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Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max ($250) vs Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) ($41) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right smartphone.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 | $41 |
| Weight | 228g | 113g |
| Chip | A14 Bionic | A9 |
| Display | 6.7" 60Hz OLED | 4" 60Hz LCD |
| Camera | 12MP triple + LiDAR, sensor-shift | 12MP single |
| Rating | IP68 | IP67 (later revisions) |
| Weight | 228g (Apple published) | 113g (Apple published) |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
- Sensor-shift stabilisation, exclusive to this model that year
- Largest sensor of the 12 line
- Big battery
- LiDAR
- 228g
- Lightning
- No Apple Intelligence
- 60Hz
Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
- Smallest, lightest phone in the entire catalog
- Touch ID and a real home button
- Genuinely one-handed usable, unlike anything from 2018 onward
- Extremely cheap, the least expensive working iPhone here
- iOS support has ended
- A9 chip is a decade old and it shows in modern apps
- Single camera, no portrait mode or night mode
- Battery on any used unit will be significantly degraded
Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) is the better value at $41. Both are part of our curated smartphone index — tap through to check current pricing.