Apple iPhone 17 vs Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
Apple iPhone 17 ($799) 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 | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
| Price | $799 | $41 |
| Weight | 177g | 113g |
| Chip | A19 | A9 |
| Display | 6.1" 60Hz OLED | 4" 60Hz LCD |
| Camera | 48MP Dual | 12MP single |
| Battery | 3,948mAh | — |
| Storage | 128GB–512GB | — |
| Rating | IP68 | IP67 (later revisions) |
| Weight | — | 113g (Apple published) |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 17
- A19 chip same as Pro
- $400 cheaper than Pro Max
- Sufficient for most users
- Improved camera system
- 5-year software support
- No ProMotion 120Hz
- No ProRes video
- No ultrawide camera 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.