Apple’s third-generation iPhone SE, launched on March 8, 2022, has now reached the milestone of being over 1,000 days outdated.
The iPhone SE debuted in 2016 as Apple’s reply to prospects who wished a extra reasonably priced iPhone with out sacrificing key options. The primary SE mannequin was based mostly on the design of the iPhone 5s however packed the then-flagship A9 chip and newest digicam know-how. Subsequent iterations adopted an analogous components: the second-generation iPhone SE in 2020 adopted the iPhone 8’s design and added the A13 Bionic chip, whereas the third technology launched in 2022 with one other leap in processing energy due to the A15 Bionic chip. Over time, the SE line has develop into synonymous with basic design paired with trendy internals.
When the third-generation iPhone SE was unveiled, it introduced vital upgrades over its predecessor, together with the A15 Bionic chip—the identical processor used within the iPhone 13 lineup—longer battery life, and 5G connectivity, which prolonged high-speed wi-fi entry to Apple’s budget-conscious prospects. Nonetheless, the outside design was beginning to present its age even upon the machine’s unveiling in 2022. The third-generation SE retained the 4.7-inch Retina HD show and thick bezels of the iPhone 8, a design that successfully first debuted in 2014 on the iPhone 6. Likewise, its LCD display felt out of step with Apple’s extra trendy OLED shows. Face ID was additionally noticeably absent.
Because the iPhone SE 3 crosses the 1,000-day threshold, there are an enormous array of corroborated rumors about its successor. Anticipated to launch within the spring of 2025, the fourth-generation iPhone SE is shaping as much as be a major improve. In contrast to its two predecessors, the iPhone SE 4 is rumored to desert the iPhone 8’s design fully in favor of a contemporary aesthetic impressed by the iPhone 14.
The brand new mannequin is anticipated to characteristic a bigger 6.1-inch OLED show to supply deeper blacks, higher distinction, and improved vitality effectivity. Face ID can also be set to interchange Contact ID, marking the tip of the bodily Dwelling button on the iPhone and embracing the all-screen design that has develop into a trademark of up to date iPhones.
Below the hood, the iPhone SE 4 is anticipated to be powered by the A18 Bionic chip, the identical processor from the iPhone 16 lineup, together with 8GB of RAM to assist Apple Intelligence. One other main change would be the adoption of USB-C, following Apple’s broader transition away from the Lightning connector. Digicam upgrades are additionally on the horizon, with the SE 4 more likely to characteristic a single 48-megapixel rear digicam, a dramatic enchancment over the 12-megapixel sensor within the SE 3. Regardless of these substantial upgrades, Apple is reportedly dedicated to maintaining the iPhone SE 4 priced beneath $500, sustaining its enchantment as an reasonably priced entry level into the Apple ecosystem.
For these contemplating the iPhone SE 3 immediately, the recommendation is obvious: wait. Whereas the iPhone SE 3 stays a succesful machine, it’s tough to justify its buy when a redesigned, feature-packed successor is on the horizon. The dated design and {hardware} limitations of the present mannequin make it markedly much less future-proof in comparison with Apple’s different choices. With the iPhone SE 4 anticipated to ship a extra trendy design with a bigger show, OLED know-how, Face ID, quicker efficiency, and different improved options at an analogous worth level, holding out for its launch in 2025 is by far the neatest alternative.
