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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.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro Max
$1,199
Best Overall
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Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
Apple
iPhone SE (1st generation)
$41
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Spec-by-spec
SpecApple iPhone 17 Pro MaxApple iPhone SE (1st generation)
Price$1,199$41
Weight231g113g
ChipA19 ProA9
Display6.9" 120Hz OLED4" 60Hz LCD
Camera48MP Triple12MP single
Battery4,682mAh—
Storage256GB–2TB—
RatingIP68IP67 (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.
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