Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max ($1,199) 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 17 Pro Max | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
| Price | $1,199 | $41 |
| Weight | 231g | 113g |
| Chip | A19 Pro | A9 |
| Display | 6.9" 120Hz OLED | 4" 60Hz LCD |
| Camera | 48MP Triple | 12MP single |
| Battery | 4,682mAh | — |
| Storage | 256GB–2TB | — |
| Rating | IP68 | IP67 (later revisions) |
| Weight | — | 113g (Apple published) |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Best-in-class A19 Pro performance
- Exceptional ProRes video
- Dynamic Island 2.0
- Aerospace-grade aluminum frame
- Longest supported lifespan
- Highest price in lineup
- Lost titanium vs iPhone 16 Pro
- Large form factor
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.