The third-generation iPhone SE rumored to debut in the spring of next year will reportedly look like the iPhone XR and will also be the last Apple device to feature an LCD display. To recall, Apple made the jump to an OLED panel starting with the iPhone X all the way back in 2017, but the company continues to remain loyal to the LCD panel cause in 2021 by virtue of the second-generation iPhone SE.
Apple has already phased out the LCD panel in its core line-up and has finally embraced the high refresh rate trend with the LTPO OLED panel on the iPhone 13 Pro models. The company has also started experimenting with the mini-LED display elsewhere in its hardware portfolio, with the first arriving on the 12.9-inch M1-powered iPad Pro. Just a few days ago, Apple also revealed the updated MacBook Pro models equipped with a mini-LED panel, as well as ProMotion to deliver an up to 120Hz refresh rate experience.
The iPhone SE 3 will actually borrow its design from the iPhone XR that was launched in 2018, according to MyDrivers. From the front, the iPhone XR looks like the iPhone X with its wide notch and thin bezels alongside the edges. Apple never launched a successor to the iPhone XR though, and it was the last phone with Face ID hardware to pack a single rear camera. Additionally, the report mentions that 2022’s iPhone SE refresh will feature an LCD display and will be the last Apple phone to do so, with the company fully embracing OLED panels moving forward. Previous rumors have predicted that the upcoming phone will again rock the iPhone 8's aesthetic profile.
Apple Might Shed Outdated Design, But With A Twist
The most interesting piece of information that the report mentions is that the iPhone SE 3 will feature a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. So far, Apple’s smartphones have only offered two methods of biometric authentication — Face ID embedded in a wide notch at the top and the Touch ID fingerprint sensor embedded in the round Home Button. The only Apple device to use a side-mounted fingerprint sensor is the fourth-generation iPad Air that positions the Touch ID button rather awkwardly on the top edge. In the Android ecosystem, smartphone makers embraced the side-mounted fingerprint sensor trend a couple of years back.
The upcoming iPhone SE refresh is rumored to pack a 6.1-inch display, while the A15 Bionic processor — which also powers the iPhone 13 series and the new iPad Mini — will take care of things under the hood. Coming to the price, the report mentions CNY 3,299 for the base 64GB variant, which roughly translates to $520 based on current conversion rates. That’s a $100 hike compared to the second-gen iPhone SE and might represent a 5G tax. Needless to say, the iPhone SE 3 will be the cheapest 5G phone in Apple’s portfolio, assuming that the latest rumors are accurate.
Source: MyDrivers