All time low on the 128GB 3rd generation iPhone SE, 30% off RRP$799, a significant reduction for an Apple product. Price beat at Officeworks to make it even cheaper at $531.34, 33% off. Model number MMXJ3X/A matches.
Tip: Price beat at Officeworks instead of buying from them as School Locker's stock might run out quickly.
Key features:
Many schools and colleges refer to School Locker for purchasing uniforms and other unique items, making it difficult to avoid although I hate Hardly Normal.
School Locker Harvey Norman was asking for free volunteers to work for them during COVID.
I also hate HVN but I like to reward the business that goes first on a price drop. Ordered. Lets see if they have more than 1 in stock.
If only the battery life on these wasn't total dog poop.
Your evidence is dog poop.
pros
- solid performance
- Software support till 2028
- decent camera (except at night) /excellent video
- stable iOS
- fast-ish charging
cons
-720p LCD Display…
- Terrible battery life
- lack of navigational gestures, home button is cumbersome
- Bezels are bigger than a $29 coles junkie burner phone
I love the home button. Major pro for me.
You forgot to mention the size as one of the pros. This thing fits in a pants pocket or cargo pants side pocket, and you don’t even notice it’s there. Another pro about the size is that it doesn’t encourage you to look at your phone screen all day.
That being said, I wouldn’t buy a new one even at this price. I would only buy one 2nd hand or refurbished. At this price, I’d lean more towards a Pixel 8 on sale, or spend a bit more to get a Samsung.
I’m still using my SE 2020, and it’s going very well. I can get usually 1.5-2 full days battery from it. Thinking i might upgrade next year or something. There really hasn’t been a reason to. Performance is great too, but i don’t play games - mostly web browsing, minor apps, email, etc. As you say, these fit in your pocket well, so I’m keen to just get another rather than a large semi-tablet style phone. I would appreciate a higher res screen too.
I appreciate the SE offering from Apple.
Edit: my daily screen time average is 1.5hrs but sometimes a bit more. I have turned off background data refresh for a lot of unnecessary apps, disable location services and disable Siri everywhere, among other power saving measures.
Ive had both SE2 and SE3 and can advise the following….
The iPhone SE2 has very poor WiFi reception.
Dont know why but Ive tried a few and they are all the same.
Its the most common complaint you find in all the SE2 bloggs.
Everyone thought Apple would address this in an iOS update but they havent.
So must be a hardware issue,
Apple fixed th WIFi issue in the SE3 plus you get 5G reception.
Camera performance remains much the same so not a reason to upgrade.
Hence if Wifi reception is not an issue for you, hang onto your SE2.
Would prob get a new one for better initial battery health.
But cross shop with 13 mini is also an option if 2nd hand
TouchID still seems superior to FaceID in many situations.
TouchID often seems faster, and you dont have to be looking directly at the phone to auth. Given the number of times a day i need to auth, faceID is sometimes just frustrating.
The lack of an oled screen would kill it for me. At this price point I expect an oled display in 2024. Even the much cheaper Samsung phones offer 120hz oled screens. The long support life used to be a selling point, but two years old and even the pixel 8a coming out soon will offer 7 years support. I don’t see that as so much a positive for Apple nowadays. Poor battery life doesn’t bother me nowadays. Even phones that have poorer battery life often are still more than adequate with 4 or 5 hours screen time. Lack of gesture navigation? What is this 2016. I remember when phones started to get gesture navigation and how much of an improvement it was for usability. The Apple keyboard should be a negative too, as I type this out on my iPhone.
@Mortgagetightass
I beg to differ and I can tell you dont own one of thse wonderful iPhone SE3 phones.
Being a proud and happy owner of the iPhone SE3 I can say its a terrific phone and you missed quite a few pluses and have exaggerated the minuses.
The camera is very good in both bright and low light conditions.
Takes amazing photos with the A15 Bionic chip behind it.
Yes not the best at night but none are below $1000.
Nothing wrong with LCD display so not a con at all.
Its actually a fantastic display as all iPhones have.
Battery life is very acceptable. I get 2 days out of mine.
Home button is flawless and extremely reliable so I would not call it cumbersome at all.
In fact its often faster and more reliable than face ID. So actually a plus.
The SE3 is still the most compact iphone for those that still value small size and pocketability.
The bezels dont present a problem so not a con either.
The main con you missed is that Apple should have included a second camera on this model as many critics have stated.
The main plus you missed is the fact you can buy a brand new, high quality iphone for $530-$560 that would easily suit the average buyer.
Its actually amazing value for a new iPhone.
Most people dont need and never use multiple cameras.
Nor do they "really". need a screen any bigger than this one.
The bigger iPhones are hence more of a "status" symbol
Would easier get the SE3 for the kids and they like Home Button.
Screen is 'small' as one of them is on iphone7+ currently.
While it is great Apple put A15 in iPhone SE3 (unlike Android mid/low end phones with low grade CPU), it does carry dated design from iPhone 8 / SE2, or another way to look at it: Apple not willing to upgrade other bits.
The bigger iPhones have better batteries, larger screens, better cameras, while being just a little bit bigger. The battery life on those are great and is in a different league compared to SE3.
Every generate of iPhone SEs gets this type of discounted deals. While I understand SE is cost effective, there is no doubt it is not the best way to experience iPhone in today's standard.
We want Apple to stop just put a new CPU in an iPhone 8 body. After iPhone SE and SE2, especially SE2 (I didn't have any WiFi issue), I told myself not to get anymore iPhone SE if it is just iPhone 8 with a different CPU. Another problem with iPhone SE is that its resale value is subpar, especially when a new generation is released.
You miss the point entirely
This fantastic deal is for a brand new current model iPhone for only $530.
Yes, you can pay $2000 for the best iPhone of the day.
And you get everything you mention.
But they both use the same iOS.
And they both have a great camera.
And very few use the extra features of the flagship model.
Its more about bragging rights.
The "average" phone user that just makes calls and SMS and takes or receives the odd photo, sees great value in this deal.
For them the slightly better battery performance doesnt matter.
Its all about price and the conveneince of a "handy" small phone
And plenty prefer the 'home button" over the less reliable face ID.
Mathematically you can buy 4 x SE3s for the price of an iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Like I say, "functionally" for the most part, they are virtually identical
Just need 20/20 eyesight small screen
I suggest you get some reading glasses.
And let me remind you that the iPhone 6 (same size as iPhone SE2/3) was the first iPhone to be heralded as having a BIG SCREEN.
Before that Steve Jobbs insisted that the iphone 4 and 5 were the "perfect"size. for a smart phone.
Apple was forced to follow Samsung into bigger screens, much to thier disgust.
But anyway, now there is an iPhone to suit everyone's budget, taste and objectives.
PS The iPhone Se2/3 are far better (quality) options than Samsung's cheaper "A" serious of budget phones that are often plagued with performance and camera issues..
The one iphone you really shouldn't buy. Even if you can deal with the small screen, the battery life is abysmal.
Nice introduction to the iphone.
Some commentators said they should relaunch the iphone 12/13 mini as the SE which would be wise.
If you want an introduction to ios, an ipad would be better. It’s basically a big iphone without SIM calling capabilities but can run pretty much all apps an iphone can. And if it turns out you dont like it, it’ll at least still hold resell value.
Alternatively the SE3 should have had a second camera.
But that would have required some changes to manufacturing which would have added sigtnificant cost.
Hopefully the SE4 will have the body of the iphone 12 mini with the latest Bionic chip - great low cost iPhone option !
Would be fine even with previous generation Bionic chip but we can only hope!
@netjock: The current (iPhone 8) body used by the SE2 and SE3 has run its course.
Even Apple know that.
But I think cut down versions like the "Mini" are now replacing the SE series.
hence we may not see another SE as such
@HeWhoKnows: Didn't mini get discontinued after iphone 13 mini?
Commentator suspect that it will resurface as next SE. But it won't be out for another year or two when people's memory finally falls over and think it is a new product.
Pretty good for the oldies though. Got one for my grandma since she got used to using an iphone with the button on the bottom.
No not eyes lol
The battery on these make it a non-starter. My friend charges three times a day.
EDIT: I love iPhones, but this is a bad entry to them imo.
tell your friend to GET A NEW BATTERY!!!!!!
There seems a lot of stores raiding the Apple museum
Key features: A15 Bionic chip, same as the iPhone 14
iphone 13 pro might be a better ref point
How much for the 64gb version?
All stores are out of stock and Officeworks won’t price match
When I price matched at OW there was only one store that had stock so it depends on how thoroughly they check.
Just bought for $540 after price match from 6062 Officeworks. They have 3 more in midnight
Would you be kind to share the receipt ? I will try and see if they can price match based on receipt. School Locker is out of stock so they won't price match online.
Was just looking for one of these last night after reading that the next iPhone SE may remove the home button (which i love) and add a notch to the screen (which i hate) and it's going to be massive (also hate) so the SE3 maybe the last iphone i ever own if that's the case.
who pays $560 for such gorgeous bezels: feedback to apple is continue to include these gorgeous bezels until 2030.
Anyone received any updates on their order? I've received nothing.
No, mine hasn’t shipped yet either.
Plus it avoids giving a cent to Harvey Norman who own School Locker.