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SE1, SE2 and SE3 all still are able to use iOS18.

does anybody have any thoughts for how long the SE3 might be able to get new iOS versions in the future?
 
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While each service is a bit different in terms of unlocking times, all of the Tracfone brands (Tracfone, Total, Straight Talk, etc.) are pretty easygoing if you activate on a Verizon-based SIM. For that you'll need to keep service active for at least a month and there are numerous reports that you can let it lapse and then on the 60th day, it will automatically unlock (you'd probably need Wi-Fi access for it to get the updated policy from Apple).

Other than the cost of one month of service and the time, it's a great way to get a spare iPhone inexpensively.

I did this with a Total back in 2023 for a second-gen SE, it's now unlocked and can work on any carrier. Sometimes you can get them for $99 or $149 (what I'm seeing right now), if you're willing to go to a Walmart location and buy them. They'll typically just stick a little envelope with a SIM card on the back and you can activate it yourself at home.
Unfortunately no such carrier deals on phones here in north Europe. The SE 3 with 128gb costs the equivalent of USD 680 which includes our VAT of 25 percent.
 
SE2 (and SE3) is still able to use iOS18.

does anybody have any ideas for how long the SE3 might be able to get new iOS versions in the future?
Considering that the A15 Bionic in that phone is the same SoC used in the 13, regular 14, and outgoing 6th generation iPad mini, it would most likely lose support around the same time as those devices.

Unfortunately no such carrier deals on phones here in north Europe. The SE 3 with 128gb costs the equivalent of USD 680 which includes our VAT of 25 percent.
Sorry to hear, but not surprised—in this case, most carrier-owned prepaid brands will heavily discount older models or excess inventory (such as an iPhone 12 or 13 now that they've been discontinued) to try to get new customers without doing some sort device payment plan, contract, or subsidy. Some make you bring a number over from another network and/or buy multiple months of service at once (Cricket, a flanker brand owned by AT&T, is currently doing that—$49 for an iPhone 12, but needs a port-in as well as 2 months of $60/month plan paid at checkout.)
 
1,000 days? That's nothing! My 2020 iPhone SE is officially 1,684 days old, and still works the same as the day I bought it. I did replace the battery about 6 months ago, but that's it. Runs iOS 18.1.1 just fine, no lags. Still makes phone calls. Takes pictures, too! How about this one? (eat your heart out, Ansel Adams!)
 

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SE3 is the last Apple LCD phone PWM-sensitive people can enjoy.
I just got one (used, like new) to replace my 11, well it's lighter, a bit faster, everything else is quite obsolete, especially the design. But no strain to my eyes, without switching to low-end Android, that was the point.

You know there is LCD panel replacement for flagship iPhones that exists right?
 
Unfortunately no such carrier deals on phones here in north Europe. The SE 3 with 128gb costs the equivalent of USD 680 which includes our VAT of 25 percent.

Used market is your friend.

The only thing iPhone SE 3 is the new chips. Otherwise it is exactly same as iPhone SE2 and iPhone 8. You can swap almost all components between these three phones.

iPhone SE 2 is dirt cheap now and iPhone SE 3 is still pretty cheap on used market. Buying new is asking to be ripped off.
 
1,000 days? That's nothing! My 2020 iPhone SE is officially 1,684 days old, and still works the same as the day I bought it. I did replace the battery about 6 months ago, but that's it. Runs iOS 18.1.1 just fine, no lags. Still makes phone calls. Takes pictures, too! How about this one? (eat your heart out, Ansel Adams!)

Oh well, you can say this to almost all other phone. My OG Pixel is still running great, if still makes calls, streaming video no problem, take good pictures etc.

All i need to do is unlock the bootloader and Android 14 is running.

iPhone SE became so unusable for me for that tiny screen. The constant scrolling on websites due to the smallish screen, the colour on that LCD is so washed out, and typing on that thing is just sour experience.
 
Used market is your friend.

The only thing iPhone SE 3 is the new chips. Otherwise it is exactly same as iPhone SE2 and iPhone 8. You can swap almost all components between these three phones.

iPhone SE 2 is dirt cheap now and iPhone SE 3 is still pretty cheap on used market. Buying new is asking to be ripped off.
Agree, you can grab a refurbished SE 2020 for under $150 CAD and the SE 2022 for under $250 CAD.
 
For those in EU that want an SE3, you better hurry up: Apple will discontinue SE and 14 1st of January 2025 due to the requirement for USB-C.
This is confirmed by Apple
 
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I prefer the smaller size. My friend's SE 1 battery finally gave out so I gave her my SE 2 that I had a new battery installed several months back & got the SE 3. I am kicking around the idea of buying another SE3 just before the SE 4 comes out and leave in the box. I will go to a larger phone only once I don't have any other choice
 
My mom desperately needs a new phone, but I told her to wait. The fact that they haven't even updated this phone to use a USB-C port at this point is just sloppy on Apple.

This and the iPhone 14 are (AFAIK) the only two products that Apple still sells with a lightning connector.
Yeah, but what corporation cares about "sloppy" when Lightning is still making money and nothing is stopping them?

However, once the ball drops on New Year's Eve Apple can't (produce any new and then) sell Lightning iPhones anymore (thank God!).

So, it follows that Apple would fill that gap at the bottom of the iPhone line-up with something to replace SE 3 and iPhone 14.

And as long as it gets that 8GB RAM and sells at <$499, it should offer a decent value/$ and sell very well.

I do wonder what specs are going to be the largest compromise. That's always the question with SE.
 
To be honest… who on earth buys an iPhone SE for the price it is selling right now. There are so many other options available for a fraction of the price. A more modern overhaul of the SE should’ve happened years ago. Let’s also be honest… for $ 499 you can get a very well specked modern mobile phone these days.
True you can get "for $ 499 you can get a very well specked modern mobile phone these days" but it won't have iOS...
 
SE1, SE2 and SE3 all still are able to use iOS18.

does anybody have any thoughts for how long the SE3 might be able to get new iOS versions in the future?
I think Apple is happy to provide many updates for most of the iPhones supporting iOS18 now.

-Just don't count on new iOS versions to include anything but the absolute minimum of new features compared to what the >8GB RAM iPhones get.

All things are pointing towards more and more of iOS will have some Apple Intelligence twist to it that's only available to iPhones 15 Pro and higher.
 
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Used market is your friend.

The only thing iPhone SE 3 is the new chips. Otherwise it is exactly same as iPhone SE2 and iPhone 8. You can swap almost all components between these three phones.

iPhone SE 2 is dirt cheap now and iPhone SE 3 is still pretty cheap on used market. Buying new is asking to be ripped off.
Without even considering the next AI additions, I'm sure the next iOS will include even more features that "require" 8GB RAM or more.

With that in mind, I really don't know that buying anything but an iPhone 15 Pro or higher makes sense right now.

Although mostly arbitrary, technically speaking, Apple has made it pretty clear that there's a but cutoff between >8GB RAM and <8GB RAM iPhones.

If on a budget, I'd try to get a deal on a used 15 Pro. Or hold out for SE 4 dropping in Q1-Q2 2025.

Both Lightning and <8GB RAM will lower your iPhone's value/$ very fast over the next few years.
 
But probably oh so profitable to force travelers to choose what is often the lone eSIM provider. Notice who is eSIM capable in mighty America vs. the many, cheaper options who are not.*

And who runs iPhone commercials in America to help sell iPhone? I wonder if the foreign partners most like Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile also happen to be the lone ones with eSIM service offerings? 💰💰💰

*update: I've since be knowledge updated that a number of cheap American players have gone eSIM. I haven't looked in a while and assumed it was mostly still just a few "most profitable", dominant players... as I suspect it is in other countries where the cheap "traveler" options via SIM probably aren't also offering eSIM. But that's speculation too based upon 💰 instead of checking each country to know for sure.

I've had physical SIMs in lots of places where eSIM is not likely a solution: Somaliland, Sudan, Iran, Cuba, Tunisia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and others. Some of these may be offering eSIM now, but it is certainly not commonplace.
 
I think Apple is happy to provide many updates for most of the iPhones supporting iOS18 now.

-Just don't count on new iOS versions to include anything but the absolute minimum of new features compared to what the >8GB RAM iPhones get.

All things are pointing towards more and more of iOS will have some Apple Intelligence twist to it that's only available to iPhones 15 Pro and higher.

Without even considering the next AI additions, I'm sure the next iOS will include even more features that "require" 8GB RAM or more.

With that in mind, I really don't know that buying anything but an iPhone 15 Pro or higher makes sense right now.

Although mostly arbitrary, technically speaking, Apple has made it pretty clear that there's a but cutoff between >8GB RAM and <8GB RAM iPhones.

Sure. If a person who cares about Apple's AI features, then they probably should go for iPhone 16. Judging this is Apple, they probably gonna add some AI features that aren't available on iPhone 15 Pro.

It is Apple we are talking about, put a charging time estimate as AI feature or display battery cycle count on iPhone 15 above is outrages to me. But anyway, if someone wants the most iPhone experience, they should go with latest iPhone.

If on a budget, I'd try to get a deal on a used 15 Pro. Or hold out for SE 4 dropping in Q1-Q2 2025.

Both Lightning and <8GB RAM will lower your iPhone's value/$ very fast over the next few years.

I would say, a budget oriented shopper probably won't care much about the AI features. iPhone 15 Pro is nowhere close to a budget device, it is still very expensive.

iPhone 13 is probably where a budget shopper should look on second hand market. I would even say, if someone is really on budgets and if they can find a good deals on iPhone 12 Pro, they should probably go for it.
 
Apple's third-generation iPhone SE, introduced on March 8, 2022, has now reached the milestone of being over 1,000 days old.
So Tim Cook has reached yet another milestone of mediocrity.

Cook doesn't care about lower-income people, which is largely why there has not been an updated iPhone SE in over 1,000 days.
 
So Tim Cook has reached yet another milestone of mediocrity.

Cook doesn't care about lower-income people, which is largely why there has not been an updated iPhone SE in over 1,000 days.

Or you could shop around, either through carrier deals or second hand market. I haven't brought a single new iPhone in past couple years. I always buy flagships that are two generation earlier.

This means I am able to purchase iPhone 14 Pro Max at decent price point.
 
So Tim Cook has reached yet another milestone of mediocrity.

Cook doesn't care about lower-income people, which is largely why there has not been an updated iPhone SE in over 1,000 days.
A page or two back someone posted that they still have an older SE - not the current gen - and that iOS 18.1 is running just fine on it without AI. The SE still seems to be doing a good job - for lower-income people and others who simply don’t want to spend big on an iPhone.
 
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Ah the perfect form. Touch ID, thumb reaches all corners of the screen, one hand operatable. I do not buy it because it was cheap, I bought it because its functionally better than the iphone 16 pro max.

The OLED choice is weird, wouldn't it burn in that static screen elements like time, battery, and telecom name?

1,000 days? That's nothing! My 2020 iPhone SE is officially 1,684 days old, and still works the same as the day I bought it. I did replace the battery about 6 months ago, but that's it. Runs iOS 18.1.1 just fine, no lags. Still makes phone calls. Takes pictures, too! How about this one? (eat your heart out, Ansel Adams!)

nice. Is it edited in any way? where is that?
 
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