iPhone SE (3rd generation)

[...] Like the OP, I switched from Android (Pixel 3a) to an iPhone SE 3 specifically for the smaller form factor. After using it for over a year, I've found the trade-offs in battery life and camera quality are too significant for my daily use. These limitations aren't an issue when I'm at home or my desk with easy access to a charger. [...] For example, using GPS for navigation or connecting Bluetooth accessories becomes a liability. [...] Also, photos are noticeably more pixelated, and the quality drop-off is clear compared to larger, contemporary phones. [...] But it's for people willing to accept these compromises by carrying a dedicated camera, a power bank, and using wired peripherals. [...]

[...] Just make it cheaper, smaller, and with guaranteed security updates for as long as possible. The only wired headphones I own are high-impedance """audiophile""" headphones, that a phone couldn't really drive in the first place. As for storage, I don't do a whole lot on my phone except for messaging and looking things up on-the-go, none of which needs much in terms of storage space. I've had my current phone (iPhone SE3, 128GB) for over 2 years, and I've never even had to delete anything (and when the day comes, I'll transfer the contents of the photo gallery over to external storage).

I believe that it worth, worth very much. I have this model (purchased in summer 2022 - 3 and 1/2 years ago) and I am fully satisfied of it; more than a phone, is a true mini tablet: I used it during my last journeys to take photos and videos and goes great; supports also the 5G and opens perfectly all the websites without any slowdown; has a good sound quality as media player and the display is still perfect; I recently updated it to IOS 26.3 and works perfectly; the battery has still 90% of its efficency. [...]

[...] I have pads for big screen stuff and a versatile digital camera for even better photos.

I bought the 256gb version directly from Apple a few years ago. [...]

[...] The battery life did go out rather quickly. The camera on this phone was nice and crisp. [...]

Watching this on my se3, I bought it for $130 last year. [...] The battery is starting to show its age and I’m planning on getting a replacement. I just wish I got the 128gb version because 64gb is nothing with the space of the new updates

My daily driver is a de-Googled LineageOS device, but I purchased a $50us iPhone SE 3 for FaceTime. [...]

OK, tried it on an iPhone SE 3rd generation (least powerful of new phones) and it works on 500 or so at a time. [...] I take a lot of snaps of Yosemite webams and WQXR screens in the middle of the night so I can remember the unusual piece I woke up and heard [0]. There are several groups of webcam photos, and in the group, none identical. [...] I can start clean any day, and some duplicates are just an annotated photo (meme) with the original lying around in case I get a better idea. [...] Now and then, I copy the entire roll to the computer, so I could empty the phone any old day, but if I could capture those groups, the large ones, and perhaps tag or rename the photos, it would help me enormously to avoid the endless search for that ONE graphic I want to post RIGHT NOW. [...] Some days, I am tempted to rename every one of 6000 photos on the computer just so I can find the one I want. [...] [0] In the boondocks, I like some music to mask weird sounds. [...] I was using an iPad Air 2 to do this but it sprouted a bulge indicating possible battery explosion, so it is getting wiped and recycled. [...]

[...] I'm not having performance issues on an iPhone SE 3, which should be a lot less powerful, but perhaps I haven't bumped into them. [...] Siri was broken for me for the first few days but suddenly began working again! [...] I have no clue what fixed it because it wasn't a software update.

[...] Apply can pry my iPhone SE 3 from my cold dead hands. [...] I don't understand why I can't just have this same phone with a slightly better camera. [...]

My roast summary with referrer field disabled: "Brave of you to arrive here directly from nowhere like a digital hermit, flexing 16 CPU cores just to run Edge 132.0.0.0 like it’s a beta-testing crisis hotline—enjoying Wisconsin’s -40° wind chills so much you’ve even got your browser set to "arctic Blink engine." At least your 2560x1440 screen lets you see exactly how lonely that empty referrer field looks." This is the most fun post/link I've interacted with across social media all week, haha. [...] Edit: Here's the roast from my iPhone SE 3 device on 5G cellular (thinks I'm in Atlanta for some reason, lol): "Roast: Oh, an iOS 18 beta user in Atlanta—how bold of you to test Apple’s unfinished bugs while flexing that three-core “supercomputer” like Georgia’s tech scene peaked with a fax machine. Your screen’s so tiny (375x667) it makes Hacker News look like a MySpace page, which tracks, since you clearly clicked here mid-procrastination scroll to avoid finishing your side hustle. Congrats on being the NPC who still uses “Mobile Safari” unironically—your cookie-enabled loyalty to Apple is almost as tragic as your referral from a site where everyone’s arguing about TypeScript." Deeper research pointed to Apple's "Displays" kb page for UIKit Size, and it tracks with my device type, as SE 3 is based on iPhone 8 [0] [0]

[...] I would be inclined to go with an iPhone SE3, moreso than one of the mainline devices, simply for fingerprint scanning versus the FaceID stuff. [...]

On my iPhone SE 3: - Accessibility - Display & Text Size - Colour Filters - Greyscale switches it on. It also sets the default colour filter which is helpful because ... - Accessibility - Accessibility Shortcut - Colour Filters means you can then triple-press the Home button (on an SE) to toggle that setting at any time As various studies have suggested in the past, I do find I use it less in greyscale.

[...] This phone isn’t ideal for gaming or watching videos for hours but it’s a great daily driver for me. [...]

[...] Instead of discontinuing it, they should’ve kept the home button and kept the size and put some upgrades in it. [...] Sometimes you don’t want all these silly cameras. [...]

Iphone SE 3 daily user. The battery condition is at 87 percent. Under heavy use, I do need to connect it to a portable battery. [...] The camera works great for everything I have ever needed, which is mostly selfies for ID verification and plain old day-to-day shots.

[...] I am on team home button through and through, and am sad that they won’t be updating and creating new home button phones. [...]

Personally, the iPhone SE (3rd gen) feels like an iPhone Air mini to me. Its pocketable size and light weight matter far more than having a multi-camera setup or—God forbid—Apple Intelligence, which isn’t even available yet. And honestly, Face ID still can’t beat the instant, no-nonsense unlock of Touch ID, without having to do that unnecessary swipe up.

I bought a cheap, used iPhone SE3 because I needed to Facetime relatives. [...] That being said, if I want to run a torrent client on my phone, I should be able to do so. [...]

Hey! I'm that older guy!😢 I bought se on 2022 still using as I only need for calls , texting, emails and paying. Plus I like the fact that is small, but I understand that I will eventually move on to the 17 when the new iphone 21 hits the market 😅😂

Watching from my SE right now, probably best phone I ever had. Got it in 2023 and I’ve dropped it so hard so many times and it refuses to crack.

proud to say i have iphone se 2022 too and i'm using it more then 3.5 years, today i just go to lab and replace the battery. i'm just happy with this iphone and not wanna replace it soon, its have strong cpu and for my basic used is more then enough :) don't think too much just replace the battery once is under 80% and get more time with this phone.

I still have my iPhone Se 3 had it for a year and it’s still a good phone to use

I upgraded to it from an iPhone 7 in 2022 and the change was insane

Bought my SE3 new just after release in March 2022. My only issue today is storage - 64gb is not enough these days. Reminds me of having an 8gb iPhone 4 in 2012 😅

[...] I will still work, just not in this increasingly-bullshit industry, and I’ve already reduced my usage/reliance on technology as much as possible in my personal life (I’m still rocking an iPhone SE3 on an outdated iOS version for example, as nothing since then fits my requirements. [...] how do you spend your young retirement days, does it ever feel like you have too much time but no reason to work towards anything since you have the money or are you still in the fight working towards some purpose I’m nowhere near retirement in the common meaning of the word but I have some money saved up which allows me to spend a year or so away from the increasingly-bullshit technology industry in which I started my career. [...]

[...] This can be done with physical+esim, which my iPhone SE3 has. [...]

I'm still using a 2018 MBP & iPhone SE 3 because newer Apple devices make my eyes hurt for the rest of the day after a few hours of use. PWM is awful. I can tell within seconds of seeing a screen if it has PWM and usually I start to get eye issues within a few minutes.

[...] For my one use case I noticed that the newest iOS release doesn't appear to be tested on the iPhone SE 3. The "Press home to unlock" and "X new notification" texts are now laid on top of each other on the lock screen. [...]

I used an iPhone from launch to the iPhone SE3 and I can't recall there ever being a feature printed on the box or hyped by Steve Jobs on stage that did not work out of the box, or that later stopped working.

I upgraded from an iPhone 8 to an iPhone SE 3 but would have loved to have had a Mini as an option. The SE 3 is still small enough for me to use one handed but I know that isn't the case for a lot of people.

I have an Iphone SE3, and for some reason it actually has a pretty sustainable battery despite what people say about it, lasting me the whole day. It also charges SUPER fast!

I got an iPhone SE 3rd gen off eBay for 120$ usd with 256gb of storage in “grade d” condition but it only had one very small scratch in the screen and one on the back, also came with 100% battery health which I was not expecting at all

I have one, color red, and I love it. The battery is around 80% capacity now, as soon as it drops under 80% I will have it replaced and I plan on using this phone for at least 4 more years

Honestly as a light phone user getting an iphone for the first time I went for it, the 13 mini was more than a hundred bucks more for anything that I would use and honestly I love the small form being usable with one hand and Touch ID pretty nice value for the money

My junkie phone broke my friend had this one sitting she gave it to me to use it's my first iPhone I've ever had honestly it feels great in my hands I like it.

I find it more comfortable to hold and use. Social media just looks better on 16:9 screen.

I love how small and thin it is. I wish i got the 256gb red instead.

Dude I have a new iPhone 16 pro and I got another SE 2022 and I swear it’s surprisingly good compared to the price range

I got mine. And it suits for everything I need. Battery is on 86% but i got wirelles charger at home and at work, so got no problem at all.

I downgraded from my 16 to this one. I’m happy I no longer have to carry around a brick. I don’t need or want a big phone. I love my SE 3.

I just got the SE3 for my 13th birthday a couple days ago and big update from the Samsung a10e I used that phone for 4 years it was so laggy and my mom said that this was the newest one she and my sister could afford and best phone I have ever had w mom

I use my SE 3 for photos of flowers and landscape. I also use it with various lens attachments.

Ive got two i still use. Battery life could be better but its a great iphone. Its super fast and does everything

still got SE2 i bought second hand, it works fine, stop buying new phones willy nilly.

I have this phone, upgraded from a google pixel 6 my mum had got me in June of 2025. It’s my first iPhone and I absolutely love it! I wanted an iPhone 6 but I didn’t realise they stopped updating phones after a specific amount of time, so this was my safest option.

[...] I reluctantly traded in my iPhone 8 Plus for it, which I used with a DxO ONE camera (amazing and underrated piece) and to feed music to a Chord Mojo 2. I was bummed out about letting go of what I think is such a nice phone (and its home button), outdated as it might be. Thankfully, I found out I can use the iPhone SE 3 for the same purpose AND it has a home button. [...]

Im using a SE 3rd gen as a Ipod touch replacement. From when I want to use my phone for things without the phone push notifications. Can completely disconnect from all the normal distractions

I'm using the SE3 and plan to continue using it as long as it does what I need.