Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) review and specifications
Explore the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) specifications, practical trade-offs and current UK contract prices. Compare the features you need with the total you will pay.
35 pay-monthly tariffs — filter and sort by what matters to you.
iPhone SE (3rd Gen) at a glance
6.5/10GetLow rating
Our take, in a number
Provisional · Specification-based
A15 and 5G give the familiar home-button iPhone a useful edge over the older SE. The 4.7-inch display, single camera and small battery make it a specialist compact choice rather than a general recommendation.
Why this rating?
GetLow editorial assessment, . We weigh the published features, practical compromises, intended buyer and value proposition described in this guide. This is a qualitative judgement, not a calculated benchmark or customer average.
9–10: exceptional on paper; 8–8.5: a strong shortlist choice; 7–7.5: good for the right buyer; 5–6.5: substantial compromises; 1–4.5: difficult to recommend.
We have not hands-on tested this phone. Real-world speed, photo quality and battery endurance are not proven by this score. Basic and accessibility phones are judged for their intended use, not as flagship substitutes. For refurbished phones, the score describes the model, not the condition or battery of an individual unit. A score is not a rating of every contract: compare the current total cost separately.
Start with the size, camera and storage you need. The lowest monthly price alone does not tell you whether this is the right phone.
What to weigh up
Check the exact storage, colour and condition on the retailer page. Refurbished grades, battery policies and warranties vary.
Worth the upgrade?
Compare it with the phone you already own. Pay for a useful improvement, not just a newer model name.
About this guide: GetLow explains published specifications and compares UK contract listings. It is not a hands-on laboratory test. Battery and charging figures depend on the manufacturer's test conditions; everyday results vary.
Is the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) worth buying?
The last true compact iPhone: flagship A15 power and Touch ID in a tiny, affordable refurbished body.
Best bits
Genuinely compact and light at 144g
Fast A15 Bionic chip with long iOS support
Touch ID home button for easy unlocking
5G and IP67 water resistance
Watch-outs
Small 2018mAh battery needs daily charging
Dated design with large bezels
Single 12MP rear camera, 60Hz LCD
No Face ID or night-mode camera
2026 buyer guide
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) in 2026
The 2022 iPhone SE (3rd gen) packs Apple's A15 Bionic chip, 5G and Touch ID into a genuinely small 4.7-inch body, now a bargain refurbished pick.
Live price position
Judge the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) by today's whole-contract price
GetLow currently checks 35 iPhone SE (3rd Gen) contract offers across 3 retailers and 2 networks. The market starts at £8.99 a month, £0.00 upfront and £314.36 in total after currently stated promotional savings.
Those headline floors can come from different deals. Keep monthly price, upfront cost, data, storage, term and condition tied to one listing before deciding which offer is genuinely cheapest.
Monthly pricesFrom £8.99
Upfront pricesFrom £0.00
Total contract costFrom £314.36
Current conditionEvery current offer is listed as refurbished, so compare the stated condition, warranty and total cost.
Live model price comparison
How does the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) price compare with nearby phones?
This table uses the reviewed phone plus up to four nearby alternatives by current lowest total contract cost. Monthly price, data, total cost and condition remain attached to the same cheapest-total listing for each phone.
Read each difference against the bold iPhone SE (3rd Gen) baseline. A cheaper row shows the whole-contract saving; a dearer row shows the additional amount currently needed to step up.
Model
Monthly price
Data
Lowest total cost
Difference vs iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Cheapest listing
iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
£8.99/month
10GB
£314.36
Baseline
Refurbished
iPhone 13
£13.99/month
50GB
£394.36
£80.00 more
Refurbished
iPhone 11
£14.00/month
100GB
£470.00
£155.64 more
Refurbished
iPhone 16e
£22.00/month
100MB
£564.00
£249.64 more
New
iPhone 17e
£27.99/month
200GB
£716.36
£402.00 more
New
Build your own phone comparison
Select any three phones and compare them side by side
The Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) is selected first. Change any selector to compare it with two other current phones from Apple, or with the wider market when fewer than three Apple models are available.
Every price card keeps monthly cost, upfront payment, total cost, data, contract length and condition attached to the same live listing. The specification table then shows the hardware differences that may justify paying more.
A rare truly small phone
The iPhone SE is one of the last genuinely compact phones you can buy, at 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mm and just 144g. It fits any hand and any pocket, with a classic 4.7-inch Retina LCD and the familiar Touch ID home button many people still prefer.
IP67 protection covers splashes and brief immersion. The design is dated with chunky bezels, but for one-handed use nothing else comes close in the current line-up.
Flagship power, modest camera
The star is the A15 Bionic — the same class of chip as the iPhone 13 — so it stays fast and gets long iOS updates, making a refurbished SE a smart long-term buy. 5G is included too.
The single 12MP rear camera and 7MP selfie are capable in good light, helped by Apple's image processing, though they lack the ultrawide and night mode of pricier iPhones. The 2018mAh battery is the main compromise: expect to charge daily, with 20W wired and 7.5W wireless charging.
Who should buy it on contract?
The iPhone SE (3rd gen) is for anyone who wants a small, affordable iPhone with fast performance and long support, and doesn't mind daily charging. Buying refurbished or Like New on contract is a smart way to get iOS for less; compare total cost on GetLow.
New and refurbished buying checks
Protect the saving before you order
Every current offer is listed as refurbished, so compare the stated condition, warranty and total cost. A low price is only good value when the condition, storage, warranty, returns terms and battery policy suit what you expect to receive.
Use total contract cost after any stated code as the first comparison, then check data and storage on the same basis. Availability can change as retailers update stock.
Confirm whether the selected listing is new or refurbished.
Check the exact storage and colour before leaving GetLow.
Read the warranty, returns and refurbished battery terms.
Compare the total contract cost rather than monthly price alone.
Who it suits
Is the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) right for you?
Buy the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) if
Buy it if you want a genuinely small, affordable iPhone with fast performance and Touch ID.
Choose another phone if
Skip it if you want a big screen, all-day battery or a modern multi-camera setup.
Colours and images
iPhone SE (3rd Gen) is available in Midnight, Starlight. Pick the colour you can live with for the full contract, not just the launch-week favourite.
Midnight
Midnight gives the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) a different feel without changing the deal comparison underneath.
Starlight
Starlight gives the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) a different feel without changing the deal comparison underneath.
Which storage should you buy?
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) storage options include 64GB. The live cards show capacities currently found in GetLow deals. Start with the smallest suitable option for lighter use, then step up if you keep lots of photos, video, games or offline apps.
64GBAvailable from £8.99/mo
Full iPhone SE (3rd Gen) specs
These are the buyer-facing specs that matter most when comparing contract deals.
Display
4.7 inch Retina IPS LCD, 750 x 1334
Refresh rate
Up to 60Hz
Chip
Apple A15 Bionic
Rear camera
12MP wide
Front camera
7MP
Operating system
iOS
Storage
64GB
Colours
Midnight, Starlight
Battery
2,018mAh battery
Charging
20W wired / 7.5W wireless
Size
138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm
Weight
144g
Durability
IP67
Specifications are manufacturer or catalogue claims, not GetLow laboratory measurements. Missing information is not a zero or proof that a feature is absent. Retailer stock and delivery can change before checkout.
Is the iPhone SE (3rd gen) still supported in 2026?
Yes. Its A15 Bionic chip means it keeps getting iOS updates for years to come, so a refurbished SE remains secure and viable well beyond a 24-month contract.
Does the iPhone SE have 5G?
Yes, the 3rd-gen SE supports 5G across UK networks, so you get faster data where coverage exists.
How is the battery life?
The 2018mAh battery is the SE's weak point — most people will need to charge daily. It supports 20W wired and 7.5W wireless charging.
Does it have Touch ID or Face ID?
Touch ID, via the home button. Many buyers actively prefer the fingerprint reader, and it works well with masks and gloves off.
Is the SE camera good?
The single 12MP camera is solid in good light thanks to Apple's processing, but it lacks the ultrawide lens and night mode of pricier iPhones.
The verdict
The iPhone SE (3rd gen) is the compact iPhone holdouts have been clinging to: small, light, fast and cheap when bought refurbished. The battery and camera are its compromises, but for A15 power and long iOS support at this price, it is hard to beat. Compare it on GetLow by total contract cost.
