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Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max ($650) 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 16 Pro Max | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $650 | $41 |
| Weight | 227g | 113g |
| Chip | A18 Pro | A9 |
| Display | 6.9" 120Hz ProMotion | 4" 60Hz LCD |
| Camera | 48MP triple, 5x tetraprism | 12MP single |
| Battery | 4,685mAh | — |
| Rating | IP68 | IP67 (later revisions) |
| Weight | 227g (Apple published) | 113g (Apple published) |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
- 4K 120fps ProRes video
- 5x tetraprism telephoto
- 6.9-inch 120Hz display
- A18 Pro has years of headroom
- 227g is a lot of phone to carry
- Large enough to be awkward one-handed
- Commands the highest used price of the 16 line
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.