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Apple iPhone 16 vs Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
Apple iPhone 16 ($409) 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 | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $409 | $41 |
| Weight | 170g | 113g |
| Chip | A18 | A9 |
| Display | 6.1" 60Hz | 4" 60Hz LCD |
| Camera | 48MP Fusion dual + Camera Control | 12MP single |
| Battery | 3,561mAh | — |
| Rating | IP68 | IP67 (later revisions) |
| Weight | 170g (Apple published) | 113g (Apple published) |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 16
- A18 runs Apple Intelligence
- Action button and Camera Control on a non-Pro
- 48MP main camera
- Still current enough to get years of iOS updates
- 60Hz display in a year when rivals shipped 120Hz
- Holds its value, so it is not a bargain
- No telephoto lens
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.