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Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) vs Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) ($83) 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 SE (3rd generation) | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $83 | $41 |
| Weight | 144g | 113g |
| Chip | A15 Bionic | A9 |
| Display | 4.7" 60Hz | 4" 60Hz LCD |
| Camera | 12MP single | 12MP single |
| Battery | 2,018mAh | — |
| Rating | IP67 | IP67 (later revisions) |
| Weight | 144g (Apple published) | 113g (Apple published) |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation)
- A15 chip, the same one in the iPhone 13
- Touch ID home button, still the fastest unlock with wet hands
- 144g and genuinely small
- The cheapest current-chip iPhone by a wide margin
- 4.7-inch display with large bezels
- Single 12MP camera, no ultrawide or night mode
- Small battery
- IP67 rather than IP68
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.