Tracfone's iPhone SE 3rd Gen

**sillyette** · 07-12-2023, 04:24 PM

One of my friends wants to buy the iPhone SE-3rd gen from Tracfone and was asking me about it.

I looked on TF's website, it has been out of stock the last couple days when I looked. (It's out of stock right now too: https://www.tracfone.com/phone/apple...rd-gen-prepaid). Has anyone seen it in stock recently?

Also, she currently uses the 2nd-gen iPhone SE. Is there a lot of difference between the two generations of SE?

Thank you very much for any info and insights on this!

**drooper** · 07-12-2023, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by sillyette

One of my friends wants to buy the iPhone SE-3rd gen from Tracfone and was asking me about it.

I looked on TF's website, it has been out of stock the last couple days when I looked. (It's out of stock right now too: https://www.tracfone.com/phone/apple...rd-gen-prepaid). Has anyone seen it in stock recently?

Also, she currently uses the 2nd-gen iPhone SE. Is there a lot of difference between the two generations of SE?

Thank you very much for any info and insights on this!

I dont check their stock often but havve not seen it for a while. Others will know better.
One main difference, it supports 5G. The se2 does not.

**arny56** · 07-12-2023, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by sillyette

One of my friends wants to buy the iPhone SE-3rd gen from Tracfone and was asking me about it.

Also, she currently uses the 2nd-gen iPhone SE. Is there a lot of difference between the two generations of SE?

The 2022 version has a newer processor, a 5G radio, a bit more ram, and slightly better battery life. Otherwise, they are essentially they are the same.

**vartanarsen** · 07-12-2023, 07:41 PM

Just to warn you it has the “old 5G” which is low band and often anchors off of lte . It does not have mmWAve nor the very new mid band radios

**advcomp2019** · 07-12-2023, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by vartanarsen

Just to warn you it has the “old 5G” which is low band and often anchors off of lte . It does not have mmWAve nor the very new mid band radios

From what I can tell, the iPhone SE 3rd gen does have C-band 5G which is n77, and n78, but it does not have mmWave 5G tho.

It even does have n48 which is CBRS.

These bands use the same frequency.

You can see the specs here: https://support.apple.com/kb/SP867?locale=en_US

**vartanarsen** · 07-12-2023, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by advcomp2019

From what I can tell, the iPhone SE 3rd gen does have C-band 5G which is n77, and n78, but it does not have mmWave 5G tho.

It even does have n48 which is CBRS.

These bands use the same frequency.

You can see the specs here: https://support.apple.com/kb/SP867?locale=en_US

I stand corrected on the midband thx

**tftess** · 07-12-2023, 11:21 PM

TF had the SE 2022 in stock about 10 days ago, they had reduced the price.

I had the SE 2020, and got the SE 2022 with points in early April. When it was first released, I was sure I wouldn’t upgrade, there wasn’t enough difference to make it worthwhile. When they released the 14 series and eliminated the physical SIM card, and didn’t release a Mini, I started paying attention.

Ultimately, I wanted the newer phone because it has 5G, still has a SIM card, and I love the size. There isn’t any “future proofing” with phones, but the newest version will receive updates longer than the older one.

I don’t regret my decision, not even with getting it only a couple of months before the price reduction.

Hope that helps! If your friend has specific questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.

**geomobile** · 07-13-2023, 05:57 PM

Buy the straight talk version at Walmart and rebrand it. Midnight color is still in stock at $149 today.

**sillyette** · 07-14-2023, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by tftess

TF had the SE 2022 in stock about 10 days ago, they had reduced the price.

I had the SE 2020, and got the SE 2022 with points in early April. When it was first released, I was sure I wouldn’t upgrade, there wasn’t enough difference to make it worthwhile. When they released the 14 series and eliminated the physical SIM card, and didn’t release a Mini, I started paying attention.

Ultimately, I wanted the newer phone because it has 5G, still has a SIM card, and I love the size. There isn’t any “future proofing” with phones, but the newest version will receive updates longer than the older one.

I don’t regret my decision, not even with getting it only a couple of months before the price reduction.

Hope that helps! If your friend has specific questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.

Thanks for the detailed experience, tftess!
Her general questions are about whether the operating system feels or acts differently on the new version. She mentioned something about the control center (I'm not too familiar with iPhones, so didn't exactly understand her question.)

**sillyette** · 07-14-2023, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by geomobile

Buy the straight talk version at Walmart and rebrand it. Midnight color is still in stock at $149 today.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll pass it on to her. But are you sure the re-branding will work? Especially in terms of getting the phone unlocked. I think I've read some horror stories here.

I'm used to Tracfone's wackiness, but I feel a little queasy about recommending such maneuvers to unsuspecting people (especially friends!)

**sillyette** · 07-14-2023, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by vartanarsen

Just to warn you it has the “old 5G” which is low band and often anchors off of lte . It does not have mmWAve nor the very new mid band radios

I've been trying to learn about this whole 5G thing recently. My thought when I read about "old 5G" was a loud groan, with "oh no, not another thing that I need to learn!", LOL.

**rpz1** · 07-14-2023, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by sillyette

I've been trying to learn about this whole 5G thing recently. My thought when I read about "old 5G" was a loud groan, with "oh no, not another thing that I need to learn!", LOL.

Nothing to worry about. I don't know why Nationwide 5G was referred to as the "old 5G". For many people that's the only 5G they'll ever have. Many will never see UW5G (c-band and mmwave) without new network tech or more towers, the range just isn't there.

**advcomp2019** · 07-14-2023, 01:01 PM

Nationwide 5G can be standalone 5G and non-standalone 5G. Standalone 5G is 5G to the core. While non-standalone 5G still use 4G LTE in the back end.

As far as I know, I have C-band 5G for the last few months now, but I have no way to verify if the C-Band 5G is truly on tho.

**tftess** · 07-14-2023, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by sillyette

Thanks for the detailed experience, tftess!
Her general questions are about whether the operating system feels or acts differently on the new version. She mentioned something about the control center (I'm not too familiar with iPhones, so didn't exactly understand her question.)

You’re welcome! She will be up to speed in about a minute! Seriously, the differences are so very minor, I don’t remember them. The biggest differences are with the camera… options, settings, capability, etc. Battery life is a bit better. Everything else is pretty much the same. I popped the 2020 out of the case, put in the 2022, and other than camera, there really wasn’t any learning curve.

(My first iPhone SE, was a ST purchased at Walmart. TF refused to rebrand, I was never able to get it unlocked, which left me wary. It may possibly take some HUCAs if your friend goes that route. When I added the SE 2022 to my account in April, the first CS told me TF doesn’t allow iPhones at all. That was a super fast hang up!)