All iPhone SE Models In Chronological Order Of Release

The core iPhone experience for half the price of the latest one – that’s how the iPhone SE has been marketed for years! A smartphone that helped Apple garner traction in developing markets over the past decade and encouraged more people to try out Apple’s coveted ecosystem! With a new variant rumoured to shuffle the midrange smartphone segment, the hype around the iPhone SE is at an all-time high. 

The formula behind the iPhone SE has been simple:

The body of an older discontinued iPhone + the latest iPhone chipset = A new affordable iPhone SE.

The idea behind the iPhone SE lineup was to help Apple thwart the increasing competition from Android midrange phones and draw more people into the iOS ecosystem. The first one came out in 2016 and after the initial hiccups, it caught traction on the sales charts as soon as Apple started dropping the price. The second generation model improved upon some of the shortcomings but kept enough reasons on the table for considering the more expensive mainstream iPhone model. 

As for the third one, the less we speak, the better. 

The fourth generation iPhone SE, however, is expected to revamp the classic iPhone SE formula to help Apple usher in the era of AI-based mobile computing. Some say that it might even be called the iPhone 16E and would set a new trend for an annual upgrade instead of the current ‘sell it until it breaks’ trend. We have a separate story detailing everything we know about the iPhone SE 4 / iPhone 16E.

For iPhone enthusiasts though, we thought of looking back at the history of the iPhone SE and how it encouraged more people to try out the world’s most innovative and desirable smartphone. 

All iPhone SE models in chronological order of release

Although the iPhone SE moniker was coined for the 2016 model, the foundations for an affordable and compromised iPhone experience began in 2013. Can you guess what was it called?

iPhone 5C

Released in: 2013

The iPhone 5C didn’t wear the SE badge but deep down, it had all the makings of the founding member of the SE lineup. It was released alongside the iPhone 5S as a more affordable alternative for the youth, the key being lively colours and a familiar body of the iPhone 5. It missed out on the TouchID sensor and used a generation-old Apple A6 chipset. The price was comparatively lower than the newer iPhone 5S but not many people found the package worthy. The lack of awareness and a general preference for affordable Android phones back then made the iPhone 5C a flop. No wonder Apple never introduced an iPhone 6C the following year.

iPhone SE (1st generation)

Released in: 2016

Apple wasn’t done with the cheap-phone formula though. Three years after the disastrous iPhone 5C, Apple took the discontinued iPhone 5S and stuffed the Apple A9 chipset from the then-new iPhone 6S, calling it the iPhone SE. This time, Apple’s cheapest phone didn’t compromise on the basics – it had TouchID, a premium metal body, a good camera system and the latest version of iOS. It had a smaller display, battery and a basic 1.2-megapixel selfie camera than the iPhone 6S but that was a compromise people were willing to accept. 

While the iPhone SE wasn’t a smash hit initially, subsequent price cuts over the years made a it popular choice for midrange phone buyers in India and other developing markets. Apple had to increase its production at one time to meet the demand. 

iPhone SE (2nd generation)

Released in: 2020

By 2020 though, the iPhone SE started to show age and hence, Apple had to do something. Hence, Apple’s geniuses took the discontinued iPhone 8 and stuffed the Apple A11 Bionic chip from the then-new iPhone 11. This SE had a bigger 4.7-inch display, a nicer 12-megapixel rear camera, an even nicer 7-megapixel front camera, wireless charging and the latest version of iOS. The battery life improved marginally but it remained the Achilles heel for the iPhone SE. Since people had a lot more spending power during the COVID-19 lockdown, the iPhone SE 2 found a lot more buyers. 

iPhone SE (3rd generation)

Released in: 2022

By 2022, Apple felt that the iPhone SE needed 5G support rather than better battery life and a bigger display. Hence, the iPhone SE 2 was given the same 5G chipset as the iPhone 13 and the result was a compact and dated iPhone with support for 5G connectivity. Sadly, Apple bumped the price to astronomical levels and the iPhone SE 3, as a result, did not find many takers. In fact, people were open to spending a tad more and getting the older-generation iPhone 13. The iPhone SE was relegated to the list of forgotten phones and it has remained the same ever since. 

ALSO READ: The Main Reason To Buy iPhone 16 Is Coming To India, Courtesy Apple Intelligence