iPhone SE 3 goes into production! Cheapest 5G iPhone could go on sale soon

iPhone SE 3 has gone into production, suggests latest leaks. The cheapest 5G iPhone could go on sale starting mid-March.

iPhone SE 3 is said to have gone on production. (HT Tech)

iPhone SE 3 could only be a few weeks away! Based on the latest leak, the iPhone SE 3 has only gone into production in China and is said to hit the market in “mid-to-late” March. No other leaked information regarding the iPhone SE 3 yet but it is said to have the same Apple A15 chipset as the iPhone 13 generation. This one is also said to be getting 5G connectivity, which is an evolution of the 4G-only iPhone SE that is currently available in the market.

Foxconn in China is said to have begun the iPhone SE 3 production, hiring dedicated personnel for the same. Industry experts suggest that the 5G-enabled iPhone SE could eat into the share of the affordable 5G Android phones. That said, previous rumours have long suggested that the iPhone SE 3 will essentially be the same iPhone SE that launched in 2022, except for the chipset inside. This will be first time when Apple's new iPhone SE does not bring a new design.

iPhone SE 3 goes into production

While some rumours suggest iPhone SE 3 to be called the iPhone SE 5G, other hint at the phone carrying the iPhone SE Plus. Apple is yet to comment anything on the iPhone SE 3 and its expected launch date. However, leaks have suggested a March 8 launch event that could foresee the launch of the iPhone SE 3, a new iPad Air, and a new MacBook Pro with Apple's M2 chip.

The iPhone SE 3 is expected to retain the same 4.7-inch LCD display complete with its thick retro bezels and a Home button housing the Touch ID fingerprint scanner. The front camera is also said to be the same 7MP unit while the rear camera is expected to have a 12MP sensor. No change from the 2020 model.

What remains to be seen is whether Apple upgrades the battery capacity on the iPhone SE. The current-gen iPhone SE 2020 with 4G-only A13 chip barely manages to make it past an entire day with moderate usage. With a more powerful chip and battery draining 5G network, the iPhone SE 5G could be struggling on endurance.

However, leaks also suggest that Apple is planning a new completely new iPhone SE for 2023/2024. This one is expected to have a 5.7-inch display and is said to be based on the discontinued iPhone XR. Some also suggest it could be based on the iPhone 13 Mini, which is said to be discontinued with the iPhone 14 generation.