Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation)
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 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 17 Pro Max is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max stands out for 48mp periscope telephoto with 8x optical zoom, 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 17 Pro Max if…
- →48MP periscope telephoto with 8x optical zoom
- →4823 mAh battery for all-day use
- →Up to 2TB storage
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 17 Pro Max
Pros
- 48MP periscope telephoto with 8x optical zoom
- 4823 mAh battery for all-day use
- Up to 2TB storage
- Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- Spatial Video recording
Cons
- 227g is heavy
- Still 27W wired charging
- $1199 starting price
- Aluminum unibody less premium feel than titanium
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 17 Pro Max | Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 19 | iOS 15 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 227 g | 144 g |
| Material | Aluminum unibody frame, Ceramic Shield 2 | Aluminum frame |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 163 x 78 x 8.3 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 | 7 MP |
| Video | 4K@120fps ProRes, Spatial Video | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 48 MP, f/2.8, 8x optical zoom, periscope | — |
| Ultrawide | 48 MP, f/2.2 | — |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4823 mAh | 2018 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 20W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | 7.5W Qi |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.9 inches | 4.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion | Retina IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 1320 x 2868 | 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 (Thunderbolt) | Lightning |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.0 |
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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.
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