Just a few days before the official market launch, the first reviews of the iPhone SE 3 were published. They take a closer look at Apple's "new" iPhone SE, including the A15 chip inside, 5G connectivity and the classic home button and Touch ID design.
Apple introduced the third generation iPhone SE at the "Peek Performance" event. While the design is similar to its predecessor, some things have been updated under the hood. Allison Johnson from The Verge explainedthat while the iPhone SE has the modern innards of a smartphone, it's "stuck in yesterday's design." Johnson notes that the iPhone SE is a "fantastic mid-range phone," but it's hard to look past the dated design and small screen.
Everything about the iPhone SE is designed to last for years to come, except for one very important component: the display. More specifically, the thick bezels that border the 4.7-inch display at the top and bottom. It's a tired 2017 design that makes an already small display seem even smaller than it could be. That's a shame, because otherwise the SE is a fantastic mid-range phone. With a starting price of $429, your investment will pay off, as it will almost certainly receive software updates for years to come. This year's model also comes with 5G and, of course, Apple's latest and greatest processor, which will prepare the phone for the wireless developments of the near future.
The camera has been improved
The new A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone SE 3 is responsible for the camera, among other things. Engadget reported about these notable camera improvements:
But if you're happy with a solo camera, the iPhone SE 2022 will do the trick. It takes amazingly sharp and colorful photos that are on par with the iPhone 13 mini. The ornaments on the red brick facade of a nearby building looked equally sharp on both phones, even when I zoomed in all the way. It's clear that with the A15 Bionic and improvements like Smart HDR 4, Apple has made the iPhone SE's camera perform just as well as the flagship's main sensor. I was surprised at how similar the iPhone SE's images were to those of the iPhone 13 mini. From landscapes to portraits of my colleagues, there was little difference between the two phones' shots. The Pixel 5a was better at making our video producer's spiky hair stand out from the background than either iPhone, but all three devices performed excellently.
iPhone SE 3: The last model with a 4.7-inch display?
CNET presents found that Touch ID on the iPhone SE 3 is in some cases even better than Face ID, despite the outdated design and form factor:
Having used iPhone models with Face ID for the past few years, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed using Touch ID again. I didn't realize how much I missed it. It's a joy to use Apple Pay by simply resting my thumb on the home button, whereas with a Face ID-enabled phone, I have to hold my face up to the camera for authentication. Sometimes double-tapping the home button felt like a better way to get into the app switcher. There are rumors that Apple may eventually reintroduce Touch ID with an under-display sensor, like it does on Samsung's Galaxy phones and the Pixel 6 line, but until then, the iPhone SE's home button is the only iPhone that still has it.
All in all, the reviews paint a clear picture. The iPhone SE 3 is an impressive value with 5G and an A15 Bionic chip inside. However, this is likely to be the last year that Apple sticks with this 4.7-inch form factor. (Image: Apple)
