Who is the Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) for?
Entry-tier smartphone. Below 58 on the Mars Score means several weighted specs trail the category leaders by a wide margin.
Only consider this if there is a specific reason — price, brand loyalty, ecosystem fit. The best-of page shows what your money buys a tier up.
Mars Score is computed from 23 measured specs against the transparent formula for the smartphones category. No editorial picks, no paid placement.
Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen): advantages & disadvantages
Measured against every smartphones we track, here is where the Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) pulls ahead — and where it gives ground.
- ▲Includes Optical image stabilization — a feature not every smartphones offers.
- ▲Includes 5G support — a feature not every smartphones offers.
- ▲Weight: 144 g — well above the typical smartphones.
- ▼Screen size: 4.7 " — among the weakest in the smartphones category.
- ▼Refresh rate: 60 Hz — among the weakest in the smartphones category.
- ▼RAM: 4 GB — among the weakest in the smartphones category.
- ▼Battery capacity: 2018 mAh — among the weakest in the smartphones category.
- ▼Main camera: 12 MP — below the typical smartphones.
Pros are specs scoring ≥75% of the category normalization range. Cons are ≤35%. Derived from the Mars Score formula — no hand-curated lists.
At a glance
- Screen size
- 4.7"
- RAM
- 4GB
- Pixel density
- 326ppi
- Battery capacity
- 2018mAh
All specifications
Design
- Weight
- 144 g
- Thickness
- 7.3 mm
- Form factor
- bar
Display
- Screen size
- 4.7 "
- Pixel density?
- 326 ppi
- Refresh rate?
- 60 Hz
- Peak brightness?
- 625 nits
Cameras
- Main camera?
- 12 MP
- Front camera
- 7 MP
Battery
- Battery capacity?
- 2018 mAh
- Wired charging?
- 20 W
- Wireless charging?
- 7.5 W
Connectivity
- 5G support?
- true
- Headphone jack
- false
- microSD slot
- false
Operating System
- OS
- iOS
- Promised OS updates
- 5 years
Latest from the lab
All lab reports →Popular comparisons featuring the Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen)
The 12 closest matchups in the Smartphones category, sorted by Mars Score proximity — the fights most worth your time.
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How Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) fits the Smartphones field
Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) is listed in the Smartphones catalog with a Mars Score of 47.6. It currently ranks 75 of 75 products in this category by Mars Score.This page is most useful when you match the product's strongest measurable specifications to your own workload instead of treating one number as a universal recommendation.
Key specifications to check
- Screen size
- 4.7 "
- RAM
- 4 GB
- Pixel density
- 326 ppi
- Battery capacity
- 2018 mAh
Values are shown exactly as stored in the current catalog. A dash means the value is not available; it is not a zero and is not treated as a win or loss.
Who should consider it?
Start with the priorities represented by screen size, ram, pixel density. Buyers who value those dimensions should compare this product against the closest same-category alternatives below, then verify regional pricing, warranty, and configuration before purchase.
Closest alternatives
Frequently asked
What is the Mars Score for Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen)?+
Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) scores 47.6 on the transparent Mars Score formula for smartphones, computed from its published specs against the category's weighted normalization.
What category does Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) belong to?+
Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) is a Apple smartphone catalogued in the Smartphones category.
When was Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) released?+
Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) was released on 2022-03-18.
What is the screen size of Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen)?+
Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) has a screen size of 4.7 ".
What is the ram of Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen)?+
Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) has a ram of 4 GB.
What is the pixel density of Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen)?+
Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) has a pixel density of 326 ppi.