Affordable entry-level iPhone with solid performance and iOS ecosystem at a very low price.
Price vs. rivals
Cheaper
CheaperTypicalPricier
Priced significantly below typical new iPhone SE models, and on the lower end even among renewed alternatives, reflecting its older generation and refurbished condition.
Ease of use
Great 82/100
The iPhone SE 3rd Gen offers a familiar iOS interface with responsive performance, making it easy for most users, though the smaller screen may require slight adjustments for those used to larger displays.
Overview
This is the iPhone SE 3 – a phone that shoves the same A15 Bionic chip you’d find in an iPhone 13 into the body of an iPhone 8. Same 4.7-inch LCD, same chunky bezels, same clicky home button with Touch ID. It solves one problem efficiently: you want a small, fast phone without spending a grand. The catch is you have to be okay with a design that hasn’t changed since 2017. For $124.99 as a refurbished unit, that trade-off suddenly looks very reasonable.
Who is this really for? People who miss phones that fit in one hand. People who want current-generation performance without the glass-and-titanium price tag. And especially anyone looking for a reliable backup phone or a first smartphone for a kid or older relative. It’s not flashy. It just works.
Key Features
A15 Bionic chip – Same processor as the iPhone 13 and 14. That means apps open instantly, games run smooth, and you’ll get software updates for years. Performance never feels like you’re on a budget phone.
4.7-inch Retina HD display – It’s small by 2024 standards, but it’s sharp enough for texts, maps, and YouTube. LCD, not OLED, so blacks are more gray, but outdoor visibility is solid. Big bezels are the trade-off for the home button.
Touch ID home button – Works with masks, wet fingers, and in the dark. No swiping up, no Face ID failures. If you’ve ever cursed at a phone that wouldn’t unlock under a face mask, you’ll appreciate this.
Single 12MP camera with Smart HDR 4 – One lens, no ultrawide, no night mode. But daytime shots are genuinely good – colors are natural, processing is fast. Portrait mode works on people and pets, though it’s a bit rough on hair.
5G support – You get faster data when you’ve got a good signal. It’s not blazing fast like mmWave, but sub-6 GHz 5G is plenty for streaming and downloads. A rare feature at this price point.
IP67 water resistance – Survives a splash, a rain shower, or a drop in the sink. Not meant for swimming, but it’s one less thing to panic about.
Fit for You
You’re tired of phones that don’t fit in your front jeans pocket and want something you can use one-handed.
You’re buying a phone for a teenager and want it to be fast enough for Roblox but not expensive enough to cry over when it gets dropped.
You need a cheap but capable backup phone for travel or while your main phone gets repaired.
You prefer Touch ID over Face ID because you wear a mask at work or just find it more reliable.
You’re on a tight budget and need something that will get iOS updates for at least four more years.
You want to switch from Android to iPhone without spending more than $150.
Uses
You’re waiting at the dentist and want to scroll Instagram, check email, and reply to a text all without shifting your grip. The SE 3 handles that effortlessly – the A15 chip doesn’t stutter on any of it. The screen is just big enough to read articles, but you’ll find yourself zooming occasionally.
You’re on a weekend hike and want a phone that’ll survive a drizzle. The IP67 rating means you don’t have to baby it. You snap a few landscape photos – they come out fine in good light, but don’t expect miracles at dusk. The single lens means no wide-angle shots of the canyon, but the main camera is capable.
You’re using it as a dedicated music player in the car. The Lightning port is still here (annoying, I know), but it plugs right into most car stereos. Apple Music sounds clean through wired headphones if you still have a pair with a 3.5mm jack – oh wait, you’ll need a dongle for that.
Experience
Setting it up is straightforward – put your SIM in, press the home button, and follow the on-screen prompts. If you’re coming from an older iPhone, the iCloud restore is painless. The refurbished unit I’m describing (and what you’ll get at this price) may have a few micro-scratches on the screen or a tiny scuff on the aluminum band. Nothing that affects daily use, but don’t expect mint cosmetics.
Day to day, the phone feels snappy. Switching between apps, loading maps, browsing Reddit – it never lags. The battery is the weak spot. You’ll get through a full day with moderate use: a few hours of Spotify, some messaging, maybe 30 minutes of navigation. But if you’re a heavy user – lots of video calls or gaming – you’ll be reaching for a charger by dinner. Fast charging helps (20W adapter sold separately), but there’s no MagSafe, only Qi wireless at 7.5W.
The home button is a delight if you’ve missed it. It’s tactile, fast, and never misreads your fingerprint. The bezels above and below the screen are massive. You’ll notice them every time you watch a video in landscape – the black bars are thick. The speaker is single-firing at the bottom, so don’t expect stereo immersion. It gets loud enough for a podcast in the shower, but music sounds tinny.
One small annoyance: the Lightning port. It’s 2024, and Apple still ships a phone with Lightning. You’ll need a separate cable for your iPad or MacBook if those use USB-C. Not a dealbreaker, but it’s a nuisance. The glass back is slippery – a thin case is almost mandatory. The Midnight color is basically a very dark blue-gray that looks black in most light.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Blazing fast processor – Same A15 as the iPhone 13 means this phone will feel fresh for years. No stutters, no waiting.
Compact and light – Under 150 grams, easy to hold and operate with one hand. Hard to find any phone this small now.
Touch ID works flawlessly – Reliable in ways Face ID still isn’t, especially with wet hands or polarised sunglasses.
Great software support – Apple will update this phone for at least 5-6 years from launch. You’re buying into a long runway.
Incredible value as refurbished – At $124.99, you get flagship performance for less than a cheap Android. The catch is the dated body.
Cons
Battery life is just okay – You’ll get a full day only if you’re conservative. Heavy use needs a midday top-up, and the small battery degrades faster.
Single camera lacks versatility – No ultrawide, no night mode, no telephoto. Low-light photos are noisy, and you can’t zoom in without losing detail.
Big bezels and small screen – The 4.7-inch display feels cramped for typing, gaming, or watching videos. The LCD is fine but not impressive.
Lightning port instead of USB-C – Slower charging, slower data transfer, and one more cable to carry. In 2024, it’s a deliberate choice from Apple.
Refurbished condition varies – Some units have noticeable scratches or a battery below 90% health. Check the seller’s return policy before buying.
Advantages
Compared to an iPhone 12, the SE 3 has a faster chip (A15 vs A14) and an extra year of software support. You lose the OLED screen, the slim bezels, the ultrawide camera, and MagSafe. But the iPhone SE 3 vs iPhone 12 decision mostly comes down to budget – the SE 3 costs half as much refurbished. If you value performance over display quality, the SE wins.
Against other sub-$200 Android phones, the SE 3 destroys them on pure speed and update longevity. No Android at this price gets five years of major OS updates. The SE 3 does. It’s also one of the very few small phones left. If you’re looking for the best small smartphone for budget, there’s no real competition.
Superior processor than any phone under $300 new.
iOS ecosystem – iMessage, AirDrop, seamless pairing with AirPods and Apple Watch.
Resale value holds better than most Android phones.
Qi wireless charging works with any pad, even if it’s slower than MagSafe.
Who Should Buy
Buy it if you want a pocketable iPhone with a fast chip and don’t care about screen size or multiple cameras. Perfect for a first-time iPhone user, a teenager, or a minimalist.
Buy it if you need a cheap secondary phone for work or travel. The 5G and IP67 rating make it practical.
Skip it if you watch a lot of video or play graphics-heavy games. The small screen and mediocre speakers will frustrate you. Look for an iPhone 11 or 12 refurbished instead.
Skip it if you want the best camera for the money. Even refurbished iPhone 11s give you an ultrawide and night mode. The SE 3’s single lens is limited.
Skip it if you want a phone that feels modern. The chunky bezels and home button look and feel old. If that bugs you, a used iPhone 12 with a bigger OLED display will feel like a current design.
FAQ
Is the iPhone SE 3 worth it?
Yes, especially as a refurbished unit under $150. You get flagship performance and long software support in a compact body. The trade-offs are the small LCD screen, single camera, and dated design.
How long does the iPhone SE 3 battery last?
Expect about 12-14 hours of moderate mixed use: browsing, messaging, music, occasional video. Heavy use like gaming or GPS navigation will drop that to 8-9 hours. Battery health on refurbished units varies – check the listing.
Is the iPhone SE 3 better than the iPhone 12?
It has a faster chip (A15 vs A14) but a worse screen (LCD vs OLED), no ultrawide camera, and no MagSafe. If you prioritize performance and price, go SE. If you want a nicer display and camera, get the 12.
Can the iPhone SE 3 take good photos at night?
Not really. It has no night mode, so low-light shots are often dark and grainy. Daytime photos are solid, but for evening or indoor dim lighting, you’ll see a clear difference compared to iPhone 12 or newer.
Is the iPhone SE 3 water resistant?
Yes, it’s rated IP67 – it can survive submersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. That includes splashes, rain, and accidental drops in a sink. Not for swimming, but it’s reassuring.
Is it safe to buy a refurbished iPhone SE 3?
It can be, if you buy from a reputable seller with a good return policy and a battery health guarantee. Refurbished units vary in cosmetic condition. Check customer feedback for the specific listing – this one has 3.9 stars, which is decent but not perfect.
Final Verdict
The Apple iPhone SE 3 review boils down to this: if you can live with a small screen, one camera, and a design that looks like 2017, you’re getting an absolute steal at $124.99. The A15 chip makes it perform like a phone three times the price, and the promise of years of iOS updates removes the anxiety of planned obsolescence. It’s not for everyone, but for the right person, it’s the best deal in phones right now.
The one thing to keep in mind: buy from a seller that lists battery health and offers returns. A refurbished phone is only as good as its condition. If that’s sorted, you’ll be happy you didn’t spend more.
If you’re after a small phone that doesn’t cost a month’s rent, the iPhone SE 3 is the obvious name in the room. But it’s not the only phone at this size or price. The alternatives range from a slightly older iPhone with a much nicer screen to Android phones that trade raw speed for camera smarts or a bigger display. You’ve got real trade-offs to weigh, not just spec sheets.
Product
Price Range
Key Strength
Key Weakness
Best For
iPhone SE 3 (Renewed)
Under $150
Blazing A15 chip in a compact body
Old iPhone 8 design, single camera, LCD
People who want raw iOS performance on a budget
iPhone 12 (Renewed)
Around $200
OLED screen, MagSafe, dual cameras
Older A14 chip, slightly bigger, costs more
Folks who care about display quality and wireless charging
Google Pixel 6a (Renewed)
Around $200
Superb primary camera, clean Android updates
Plastic build, slower Tensor chip, thick bezels
Photography fans who prefer stock Android
Samsung Galaxy A54
Around $300
Bright 120Hz display, great battery life
Bigger and heavier, slower Exynos chip
Anyone who wants a modern Android with a big screen for less
iPhone SE 3 vs iPhone 12
This is the most obvious comparison if you’re stuck between two iPhones. The iPhone SE 3 has the newer A15 chip, which makes it snappier in games and heavy apps than the iPhone 12’s A14. But the iPhone 12’s OLED screen is a whole different world. The SE 3’s LCD is fine for reading texts, but watching video on the 12 is genuinely nicer — deeper blacks, better contrast, and it doesn’t wash out in sunlight. You also get MagSafe on the 12, so you can slap on a wireless charger or a battery pack that actually sticks. The SE 3 supports wireless charging, but no magnets, which is a minor annoyance if you own MagSafe accessories. If you’re the kind of person who watches Netflix on your phone, get the 12. If you just want the fastest chip for the lowest price, get the SE 3. Oh, and the SE 3 is smaller — really small by 2026 standards. Your pinky will thank you if you hate big phones.
iPhone SE 3 vs Google Pixel 6a
The Pixel 6a costs a bit more, but it wins outright on camera quality. The SE 3’s single 12MP sensor is serviceable in good light — point, shoot, get a decent photo. But the Pixel’s main sensor and Google’s computational photography pull details out of shadows and handle moving subjects far better. If you take photos of kids or pets, the iPhone SE 3 will deliver a lot of blurry faces. The Pixel 6a also gets you a clean Android experience with three years of OS updates (still has one or two left in 2026). But the SE 3’s A15 destroys the Pixel’s Tensor chip in raw speed. Apps open faster, games run smoother, and iOS tends to stay slick for years. So the trade-off is: camera and software flexibility vs performance and ecosystem lock-in. For the best small smartphone for budget, the SE 3 wins if you need speed and plan to keep it for four or five years. The Pixel 6a is better if you want great photos today and don’t mind slower loading times.
iPhone SE 3 vs Samsung Galaxy A54
The Galaxy A54 is a completely different shape: bigger, heavier, with a 6.4-inch 120Hz screen. The SE 3 feels like a pebble next to it. If you watch a lot of content or just need to read without squinting, the A54’s display is vastly superior. Its battery also lasts noticeably longer — the SE 3’s small battery means you’ll be hunting for a charger by early evening if you use data and GPS. The A54 can last a full day and then some. But the A54’s Exynos 1380 chip is sluggish next to the SE 3’s A15. You feel it when scrolling through heavy websites or opening the camera. And Samsung’s One UI, while better than it used to be, still feels busier than iOS. So the choice comes down to size and endurance: the SE 3 is the better performer in a tiny package; the A54 is the better companion for long days and big eyes.
So is iPhone SE 3 worth it in 2026? If you want a phone that fits in a jeans coin pocket, costs under $150 refurbished, and runs every app and game without stutter, yes. It’s the best small smartphone for budget right now, especially if you’re already in Apple’s world. But if an okay camera feels like a compromise, you’ll be happier with a refurbished Pixel 6a. And if you can stretch to around $200 and care about screen quality, the iPhone 12 is the smarter pick — that OLED display makes every swipe feel richer, and the dual camera handles a low-light shot better than the SE 3 ever could.
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