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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerApple iPhone 14 vs Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
The Apple iPhone 14 is the premium option here, offering a larger 6.1" OLED display and a robust 3279mAh battery that lasts up to 20 hours of video playback. In real-world use, that means you can easily binge-watch an entire series without worrying about charging. What matters most here is performance. Both models are powered by the same A15 Bionic chip, but the iPhone 14 has 6GB of RAM compared to the SE's 4GB, so multitasking feels smoother. Plus, the iPhone 14’s impressive camera system—with dual 12MP lenses—offers better low-light performance thanks to the Photonic Engine, a feature that the SE simply lacks.
📱 Display: 6.1" vs 4.7"🔋 Battery: 3279 mAh vs 2018 mAh⚖️ Weight: 6.07 oz vs 5.08 oz
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Apple iPhone 14
★4.8
(1,511)•Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Processor:Apple A15 Bionic chip (5nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics:Apple 5-core GPU (A15 Bionic)
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Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
★4.5
(225)•Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Typically 6+ years of OS updates from release (2022)
Processor:Apple A15 Bionic (5nm)
Graphics:Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Apple iPhone 14
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Apple iPhone 14
6.1" (6.06" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
4.7"
Refresh Rate
Apple iPhone 14
60 Hz
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
60Hz
Performance3 specs
ProcessorKey
Apple iPhone 14
Apple A15 Bionic chip (5nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Apple A15 Bionic (5nm)
RAMKey
Apple iPhone 14
6 GB (LPDDR4X)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
4GB
Storage
Apple iPhone 14
128GB / 256GB / 512GB (NVMe)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
64GB / 128GB / 256GB NVMe
Camera2 specs
Main CameraKey
Apple iPhone 14
12MP Main (26 mm, f/1.5), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, Photonic Engine for better low-light performance
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
12MP Wide, f/1.8, OIS, Digital Zoom up to 5x
Ultra-Wide Camera
Apple iPhone 14
12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.4, 120° field of view)
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
No (Not supported)
Battery2 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Apple iPhone 14
3279 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 20 hours video playback (16 hours streamed)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
2,018mAh (Approximate)
Wireless Charging
Apple iPhone 14
MagSafe up to 15W; Qi up to 7.5W
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
7.5W Qi Wireless (No MagSafe magnetic alignment)
Design2 specs
Weight
Apple iPhone 14
6.07 oz (172 g)
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
5.09 oz (144 g)Winner
Dimensions
Apple iPhone 14
5.78" x 2.82" x 0.31" (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.80 mm)
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in (138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Apple iPhone 14
5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (First-generation); NFC with reader mode
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
5G (Sub-6 GHz only - No mmWave), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple iPhone 14 vs Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Apple iPhone 14
★4.8(1,511)Best Buy
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
★4.5(225)Best Buy
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 14 | Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.8(1,511)Best Buy | ★4.5(225)Best Buy |
Operating System | iOS | iOS |
Software Support | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades | Typically 6+ years of OS updates from release (2022) |
Processor | Apple A15 Bionic chip (5nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine) | Apple A15 Bionic (5nm) |
Graphics | Apple 5-core GPU (A15 Bionic) | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
RAM | 6 GB (LPDDR4X) | 4GB |
Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB (NVMe) | 64GB / 128GB / 256GB NVMe |
Display Size | 6.1" (6.06" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 4.7" |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Retina HD LCD (IPS) |
Resolution | 2532 x 1170 pixels (460 ppi) | 1334 x 750 pixels (326 ppi) |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 60Hz |
Peak Brightness | 800 nits max (typical); 1200 nits peak (HDR) | 625 nits (Typical) |
Main Camera | 12MP Main (26 mm, f/1.5), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, Photonic Engine for better low-light performance | 12MP Wide, f/1.8, OIS, Digital Zoom up to 5x |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.4, 120° field of view) | No (Not supported) |
Telephoto Camera | No dedicated telephoto lens; Digital zoom only beyond 1x | No (Not supported) |
Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x (2x optical zoom out range) | No (Not supported) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 5x | Up to 5x |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps | 4K @ 60fps; 1080p @ 60fps; Slo-mo 1080p @ 240fps |
Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps | 7MP FaceTime HD, f/2.2, 1080p @ 30fps |
Battery | 3279 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 20 hours video playback (16 hours streamed) | 2,018mAh (Approximate) |
Wired Charging | Lightning; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher | 20W Fast Charging (50% in 30 min) via Lightning |
Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 15W; Qi up to 7.5W | 7.5W Qi Wireless (No MagSafe magnetic alignment) |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (First-generation); NFC with reader mode | 5G (Sub-6 GHz only - No mmWave), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC |
USB | Lightning connector with USB 2 speeds (up to 480 Mb/s) | Lightning Connector (USB 2.0 speeds) |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield front; Aerospace-grade aluminum; Glass back | IP67 (Dust/Water Resistant up to 1m for 30 min); Ion-strengthened glass |
Dimensions | 5.78" x 2.82" x 0.31" (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.80 mm) | 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in (138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm) |
Weight | 6.07 oz (172 g) | 5.09 oz (144 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Touch ID (Fingerprint sensor in Home button) |
Extras | Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Dual eSIM (US models); Ring/Silent switch | Stereo speakers, Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM), Dual eSIM support |
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Apple iPhone 14
Rating:★4.8(1,511)Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Processor:Apple A15 Bionic chip (5nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics:Apple 5-core GPU (A15 Bionic)
RAM:6 GB (LPDDR4X)
Storage:128GB / 256GB / 512GB (NVMe)
Display Size:6.1" (6.06" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution:2532 x 1170 pixels (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate:60 Hz
Peak Brightness:800 nits max (typical); 1200 nits peak (HDR)
Main Camera:12MP Main (26 mm, f/1.5), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, Photonic Engine for better low-light performance
Ultra-Wide Camera:12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.4, 120° field of view)
Telephoto Camera:No dedicated telephoto lens; Digital zoom only beyond 1x
Optical Zoom:0.5x, 1x (2x optical zoom out range)
Digital Zoom:Up to 5x
Video Recording:4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps
Front Camera:12MP TrueDepth (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps
Battery:3279 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 20 hours video playback (16 hours streamed)
Wired Charging:Lightning; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher
Wireless Charging:MagSafe up to 15W; Qi up to 7.5W
Connectivity:5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (First-generation); NFC with reader mode
USB:Lightning connector with USB 2 speeds (up to 480 Mb/s)
Durability:IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield front; Aerospace-grade aluminum; Glass back
Dimensions:5.78" x 2.82" x 0.31" (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.80 mm)
Weight:6.07 oz (172 g)
Biometrics:Face ID
Extras:Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Dual eSIM (US models); Ring/Silent switch
✓ Pros:
- • Affordable entry point into the modern mainline iPhone ecosystem
- • Reliable A15 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU still performs well
- • Lightweight and compact 6.1-inch design
- • Excellent build quality with Ceramic Shield and IP68 rating
- • Autofocus on the front-facing TrueDepth camera
✗ Cons:
- • Uses the older Lightning port instead of USB-C
- • Display limited to 60 Hz (no ProMotion)
- • No optical zoom for telephoto (only digital)
- • Not compatible with newer Qi2 wireless charging standard (limited to MagSafe/Qi)
- • Dynamic Island not available (uses the older notch design)
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Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Rating:★4.5(225)Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Typically 6+ years of OS updates from release (2022)
Processor:Apple A15 Bionic (5nm)
Graphics:Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
RAM:4GB
Storage:64GB / 128GB / 256GB NVMe
Display Size:4.7"
Screen Type:Retina HD LCD (IPS)
Resolution:1334 x 750 pixels (326 ppi)
Refresh Rate:60Hz
Peak Brightness:625 nits (Typical)
Main Camera:12MP Wide, f/1.8, OIS, Digital Zoom up to 5x
Ultra-Wide Camera:No (Not supported)
Telephoto Camera:No (Not supported)
Optical Zoom:No (Not supported)
Digital Zoom:Up to 5x
Video Recording:4K @ 60fps; 1080p @ 60fps; Slo-mo 1080p @ 240fps
Front Camera:7MP FaceTime HD, f/2.2, 1080p @ 30fps
Battery:2,018mAh (Approximate)
Wired Charging:20W Fast Charging (50% in 30 min) via Lightning
Wireless Charging:7.5W Qi Wireless (No MagSafe magnetic alignment)
Connectivity:5G (Sub-6 GHz only - No mmWave), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
USB:Lightning Connector (USB 2.0 speeds)
Durability:IP67 (Dust/Water Resistant up to 1m for 30 min); Ion-strengthened glass
Dimensions:5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in (138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm)
Weight:5.09 oz (144 g)
Biometrics:Touch ID (Fingerprint sensor in Home button)
Extras:Stereo speakers, Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM), Dual eSIM support
✓ Pros:
- • Most affordable entry point into the new iPhone ecosystem
- • Compact and lightweight design is easy to use with one hand
- • A15 Bionic chip provides flagship-level performance for the price
- • Retains the classic Touch ID Home button (preferred by some users)
- • IP67 water resistance rating is rare in the budget category
✗ Cons:
- • Dated design with thick top and bottom bezels
- • Small 4.7-inch LCD screen lacks the vibrancy of OLED competitors
- • Base storage starts at a low 64GB
- • No Night Mode for the camera (struggles in low light)
- • Lacks 5G mmWave support (Sub-6 GHz only) unlike main iPhone models
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Which one is better?
Key specs: Display: 6.1" vs 4.7" and Battery: 3279 mAh vs 2018 mAh.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 14 if: you want a larger and more vibrant display for streaming, need better battery life for long trips, or prefer advanced camera features for photography. (6.1" display, 3279 mAh battery)
Choose the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) if: you want a compact design that fits easily in your pocket, are on a tight budget, or prefer the classic Home button experience. (4.7" display, 2018 mAh battery)
Conclusion
Apple iPhone 14 and Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Apple iPhone 14 excels if you value affordable entry point into the modern mainline iphone ecosystem. Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) is better if you prioritize most affordable entry point into the new iphone ecosystem. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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