iPhone SE Review: The Budget iPhone That Feels Anything But Cheap

You pull your phone out to pay, unlock, reply, snap a photo, and it hesitates. A beat. Then another. The battery is already limping before lunch, the camera washes out the moment the sun goes down, and every tap feels like a negotiation with a device that just wants to retire.

Meanwhile, the latest thousand-dollar slabs keep getting bigger, busier, and more complicated. Maybe you don’t want a six-camera spaceship in your pocket. Maybe you just want an iPhone that’s fast, secure, simple, and reliable — without wrecking your budget.

Thats exactly where the iPhone SE steps in.

The iPhone SE is Apple’s no-nonsense iPhone: the familiar home button, the compact body, the power of Apple’s modern chips, and the ecosystem you know — all without the price of a flagship. If you miss the days when phones actually fit your hand and your wallet, this is the one Apple built for you.

Why this specific model?

There are plenty of cheaper phones out there. There are plenty of more powerful ones too. But the iPhone SE hits a rare sweet spot: real flagship guts in a compact, everyday device that feels instantly familiar.

According to Apple’s official specs on its site, the current iPhone SE (3rd generation) wraps some seriously modern tech in a classic design:

• A15 Bionic chip  the same chip used in the iPhone 13 lineup, giving you fast performance and efficient battery usage.
• 4.7-inch Retina HD display with True Tone, perfect if you prefer a smaller screen that still looks sharp and natural.
• 12MP wide rear camera with Portrait mode, Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, and Deep Fusion for more detailed, balanced photos.
• Touch ID in the Home button for fast, reliable fingerprint unlocking and Apple Pay.
• 5G connectivity for faster downloads, smoother streaming, and more responsive apps when youre on a compatible network.
• IP67 water and dust resistance, meaning its designed to withstand splashes, spills, and brief submersion in water.

On paper, that might sound like just another spec sheet. In real life, those details add up to a very specific user experience.

The A15 Bionic is the star here. In everyday use, that means apps launch instantly, games feel smooth, and iOS updates dont turn your phone into molasses after a year. You can keep this phone for several years without feeling left behind on performance or software features.

The 12MP camera wont win a spec war against multi-lens flagships, but Apples computational photography does a lot of heavy lifting. Smart HDR 4 and Deep Fusion help balance tricky lighting and pull out detail in textures, making your everyday shots  kids running around, pets, food, street scenes  look more polished than a budget phone has any right to deliver.

Then theres the design decision that divides opinion: the smaller 4.7-inch display and Touch ID home button. On Reddit, many users specifically seek out the iPhone SE because they miss unlocking with a thumb instead of their face, or because they just dont want a giant phone. If youre one of those people, this model feels like coming home.

At a Glance: The Facts

Feature	User Benefit
A15 Bionic chip	Flagship-level speed for apps, gaming, and multitasking, with enough headroom to stay fast for years.
4.7-inch Retina HD display with True Tone	Comfortable one-handed use and a sharp, color-accurate screen thats easy on the eyes in different lighting.
12MP wide rear camera with Smart HDR 4 and Portrait mode	Everyday photos that look clean and balanced, with blurred-background portraits that pop without needing multiple lenses.
Touch ID Home button	Fast, reliable fingerprint unlock and secure Apple Pay, especially convenient if you often wear masks or gloves.
5G connectivity	Faster downloads and more responsive streaming and browsing on supported networks, future-proofing your mobile data experience.
IP67 water and dust resistance	Peace of mind against spills, splashes, and brief accidental drops in water.
iOS with long-term updates	Access to the latest Apple features, security fixes, and app support for years, similar to more expensive iPhones.

What Users Are Saying

Look through Reddit threads and user reviews, and a clear pattern emerges around the iPhone SE:

What people love:

• Speed and longevity  many users are surprised at how fast the phone feels compared to older models like the iPhone 7, 8, or even XR. The A15 chip makes day-to-day use feel snappy.
• Size and comfort  people who actually want a smaller phone are vocal about how refreshing it is to get a modern chip in a compact body.
• Touch ID  frequently praised for its reliability and convenience, particularly for those who never fully warmed to Face ID.
• Price-to-performance ratio  a common theme is: This is all the iPhone I really need. Users on a budget or buying a secondary phone often pick it for this reason.

What people criticize:

• Battery life  several Reddit users and reviewers note that while the battery is acceptable for light-to-moderate use, heavy users (gaming, lots of 5G data, navigation) may find it lacking compared to bigger iPhones.
• Older design  the bezels and smaller screen are either a feature or a flaw, depending on your taste. Some call it old-fashioned or like an iPhone 8 with a new engine.
• Single rear camera  you dont get ultra-wide or telephoto lenses, and night photography isnt as strong as on Apples higher-end models.

The consensus: if your priorities are performance, reliability, and compact size over cutting-edge camera tricks and all-day power-user battery, the iPhone SE hits the mark. If you demand long battery life and a modern all-screen design, youll likely be happier with one of Apples higher-tier phones.

Behind the product, its worth remembering that this phone comes from Apple Inc. (ISIN: US0378331005), a company known for long-term software support and a tight hardware-software ecosystem. That matters for a device you may keep for years.

Alternatives vs. iPhone SE

The iPhone SE doesnt exist in a vacuum. Heres how it stacks up against likely alternatives:

• iPhone 13 / 14 series: You get better cameras (especially in low light), bigger and brighter OLED displays, longer battery life, and Face ID. But you pay significantly more, and you lose the compact form factor and Touch ID that some users prefer.
• Used or refurbished iPhone models: Older devices like the iPhone 11 or 12 can offer bigger displays and decent cameras at similar prices if bought refurbished. However, they usually have older chips, older batteries, and fewer remaining years of software support compared to a brand-new SE.
• Android mid-range phones: Devices from brands like Samsung, Google, or Xiaomi often offer larger screens, multiple cameras, and big batteries at competitive prices. The trade-off is ecosystem: if youre already invested in iCloud, iMessage, AirPods, Apple Watch, and App Store purchases, switching platforms can feel like more hassle than its worth.

Ultimately, the iPhone SE is less about winning every spec battle and more about offering the most iPhone experience for the least money. Its real competitors are not just other phones, but the question: how much phone do you actually need?

Final Verdict

The iPhone SE is not the flashy choice. Its not the phone that turns heads across the room. Instead, its the phone that quietly keeps up with everything you ask of it: paying at the store, scanning boarding passes, handling group chats, streaming music and video, capturing everyday memories, and staying in sync with your other Apple devices.

If you want the biggest screen, the most advanced camera, or marathon battery life, this is not your dream phone. But if you value:

• a compact device that wont stretch your pockets or your hands,
• the reliability of Apples A15 performance and years of software support,
• the simplicity and security of Touch ID,
• and a price that makes sense in the real world,

then the iPhone SE is a remarkably smart buy.

In a market obsessed with more, bigger, and flashier, the iPhone SE dares to ask a different question: what if the best phone for you is the one that just quietly does everything you need, and nothing you dont? If that sounds like the upgrade youve been waiting for, this might be your next iPhone.