iPhone SE 3 will be released in April, but previous leaks make us question that. In October, Display Supply Chain Consultants’ Ross Young said Apple did not plan to launch a sequel to the iPhone SE (2020) until 2022.
Meanwhile, speaking with 9to5Mac, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that the iPhone SE 3 would be released in late 2021. Apple seems to be very happy with the sales of the SE (2020) so far, so there probably won’t be follow up soon. We hope that is not the case.
However, the Japanese blog MacOtakara says that according to Chinese suppliers, the iPhone SE 3 will arrive in April 2021.
iPhone SE 3 price
We don’t know anything about the price of the iPhone SE 3 right now, but we think Apple will still target that $ 399 price. It is the price-performance ratio that makes the SE (2020) so attractive to many people, and it would be silly of Apple resist that.
If there is an iPhone SE 3 Plus or iPhone SE Plus with a bigger screen, we could see that device costing $ 499. But then it would need to be a replacement for the iPhone XR, which remains one of the best iPhones because of its US price. $ 499.
IPhone SE 3 specifications
The iPhone SE (2020) brought some striking specifications considering its price – no Android phone could compare. The A13 Bionic is still a great chip, but we think Apple will use the latest A14 Bionic for the iPhone SE 3. This is the same 5 nm processor that powers the iPhone 12 series.
The size and resolution of the screen remains unknown for now, but rumors suggest a 5.5 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 would likely continue with the same options, although Apple could make the basic 128 GB option, as it would be saving costs by not including a charger. This trend started with the iPhone 12 and we don’t see it going away.
iPhone SE 3 design
The iPhone SE (2020) used exactly the same body as the iPhone 8. It was an effective cost-saving measure, even though the phone’s design seems quite outdated by today’s standards.
On YouTube, concept designer 4RMD released a video showing possible renderings 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 in the bottom frame. Everything looks more elegant and modern, including the dual camera system at the rear.
There have also been rumors that Apple may place a Touch ID sensor on the power button on the new iPhone SE, similar to the new iPad Air.
iPhone SE 3 cameras
The iPhone SE 2020 takes beautiful photos, thanks to Apple computer photography, but comes with only one lens. We would like to see Apple add an ultra-wide lens to the iPhone SE 3.
Apple also needs to give the iPhone SE 3 a night mode to better compete with the Google Pixel 4a. The front camera can also use an update on the iPhone SE 3, as the current selfies trigger is stuck at 7MP.
IPhone SE 3 battery and charging
A notable weakness for the iPhone SE (2020) was the battery life. It couldn’t match the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro on our list of the phone’s best battery runtimes. In the battery test of Guia do Tom, the iPhone SE (2020) managed 9 hours and 18 minutes.
However, that run time surpassed the Pixel 4a, which only lasted 8:55. We hope the iPhone SE 3 has a bigger 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 see some things improved for its successor.
5G: Now that other phone makers are launching 5G phones for less than $ 500 and up to $ 400, it’s time for Apple to do the same with its cheap device. Although 5G networks are still being deployed, customers deserve connectivity prepared for the future.
OLED screen and higher resolution: The LCD on iPhone SE (2020) is good, but we would like to see a better OLED screen on iPhone SE 3. This would mean more striking colors and deeper blacks with better contrast. We would also like to see an increase in resolution. The pixel density on the iPhone SE (2020) is not that good at 1334 x 750.
Better battery life: As we said above, the battery life on the iPhone SE (2020) is great. It doesn’t reach the 10-hour average that we like to see in our battery tests, but you can spend the day with light or medium usage. For iPhone SE 3, we expect Apple to use a larger battery.
More cameras and night mode: The iPhone SE (2020) uses a single 12 MP wide-angle camera. It produces decent photos, but in some cases Apple is behind the Pixel 4a. If the iPhone SE 3 adds an extra camera, we expect it to be an ultra-wide sensor like the one you find on the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12. We also want Night Mode, since the SE (2020) doesn’t have it.
Thinner frames: The iPhone 8 was a good device for the time, but it preceded the radical redesign that came with the iPhone X. As phones use increasingly thin bezels, the body of the iPhone 8 starts to look old and out of fashion. We hope that Apple will update the design of the iPhone SE 3 and make it more modern. Other affordable phones, like the Pixel 4a, look pretty good in comparison.