Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) vs OnePlus 13R
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone SE 3rd generation and OnePlus 13R occupy entirely different market segments, making direct comparison challenging. The iPhone SE prioritizes affordability at $429 with Apple's A15 Bionic processor, delivering strong single-threaded performance and iOS reliability. Its 4.7-inch Retina LCD display reaches 625 nits brightness with 60Hz refresh, adequate for everyday use but dated by modern standards. The 12MP main camera with 4K@60fps handles basic photography, though the 7MP front camera feels underwhelming. Battery capacity of 2018 mAh proves limiting, requiring daily charging even with moderate use. OnePlus 13R positions itself as a flagship alternative at $599, featuring a massive 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with 4500 nits peak brightness and 120Hz refresh rate, making scrolling buttery smooth. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor combined with 12GB RAM handles demanding games and multitasking effortlessly. The camera system crushes the SE with a 50MP main sensor featuring OIS, dedicated 50MP 2x telephoto, and 8MP ultrawide. The 6000 mAh battery with 80W charging provides genuine all-day endurance. Recommendation depends on priorities: choose the iPhone SE if you value simplicity, ecosystem integration, and minimal spending; select the OnePlus 13R if you demand performance, display quality, camera versatility, and battery longevity.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) if…
- →Most affordable iPhone with 5G
- →Powerful A15 Bionic chip
- →Compact and lightweight design
Buy the OnePlus 13R if…
- →Last-gen flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 at a $599 price is terrific value
- →6000 mAh battery is among the largest in any flagship phone
- →4500-nit display brightness matches phones costing twice as much
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
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
OnePlus 13R
Pros
- Last-gen flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 at a $599 price is terrific value
- 6000 mAh battery is among the largest in any flagship phone
- 4500-nit display brightness matches phones costing twice as much
- 80W fast charging fills the huge battery in under 40 minutes
- Clean OxygenOS 15 is close to stock Android
Cons
- 8MP ultrawide is a notable weak point
- No wireless charging
- IP65 water resistance is below IP68 competitors
- 50MP 2x telephoto is good but not a true periscope zoom
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) | OnePlus 13R |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 15 (OxygenOS 15) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 144 g | 206 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 7i |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP65 |
| Dimensions | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm | 161.7 x 75.8 x 8.0 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS (Sony LYT-700) |
| Front camera | 7 MP | 16 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | — | 50 MP, f/2.0, 2x telephoto |
| Ultrawide | — | 8 MP, f/2.2, 112-degree |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2018 mAh | 6000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 80W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | — |
| Display | ||
| Size | 4.7 inches | 6.78 inches |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1334 x 750 | 2780 x 1264 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 1-120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 4500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 750 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 |
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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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