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Apple iPhone XS Max vs Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
Apple iPhone XS Max ($129) 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 XS Max | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 | $41 |
| Weight | 208g | 113g |
| Chip | A12 Bionic | A9 |
| Display | 6.5" 60Hz OLED | 4" 60Hz LCD |
| Camera | 12MP dual | 12MP single |
| Rating | IP68 | IP67 (later revisions) |
| Weight | 208g (Apple published) | 113g (Apple published) |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone XS Max
- Large OLED display for very little money
- Better battery than the XS
- Dual camera with telephoto
- 208g
- Lightning
- Ageing support
- No ultrawide
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.