40% of iPhone Users Plan to Buy iPhone SE 3, Survey Indicates - MacRumors
Skip to Content

40% of iPhone Users Plan to Buy iPhone SE 3, Survey Indicates

40 percent of iPhone users intend to buy the third-generation iPhone SE, according to the findings of a survey by SellCell.

iphoneseback
Of the survey respondents that plan to buy the iPhone SE, 24 percent plan to use it as their main device, while 16 percent plan to give the device as a gift or use it as a secondary device. While most iPhone SE 3 buyers plan to use the device themselves, 10.9 percent plan to buy the device for a child, 10.2 percent plan to buy it for their partner or spouse, and 7.8 percent plan to buy it for a family member such as a parent or grandparent.

Most customers are planning to buy the third-generation iPhone SE because of its price point, but 15.2 percent are mainly attracted to 5G connectivity, 11.3 percent prefer its compact form factor, and 6.7 percent prefer the Home Button with Touch ID.

Most users upgrading to the iPhone SE will be upgrading from the iPhone 11, accounting for 11.5 percent of models that users intend to part ways with once the new iPhone SE launches. Beyond the iPhone 11, 6.8 percent are planning to upgrade from the iPhone XR and 6.7 percent are planning to upgrade from the iPhone 12, but there is widespread appetite to switch to the iPhone SE across multiple iPhone generations, from the iPhone 6 through to the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Of the users who are not planning to buy the new iPhone SE, 66.2 percent said that they are still happy with their current iPhone model, 9.3 percent are waiting for the iPhone 14 lineup to launch, 4.1 percent say that the device is too small, and three percent say that it is not premium enough.

The independent survey asked 2,549 adult iPhone owners in the United States about their thoughts on the third-generation iPhone SE. For a more detailed breakdown, see SellCell's full survey breakdown.

The third-generation iPhone SE is widely expected to be announced at Apple's "Peek Performance" event on March 8, likely alongside the fifth-generation iPad Air, and potentially a redesigned high-end Mac mini and a refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple Says CarPlay Ultra is Coming to These Vehicle Brands

Thursday May 21, 2026 11:53 am PDT by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly a year later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. CarPlay Ultra...
ios 26 iphone 16 pro lock screen notifications feature 1

iOS 27 Notifications Will Slide in From Left Side of Your iPhone's Screen

Friday June 5, 2026 7:24 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today revealed another iOS 27 change: notifications will slide in from the left side of the screen instead of from the top. In addition, accessing Notification Center on iOS 27 will require swiping down on the top-left corner of the screen. If you swipe down on the Dynamic Island area, a new "Search or Ask" interface tied to the revamped Siri will appear, instead of...
iOS 27 on iPhone 17 1

iOS 27 Beta Available Tomorrow With These 12 New Features

Sunday June 7, 2026 8:39 am PDT by
Apple is set to unveil iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote this Monday, and there are many rumored features and changes for iPhones. The first developer beta of iOS 27 will likely be available immediately following the keynote, and a public beta typically follows in July. Following beta testing, the software update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in September....

Top Rated Comments

entropys Avatar
56 months ago
40%!
riiight.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Game 161 Avatar
56 months ago
40% lol I highly doubt that. most people who will buy this don't even know it's coming.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HappyDude20 Avatar
56 months ago
I think if there was an option titled

“I don’t want Face ID”

that that would score as the highest reason
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Red Oak Avatar
56 months ago
That survey is obviously flawed
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unami Avatar
56 months ago
Why anyone using an 11 would "upgrade" to a device with a smaller battery, smaller screen and worse camara is beyond me. Sure, the cpu will be slightly faster, but the 11 is still plenty fast. I call BS.

Sure, the SE is the "entry level/compromise" iphone, but it's way overpriced for it's old design and for what it does. Most people who could afford an 11 in the past will surely go for a "regular" iphone.

On the other hand, if true, maybe people don't want to pay €899 upwards for a phone anymore and this is a sign that apple will have to alter it's product strategy in the future. Would't count on it.

(Written from a SE2 with a nice form factor but terrible battery life)
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
56 months ago
40% my foot
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)