Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation)
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone Air and Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) is the cheaper of the two at $429 versus $1,199, a difference of about $770. The Apple iPhone Air is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple iPhone Air stands out for thinnest iphone ever at 5.6mm, while Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) is praised for most affordable iphone with 5g. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone Air if…
- →Thinnest iPhone ever at 5.6mm
- →Only 165g with titanium frame
- →A19 Pro chip in ultra-slim design
Buy the Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) if…
- →Most affordable iPhone with 5G
- →Powerful A15 Bionic chip
- →Compact and lightweight design
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone Air
Pros
- Thinnest iPhone ever at 5.6mm
- Only 165g with titanium frame
- A19 Pro chip in ultra-slim design
- 3x more scratch-resistant Ceramic Shield 2
Cons
- Smaller 3149 mAh battery limits endurance
- Only 2x telephoto (no periscope)
- No ultrawide camera
- $1199 for fewer cameras than Pro
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
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone Air | Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 19 | iOS 15 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 165 g | 144 g |
| Material | Titanium frame, Ceramic Shield 2 | Aluminum frame |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 155 x 73 x 5.6 mm | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12 MP |
| Front camera | 24 MP, f/1.9, Center Stage | 7 MP |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dual Capture | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.8, 2x optical zoom | — |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3149 mAh | 2018 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 20W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 7.5W Qi |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.5 inches | 4.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion | Retina IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 1290 x 2796 | 1334 x 750 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 625 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | 6-core | Hexa-core |
| GPU | 6-core GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) |
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro | Apple A15 Bionic |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | Lightning |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.0 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
- Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7
- Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7
- Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) vs Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
- Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) vs Google Pixel 10 Pro
- Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) vs Google Pixel 10
- Apple iPhone Air vs OPPO Find N3 Flip
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Apple products. View full details for the Apple iPhone Air or the Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation).