iPhone SE (2022) iPhone SE 3rd gen shout out

[Andy_2341]

I know this might be controversial, but here we go.

I just wanted to show a little love for the SE3. It was my first iPhone, and a darn good one. Even as I sit typing this on a 15P, I can’t help but notice a special charm to the SE. Yes, the design is well dated, and the difference between my two phones is night and day. But the SE 3 is a solid phone. It may be chunky, but it’s classic. It is small and easy to pocket. It has virtues.

Another thing I wanted to note is gaming. The SE3 is small indeed, but those bezels are a good resting place, and the thin design stays decently cool most of the time. The A17Pro might have more horsepower, but it can’t use it all because it can’t stay cool. The 15P might have a smoother screen, but the battery suffers for it and the big chip. The SE3 runs as hard as it can, and does a good job. I couldn’t go back to it as my main phone now that I’ve embraced the screen and camera of the 15Pro, but if my 15P was gone tomorrow, I wouldn’t have any problem with the SE3 for a few weeks.

Sorry for rambling, just wanted to throw this out there. Reviews are always negative for it, and the SE3 deserves a little love before it retires that old frame. For now, at discounted prices (which I can list if you want), the SE is a great sleeper phone. That’s all.
Thanks for reading my opinion.

 

[maerz001]

We all know. Having basically the same design since iphone 6, I guess more people than on any other iphone have experienced it.
But the ship has sailed long ago.

 

[eyoungren]

???

My son's first phone was an 8GB iPhone 4s. His second phone was a 64GB iPhone SE1.

My daughter's first phone was a 64GB iPhone 5. Her second phone was a 128GB iPhone 6s

Both my son and my daughter currently have the iPhone SE2.

My son is 21. My daughter is 16.

Glad you like the SE3. My kids currently use the generation before your first phone.

 

[geta]

We all know. Having basically the same design since iphone 6, I guess more people than on any other iphone have experienced it.
But the ship has sailed long ago.

And still it doesn't mean it's not a great phone.

 

[scrane]

I've had the original SE and the 2nd generation, but the 3rd generation is larger than the 13 mini with a much smaller screen. All the SE's are fine phones, but this was a deal breaker for me. The next generation is expected to be larger still.

 

[maerz001]

And still it doesn't mean it's not a great phone.

10 years ago it was great. Now I beg to differ.

 

[scrane]

The SE3 is only 2-1/2 years old. Even the Original is only 8.

 

[maerz001]

The SE3 is only 2-1/2 years old. Even the Original is only 8.

The 6 was introduced September 2014

 

[geta]

10 years ago it was great. Now I beg to differ.

Even if it's old it still a good design, size and weight compared to the latest bricks available.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

The 6 was introduced September 2014

It's not a 6, so I don't know why you're comparing. It's a clone of the 8, released in 2017, which had the full glass back and wireless charging.

10 years ago it was great. Now I beg to differ.

10 years ago it didn't exist. It has the same SOC as the 13 and is 5G. I have the SE as a work-provided phone and would be fine using it as my full-time iPhone.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Completely agree about the SE3, however...

The A17Pro might have more horsepower, but it can’t use it all because it can’t stay cool. The 15P might have a smoother screen, but the battery suffers for it and the big chip.

Neither of these things is correct, at least not entirely.
First things first, the A15 in the SE3 can absolutely create heat and slow down, just like the A17.
But even throttled, the 15 Pro is still faster.
Second, the refresh rate on the 15P isn't always at 120, it can go down to 1 htz and up to 120, which is better for the battery than the SE3's fixed 60 hz Also, even though the 15PM has a bigger screen, the SE3 is still a much more power hungry LCD.
Lastly, it’s going to be harder to stress the battery on the 15P than the SE3 simply because the 15Pm has a much, much larger battery than the SE. Its around double the size.

 

[MarkC426]

I have recently ‘upgraded’ to an SE3…..🤪
It does everything I need, and is on the latest iOS, what’s not to like.

 

[Andy_2341]

Completely agree about the SE3, however...


Neither of these things is correct, at least not entirely.
First things first, the A15 in the SE3 can absolutely create heat and slow down, just like the A17.
But even throttled, the 15 Pro is still faster.
Second, the refresh rate on the 15P isn't always at 120, it can go down to 1 htz and up to 120, which is better for the battery than the SE3's fixed 60 hz Also, even though the 15PM has a bigger screen, the SE3 is still a much more power hungry LCD.
Lastly, it’s going to be harder to stress the battery on the 15P than the SE3 simply because the 15Pm has a much, much larger battery than the SE. Its around double the size.

What you’ve said is true. And I love my 15P for it. But when using both side by side in the same conditions, I find the SE not getting as hot and maybe holding a few percent more over time despite having lower battery health.

EDIT: I tried the test again and found the 15 pro to perform better as it should. Didn’t get any warmer than the SE either. Makes sense, but still love the SE because the bezels give me somewhere to put my hands when gaming.

 

[Populus]

I decided to stay on the SE3 for many reasons: it’s lightweight, comfortable to use, the last iPhone with an LCD screen (which is an upside for me), and as powerful as an iPhone 13.

I’m in love with my SE3 too.

 

[Treborray]

the iPhone SE is a very good phone! I have one in my household. Ive used the camera a few times this year for B Roll shots and it got the job done very well. I made a video about the iPhone SE this year even.

 

[maerz001]

It's not a 6, so I don't know why you're comparing. It's a clone of the 8, released in 2017, which had the full glass back and wireless charging.



10 years ago it didn't exist. It has the same SOC as the 13 and is 5G. I have the SE as a work-provided phone and would be fine using it as my full-time iPhone.

I know. I am speaking of the dated design.

Look at the front, top, bottom, sides. Its the 10 year old 6 design. Of course it got some updates over time.

 

[erihp]

bring back OG SE form factor with iphone 14 guts. kthx

 

[Populus]

bring back OG SE form factor with iphone 14 guts. kthx

That’s physically impossible, due to the thermals of newer chips, and the power requirements.

Also, the iPhone 14 has an A15 (with 6GB of RAM). You already have the great SE3 with a very compact design -for today’s standards- which is already powered by the awesome A15 SoC (with 4GB of RAM).

 

[geta]

That’s physically impossible, due to the thermals of newer chips, and the power requirements.

Also, the iPhone 14 has an A15 (with 6GB of RAM). You already have the great SE3 with a very compact design -for today’s standards- which is already powered by the awesome A15 SoC (with 4GB of RAM).

Compared to the OG SE1, the SE3 is big…

 

[Populus]

Compared to the OG SE1, the SE3 is big…

I had the OG SE, and yes, it took me a bit to get used to the iPhone 8, especially the weight of the phone on my pinkie, which I use to rest the phone onto.

But eventually I got used to it. Either that, or my pinkie just got stronger.

it may depend on the size of your hand, tho. My hands are relatively big, so for me it is easy to handle the iPhone 8 size with just one hand. It’s at the limits tho. That’s why the iPhone 15/16 size is already too big for me to use with a case and one handed.

At the same time, I think the 4” screen of the OG SE is too small for today’s iOS apps UI. Hopefully the 4.7” screen will remain usable for the next 3-4 years.

 

[Andy_2341]

I had the OG SE, and yes, it took me a bit to get used to the iPhone 8, especially the weight of the phone on my pinkie, which I use to rest the phone onto.

But eventually I got used to it. Either that, or my pinkie just got stronger.

it may depend on the size of your hand, tho. My hands are relatively big, so for me it is easy to handle the iPhone 8 size with just one hand. It’s at the limits tho. That’s why the iPhone 15/16 size is already too big for me to use with a case and one handed.

At the same time, I think the 4” screen of the OG SE is too small for today’s iOS apps UI. Hopefully the 4.7” screen will remain usable for the next 3-4 years.

I agree in principal. The OG SE is a great little phone but not for anything more than just being a phone/texting at this point. The current SE is still solid for now, and I had though the 15 was too big till I tried it. Without a case on my 15P and with one on the SE, they are basically the same size. With cases on both, it isn’t that much different. The big difference is how much more screen the new design has (this can be mitigated by switch grip to middle instead of resting on pinky when one handed. Not the best but it works) and the thickness. The new design is noticeably thicker and a tad heavier, despite the titanium.

 

[Populus]

I agree in principal. The OG SE is a great little phone but not for anything more than just being a phone/texting at this point. The current SE is still solid for now, and I had though the 15 was too big till I tried it. Without a case on my 15P and with one on the SE, they are basically the same size. With cases on both, it isn’t that much different. The big difference is how much more screen the new design has (this can be mitigated by switch grip to middle instead of resting on pinky when one handed. Not the best but it works) and the thickness. The new design is noticeably thicker and a tad heavier, despite the titanium.

Yeah, I agree that the 15P is probably the last iPhone that I could use with one hand, at the expense of not using a case. But seeing how much I drop my phone, I need the robustness that the SE3 design provides. It’s a rock!

By the way, glad to see the A15 is your profile picture. For me, a great generation, but as an owner of A15 and M2 devices, I’m biased.

 

[jntdroid]

...but the 3rd generation is larger than the 13 mini with a much smaller screen. All the SE's are fine phones, but this was a deal breaker for me. The next generation is expected to be larger still.

The 13 mini's aspect ratio is more narrow and slightly squeezed. Therefore everything is a bit smaller and, for me, a little harder to see/read (and I have 20/20 vision). The aspect ratio of the SE is closer to "normal" (for lack of a better term) like all of the larger devices. So while I can't argue the SE3's screen is better, it does still have its positives!

 

[Andy_2341]

Yeah, I agree that the 15P is probably the last iPhone that I could use with one hand, at the expense of not using a case. But seeing how much I drop my phone, I need the robustness that the SE3 design provides. It’s a rock!

By the way, glad to see the A15 is your profile picture. For me, a great generation, but as an owner of A15 and M2 devices, I’m biased.

A15 was the first chip I actually owned. I had it in both my 1st iPhone (SE3) and my 1st iPad (Mini 6). It’s been a solid generation, and I think Apple would agree considering it was used in so much.

 

[Andeddu]

A15 was the first chip I actually owned. I had it in both my 1st iPhone (SE3) and my 1st iPad (Mini 6). It’s been a solid generation, and I think Apple would agree considering it was used in so much.

It’s a great chip. My iPhone 13 is still silky smooth on the latest iOS 18 update giving me no reasons to upgrade my phone for at least another 2 years.