I'm an old school sort of tech buyer, so the iPhone SE (2022) was a logical choice to replace my trusty iPhone 7, which lasted a number of good years. Built on the same form factor as the iPH 7-8, the SE feels friendly and familiar. I believe it's the last model with a physical Home button. I opted to set-up my new phone manually for a completely clean start, syncing with my MacBook Air via the Finder menu. As an older tech user, I allowed extra time for set-up, activation, and tweaking settings, and was pleasantly surprised to have everything up and running smoothly quicker than expected. With a newer processor and longer battery life, the iPhone SE is the perfect step-up for iPhone 7 & 8 users. I like the smaller, pocketable size, and the home button. I rarely use ... MoreI'm an old school sort of tech buyer, so the iPhone SE (2022) was a logical choice to replace my trusty iPhone 7, which lasted a number of good years. Built on the same form factor as the iPH 7-8, the SE feels friendly and familiar. I believe it's the last model with a physical Home button. I opted to set-up my new phone manually for a completely clean start, syncing with my MacBook Air via the Finder menu. As an older tech user, I allowed extra time for set-up, activation, and tweaking settings, and was pleasantly surprised to have everything up and running smoothly quicker than expected. With a newer processor and longer battery life, the iPhone SE is the perfect step-up for iPhone 7 & 8 users. I like the smaller, pocketable size, and the home button. I rarely use my cell phone camera and prefer a digital SLR camera for photography, so the SE's single camera lens is a non-issue for me. Even my beloved Otterbox Symmetry case transferred over with ease. The deciding factor for many people will be the price, which is quite a bit less than other models in the iPhone lineup. The iPhone SE 3rd Gen (2022) is worth considering.

The Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) in Starlight with 64GB has quickly become my go-to device for everyday use. Here’s a deep dive into my experience with this phone: **Personal Insights:** The iPhone SE (3rd Gen) offers a compact design that fits perfectly in my hand and pocket, making it incredibly convenient for on-the-go use. The Starlight color adds a touch of elegance, and the build quality feels solid and premium. Despite its small size, the performance is impressive, with the A15 Bionic chip handling everything from multitasking to gaming with ease. **Pros:** - **Performance:** The A15 Bionic chip delivers fast and smooth performance, handling apps, games, and multitasking with no lag. - **Compact Design:** Its small size makes it easy to carry around and operate ... MoreThe Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) in Starlight with 64GB has quickly become my go-to device for everyday use. Here’s a deep dive into my experience with this phone: **Personal Insights:** The iPhone SE (3rd Gen) offers a compact design that fits perfectly in my hand and pocket, making it incredibly convenient for on-the-go use. The Starlight color adds a touch of elegance, and the build quality feels solid and premium. Despite its small size, the performance is impressive, with the A15 Bionic chip handling everything from multitasking to gaming with ease. **Pros:** - **Performance:** The A15 Bionic chip delivers fast and smooth performance, handling apps, games, and multitasking with no lag. - **Compact Design:** Its small size makes it easy to carry around and operate with one hand, which is perfect for those who prefer a more portable phone. - **Camera Quality:** The 12MP rear camera captures vibrant and detailed photos, and the front-facing camera is great for selfies and FaceTime. - **Value for Money:** Given its performance and build quality, the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) offers excellent value, especially for those who don’t need all the high-end features of more expensive models. **Cons:** - **Battery Life:** While the battery life is adequate for a day’s use, it’s not as long-lasting as some of the larger iPhone models, which might be a drawback for heavy users. - **Storage Limitations:** The 64GB storage might feel restrictive if you store a lot of photos, videos, or apps, as there’s no option to expand storage. **Daily Life Fit:** In my daily life, the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) excels with its fast performance and compact size. It’s perfect for quick browsing, social media, and occasional photography. Its portability is a major advantage for my busy lifestyle, and while I occasionally wish for more storage, the overall experience has been positive. **Recommendation:** The iPhone SE (3rd Gen) is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a powerful, compact smartphone at a more affordable price point. It’s ideal for those who appreciate high performance and a premium feel but don’t need the larger screen or extensive features of higher-end models. If you’re seeking a reliable and stylish phone that fits comfortably in your hand, this model is definitely worth considering. Overall, I’d rate the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) at **4.5 out of 5 stars**. It delivers excellent value and performance, with only a few minor drawbacks that don't overshadow its many strengths.

Good and Bad

I bought this phone to replace an android phone which was too big and heavy for me. This is a much better size and weight and fits nicely in my pocket.The operating system is quick and the screen clear.HOWEVER it has some serious drawbacks: I don't like the physical home button which seems dated and cheap compared to the touch screen home button on my android phone and sometimes takes several hard presses before it works. It also means that the bottom 1cm of the screen where the home button is, can't be used and is blacked out. This often means I can't get past the cookie preference pages of websites as the bottom of the page where you make your selection is cut off. The top 1cm of the screen is also blacked out, so that amounts to quite a lot of unusable screen ... MoreI bought this phone to replace an android phone which was too big and heavy for me. This is a much better size and weight and fits nicely in my pocket.The operating system is quick and the screen clear.HOWEVER it has some serious drawbacks: I don't like the physical home button which seems dated and cheap compared to the touch screen home button on my android phone and sometimes takes several hard presses before it works. It also means that the bottom 1cm of the screen where the home button is, can't be used and is blacked out. This often means I can't get past the cookie preference pages of websites as the bottom of the page where you make your selection is cut off. The top 1cm of the screen is also blacked out, so that amounts to quite a lot of unusable screen space considering the screen is not very big to start with.It can also be difficult to edit texts as the cursor often doesn't appear where I touch the screen and it keeps trying to cut and paste.I know this is one of the cheapest iPhones at the moment, but it is still a lot of money and I would expect better spec at that price. I'm surprised and disappointed in Apple and would expect more from them as a premium brand.

Good phone, irritating Apple apps and business practices

I purchased this phone because it was the least expensive new (not refurbished) Apple phone that I could buy. It is a good phone, but lacks some of the features of the newest phones in Apple's offerings. Things that I found annoying about the new phone experience, that are not necessarily unique to this model. 1) The save/restore process to get content from my old phone to the new one was quirky and troublesome. It took me the better part of an evening and an extreme amount of patience to get everything transferred. 2) The setup process was somewhat insistent on setting up a wallet and other features, which I don't want to use. Ask once and then never ask again! 3) Free trials of Apple TV, arcade, and other apps popped up more than once. Once again, ask me one time ... MoreI purchased this phone because it was the least expensive new (not refurbished) Apple phone that I could buy. It is a good phone, but lacks some of the features of the newest phones in Apple's offerings. Things that I found annoying about the new phone experience, that are not necessarily unique to this model. 1) The save/restore process to get content from my old phone to the new one was quirky and troublesome. It took me the better part of an evening and an extreme amount of patience to get everything transferred. 2) The setup process was somewhat insistent on setting up a wallet and other features, which I don't want to use. Ask once and then never ask again! 3) Free trials of Apple TV, arcade, and other apps popped up more than once. Once again, ask me one time and then leave me alone. Or better yet, don't ask at all; you are just trying to get me to sign up for something that in a months is going to increase my bill if I forget to uninstall it and cancel those services.In general, I find that Apple has great phones, but I don't like the fact that Apple devices don't easily work and play well with other non-Apple products, like Windows PC's. This is done on purpose, in an attempt to get you to buy more Apple products.

Great Value Replacement for iPhone 7

This was purchased to replace an iPhone 7 that was no longer holding its charge. This iPhone SE only needs to be charged once a day rather than at least twice with the 7.My only gripe is that there is no longer a plug provided and you can not use your old lightning cable and plug so you have to purchase a new one with a USB -C fitting. However, the upside of this is that charging is so fast now.I considered purchasing an iPhone 13 mini but Apple have withdrawn this model and I don't like the size of other iPhones. The SE is perfect size wise, easy to put into pocket's and for those of us with small hands.Did not realise how sluggish my iPhone 7 was until I downloaded and used all the additional features provided with the SE.I also took advantage of Apples offer ... MoreThis was purchased to replace an iPhone 7 that was no longer holding its charge. This iPhone SE only needs to be charged once a day rather than at least twice with the 7.My only gripe is that there is no longer a plug provided and you can not use your old lightning cable and plug so you have to purchase a new one with a USB -C fitting. However, the upside of this is that charging is so fast now.I considered purchasing an iPhone 13 mini but Apple have withdrawn this model and I don't like the size of other iPhones. The SE is perfect size wise, easy to put into pocket's and for those of us with small hands.Did not realise how sluggish my iPhone 7 was until I downloaded and used all the additional features provided with the SE.I also took advantage of Apples offer to take my old phone in part exchange which paid for the new Power Adapter and earphones.

Minimalist Apple - Rather Frustrating!

Bought this iPhone to replace my aging iPhone 6 as its battery was on its last legs and this 2022SE version seemed to be similar to my old phone but with good battery life and assurance of typical Apple support for years to come. So far so good, but when I unpacked my new model I was disappointed to find a charging cable but no charger and no "getting started" user guide. I was also frustrated that there was no earphone jack. I had to go online to get some start up help and was informed that I needed a new style USB-C charger, so I subsequently purchased one - at additional cost, afterwards discovering that my old charger was perfectly adequate if but a little slower to charge. To use my earphones I seemingly have to buy an appropriate adapter. I do have ear-pods ... MoreBought this iPhone to replace my aging iPhone 6 as its battery was on its last legs and this 2022SE version seemed to be similar to my old phone but with good battery life and assurance of typical Apple support for years to come. So far so good, but when I unpacked my new model I was disappointed to find a charging cable but no charger and no "getting started" user guide. I was also frustrated that there was no earphone jack. I had to go online to get some start up help and was informed that I needed a new style USB-C charger, so I subsequently purchased one - at additional cost, afterwards discovering that my old charger was perfectly adequate if but a little slower to charge. To use my earphones I seemingly have to buy an appropriate adapter. I do have ear-pods but don't like falling asleep with them - hence my preference for wired phones.Hence the review title - Minimalist Apple - and me only awarding 3 stars when with a little less penny-pinching from Apple I'm sure it would have been 5. Product itself is fine and I had no difficulty transferring all my settings from the old phone using ICloud.

Mixed feelings

Cons: If you are used to using an Android phone and this will be your first iPhone, you might be in for a shock. This is my first iPhone after having multiple Android phones over the years. To me, the iPhone is way less user friendly. And there are so many settings it's overwhelming. Way too complicated.Pros: The phone is much faster than all previous Androids phones I have ever used, which is definitely a plus. I like the small, compact size. The quality of the display is really good.Overall, not super impressed. I don't really get the hype of the iPhone. I guess if you spend several hours a day using your phone, this would be a good phone for you. But to me if you just want calls, texts, and basic internet searches, basic social media, it's more phone than you ... MoreCons: If you are used to using an Android phone and this will be your first iPhone, you might be in for a shock. This is my first iPhone after having multiple Android phones over the years. To me, the iPhone is way less user friendly. And there are so many settings it's overwhelming. Way too complicated.Pros: The phone is much faster than all previous Androids phones I have ever used, which is definitely a plus. I like the small, compact size. The quality of the display is really good.Overall, not super impressed. I don't really get the hype of the iPhone. I guess if you spend several hours a day using your phone, this would be a good phone for you. But to me if you just want calls, texts, and basic internet searches, basic social media, it's more phone than you probably need.Honestly, the main reason I got this phone is because it was on sale and I liked the small size.

Not Worth The Price!

First-off, buying from carrier places with discounts or second-hand would be my go-to. The battery on this phone lasts around 4-5 hours with heavy to moderate usage which improves on the 2nd gen SE but still not great. The display doesn't get as bright as I'd want it to get and the screen size is small, but considering it has a forgiving p3 color gamit and true tone I wouldn't complain too much except way more than a couple things. I have to nitpick about this particular phone and SE generation (3rd) with the lack of changes to its predecessor and the rest of phones in its price range. It boasts a design and screen size comparable to that of a decade old iPhone 6. The cameras are comparable to the iPhone 8 which this phone is based off of and it's decent but again ... MoreFirst-off, buying from carrier places with discounts or second-hand would be my go-to. The battery on this phone lasts around 4-5 hours with heavy to moderate usage which improves on the 2nd gen SE but still not great. The display doesn't get as bright as I'd want it to get and the screen size is small, but considering it has a forgiving p3 color gamit and true tone I wouldn't complain too much except way more than a couple things. I have to nitpick about this particular phone and SE generation (3rd) with the lack of changes to its predecessor and the rest of phones in its price range. It boasts a design and screen size comparable to that of a decade old iPhone 6. The cameras are comparable to the iPhone 8 which this phone is based off of and it's decent but again for its price no thanks. It feels out of place from the rest of the iPhone line and rightfully so. Its storage is also lacking a whole lot, with only 64gb in 2024, seriously Apple? An iPhone 13 mini sold second-hand is cheaper, has more sized screen estate while having a smaller footprint, base 128gb storage, a newer design, all while being cheaper than the the SE 3's price brand new which makes it a no-brainer pick. Smartphones like Samsung or Pixel have phones around that price range that offer way more to the table. Now, is the phone bad itself? no, it'd actually be great if it's value wasn't so bad. This phone goes for 180 refurbished and maybe even cheaper. If you wanna get ripped off though, buy it brand new.

Sticking with the Great phone

I have had this phone for a couple of years and I still love it. It has held up very well. The memory does it job just pick the right size of mb. I am waiting for os 18. The photos i take are great during the day and ambient light is good shot properly. Videos play well and the stereo sound is a bonus. The Touch ID is the joy of the bunch. It helps you sign in or purchase something without having to fumble through cards. The screen is nice in size for movies but I don’t do games. You have many wallpapers to choose from. Setting the phone up is easy just set up an account and build up what you want on the phone. If you have to reset your phone sign back into your account and select the recent backup. The sound is fine and I have no problem hearing the caller. Or ... MoreI have had this phone for a couple of years and I still love it. It has held up very well. The memory does it job just pick the right size of mb. I am waiting for os 18. The photos i take are great during the day and ambient light is good shot properly. Videos play well and the stereo sound is a bonus. The Touch ID is the joy of the bunch. It helps you sign in or purchase something without having to fumble through cards. The screen is nice in size for movies but I don’t do games. You have many wallpapers to choose from. Setting the phone up is easy just set up an account and build up what you want on the phone. If you have to reset your phone sign back into your account and select the recent backup. The sound is fine and I have no problem hearing the caller. Or music. The phone has no dropping off problems except for the service. As expected. I looked on w m and the reason the phone is not expensive is because the carrier in question is making money for paying for the service. I’d buy the phone because these other ones don’t update the os. Have fun.

Used but not refurbished

I already had an SE 2nd gen and I tried to get it fixed at Best Buy, but it had some water damage so they couldn’t fix it and it was just cheaper to buy this used phone than to drive to an Apple Store to have it fixed. I just wanted to use it as a media player, like the iPod touch. When I got the phone home and set it up, I found that the battery was really degraded and needed to be replaced, and of course I hadn’t thought of getting the protection plan when I bought it in store. I later went back to try to either get the plan or trade it for a different one, and the employee who had sold me the phone said that all of the phones are likely going to need repair and I was also told by the SAME employee that sold the phone to me and offered a protection plan, that ... MoreI already had an SE 2nd gen and I tried to get it fixed at Best Buy, but it had some water damage so they couldn’t fix it and it was just cheaper to buy this used phone than to drive to an Apple Store to have it fixed. I just wanted to use it as a media player, like the iPod touch. When I got the phone home and set it up, I found that the battery was really degraded and needed to be replaced, and of course I hadn’t thought of getting the protection plan when I bought it in store. I later went back to try to either get the plan or trade it for a different one, and the employee who had sold me the phone said that all of the phones are likely going to need repair and I was also told by the SAME employee that sold the phone to me and offered a protection plan, that protection plans aren’t offered on used phones, and when I claimed that a service rep on the website said they were, she simply said that she has sold many used phones and protection plans have never been offered on them. I then asked to get a quote on the battery replacement ($59) and she also said it would take 1-4 weeks (my trip was in less than two) and she couldn’t promise when it would be ready since they don’t do it in store but in some facility somewhere else. So I just got the battery replaced at a nearby Batteries+Bulbs. Idk if this is just an issue with this store or not, but I feel kind of scammed. The phone works great, but the fact that the “refurbished” phone wasn’t actually refurbished is just false advertising. I’m going to keep the phone, but I think that buying a used phone might be safer to do from eBay or Apple themselves.