Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Price:
$429
(originally launched at $429)
64GB base variant · Launched March 2022 · Current Status: Discontinued (February 19, 2025)
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Generation) features the classic iPhone 8 design with aerospace-grade aluminum and glass back, a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, A15 Bionic chip (same as iPhone 13 series), 12MP rear camera with Deep Fusion and Smart HDR 4, 7MP front camera, Touch ID, IP67 water resistance, 5G connectivity, and 2,018 mAh battery with wireless charging support. Launched at $429 in March 2022.
LAUNCH
| Announced | March 8, 2022 |
| Released | March 18, 2022 |
| Discontinued | February 19, 2025 |
DISPLAY
| Screen Size | 4.7 inches (diagonal) |
| Resolution | 1334 x 750 pixels (Retina HD display) |
| Pixel Density | 326 ppi |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Display Type | Retina HD IPS LCD, True Tone, Wide color gamut (P3), Haptic Touch |
| Brightness | 625 nits (typical max brightness) |
| Contrast Ratio | 1400:1 (typical) |
| Features | True Tone, Wide color gamut (P3), Haptic Touch, Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, Display Zoom, Reachability |
| Protection | Glass front and back, aluminum frame |
PERFORMANCE
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic (5nm) |
| CPU | 6-core (2x 3.23 GHz Avalanche high-performance + 4x 1.82 GHz Blizzard high-efficiency) |
| GPU | Apple-designed 4-core GPU |
| Neural Engine | Yes (16-core Neural Engine) |
| RAM | 4 GB (LPDDR4X) |
| Operating System | Launched with iOS 15.4; upgradable to iOS 26.x |
| Machine Learning / AI | A15 Neural Engine; Apple Intelligence: Not supported |
| Graphics Support | Metal 3, ARKit |
GAMING PERFORMANCE — COMMUNITY/THIRD-PARTY REPORTS
| PUBG Mobile / BGMI | Runs at 60 FPS on Smooth settings; 30–40 FPS on HD graphics; A15 chip handles well but thermal throttling occurs in compact chassis |
| Free Fire | Stable 60 FPS on High/Ultra graphics settings |
| Call of Duty: Mobile | 60 FPS on Very High graphics + Max FPS; stable performance |
| Genshin Impact | Medium settings at 30–40 FPS; Higher settings cause thermal throttling due to compact design |
| Asphalt 9: Legends | Stable 60 FPS on High graphics settings |
| Overall Gaming Performance | The A15 Bionic chip (same as iPhone 13 series) delivers strong performance. However, the compact chassis and smaller battery lead to faster thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions compared to larger iPhones. |
BENCHMARK — ANTUTU & GEEKBENCH RESULTS
| AnTuTu v9 Total | ~750,000 – 800,000 |
| Geekbench 5 Single-Core | ~1,700 – 1,750 |
| Geekbench 5 Multi-Core | ~4,600 – 4,800 |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core | ~2,100 – 2,200 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core | ~4,900 – 5,100 |
REAR CAMERA
| Main Camera | 12 MP Wide, f/1.8 aperture, 5-element lens, OIS, Focus Pixels |
| Features | Portrait Mode with Depth Control, Portrait Lighting (6 effects), Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, Panorama (up to 63MP), Sapphire crystal lens cover |
| Photo Digital Zoom | Up to 5x digital zoom |
| Stabilization | Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) |
| Camera Features | Auto image stabilization, Burst mode, Photo geotagging, Advanced red-eye correction |
| Limitations | No Night Mode, No Ultra Wide camera, No telephoto lens |
FRONT CAMERA
| Camera | 7 MP FaceTime HD, f/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash |
| Features | Portrait Mode with Depth Control, Portrait Lighting (6 effects), Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, 1080p HD video recording |
VIDEO RECORDING
| Rear Video | 4K UHD @ 24/25/30/60fps, 1080p HD @ 25/30/60fps, 720p HD @ 30fps; Extended dynamic range up to 30fps; Cinematic video stabilization up to 4K |
| Video Digital Zoom | Up to 3x digital zoom |
| Slow Motion | 1080p @ 120fps, 720p @ 240fps |
| QuickTake | Yes (long-press shutter to record video) |
| Night Mode Time-lapse | Yes |
| Front Video | 1080p HD @ 25/30fps |
| Audio | Stereo audio recording |
BATTERY
| Battery Type | Li-Ion, built-in (non-removable) |
| Battery Capacity | 2,018 mAh |
| Video Playback | Up to 15 hours |
CHARGING
| Connector | Lightning |
| Wired Charging | Fast charging via Lightning (20W adapter or higher, sold separately) |
| Wireless Charging | Yes (Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W) |
| Fast Charging | Yes (up to 50% in 30 minutes with 20W+ adapter) |
CONNECTIVITY
| 5G | Yes (sub-6 GHz) |
| 4G LTE | Yes (Gigabit-class LTE) |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with MIMO |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 with LE |
| NFC | Yes (Apple Pay only) |
| UWB | Not supported (no U1 chip) |
| FM Radio | No |
USB & DISPLAY OUTPUT
| Connector | Lightning |
| USB Speed | USB 2.0 (up to 480 Mbps) |
| Display Output | Up to 1080p via Lightning Digital AV Adapter |
SIM & NETWORK
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM (Dual SIM support) |
| eSIM | Yes (supports multiple eSIMs) |
NAVIGATION & LOCATION
| GPS | Yes, Assisted GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS |
| Compass | Yes, digital compass |
SENSORS
| Touch ID | Yes (built into Home button) |
| Motion | Three-axis Gyroscope, Accelerometer |
| Other Sensors | Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Barometer, Digital Compass |
AUDIO & MULTIMEDIA
| Speakers | Stereo speakers with spatial audio playback |
| 3.5mm Headphone Jack | No |
| Audio Formats | AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus |
BUILD & PROTECTION
| Frame | Aerospace-grade aluminum with color-matched band |
| Front Protection | Glass front (same as iPhone 13) |
| Back Protection | Glass back (supports wireless charging) |
| Water Resistance | IP67 (maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes) |
| Dimensions | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm |
| Weight | 144 grams |
COLORS
| Available Colors | Midnight, Starlight, (PRODUCT)RED |
STORAGE & PRICE
| Card Slot | No (fixed internal NVMe storage only) |
| 64GB |
$429
|
| 128GB |
$479
|
| 256GB |
$579
|
MISC
| Model Number | A2783 / A2595 / A2782 |
Overall: The iPhone SE (3rd Generation) was Apple's most affordable 5G iPhone, combining the classic iPhone 8 design with the powerful A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 series. It offered excellent performance at $429 with a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, 12MP camera with Deep Fusion and Smart HDR 4, and Touch ID. Key upgrades included 5G connectivity, a faster A15 chip, improved battery life (2,018 mAh), and enhanced camera features. It was discontinued by Apple on February 19, 2025.
IPHONE SE (3RD GEN) IN 2026: IS IT STILL WORTH BUYING?
| Performance | A15 Bionic with 4GB RAM handles daily tasks and light gaming well. iOS 26.x is the current version supported; modern AI features are not available. |
| Display | 4.7-inch Retina HD display (326 ppi) with True Tone and 625 nits brightness. Good color accuracy but outdated by modern standards. |
| Camera | 12MP single camera with Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, and Photographic Styles. Lacks Night Mode, Ultra Wide lens, and telephoto. Good for well-lit photos but limited in low light. |
| Battery | 2,018 mAh battery offers improved endurance over previous SE models. Fast charging (50% in 30 minutes with 20W adapter) and wireless charging (Qi) are supported. |
| Connectivity | Lightning port (USB 2.0), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC (Apple Pay only). 5G supported, no UWB. |
| Security Updates | Discontinued in February 2025; will support iOS 26.x but likely no further major updates. Security updates will continue through iOS 26 lifecycle. |
| Use Case | Great for users who want a compact iPhone with Touch ID and 5G, or as a secondary device. Not recommended for heavy gaming or AI-dependent tasks. |
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Core specifications are based primarily on Apple's official technical specifications; benchmark figures and other third-party measurements (battery mAh, AnTuTu scores, Geekbench scores, etc.) are compiled separately from tested units. This is a historical/legacy device; current retail availability may vary.
Core specifications are based primarily on Apple's official technical specifications; benchmark figures and other third-party measurements (battery mAh, AnTuTu scores, Geekbench scores, etc.) are compiled separately from tested units. This is a historical/legacy device; current retail availability may vary.