Apple has announced its latest version of the iPhone SE, the third generation which surprises in that it has many aspects that are familiar to us from the past very successful editions.
It may look the same, but there are significant differences between the two models. In this quick guide we are going to compare the two models in order to clarify all the novelties brought by the recently presented one.
Design and build quality
As you may have seen from the images, Apple has continued to use the same design in the new model as with the iPhone SE 2 (2020). In fact, aside from a few minor tweaks, it’s essentially the same aesthetic introduced in 2014 with the iPhone 6.
Even so, Apple is coming back to reap the old adage of “if it works, why change”. Yes, the top and bottom bezels of the front panel look dated by modern standards, but if you want a phone with Touch ID, this is still a tried-and-true design.
Apple has included upgraded glass on the front and back, which Apple says is the “sturdiest glass in a smartphone”, so it should survive the occasional drop or two, the index of IP67 sealing ensuring resistance to water shocks by immersion.
Aesthetically, the two iPhone SE models are identical, even the color options have not changed between generations, although the traditional white, black and red (PRODUCT), available in the previous version, have been replaced by the midnight white and the star (PRODUCT). RED.
Specifications and features
Although both devices share a similar look, under the hood you will find that the newer model comes with more premium features and updated components as we will see below.
Processor
When the iPhone SE 2 (2020) arrived, it was powered by the same A13 Bionic chip as the iPhone 11 lineup. This made the device something of a pocket rocket due to its smaller size.
Now, Apple has upgraded the brains of its latest iPhone SE to the high-end A15 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 13 line of phones. With this new version, it is expected to make the iPhone SE 3 (2022 ) even faster than the model it replaces, as well as more efficient.
Those who love gaming will love the extra power offered by the A15 Bionic, which comes with a 6-core processor to handle multitasking. This extra power also unlocks features associated with photography management.
cameras
The iPhone SE 2 (2020) offers decent photographic capabilities, although limited to a single 12 MP f/1.8 aperture camera. This has optical image stabilization, Smart HDR and video recording up to 4K at 60fps with OIS.
Adding the A15 Bionic to the iPhone SE 3 (2022) multiplies the additional functions. While the hardware appears to be the same as the previous model (a 12 MP sensor and wide f/1.8 camera lens), Apple calls it an “entirely new camera system”.
This seems to be confirmed by the new capabilities, including Smart HDR 4 which offers better colours, contrasts and skin tones. The Photo Styles feature that we saw on the iPhone 13 is now also available on the iPhone SE 3.
This provides the ability to set preferences for live filters, so you can adjust photos to look like your preferences. Deep Fusion is another plus for improving textures, reducing noise, and generally sprinkling optical dust on images.
Finally, there’s also the Live Text feature, which lets you point the camera at panels, menus, and other items that contain text, for the iPhone to translate or convert to usable data. Not a bad update.
connectivity
One of the most obvious new features of the iPhone SE 3 (2022) is the inclusion of 5G capabilities. While it’s debatable how much of an improvement is tangible given the slow rollout of 5G networks, it’s something that can help prepare for the more immediate future.
In all other aspects of connectivity, the new iPhone SE is similar to the old one, with Wi-Fi-6, Bluetooth 5.0 as well as NFC. Next, we show a breakdown of each model’s spec sheet:
|
|
iPhone SE (2022) |
iPhone SE (2020) |
|
Screen |
4.7-inch Retina HD IPS LCD, 1334 x 750, 326 ppi, True Tone, Wide Color (P3), 625 nits |
4.7-inch Retina HD IPS LCD, 1334 x 750, 326 ppi, True Tone, Wide Color (P3), 625 nits |
|
Processor |
A15 bionic |
A13 bionic |
|
Storage room |
64GB/128GB/256GB |
64GB/128GB |
|
Rear camera |
12 MP (f/1.8), portrait mode, 4K video, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, photo modes |
12 MP (f/1.8), retro mode, 4K video |
|
Front camera |
7 MP (f/2.2), retro mode, 1080p video |
7 MP (f/2.2), retro mode, 1080p video |
|
Video recording |
4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, OIS, video video stabilization |
4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, OIS, video video stabilization |
|
biometric security |
Touch ID |
Touch ID |
|
Wireless |
WiFi 6 |
WiFi 6 |
|
LTE |
5G |
Gigabit LTE (4G) |
|
wireless charging |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Bluetooth |
5 |
5 |
|
mobile payments |
Yes |
Yes |
|
waterproofing |
IP67 |
IP67 |
|
SIM slot |
Dual (nano and eSIM) |
Dual (nano and eSim) |
|
Dimensions |
138.4mm x 67.3mm x 7.3mm |
138.4mm x 67.3mm x 7.3mm |
|
Weight |
148 grams |
148 grams |
|
Price |
$529 (64 GB) $579 (128 GB) $699 (256 GB) |
$476 (64 GB) $526 (128 GB) |
Price and availability
The new iPhone SE 3 (2022) can be reserved from Friday March 11, so it will go on sale with final availability on March 18. You can find it in three different variants depending on the configuration:
- iPhone SE 3 (2022) with 64 GB: $529
- iPhone SE 3 (2022) with 128 GB: $579
- iPhone SE 3 (2022) with 256 GB: $699
Previously the iPhone SE2 (2020) was available with these configurations and prices:
- iPhone SE 2 (2020) with 64 GB: $476
- iPhone SE 2 (2020) with 128 GB: $526
Although Apple has removed the old one from its stores, you can still find it in some official stores and retailers, like Amazon, with possible substantial reductions in its purchase price.
final verdict
The new iPhone SE 3 (2022) captures everything people loved about its predecessor and adds some cool features. Upgrading to an A15 Bionic chip not only makes the new version a faster device, but it also brings additional camera capabilities and better battery life.
Add to all this the support of 5G connectivity, in view of the mass deployment of networks in the years to come. Its price is slightly increased compared to the previous version (40$ more), but it remains the cheapest iPhone that Apple offers for sale, guaranteeing the iOS update for at least 5 years.
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