The iPhone SE 3 is reportedly one step closer to launch, as parts for the latest version of Apple's budget smartphone have been ordered and production has begun

This is according to Taiwanese news site DigiTimes, which cites industry sources in a report claiming that the three companies scheduled to provide iPhone components have been ordered not to scale back shipments for Apple With that in mind, we recommend waiting for the iPhone SE 3 rather than getting the current iPhone SE

These components will not be used exclusively for the iPhone SE 3, but with the iPhone SE 3 expected to arrive in the first half of next year, it stands to reason that a significant portion of them will be used to assemble the new SE

December is apparently the usual time when adjustments to order sizes are discussed after Apple analyzes the state of the smartphone market However, if this report is accurate, it suggests that Apple is more positive about the market than previously thought

Earlier this month, it was reported that Apple had instructed its suppliers not to order more iPhone 13 components, anticipating that demand would soften once supply chain issues were resolved However, if the above report is true, that prediction appears to have changed from predicting a decline to predicting a more stable market

The current second-generation iPhone SE was introduced in 2020, replacing the original iPhone SE after four years However, Apple appears to be picking up the pace of its releases, as there are rumors of new iPhone SE models in both 2022 and 2023 The new model, possibly called the iPhone SE 3 or iPhone SE Plus, will reportedly feature the same 47-inch display and Touch ID home button design as the current SE and, like the iPhone 13 line, the 5G-capable A15 chipset

It appears that the 2023 model could be a much bigger step forward than next year's version The rumors suggest that Apple will upgrade the display size, but some believe that this model will not appear for another couple of years

The iPhone SE, despite its increasing age, remains high on our list of best budget phones As the most affordable route into the iOS ecosystem, it is an attractive offer for those who have shunned the more expensive iPhone 13 series However, the SE with the A13 Bionic chipset does a great job with photography while offering performance that is nearly as good as the flagship iPhones and much better than comparable Android phones

Update: The iPhone SE 3 is tipped to reach 14 billion users, thanks to 5G, which will allow the iPhone SE 3 to be the first iPhone to reach 14 billion users, thanks to 5G