iPhone SE (3rd Gen) Review
The spring Apple Event in March 2022 brought with it a whole host of pioneering developments, but one particularly exciting announcement is the launch of the new and improved iPhone SE (3rd Gen). This is the third iteration of iPhone SE to be released, and it offers the same compact size and midrange price tag as its predecessors, along with a range of premium specs. We take a closer look at the design, camera system and other central features of iPhone SE (3rd Gen) in more detail below.
iPhone SE Design & Display
Designed to be ‘pocket friendly’, size is one of the first things you notice about the new iPhone SE. Apple has kept to tradition with a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, with a wide colour gamut and True Tone technology, to ensure the colour saturation on screen adjusts according to your ambient light. It may be on the smaller end of the scale, but the widescreen LCD display can still provide an immersive viewing experience, with vivid colour and smooth transitions whether you’re gaming, scrolling through socials or catching up on your favourite shows.
This handset is made of a durable aluminium frame, while the front and back are both glass, covered with an oleophobic coating to resist fingerprint marks. Another key component of the design is Apple’s signature home button, which transforms functionality and houses a fully integrated Tough ID fingerprint sensor for speedy access to your device. This durable handset also features Apple's toughest glass to date on both the front and back, while the handset is rated IP67 water and dust resistant.
iPhone SE Camera System
The camera system on this device manages to combine simplicity with high performance, which is in part thanks to the intelligence of the A15 Bionic chip. There’s a single 12MP wide lens on the rear, with no shortage of high spec software and features to experiment with.
Take beautifully lit photos in dim lighting with Night Mode, or capture crisp images of your favourite people in Portrait Mode, which comes equipped with Depth Control and advanced Bokeh, so you can always keep your subject in focus. There are six different Portrait Lighting effects to try out too, ranging from Natural, Studio and Contour to High-Key Light Mono. Meanwhile, Smart HDR 4 will get to work refining the contrast and lighting in your images, fine-tuning the balance until you’ve got the best possible version of every shot.
Avid videographers will be pleased to hear that recording in 4K is available at a range of different frames per second. Plus, cinematic image stabilisation is on hand to make shaky footage a thing of the past, and bump your film up to professional grade. With technology powered by the A15 Bionic, you can now also make the most of filming after dark and capture true-to-life colour – be it a slow sunset or your friends around the fire.
iPhone SE Power
iPhone SE (3rd Gen) arrives with Apple’s fastest chip yet, the A15 Bionic, ensuring a super smooth, efficient user experience overall. iPhone SE (3rd Gen) is the first SE device to arrive 5G-Ready to enable faster downloads, streaming, gaming and Facetime calls in high definition.
In terms of operating system, this device runs iOS 15, which is designed to be both intuitive and accessible, with a handful of new features to unpack too. For example, Shareplay allows you to watch shows or listen to podcasts at the same time as your contacts on a FaceTime call, so you can experience things together no matter where you are in the world. Spatial audio is another popular addition that will transform your video calls when using AirPods, as it positions the sound of individual voices to match their location on your display, helping virtual conversation to feel more natural.
iPhone SE Battery
One of the big perks of a pocket-sized device with a smaller display is the extended battery life, and the new iPhone SE offers up to 10 hours streamed video playback, and 50 hours audio playback.
When you do start to run low on power, you can charge up in no time with fast charging, which can get you back up to 50% in half an hour with a compatible 20W adapter (sold separately). For those who prefer to avoid cables altogether, you can wireless charge on any Qi-certified charging pad, by simply placing the handset face up on the surface.
Find out more about the latest iPhones at Mobiles.co.uk, or alternatively take a look at our wide range of deals on new and refurbished devices.