Apple iPhone SE 3 after 3 months: Offers unparalleled performance for a phone of its price class but its small display still limits its appeal.
The iPhone 13 dominated smartphone sales globally in Counterpoint Research’s sale tracker for April 2022. An easy one! However, what surprised us most was the absence of the iPhone 13 Mini in the top 10 and the presence of the iPhone SE 3rd Generation, or as we like to call it – the iPhone SE 3. When it launched in March 2022, we did not like it much – it was and still remains an iPhone 8 with a guts of the iPhone 13. This formula was still acceptable in 2020 with the iPhone SE 2 but in 2022, the world has gone ahead by leaps and bound.
And yet for some reason, I continue to use it as my secondary phone, despite having the iPhone 13 Mini at my disposal. Many of my relatives and friends often ask why I stick to the iPhone SE 3 instead of the other ones, when I ain’t reviewing any other smartphone. My answer remains the same – it is simply the most comfortable iPhone top use today. None of the iPhone 13 models can match the sheer comfort this iPhone SE 3 offers.
iPhone SE 3 after 3 months: What still works the best
-It is the size. In a world of behemoth 6.7-inch smartphones, the iPhone SE’s small form factor works wonders. You can use it single handedly without any sweat.
-The iPhone SE 3 is also the most comfortable iPhone sold today. The curved sides don’t hurt the palms and everything is ergonomically placed – the buttons and the Home key.
-The iPhone SE 3 with its A15 chip is simply the top performing smartphone I have seen for less than Rs. 50000. No Snapdragon 888 smartphone can match the sheer ease with which the iPhone SE deals with social media apps, games, and even some video editing sessions on iMovie.
-Yes, the iPhone SE 3 only has a single 12MP rear camera but it works nicely. It does not match the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s still photo quality but photos look pleasant. Unless you are a professional photographer, you will be more than happy with the iPhone SE 3’s rear camera for shooting casual photos and simple videos. Oh yes, it also gets OIS and 4K at 60 fps video recording – not what most Android phones at this price can do.
-The iPhone SE 3 is one of the very few phones under Rs. 50000 to feature a glass-metal body. Moreover, it is IP67 rated for water and dust ingress protection. It might look old but it is easily the best built smartphone in this range. Buy the white and red variants to hide the minor scratches better.
-Lastly, the design has a unique old-school charm. In a sea of phones all looking the same, the iPhone SE 3 with its vintage bezels, the home button, and a single rear camera stands out.
iPhone SE 3 after 3 months: What still saddens
-You probably saw it coming – the tiny 4.7-inch display. This tiny LCD display is simply not enough to consume your daily dose of social media, especially next to OLED-equipped Android phones. You don’t even get a high refresh rate here.
-Small size means small battery and after three months with several iOS 15 updates installed, the iPhone SE 3 still needs to be charged by the evening. Note that this is despite me using it as a secondary smartphone. You need to carry a power bank with this one if this is your only smartphone.
-Starting at just around Rs. 42,000 on Flipkart, the iPhone SE 3 is quite expensive for what it offers. Android phones at this price offer more value, especially in terms of battery capacity, multiple cameras, and larger displays.
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