UP
Our takeEditorialThe SE 3rd Gen is the last small iPhone with a home button - the tiny battery and dim screen are real trade-offs, but the form factor is unique.
Apple
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
5.0/10 UpPhone score
The last home-button iPhone - a 4.7-inch compact with A15 Bionic and 5G for those who want small and familiar.
Verified for iOS
Screen
4.7"
Chip
Apple A15 Bionic
Camera
12 MP
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“Touch ID, 144g, 4.7 inches - if that form factor is the priority, nothing else in iPhone delivers it.”
“A 2022 phone with a 2018 mAh battery, 625 nit screen, and no Apple Intelligence for $249 is a hard sell.”
Our take
The last home-button iPhone - a 4.7-inch compact with A15 Bionic and 5G for those who want small and familiar.
The iPhone SE (3rd Gen) is a phone out of time in the best and worst ways. Released in 2022, it preserves the 4.7-inch form factor with a physical home button, Touch ID fingerprint reader, and thick bezels from an earlier era of iPhone design. That home button is precisely its appeal for many: one-thumb operation, a familiar unlock method, and a compact size that most flagship phones abandoned years ago. The A15 Bionic chip was current-generation at launch and still handles modern iOS with ease, and 5G is supported. The trade-offs are numerous: a 2018 mAh battery that rarely makes it through a full day of active use, a 625 nit brightness ceiling that struggles in direct sunlight, 4 GB of RAM (half the modern iPhone standard), and no ultrawide or telephoto camera. Available at $249 through Ting, it is the cheapest iPhone currently available. For those who genuinely need the small footprint or Touch ID, it fills a specific need.
What we love
- 4.7-inch compact size with home button and Touch ID
- A15 Bionic handles modern iOS comfortably
- 5G connectivity
- Lightest production iPhone at 144g
- $249 is the lowest iPhone price currently available
- IP67 water resistance
What we don't
- 2018 mAh battery does not comfortably cover a full day
- 625 nit peak brightness is significantly below current iPhones
- Single 12 MP rear camera with no ultrawide or telephoto
- 4 GB RAM is half the modern iPhone standard
- Thick bezels and physical home button feel dated
- 60 Hz LCD panel rather than OLED
- No Apple Intelligence support
Full specifications
Display
Size4.7"
Resolution1334 x 750 px
PPI326
Performance
ChipApple A15 Bionic
Camera
Rear camera12 MP
Front camera7 MP
Battery
Wireless charging7.5 W wireless (Qi)
Design
Dimensions138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) on individual carriers
All 7 plans with Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
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Frequently asked questions about the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
What kind of display does the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) have?
The 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD runs at 1334 x 750 pixels and 326 ppi. At 625 nits peak brightness it is the dimmest display in any currently available iPhone by a wide margin. In direct sunlight this is a genuine limitation. No OLED, no ProMotion, no 120 Hz - fixed 60 Hz is the only option. True Tone is present. The display is adequate indoors and in moderate lighting, and the smaller physical size means fewer pixels need to be filled for sharp rendering. Anyone coming from a recent iPhone OLED will find the SE display a visible step down.
What kind of camera does the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) have?
A single 12 MP f/1.8 rear camera with OIS is the entire rear camera system. No ultrawide, no macro, no telephoto. 4K 60 fps video is supported, and Apple's computational photography pipeline including Smart HDR 4 is available through A15 processing. The 7 MP front camera handles selfies and FaceTime. Portrait Mode is available using depth estimation from the single lens rather than a dedicated depth sensor. For the price point the single camera is functional, but anyone who regularly uses ultrawide or zoom will find the SE limiting.
What is the battery life of the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)?
The 2018 mAh battery is the smallest in any current iPhone by a significant margin. Under moderate use - browsing, streaming, some navigation - a full day is attainable for light users. Heavy use will require a midday top-up. Wired charging at 20W provides a full charge in approximately 90 minutes. Wireless charging tops at 8W Qi, though there is no MagSafe. Low Power Mode extends endurance but impacts performance. The battery is the SE's most limiting practical characteristic.
What processor does the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) use?
The A15 Bionic was Apple's flagship chip in 2021, and it handles all current iOS workloads without strain. Apps launch quickly, games run well, and the system remains responsive. However, 4 GB of RAM is below the 8 GB minimum for Apple Intelligence, meaning the SE does not support Apple's on-device AI features. iOS updates and app support will continue for several more years, but A15 does not carry the Apple Intelligence capability that current iPhones provide.
How much storage does the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) have?
64 GB is a tight floor in 2026. The SE also ships in 128 GB and 256 GB. At 64 GB, local photo libraries, offline music, and app storage compete for limited space. iCloud Photo Library essentially becomes mandatory for any active photo library. There is no microSD slot. The 128 GB tier is the more practical minimum for most use cases. The Lightning connector rather than USB-C means older accessories remain compatible but newer USB-C accessories are not.
What kind of speakers does the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) have?
Stereo speaker configuration with earpiece and bottom-firing unit. Spatial Audio support is present. The 4.7-inch chassis produces lower maximum volume and less bass extension than any current full-screen iPhone. Audio quality is adequate for calls and casual listening. No 3.5 mm headphone jack (removed since iPhone 7); Lightning and Bluetooth are the audio paths.
Does the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) support fingerprint or face unlock?
Touch ID via the front physical home button provides fingerprint-based authentication. The home button is capacitive and integrates with the Taptic Engine for haptic feedback. Touch ID works with gloves or wet fingers to a limited degree. Face ID is not present - this is the last iPhone to use Touch ID exclusively. For those who prefer touch-based unlocking or use the phone in situations where face unlock is impractical, this is a genuine advantage.
Is the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) water-resistant?
IP67 rated to 1 meter for 30 minutes in fresh water - one step below the IP68 rating on current iPhones. This covers rain, splashes, and brief accidental submersion. Pool, ocean, and shower exposure should be avoided. The protection level is still adequate for everyday accidents, though it does not match the deeper water resistance of newer models.
