I have the SE 1st gen iPhone. How will it be affected after the 3G shutdown in February 2022 (AT&T on Consumer Cellular)? Do I need a newer model phone? I assume this is an iPhone hardware/wired thing and not an IOS software upgrade.
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iPhone SE, iOS 14
The iPhone SE will no longer be able to connect to 3G service, as such any area not completely covered with AT&T's 4G/LTE Network may be a dark spot for you.
It should continue to work normally on 4G/LTE for now, but given it is 6 year old tech now, it may be wise to consider an upgrade to a slightly newer device sooner, rather than later.
The first generation SE was a practically perfect solution for many users. The closest that Apple offers currently are the SE 2nd generation, the 12 mini and the 13 mini (which are smaller than the SE 2nd generation).
However, the one you have is compatible with iOS 15 and has 4G/LTE, which will be around for a long while. So if it still works there’s no need to update.
Phil - Given I like the small pocket size of my 1st gen SE, and also the bargain lower (it was on sale) price with very good features - what iPhone would you recommend for me to upgrade to? I am not a "first adopter" and valued the bang for the buck I got with the 1st gen SE.
The 12 Mini, 13 Mini and SE 2 are the smallest Apple offers currently. It's unlikely Apple will go back to the 5.5s Se size and shape any time soon. The smaller sizes have a smaller market share than the larger ones.
As Lawrence mentioned it will still work for a while longer so you have a chance to shop around and wait and see what other sizes Apple releases.
You can compare them, here: link-> Compare iPhone SE1, 13 Mini and SE2 - Apple.com
Thanks, Lawrence. I am also reading about SE 3, but some say pushed out to 2024? With 5G and original tiny size. We'll see.
Phil, thanks again.
What iPhones are impacted by 3g shutdown?
