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Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
Apple iPhone Air ($774) 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 Air | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $774 | $41 |
| Weight | 165g | 113g |
| Chip | Apple A19 Pro | A9 |
| Display | 6.5" 120Hz OLED | 4" 60Hz LCD |
| Battery | 3,149mAh | — |
| Weight | 165g | 113g (Apple published) |
| Camera | — | 12MP single |
| Rating | — | IP67 (later revisions) |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone Air
- 5.6mm — thinnest iPhone ever
- 165g flagship-light
- A19 Pro performance
- Titanium frame
- 3,149mAh battery is the price of thin
- Single rear camera
- No SIM tray anywhere
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.