But while one or two (not-very-reliable) leakers are still clinging to their hopes of seeing the next budget-friendly iOS handset embrace a more "modern" notch than the massive bezels of the 2020 model, the survival of one of the industry's most outdated designs is virtually guaranteed.
Unfortunately, the same goes for the iPhone SE 3's snubbing of another modern technology, unveiled (or rather revived) in 2020 and expanded from the iPhone 12 family to the iPhone 13 lineup last year.
No MagSafe, no deal?
Before you make such rash commitments, you should keep in mind that the first 5G-enabled iPhone SE variant ever will definitely support "traditional" wireless charging functionality, according to both Macotakara's "reliable sources in China" today and, well, common sense.
We're talking, of course, about the Qi standard, which was also present on the 4G LTE-only second-gen iPhone SE, allowing the 2020-released 4.7-incher to pair with the vast majority of wireless chargers on the market, be them sold by Apple or manufactured by countless other companies and brands.
This is one charger future iPhone SE 3 owners will not be able to use.
The same will naturally be true for the iPhone SE (2022), which is simply expected to lack the advanced MagSafe technology of its 12 and 13-series cousins. In other words, you won't be able to magnetically attach certain charging accessories to this upcoming device that could have definitely come in handy but are in no way, shape, or form to be considered (lone) dealbreakers.
Besides, let's be honest, there weren't a lot of reasons to be hopeful of such an inclusion after 2021's iPad Pro releases sans MagSafe support. Not with all the corners Apple is expected to cut in order to keep the iPhone SE 5G pricing at the exact same level as its ultra-affordable predecessor.
And now the good news
While Macotakara's reliable-sounding new report doesn't go into a lot of any detail regarding the iPhone SE 3 specs or launch schedule, we now know that production has (allegedly) begun... at some point in the undoubtedly recent past.
That's apparently true for both the iPhone SE 5G and iPad Air 5, the latter of which is likely to also offer 5G speeds (albeit as an option). The two devices are therefore very much on schedule for an April or even late March commercial debut, at least for the time being.
The iPad Air 5 is also expected to look a lot like its predecessor (pictured here).
Obviously, plenty of things can still go wrong between the start of production and the time of release, especially in the middle of a global chip shortage, but it's certainly promising that we haven't heard anything about any issues since the rumored beginning of "trial production" back in December 2021.
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iPhone SE (2022) demand is likely to be sky-high, mind you, despite the reported absence of any big (or even small) visual changes. 5G connectivity and an upgraded processor should be more than enough to convince millions of current iPhone SE owners to switch, analysts say, and given the massive price gap between the 4.7-inch model and the "regular" iPhone 13, we definitely cannot argue with that prediction.
Similarly, the fifth-gen iPad Air that's tipped to accompany the third-gen iPhone SE to Apple's first big event of 2022 will probably retain the admittedly far more appealing design of its 2020 forerunner while switching to an A15 Bionic SoC and borrowing that nifty Center Stage front-facing camera feature from the ultra-high-end iPad Pro (2021) duo.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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