Last year, Apple rebooted its budget smartphone iPhone SE, packing premium features into a compact form factor and slightly lowering the price of the iPhone 12.

We're wondering if Apple might release an updated version of that budget device for the spring. But concept artist 4RMD has whet our appetite and come up with an iPhone SE 3 design inspired by the iPhone 5s.

Despite the iPhone 12 mini being a flop (probably due to its price and people's desire for larger phones), the iPhone SE has been rather well received, showing that there is still interest in a smaller, sharply priced iPhone.

The concept design uses the same body, dimensions, and overall design as the iPhone 5s, but glamorizes it with rumored features like a punch hole camera. It also updates aspects such as the screen to make it more acceptable in a world flooded with budget smartphones with high-end specs.

Apple is said to be doing away with the iconic notch on recent iPhones and replacing it with a camera below the display. While this move may not be planned for the iPhone 13, it could become a reality by the time the iPhone 14 arrives. iPhone SE 3 concept bridges this gap with a 12MP punch hole camera on the back.

The biggest aesthetic innovation is the 5-inch display, which 4RMD calls the Infinity-O display, a name associated with Samsung's Galaxy phones, and the Korean company manufactures displays for Apple. If Samsung is manufacturing the display for the iPhone SE 3, we could see OLED panels like the Super Retina XDR display used in the iPhone 12.

The beauty of this display is that it extends from edge to edge and has almost no bezel. Given the small size of this device, this is exactly the kind of upgrade we would like to see on a real device. Fitting a screen that large into a compact device is a winning move in our book.

Given that this concept design has neither a home button nor an array of Face ID sensors, 4RMD seems to be assuming some form of Touch ID, either under the display, another feature rumored for the iPhone 13, or integrated into the power button as seen on the iPad Air sensor seems to be envisioned.

In a world where wearing masks is the norm, it makes a lot of sense for Touch ID to return on the iPhone. iPhone SE has no headphone jack, and Apple is reportedly considering using a portless design on future iPhones. Cupertino currently offers three wireless headphones, led by the AirPods Max, and is unlikely to make any concessions for wired headphones.

The design assumes that the iPhone SE 3 will be powered by Apple's A14 Bionic chip. given that the iPhone SE is powered by the A13 Bionic found in the iPhone 11, it makes sense that the next generation SE will be the current generation flagship iPhone silicon, it makes sense that the next generation SE will be powered by the current generation's flagship iPhone.

While the iPhone SE 3 concept is certainly eye-catching, we are rather skeptical as to whether Apple will make such a phone as 4RMD has imagined. However, previous rumors and Apple's approach to design give us an idea of what the iPhone SE 3 might look like and what features it might have.

While we would love to see the iPhone SE 3 debut this spring, industry analyst Ross Young suggests that we will have to wait until 2022 for a follow-up. Meanwhile, Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known Apple analyst, said it will be available later this year. Either way, such an appearance is bound to satisfy affordable iPhone fans.