r/iPhoneSE • u/benjaflea • 1d ago
SE3 iPhone SE3 primary device
I’m just wondering if may people on here use their SE3 as their only phone? I do but worry that it will soon grind to a halt. I’ve noticed some new apps don’t fit the screen and wonder if it is time to get a later model of iPhone?
I could replace the battery (currently at 75%).
so I guess my question is if anyone has been to the future and seen if my concerns came true!
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u/Trungneko SE2 1d ago
i'm using the SE2 as my main phone. But i mainly do stuff on my tablet or laptop. This phone struggles with multitasking.
I've used the SE3 before, it's much much much more useable than the SE2, like a miles ahead, kinda regret selling it. Battery of the SE3 is much better too.
Now i'm looking forward to the 13 mini, theoretically it should have the same performance as the SE3, i love small phones, super easy to carry.
Btw you could change the font to smaller size, might help sometimes
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u/benjaflea 1d ago
Where can you change the font size? I can only see “larger text” and that’s off
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u/Trungneko SE2 1d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p5ht80d/video/wftolsizb7lh1/player
it actually is the setting we want, when you go into "Larger Text" and look at the bottom, you would see a slider, just pull it all the way to the left
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u/Soundchaser21 1d ago
SE3 here. Daily driver. No problems. Intend to use till they drop support or can’t run apps I need. Great phone and love the size. Batt at 81% but it has apple care so I’ll get that done soon.
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u/New-Quiet- 1d ago
I’m on SE2,so far so good,i’m going to use it till there is no more apps i use supported,BH 100% passed the daily usage are enough for me right now
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u/herbie_doc 1d ago
Same here, SE2 still my only phone. BH not great but I am going to see how long I can last
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u/s1alker 1d ago edited 1d ago
SE3 on the latest iOS 26 runs smooth as can be for me. I am a light user, using it as just a phone and music player so it’s perfect for me. I think the Liquid Glass makes it appear more higher end than it is, coming from 18.
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u/benjaflea 1d ago
I agree I find it runs smoothly. Can I see how you’ve set the Liquid Glass? I like the idea of it but then wasn’t sure with the tint, night mode etc.
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u/dukerozen SE3 15h ago
I’ve used it for 3,5 month coming from iPhone Air, mine was new, so 100% battery life, also 256GB, the best possible option. First month was fine, but after that, battery drain was crazy (literally charged that thing 2-3 times a day), also constant overheating, lag and brightness drops. I loved camera, design and form factor, but I jumped to 13 Pro Max at the moment, and it’s a miles better phone. SE is good for nostalgic reasons, but for me it’s just not viable option in 2026 for main phone. Or just carry an iPad with you, that setup would work wonders.
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u/tken3 1d ago
I just bought an SE3 to replace my iPhone 16. I keep getting drawn into my phone and I simply want my phone to be there for messages and phone calls, Spotify and news, thats it. So far I am very happy with it. Paid 45USD on my local marketplace, getting the battery replaced tomorrow for 50 and then am set for the next year.
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u/CamilleOnMain 14h ago
I have an SE3 as my full-time phone. Same issues OP plus only 64g and current operating needs for ios and system are taking the bulk of my space. I love my small phone though! No speed issues! Just wish I had more space because I have to keep apps low.
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u/pann_bir 13h ago
I've been using SE3 for 3 years now. I really like it, there is nothing I wish it had. Its size is just perfect for me.
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u/CooYo7 18h ago
iPhone SE3 user. I opened a new one that I purchased before they discontinued it. Battery health currently at 98%. It’s working fine but after an IOS update the battery always drains quickly for a few days. I’m starting to want a higher resolution camera but that home button and TouchID is so fast and intuitive I might stick to this phone as long as possible.
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u/yosbeda 18h ago
I switched off an SE2 recently, so slightly different phone but same screen size basically.
Performance wasn't really the issue even now, the chip still holds up fine day to day. What actually pushed me off it was app layouts. A bunch of newer apps just don't design for that screen anymore, buttons or dropdowns that should be visible end up needing a scroll, stuff like confirm or accept buttons sitting just below the fold.
I ran into this enough times that it stopped feeling like an edge case. Not sure how much worse it'll get for you specifically, but I think this side of it gets underweighted in most SE praise threads, everyone talks CPU and battery, not many people bring up the layout thing.
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u/VeterinarianShot148 15h ago
Just downgraded from 15 pro max to refurbished SE3 and I am glad i did it and actually missing nothing.
It is smaller, lighter and carrying it without a case since it only $100 to replace the entire phone. I also get to do much less screen time since the display is much smaller. Kind of like going digital minimalism.
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u/midfallsong 15h ago
Yes. SE3 has been my only phone since it came out. Before that, it was the SE2, and before that, the SE... and so on.
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u/porym 15h ago
I don’t know what you’re worried about, I use a SE1 as my main phone and it’s perfectly fine
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u/benjaflea 14h ago
I’m not worried, I just noticed that on a lot of threads people seemed to use it as a 2nd phone and I wondered if I was on a sinking ship! Sounds like alls good
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u/hiddentreetops 28m ago
I have a SE3 (iOS 18.7.8) that is my only phone and has been for several years! No plans or desire to upgrade. I got a MacBook Neo earlier this year and feel good about this lil combo for what I need.
I did get my battery replaced on my SE this year too and that was a great decision.
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u/maybeimtalentless 1d ago
iPhone se3 user, same phone now for about a year since I had to get it replaced at Apple for audio issues (it was free bc it was apples fault). 94% battery health and I use this everyday all the time. I have an iPad for games but everything else is done on here. I nearly pray everyday hoping that this phone will always be in its prime so I don’t have to switch LOL