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Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) ($41) vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max ($1,299) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right smartphone.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $41 | $1,299 |
| Weight | 113g | 249g |
| Chip | A9 | A20 Pro |
| Display | 4" 60Hz LCD | 6.9" 120Hz OLED |
| Camera | 12MP single | 48MP Pro Fusion Triple |
| Rating | IP67 (later revisions) | IP68 |
| Weight | 113g (Apple published) | — |
| Storage | — | 256GB–2TB |
Pros & Cons
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 18 Pro Max
- Longest battery life of any iPhone (up to 45 hrs video)
- Biggest Pro display at 6.9"
- Same A20 Pro camera system as 18 Pro
- Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- $1,299 starting price, $100 over 18 Pro
- 249g, the heaviest current iPhone
- Same aluminum-not-titanium tradeoff as 18 Pro
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.