I’ve been secretly using Apple’s cheap new 5G iPhone SE – and I got a BIG surprise

LONG gone are the days when budget phones were absolute stinkers – and Apple has proven it.

I’ve been using Apple’s slick new iPhone SE for just under a week, and it’s clear that smartphone greatness needn’t break the bank.

Sean Keach / The SunThe iPhone SE 3 may have a familiar body – but its innards are cutting-edge[/caption]

Sean Keach / The SunThis is an easy-to-hold iPhone those who fear increasingly gargantuan mobiles[/caption]

AppleApple has fitted its cheapest iPhone with 5G and a top-end smartphone chip[/caption]

For the uninitiated, Apple sells a “cheaper” smartphone called the iPhone SE.

The first one came out in 2016, followed by an upgraded iPhone SE 2 model in 2020.

Now 2022 delivers the iPhone SE 3 – the best yet, and seriously tempting for its $429/£419 price tag.

From the outside, it looks just like an iPhone 8.

That’s a tried-and-tested look, binning the “notch” and Face ID for the iconic Touch ID fingerprint-scanning Home button and a bigger bezel.

No real complaints: I prefer the iPhone 13’s more modern look, but the iPhone 8 looks just fine.

Probably the main downside of the design is that it limits the device to a 4.7-inch screen size.

For context, the iPhone 13 screen ranges from 5.8 inches to 6.7 inches.

The iPhone SE’s screen isn’t for me – but some people will prefer the downsized display, and that’s OK.

It’s also fairly sharp at 326 pixels-per-inch, with a wide P3 colour gamut that means visuals are accurately represented on the screen.

There are really two main changes you need to know about for 2022’s iPhone SE.

G-whiz!

The first is support for speedy 5G mobile internet.

Apple started supporting 5G about 18 months ago, first with the iPhone 12 and then the iPhone 13.

Now Apple is pushing 5G down the roster, giving buyers on a budget the chance to enjoy super-fast mobile speeds.

Currently a good 5G connection could serve up something like 10 times the download rate of a 4G signal.

What does that mean in practical terms? Apps download faster, large WhatsApp files load more quickly, and video will stream more smoothly.

Of course, 5G cannot survive on iPhone support alone.

You’ll also need to buy a 5G-ready SIM card (your 4G SIM may already support this, mind) and use your phone somewhere with 5G signal.

5G networks are rapidly spreading across the US and UK. But they’re not everywhere, and won’t be for a long time.

The iPhone SE turning to 5G was inevitable, really.

And with a flurry of 5G deals available (and more to come), Apple’s slick cell lands at the perfect time.

Powerhouse performance

The second big change is processing power.

Apple has (quite generously) dumped its workhorse A15 Bionic chip inside the new iPhone SE.

I say generous because that’s the same chip that powers the iPhone 13 Pro – which costs more than double the SE.

It’s an ultra-rapid processor that means the new iPhone SE truly flies. It’s remarkable given the price, and outclasses anything you’ll find on Android for a similar price.

The phone is buttery-smooth to use, whether you’re streaming video, playing games, editing photos or whatever else you might be doing.

Both 5G and the A15 are high-end features that have now appeared in what is a mid-range phone. Bravo.

It’s also worth noting that battery life has crept up for this new model.

By most of Apple’s metrics, you’re getting an extra two hours of use per charge versus the old model.

The phone is otherwise largely good for the price.

Apple’s camera melds a decent lens and sensor with powerful computational photography to make your snaps look surprisingly decent.

It’s a 12-megapixel wide camera with Portrait Mode, Deep Fusion (for detail-heavy snaps), and 4K video recording at up to 60 frames per second.

You get three storage options: 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. Something for everyone.

There are three colour options too: Starlight, Midnight (which I tried, and loved) and Product Red.

And the iPhone naturally runs on Apple’s iOS, a generally brilliant operating system that offers an enormous selection of apps, games and features.

Money matters

The iPhone SE offers tremendous bang for your buck ($429/£419).

And it builds significantly on the iPhone SE 2, future-proofing it (for a while, anyway) without significant cost increase.

This is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to get 5G in 2022. It’s far cheaper than an iPhone 13, and is less than half the price of the supercharged iPhone 13 Pro.

I’d like to see a full-screen display at some point soon, but it’s by no means a deal-breaker here.

I’m genuinely surprised by how powerful this phone is for the price. A masterclass in optimisation and trickle-down tech indeed.

The Sun says: Apple has crammed high-end features into a classic iPhone body, keeping the price low and the performance high. If you can look past the dated design, the iPhone SE 2022 is one of the biggest steals in smartphones today. 5/5

Best iPhone SE 3 deals

All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed. Always do your own research before making any purchase. Note that camera samples featured in this article are compressed by our website, and don’t fully reflect original image quality.

Sean Keach / The SunThe iPhone SE captures impressive detail in a very balanced and vibrant photo[/caption]

Sean Keach / The SunSunny skies and a dark background can be a difficult challenge, but the iPhone SE handles exposure well – maintaining detail across the scene[/caption]

Sean Keach / The SunThe wide-angle camera captures large scenes and impressive levels of detail[/caption]

Read all the latest Phones & Gadgets newsKeep up-to-date on Apple storiesGet the latest on Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at tech@the-sun.co.uk