5 Things About the iPhone SE 3 That Could Be Better

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Apple recently announced it’s coming back hot into the affordable phone market, and the iPhone SE 3 is finally hitting the markets. With an attractive price tag and aesthetic reminiscent of years past, the new model combines features new and old in its small frame.
The latest affordable iPhone is certainly a great fit for many people who like to stick with the classics and don’t care for extra bells and whistles – if that’s everything you’ve dreamed of, now is the SE’s time to shine. However, the low price tag didn’t come without some features being sacrificed. If you’re still trying to decide whether the new model is worth your money, you should consider what was left behind.

iPhone Body Hasn’t Changed Since 2020

There isn’t anything explicitly wrong with the older iPhone models, but for those who have grown accustomed to the convenience of Face ID and the edge-to-edge display of the newer models, the return of large bezels above and below the screen feels a bit cramped.
The new SE chose to not get particularly creative when it came to the phone’s aesthetic, as the appearance is pretty much identical to that of its predecessor as well as the iPhone 8. With the return of a home button and fingerprint sensor, don’t feel bad if you can’t tell the difference between the new model and the old one.

Heavier Than iPhone Mini But Smaller Display

The new affordable iPhone sacrifices some space in its screen considering the large bezels above and below the display, and it weighs more than its larger-screened counterparts. In comparison to the iPhone 13 mini, the SE 3 is equipped with a 4.7-inch screen and weighs in at 144g, while the mini has a 5.42-inch screen and weighs 141g.
While we are not saying the two are interchangeable (the mini costs a considerable amount more), a comparison between the phone makes it clear how a smaller screen has the potential of equating to a lighter frame as well – we just don’t see that with the SE 3. The SE leaves something to be desired with its design, and the mix of a small display size and heavier weight isn’t an ideal combination.

More Expensive Than its Predecessors

Turns out the addition of upgraded internal hardware for the SE 3 doesn’t come without a price. And that price is exactly $30 more than its predecessors, as the original two models in the iPhone SE lineup clocked in at $399 each and the SE mixes it up with a higher price tag of $429.
While the more advanced internals are certainly a plus and the cost is still solid, the SE 3’s lack of upgrades in other departments such as aesthetics makes the price hike a bit disappointing.

Camera Hardware is Lacking

One of the best parts of upgrading to a new phone is getting improved camera quality, and the SE doesn’t have much to offer in that department. To be specific, all it has to offer is a single camera, which is considerably lacking in comparison to the dual and triple lenses we have grown accustomed to seeing.
Keeping in line with the lack of aesthetic upgrades, the SE features the exact same camera hardware as the last model released two years ago. While the addition of an A15 chip does somewhat increase the quality of the camera with the addition of features such as Portrait mode, we’re still missing out on other features like Night mode.

Doesn’t Have Any MagSafe Support

Another fan-favorite feature sacrificed by the SE is MagSafe support. For those already equipped with an arsenal of MagSafe charging accessories, none of them will do any good for the affordable iPhone. While it still supports wireless charging to some capacity with Qi-certified chargers, the magnetic MagSafe features won’t work with the new model.
We would be amiss to claim the SE doesn’t come equipped with some great features, but it has its fair share of shortcomings too. If the affordable phone sacrifices a little too much for your liking, with a little bit of patience there’s always going to be another new lineup to take its place.
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