New iPhone SE and iPad Air pre-orders are live – should you take the plunge?

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Reasons to buy – and reasons not to

Apple March Event 2022
(Image credit: Apple)

After being announced at the Apple March event, the new iPhone SE 3 and iPad Air 5 are now available to pre-order, so if you're excited about the new Apple devices you can put your money down to make sure you're first in line to get your hands on them.

We've got guides to iPhone SE pre-orders and iPad Air pre-orders that you can check out to help you find the best deals on the new phone and slate.

They're iterative updates in most aspects, but they do bring some upgrades – both offer 5G where the previous models didn't, and they benefit from new processors too.

So if you're an Apple fan, or perhaps an Android user who's considering hopping the fence (or simply someone who isn't invested in either ecosystem), should these be your next phone or tablet?

Like all Apple products, the iPhone SE and iPad Air are relatively pricey, especially when you add on the cost of cases, contracts, and accessories. So to help you decide whether or not you should splash your cash, we've written this brief guide.

Should I pre-order the iPhone SE 3 and iPad Air 5?

Apple March Event 2022

(Image credit: Apple)

Considering pre-ordering if...

You have an older Apple device
The new iPhone won't feel like an upgrade if you've got an iPhone 11 or newer, but if you have an iPhone 6 or older, or an iPhone SE, it certainly will. Likewise, the iPad Air 5 will seem like a big step up if you have a third-gen Apple slate, or an entry-level iPad or iPad mini.

You've got something to trade in
Apple offers pretty good trade-in bonuses if you pre-order, and have an older gadget you can trade in. You can net up to $600 off certain iPhones, and while trade-in bonuses for the SE won't go this high (the handset doesn't cost that much), you could still save lots.

You'll be taking out a new contract
Telecom companies often offer tempting pre-order bonuses on smartphones if you're also buying a contract. So if you've been thinking about taking out a new contract this could be a good time – but if you're looking for a SIM-free phone, or staying on an existing contract, this won't be as important.

Don't considering pre-ordering if...

You're on a tight budget
The iPhone and iPad both cost more than their predecessor – quite a bit more, in the case of the new iPhone SE. So if you don't have that much money to splash right now, we'd be remiss if we advised you to pre-order.

You don't live in a 5G area
Both new Apple device offer 5G where the predecessors didn't, but reliable 5G networks aren't available everywhere, and if you can't readily access a 5G signal these new devices won't bring many gains.

You're considering Apple's premium offerings
The iPhone SE and iPad Air ranges are Apple's mid-range phone and tablet families, and you might want more power. The iPad Pro range has a bigger screen and battery; we last saw a new Pro in 2021, and we think the next might come in 2023. The iPhone 13 series includes models which are better in the display and camera departments than the SE 3, and we're expecting the iPhone 14 family at the end of this year, if you can wait that long.

Tom Bedford
Tom Bedford
Contributor

Tom Bedford was deputy phones editor on TechRadar until late 2022, having worked his way up from staff writer. Though he specialized in phones and tablets, he also took on other tech like electric scooters, smartwatches, fitness, mobile gaming and more. He is based in London, UK and now works for the entertainment site What To Watch.

He graduated in American Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Prior to working on TechRadar, he freelanced in tech, gaming and entertainment, and also spent many years working as a mixologist.