Apple iPhone SE (2nd generation) vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Apple iPhone SE (2nd generation) ($78) 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 (2nd generation) | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max |
| Price | $78 | $1,299 |
| Weight | 148g | 249g |
| Chip | A13 Bionic | A20 Pro |
| Display | 4.7" 60Hz LCD | 6.9" 120Hz OLED |
| Camera | 12MP single | 48MP Pro Fusion Triple |
| Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Weight | 148g (Apple published) | — |
| Storage | — | 256GB–2TB |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- A13 chip for well under a hundred dollars
- Touch ID
- 148g and genuinely pocketable
- Wireless charging
- Small battery, and it will be degraded
- Single camera, no ultrawide or night mode
- Thick bezels
- IP67 and Lightning
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 (2nd generation) is the better value at $78. Both are part of our curated smartphone index — tap through to check current pricing.