Starting at €529 / MXN$11,499, the iPhone SE is Apple’s most affordable new iPhone. It’s a tempting option for those who like the Apple ecosystem but don’t want to spend €800 / MXN$20,000 or more on a new phone.
But it doesn’t get updated at the same time as the other iPhones, or at least not as often. It’s always sound advice to say “don’t buy an iPhone in July or August,” but that doesn’t apply to the iPhone SE.
Here’s what we know about the iPhone SE and when its next big update is coming, as well as our recommendation on when to buy it.
iPhone SE: Price and specifications
Last update: March 2022
The iPhone SE is not usually updated every year. The original iPhone SE was released in 2016, and there wasn’t a second generation until April 2020 (although its storage was expanded in 2017). Last March, it was updated with the launch of the third generation.
It still has the body of the iPhone 8 (including Touch ID, LCD screen and single rear camera), but it does have the A15 Bionic processor from the iPhone 13.
This is what usually happens with the iPhone SE: Apple takes a phone from a couple of years ago and changes its processor for its latest chip. That makes it much cheaper to produce, and therefore Apple’s most affordable iPhone. The current model starts at €529 / MXN$11,499 (€40 / MXN$500 more expensive than the previous one).
The iPhone SE has always been released in the spring, but we don’t expect a new model to arrive until 2024.
iPhone SE: Why buy it
The iPhone SE was updated in 2022, making it the best model in this range that you can currently find for sale in the Apple Store. Also, the iPhone 13 has the same processor but costs €380 / MXN$9,500 more.
Obviously, you’ll get Face ID and an edge-to-edge display with the iPhone 13, as well as better cameras, but those on a budget won’t get a better iPhone for a while.
iPhone SE: Why wait
There’s no compelling reason to wait if you’re on a tight budget and want the best iPhone you can currently buy for around €500 / MXN$12,000. Apple will take time to update it again and it could be the last one with a Home button.
The only reason to wait would be precisely if you don’t want a phone with an old-fashioned design. The next model could arrive with the body of the iPhone 11 and with Face ID. Obviously, it will also have a more powerful processor and a better camera.
Macworld Recommends: BUY
If you want to wait for the next iPhone SE, you’ll have to wait until spring 2024 (or later). This model has just been updated and, despite being a little more expensive than the previous generation, it is still the cheapest iPhone in the current range.
It is compatible with 5G and has an A15 chip, so it is a powerful mobile that will not disappoint you unless you do not like that it continues to use the same exterior design as the iPhone 8. But the truth is that if you are looking for a cheap iPhone, Surely you don’t give so much importance to your appearance, right?
Original article published in Macworld US.
