Home / Smartphone / Comparison

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.

Apple iPhone 17
Apple
iPhone 17
$799
Best Value iPhone
Check Price →
Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
Apple
iPhone SE (1st generation)
$41
Check Price →
Spec-by-spec
SpecApple iPhone 17Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
Price$799$41
Weight177g113g
ChipA19A9
Display6.1" 60Hz OLED4" 60Hz LCD
Camera48MP Dual12MP single
Battery3,948mAh—
Storage128GB–512GB—
RatingIP68IP67 (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.
More Smartphone comparisons
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 16 ProApple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 ProApple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone AirApple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 16eApple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 16