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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerApple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the flagship option here, and it truly shines with its stunning 6.9" OLED display and triple 48MP camera system. In real-world use, the 5088mAh battery provides up to 39 hours of video playback, making it a powerhouse for media consumption and photography. The Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) offers a compact design with a 4.7" LCD screen and is the most affordable entry into the Apple ecosystem.
📱 Display: 6.9" vs 4.7"⚡ Refresh: 120 Hz vs 60 Hz🔋 Battery: 5088 mAh vs 2018 mAh
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
★4.8
(126)•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 A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Graphics:Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
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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 17 Pro Max
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
6.9" (6.86" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
4.7"
Refresh Rate
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
60Hz
Performance3 specs
ProcessorKey
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Apple A15 Bionic (5nm)
RAMKey
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
12 GB (LPDDR5X)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
4GB
Storage
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
64GB / 128GB / 256GB NVMe
Camera2 specs
Main CameraKey
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
48MP Fusion Main (24 mm, f/1.78), 2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for 24MP and 48MP super-high-resolution photosWinner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
12MP Wide, f/1.8, OIS, Digital Zoom up to 5x
Ultra-Wide Camera
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
No (Not supported)
Battery2 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
5088 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 39 hours video playback (35 hours streamed)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
2,018mAh (Approximate)
Wireless Charging
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
7.5W Qi Wireless (No MagSafe magnetic alignment)
Design2 specs
Weight
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
8.22 oz (233 g)
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
5.09 oz (144 g)Winner
Dimensions
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
6.43" x 3.07" x 0.34" (163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 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 17 Pro Max
5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; 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 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
★4.8(126)Best Buy
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
★4.5(225)Best Buy
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.8(126)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 A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing) | Apple A15 Bionic (5nm) |
Graphics | Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 4GB |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe) | 64GB / 128GB / 256GB NVMe |
Display Size | 6.9" (6.86" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 4.7" |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Retina HD LCD (IPS) |
Resolution | 2868 x 1320 pixels (460 ppi) | 1334 x 750 pixels (326 ppi) |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz) | 60Hz |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum | 625 nits (Typical) |
Main Camera | 48MP Fusion Main (24 mm, f/1.78), 2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for 24MP and 48MP super-high-resolution photos | 12MP Wide, f/1.8, OIS, Digital Zoom up to 5x |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography | No (Not supported) |
Telephoto Camera | 48MP Fusion Telephoto (100 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus; enables 12MP optical-quality 8x zoom (200 mm equivalent) | No (Not supported) |
Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical-quality zoom steps (16x optical zoom range) | No (Not supported) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 40x | Up to 5x |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps (Fusion Main); ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps | 4K @ 60fps; 1080p @ 60fps; Slo-mo 1080p @ 240fps |
Front Camera | 18MP Center Stage (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 | 5088 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 39 hours video playback (35 hours streamed) | 2,018mAh (Approximate) |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher | 20W Fast Charging (50% in 30 min) via Lightning |
Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; 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 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode | 5G (Sub-6 GHz only - No mmWave), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output | Lightning Connector (USB 2.0 speeds) |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Ceramic Shield back; Aerospace-grade aluminum unibody (with internal vapor chamber) | IP67 (Dust/Water Resistant up to 1m for 30 min); Ion-strengthened glass |
Dimensions | 6.43" x 3.07" x 0.34" (163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm) | 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in (138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm) |
Weight | 8.22 oz (233 g) | 5.09 oz (144 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Touch ID (Fingerprint sensor in Home button) |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Always-On display; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | Stereo speakers, Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM), Dual eSIM support |
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Rating:★4.8(126)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 A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Graphics:Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
RAM:12 GB (LPDDR5X)
Storage:256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe)
Display Size:6.9" (6.86" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution:2868 x 1320 pixels (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate:Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz)
Peak Brightness:1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum
Main Camera:48MP Fusion Main (24 mm, f/1.78), 2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for 24MP and 48MP super-high-resolution photos
Ultra-Wide Camera:48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography
Telephoto Camera:48MP Fusion Telephoto (100 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus; enables 12MP optical-quality 8x zoom (200 mm equivalent)
Optical Zoom:0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical-quality zoom steps (16x optical zoom range)
Digital Zoom:Up to 40x
Video Recording:4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps (Fusion Main); ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps
Front Camera:18MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps
Battery:5088 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 39 hours video playback (35 hours streamed)
Wired Charging:USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher
Wireless Charging:MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W
Connectivity:5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode
USB:USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output
Durability:IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Ceramic Shield back; Aerospace-grade aluminum unibody (with internal vapor chamber)
Dimensions:6.43" x 3.07" x 0.34" (163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm)
Weight:8.22 oz (233 g)
Biometrics:Face ID
Extras:Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Always-On display; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite
✓ Pros:
- • Brightest iPhone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor)
- • Triple 48MP camera system with 8x optical-quality zoom
- • A19 Pro chip with 12GB RAM and vapor chamber cooling for sustained performance
- • Excellent battery life (up to 39 hours video playback)
- • Faster 40W wired charging and 25W wireless charging
✗ Cons:
- • Large and heavy form factor (233 g)
- • Fastest charging speeds require purchasing a 40W+ adapter separately
- • No physical SIM tray (eSIM only in US)
- • Expensive starting price
- • Camera bump is significantly larger due to new tetraprism lens
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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?
Battery life: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is rated for up to 39 hours.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if: you shoot a lot of photos with its triple 48MP system, you want the brightest display at 3000 nits peak outdoor brightness, or you need a battery that lasts up to 39 hours.
Choose the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) if: you want a phone that's easy to use with one hand, you're on a budget, or you prefer the classic Home button design. (4.7" display, 60 Hz refresh)
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max excels if you value brightest iphone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor). 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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