Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation)
Side-by-side specifications, scores and verdict.
Quick Verdict
iPhone 16 Plus dominates across nearly every metric, featuring a larger 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 2000 nits brightness compared to SE's 4.7-inch 625-nit IPS LCD screen. Performance gaps are substantial: A18 chip with 5-core GPU and 8GB RAM vastly outpace the A15 Bionic's 4-core GPU and 4GB RAM. Camera capabilities heavily favor the 16 Plus with its 48MP main sensor, ultrawide lens, and Dolby Vision 4K recording versus SE's basic 12MP setup. Battery life advantage goes to the 16 Plus (4674mAh with 25W MagSafe) over SE's modest 2018mAh capacity. SE does offer better portability at 144g and a familiar design, plus it costs $470 less. However, for anyone prioritizing performance, photography, screen quality, and longevity, iPhone 16 Plus provides significantly better value despite its premium pricing. The SE appeals mainly to budget-conscious users accepting compromised specs.
Full Specifications
| Specification | Apple iPhone 16 Plus | Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 18 | iOS 15 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 199 g | 144 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 12 MP |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 7 MP |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | — |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4674 mAh | 2018 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 20W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | 7.5W Qi |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 4.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Retina IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 1334 x 750 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 625 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Hexa-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Apple GPU (4-core) |
| Chipset | Apple A18 | Apple A15 Bionic |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | Lightning |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Pros
- Excellent battery life from large 4674 mAh cell
- A18 chip supports Apple Intelligence
- New Camera Control button
- Bright 2000-nit display
- More affordable than Pro Max
Cons
- Still locked to 60Hz refresh rate
- No telephoto camera
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 speeds
- No always-on display
Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation)
Pros
- Most affordable iPhone with 5G
- Powerful A15 Bionic chip
- Compact and lightweight design
- Touch ID home button
- Long iOS software support
Cons
- Dated design with thick bezels
- Single rear camera
- Small 4.7-inch LCD display
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- Modest battery life
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