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The 2022 iPhone SE is the third phone in Apple's budget "SE" iPhone line, featuring upgraded internals over its predecessor, albeit keeping the exact same body as a cost-saving measure. And, of course, to differentiate it from the flagship iPhones.
Interested in learning more about the newest budget iPhone? You've come to the right place – below we have everything you may want to know about the iPhone SE 3, also known as the iPhone SE (2022).
The iPhone SE (2022) was officially unveiled at a dedicated March 8 Apple Event. Pre-orders for the iPhone SE (2022) started on March 11, and shipping began on the following Friday, March 18.
The iPhone SE (2022) starts at a price of $429 for the base model with 64GB of storage. This slight price increase breaks the tradition set by the previous two models, which both started at $399.
The 128GB iPhone SE 3 costs $479, and the highest-storage 256GB option is $579.
For comparison reasons, below we have the iPhone SE (2022) release date and starting price, alongside the previous iPhone SE models.
iPhone SE
iPhone SE 2
iPhone SE 3
Starting price
$399
$399
$429
Announcement date
March 21, 2016
April 15, 2020
March 8, 2022
Release date
March 31, 2016
April 24, 2020
March 18, 2022
iPhone SE 3 specs
The iPhone SE (2022) has 5G support (sub-6 GHz), making it Apple's cheapest 5G iPhone right now.
In addition, the iPhone SE (2022) is packing the Apple A15 Bionic chip, which also powers the flagship iPhone 13 series, making this the most powerful smartphone in its price range.
iPhone SE (2022) specs summary:
5G (sub-6 GHz) support
4.7-inch LCD display (1334 by 750-pixel resolution, 326 PPI, 625 nits max brightness)
12MP wide main camera (along with an LED True Tone flash)
7MP front camera
64GB, 128GB or 256GB of storage (non-expandable)
Touch ID fingerprint sensor
20W fast wired charging
Has wireless charging
Has Apple Pay support
iOS 15
4.6
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
The Good
Affordable price
Light, thin and compact
iPhone with a button classic vibe
5G connectivity with C-band support
Super fast processor
Camera is great for day shots, video
The Bad
Feels dated
LCD screen instead of AMOLED
Screen feels too small for a modern phone
Battery life is improved, but still below average
Camera lacks night mode, has no ultra-wide lens
Only 64GB base storage
iPhone SE 3 review
To learn more about Apple's latest budget iPhone from a user's perspective, check out our iPhone SE (2022) review. There we take an in-depth look at the device's performance, camera quality and more, to find out whether it's a great overall value package or not. In our review you'll also find more camera samples and details about the overall iPhone SE 3 user experience.
iPhone SE 3 comparisons
Does the newest budget iPhone SE hold up against the competition? Well, we've done a number of comparisons to help you make your choice between this phone and other options.
If you're an Android user, you may be particularly interested in checking out our Аpple iPhone SE 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy A53 comparison, the Galaxy A53 being Samsung's similarly affordable budget offering.
However, if you're coming from an older iPhone and wondering if it's time to upgrade, take a look at our iPhone SE (2022) vs iPhone 11 comparison and our Apple iPhone SE (2022) vs iPhone 12 mini comparison. The latter would be helpful if you wish to upgrade from one small phone to another, and to learn whether the new iPhone SE can be that perfect new small phone for you.
Of course, we also did an iPhone SE (2022) vs iPhone 13 mini comparison, the iPhone 13 mini being a newer option, thus - it's likely a smaller jump, right? Should you even upgrade from the 13 mini to the new SE, or would that actually be a downgrade? Find out in our comparison!
Last but definitely not least, we did an iPhone SE (2022) vs iPhone SE (2020) comparison, checking out all the difference between this 2022 iPhone SE and its predecessor. They might look similar, in fact - exactly the same, but they're definitely not the same on the inside.
In what colors is the iPhone SE 3 available?
The iPhone SE 3 remains with the familiar old design of the SE 2, which itself was recycled from the 2017 iPhone 8. This might be disappointing to some, but nonetheless, despite its large top and bottom bezels, the iPhone SE 3 is a premium-built phone, featuring a glass back and front, and a sturdy aluminum frame.
And you can get the iPhone SE 3 in three colors:
Starlight
Midnight
Product RED
Of course, those are Apple's fancy names that essentially translate to white, black and red, respectively.
The iPhone SE 3 packs a 2,018 mAh battery, which is a nice jump from the previous iPhone SE's rather modest 1,821 mAh battery.
According to Apple, the iPhone SE (2022) battery can last up to 15 hours of video playback or up to 10 hours of video streaming on a single charge. Stay tuned for our own iPhone SE (2022) battery tests. But for now we can trust Apple's word, and we do know that the A15 Bionic chip on the new iPhone SE is quite power efficient.
In addition, notably the iPhone SE (2022) has 20W fast charging, although you'll need to supply your own 20W charger, as the retail box only contains the phone and a Lightning to USB Type-C cable. According to Apple, the new iPhone SE can charge from 0% to 50% in about 30 minutes, when charging with a compatible 20W charger or higher. We also get wireless Qi charging support.
What are the iPhone SE 3 camera specs?
12MP main camera
7MP face-time camera
Unlike the iPhone 13 series, the iPhone SE (2022) camera setup only includes a single 12-megapixel wide camera on the back, with an ƒ/1.8 aperture. It is capable of 4K video recording at up to 60 FPS (frames-per-second), although this can be taken down to 720p for users who prefer taking up less of their storage at the cost of some video clarity.
As for the front camera of the iPhone SE (2022), it's 7 megapixels, capable of filming 1080p HD video at up to 30 FPS.
What are the best iPhone SE 3 accessories?
As with any premium-build phone, you may want to start by protecting its glass front and back with a nice iPhone SE 3 case. Keeping your shiny new phone in mint condition would ensure that some day you'll be able to resell it for a great price, which could go towards your next phone. And as is no secret - Apple's iPhones have some of the best resell value.
In addition to a good case to protect the iPhone SE 3's sides and back, you may be interested in getting a quality iPhone SE 3 screen protector also.
What are the best iPhone SE 3 deals?
There are often deals available even for Apple's iPhones, if one's willing to look hard enough. Luckily, you won't have to, as we've already dug up the best iPhone SE 3 deals available right now for you.
Ultimately, you can most commonly expect a good iPhone SE 3 deal to require a new mobile plan, which can net you close to half its price off in stores like BestBuy. We'll keep the iPhone SE 3 deals article updated for you, so be sure to check back for even better deals, once those pop up!
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
The iPhone SE (2022) is available at Amazon locked to Cricket wireless. It can also be purchases with a monthly plan. The phone is available in 65, 128, and 256GB of storage.
The iPhone SE (2022) unlocked is now available at Best Buy with a discount. The offer is valid with same-day activation to your carrier of choice. The phone can be activated for one of the carriers AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon.
You can get the third-generation of iPhone SE from Apple. The company offers trade-in discounts, and the amount of the discount depends on the device (model, condition) that you decide to trade in. Check the conditions on Apple's website.
Rado, a tech enthusiast with a love for mobile devices, brings his passion for Android and iPadOS to PhoneArena. His tech journey began with MP3 players and has evolved to include tinkering with Android tablets and iPads, even running Linux and Windows 95 on them. Beyond tech, Rado is a published author, music producer, and PC game developer. His professional work on iPads, from producing songs to editing videos, showcases his belief in their capabilities. Rado looks forward to the future of mobile tech, particularly in augmented reality and multi-screen smartphones.
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