Summary
- The iPhone SE 3 offers impressive features like 5G and an A15 Bionic processor, making it a budget-friendly option for those who want an iPhone but can't afford a flagship model.
- However, the iPhone SE 3 lacks MagSafe support, which was a surprising omission considering it was the first new iPhone since the iPhone 12 to not have this functionality.
- While the iPhone SE 4 may potentially include MagSafe support, there is currently no confirmation on its release date or design, with rumors suggesting a possible release in 2025.
The iPhone SE 3 offers things like 5G and an A15 Bionic processor — but does Apple's budget smartphone come with MagSafe? Since its introduction in 2016, the iPhone SE has been Apple's affordable iPhone option. The first and second-gen models were available for $399, while the latest iPhone SE 3 starts at $429. For that price, it packs a fairly impressive punch. It has Apple's A15 Bionic processor, 5G connectivity, up to 15 hours of video playback for battery life, and an IP67 dust/water resistance rating. If you want an iPhone but can't stomach the price of a flagship, the iPhone SE 3 is worth consideration.
Unfortunately, choosing the iPhone SE 3 does come with a few drawbacks. It has some immediately noticeable disadvantages, such as big display bezels and only a single camera on the back. Another downside is its lack of MagSafe support. Not having MagSafe came as a bit of a shock — especially considering this was the first new iPhone since the iPhone 12 without the functionality. While there were rumors that MagSafe was finally coming to this version of the SE, the iPhone SE 3 does not support MagSafe in any fashion.
iPhone SE 3 Doesn't Work With Any MagSafe Accessories
As a quick refresher, MagSafe is the magnetic accessory system Apple introduced with the iPhone 12 series (and continued with the iPhone 13 and later). Using a series of magnets on the back of the iPhone, MagSafe allows a wide array of accessories to snap on and off. This includes wireless chargers, battery packs, wallets, car mounts, and more. It's not a game-changing system, but it is a nice one to have.
Since the iPhone SE 3 doesn't have MagSafe magnets built into its body, new and existing MagSafe accessories won't work with it. Not including it on the iPhone SE 3 was likely a simple cost-cutting decision. The body of the iPhone SE 3 is essentially the same one used for the SE 2. Integrating MagSafe into it would be nice, but it'd also require a more significant overhaul.
Apple iPhone SE 3 (2022)
The latest iPhone SE is one of Apple's most powerful yet compact iPhones ever. It comes with the A15 Bionic chip, which also powers the more expensive iPhone 13 lineup. The smartphone has a crisp 4.7-inch display that easily fits in a pocket, features the iconic Touch ID, provides a day's worth of battery life, and supports wireless charging. Overall, it is the best pick for those who have an older iPhone, wish to upgrade, but don't want to give up the compact form-factor.
While it's impossible to predict the future, there could be hope for a future iPhone SE that does have MagSafe. Rumors suggest that the next iPhone SE may have a redesigned body that looks similar to more recent iPhones. If that's true, there's reason to believe MagSafe is added then. That doesn't do anything to change the fact that MagSafe isn't on the Apple iPhone SE 3, but the future does look promising.
At the moment, there’s no confirmation of when the iPhone SE 4 will be released, if it really is in the works, or what the design will look like. Rumors currently suggest hopeful buyers may have a long wait ahead before the next iPhone SE comes out to replace the iPhone SE 3, with projections for its release in 2025. If that is the case, there may be more of a chance that it’ll get a design overhaul. For now, though, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Source: Apple