The iPhone SE 3 has a high bar to remove. For just $ 399, the iPhone SE (2020) delivered the same powerful A13 Bionic chip in a compact body. Despite some weaknesses, the phone in general was an incredible value.
Some Apple watchdogs expect the company to release an iPhone SE 3 as soon as this spring, but the release date is in the air. But we’ve heard of some improvements through early leaks, including design and specifications.
The battles from the iPhone 12 mini suggest that there may be a limited appetite for a premium small phone. But the iPhone SE 3 should have a strong value component that will be hard to ignore. Here̵
Name of iPhone SE 3: Will it be SE 3 or SE Plus?
We’ve heard of an iPhone SE Plus, which may not be the same as the iPhone SE 3. Rumor has it that this may be a larger affordable iPhone, and it’s hard to see if it’s actually an iPhone SE 3.
Right now we just do not know. Apple was able to release two new models, a smaller and a larger version. Both handsets would target the affordable mid-range market. We just have to wait for further leaks on Apple’s plans.
Release Date for iPhone SE 3
This is where things get a little murky. Obviously we will guess that iPhone SE 3 will be released in April, but previous leaks make us question this. Back in October, Ross Supply Chain Consultants’ Ross Young said that Apple did not plan to release a follow-up to iPhone SE (2020) until 2022.
Meanwhile, talking to 9to5Mac, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that the iPhone SE 3 should be released later in 2021. Apple seems to be very happy with the SE (2020) sales so far, so a follow-up is unlikely 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 do not know anything about the price of the iPhone SE 3 right now, but we think Apple will still aim for that price point of $ 399. It is the price-performance ratio that makes the SE (2020) so appealing to many people, and it will be stupid of Apple to pay it.
If it’s an iPhone SE 3 Plus or iPhone SE Plus with a larger screen, we can see that the handset costs $ 499. But then there must be a replacement for the iPhone XR, which is still one of the best iPhones because of the price of $ 499.
Specifications for iPhone SE 3
The iPhone SE (2020) packed some hard-hitting specs in terms of price – no Android phones could compare. The A13 Bionic is still a great chip, but we think Apple will use the newer A14 Bionic for the iPhone SE 3. It is the same 5nm processor that drives the iPhone 12 series.
Screen size and resolution are currently unknown, but rumors suggest either a 5.5-inch or 6.1-inch screen.
The current storage options for iPhone SE are 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB. The iPhone SE 3 will probably stick to the same options, although Apple could make the basic 128 GB option, since it would 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 exact body as the iPhone 8. It was an effective cost-saving measure, although the phone’s design looks very outdated by today’s standards.
Over on YouTube, concept designer 4RMD has released a video showing possible renderings for the iPhone SE 3. It shows a phone similar to the iPhone XR without notches. Instead, there is a Touch ID sensor at the bottom of the frame. Everything looks slimmer and more modern, including the dual camera system on the back.
There have also been rumors that Apple may put a Touch ID sensor in the on / off button on the new iPhone SE, similar to the new iPad Air.
iPhone SE 3 cameras
The iPhone SE 2020 takes great pictures, thanks to Apple’s computational photography, but it has only a single lens. We’d love to see Apple add an ultrasound 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 upgrade on the iPhone SE 3, as the current selfie shooter is stuck at 7MP.
iPhone SE 3 battery and charging
A notable weakness for the iPhone SE (2020) was the battery life. It could not match iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro in our best battery life list. In Tom’s Guide battery life test, the iPhone SE (2020) lasted 9 hours and 18 minutes.
However, this runtime beat 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 see a few things improved for the successor.
5G: Now that other phone makers are releasing 5G phones for under $ 500 and even under $ 400, it’s time for Apple to do the same for the budget handset. Although 5G networks are still distributed, customers deserve future-proof connectivity.
OLED screen and higher resolution: The LCD screen on iPhone SE (2020) is good, but we will see a better OLED screen on iPhone SE 3. This will mean brighter colors and deeper blacks with better contrast. We will also see a shock in the resolution. The pixel density of the iPhone SE (2020) is not so good either at 1334 x 750.
Better battery life: As we said above, the battery life of iPhone SE (2020) is just fine. It does not reach the average of 10 hours that we like to see in our battery tests, but it can come through a day of light to medium use. For iPhone SE 3, we hope that Apple uses a larger battery.
More cameras and night mode: The iPhone SE (2020) uses a simple 12MP wide-angle camera. It provides decent images, but in some cases Apple falls behind the Pixel 4a. If the iPhone SE 3 adds an extra camera, we expect it to be an ultra-wide sensor that you find on the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12. We also really want night mode since the SE (2020) lacks it.
Slimmer frame: The iPhone 8 was a nice device for its time, but it preceded the radical redesign that came with the iPhone X. As the phones use slimmer and slimmer frames, the iPhone 8 body begins to look old and out of fashion. We hope that Apple will update the design of the iPhone SE 3 and make it look more modern. Other affordable phones, like the Pixel 4a, look very good in comparison.
