iPhone SE (3rd gen) vs iPhone 18 Pro Max
+31you gain
−0you give up
3 other specs stay the same, so they are hidden.
iPhone SE (3rd gen) came out in March 2022. iPhone 18 Pro Max came out in September 2026, almost 5 years later.
iPhone SE (3rd gen) runs iOS 27, but without Apple Intelligence. iPhone 18 Pro Max runs iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence.
Note on iPhone 18 Pro Max: Battery and weight figures are for the eSIM-only model.
Price check
iPhone 18 Pro Max — launched at $1,299
What your iPhone SE (3rd gen) sells for
- Apple Trade In estimate
- Sold listings on eBay
eBay may ask you to sign in to see sold prices.
Links open in a new tab. Prices are set by each seller and change daily.
Updates & AI
Apple Intelligence
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
Apple Intelligence is Apple's set of AI features. It includes the new Siri AI, writing help that rewrites or proofreads your text, short summaries of long notifications and emails, and Clean Up, which removes unwanted people or objects from photos.
Most of it runs on the phone itself, which is why it only works on newer iPhones. Older iPhones cannot get it through a software update. Which features you see also depends on your country and language.
Matters most if:
You want the new Siri AI or the AI photo and writing tools.
Price
Launch price (US)
+$870
$429›$1,299
What does this mean?
The price Apple charged in the US on launch day, for the lowest storage option, before tax.
This is not what the phone costs today. Older models drop in price over time, so check the used and refurbished links for current prices.
Battery
Video playback
Gain (+30 hours)
15 hours›45 hours
What does this mean?
Apple's battery test: how many hours the phone can play video nonstop on a full charge, in Apple's own lab conditions.
Real life uses more power (games, camera, weak signal), so you will get fewer hours than this. The number is still useful for comparing two phones, because Apple tests them all the same way. Batteries also wear out: an older phone today holds less than it did when new. You can see how much your current battery has left in Settings > Battery > Battery Health.
Matters most if:
You often run out of battery before the end of the day.
Camera
Rear cameras
Gain (+2)
1›3
What does this mean?
How many cameras are on the back. Each one has a different lens: standard, wide, or zoomed-in.
More cameras means more ways to frame a shot without walking closer or further away: fit a whole room in with the wide lens, or get a close shot of something far away with the zoom lens.
Main camera
Gain (+36 MP)
12 MP›48 MP
What does this mean?
MP stands for megapixels. One megapixel is one million tiny dots. A 12 MP photo is made of 12 million dots, a 48 MP photo of 48 million dots.
On a phone screen, a 12 MP and a 48 MP photo look almost the same. The difference shows when you zoom in, crop part of the photo, or print it large: more dots means detail holds up longer. More megapixels also lets the phone zoom 2x by cropping without losing quality.
Matters most if:
You crop photos, print them, or zoom in on details later.
Ultra Wide camera
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
A second lens that sees a much wider area than the main camera.
You can fit a whole room, a tall building or a big group into one photo without stepping back. On many models it is also used for macro (very close-up) photos.
Matters most if:
You take photos indoors, of landscapes, or of groups.
Telephoto camera
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
A zoom lens: a separate camera that sees things far away as if you were closer.
Zooming with a real zoom lens keeps the photo sharp. Without one, the phone has to cut out part of the image, so it gets blurrier the more you zoom. It also makes portrait photos look more flattering, because you can stand further back.
Matters most if:
You photograph kids' sports, concerts, pets or wildlife from a distance.
Optical zoom
Gain (+3x)
None›4x
What does this mean?
Optical zoom is how much the zoom lens magnifies using glass, without losing quality. 5x means things look five times bigger than with the main camera.
Digital zoom only enlarges part of the picture, so it gets blurry. Optical zoom stays sharp. "None" means there is no zoom lens, though phones with a 48 MP main camera can still do a clean 2x by cropping.
Night mode
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
An automatic setting for dark places. The camera collects light for a second or more instead of a split second.
Photos at dinner, at night outside, or in a dim room come out brighter and less grainy. You need to hold still for a moment while it takes the photo.
Matters most if:
You take a lot of photos in the evening or indoors.
Macro photos
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
Macro means very close-up photos: the camera can focus on things only a couple of centimeters away.
Flowers, food, small text, insects and fabric textures can fill the whole photo and stay sharp. Without it, the camera cannot focus that close and the subject comes out blurry.
Cinematic mode
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
A video mode that blurs the background behind the person you are filming, like in a movie.
The phone also moves the focus automatically, for example from one person to another when they start talking. You can change what is in focus after filming.
Matters most if:
You film people and want the video to look more like a film than a home video.
Action mode (stabilized video)
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
A video setting that removes heavy shaking.
Videos you take while running, cycling, or chasing a child stay smooth, without needing a separate handheld stabilizer.
Spatial video
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
Video recorded in 3D, using two cameras at once, the way your two eyes see depth.
On the iPhone it plays like a normal video. You only see the 3D effect on an Apple Vision Pro headset. If you do not have one, this makes no difference today.
ProRAW
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
ProRAW saves photos with much more of the original information from the camera, instead of a finished, compressed picture.
Photo editors can fix bright skies or dark shadows much more than with a normal photo. The files are many times larger, so they fill your storage fast. It is off by default and most people never need it.
Matters most if:
You edit photos in apps like Lightroom.
ProRes video
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
ProRes is a video format used in film and TV production. It keeps far more detail than normal phone video.
It makes editing and color correction easier, but one minute of video can take several gigabytes. Most people never turn it on.
Matters most if:
You make videos professionally or edit them on a computer.
LiDAR scanner
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
LiDAR is a small sensor that measures distance by sending out invisible light and timing how long it takes to bounce back.
The camera focuses faster in the dark, portrait photos in low light look cleaner, and the Measure app and room-scanning or augmented reality apps work more accurately.
Front camera
Gain (+11 MP)
7 MP›18 MP
What does this mean?
Megapixels of the selfie camera. More dots means more detail, as with the main camera.
Mostly noticeable when you crop or zoom into selfies, or on large screens during video calls.
Center Stage front camera
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
A new kind of front camera with a square sensor. It can take a wide (landscape) selfie while you hold the phone upright.
No more turning the phone sideways for group selfies: the frame widens automatically when more people come in. During video calls it keeps you centered as you move.
Matters most if:
You take group selfies or make a lot of video calls.
Screen
Screen size
Different (+2.2 in)
4.7 in›6.9 in
What does this mean?
Screen size measured corner to corner, in inches. One inch is 2.54 cm.
A bigger screen is easier to read and better for video, but the phone is larger and heavier. A smaller phone is easier to use with one hand and fits more pockets.
Screen type
Gain
LCD›OLED
What does this mean?
LCD screens use a light behind the whole screen. OLED screens have pixels that each make their own light and can switch off completely.
OLED shows true black, higher contrast and richer colors, and is easier to read in the dark. LCD blacks look dark gray. Both are perfectly usable.
120 Hz ProMotion
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
Hz (hertz) means times per second. A normal iPhone screen redraws 60 times per second (60 Hz). ProMotion can go up to 120 times per second (120 Hz).
Scrolling, swiping and animations look noticeably smoother. Most people find it hard to go back to 60 Hz once used to it. The screen also slows down when nothing moves, to save battery.
Matters most if:
You scroll a lot through social media, websites or long chats.
Always-On display
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
The lock screen stays dimly visible when the phone is locked, instead of going fully black.
You can check the time, notifications and widgets at a glance without touching the phone. It can be turned off in Settings.
Top of the screen
Gain
Home button›Dynamic Island
What does this mean?
What sits at the top of the front. Home button: a round button under the screen. Notch: a black cut-out at the top of the screen for the front camera. Dynamic Island: a smaller pill-shaped cut-out that turns into live information.
Dynamic Island shows timers, music, deliveries, calls and directions in that space, and you can tap it to jump back into the app. Phones with a home button have a smaller screen for the same body size.
Design & buttons
Unlock
Different
Touch ID›Face ID
What does this mean?
How you unlock the phone. Face ID recognizes your face. Touch ID reads your fingerprint.
Face ID works just by looking at the phone, even in the dark. Touch ID works well with a mask on, but needs a dry, clean finger.
Action button
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
A button on the side that you can set to do one thing of your choice. It replaces the old mute switch.
Press and hold it to turn on the flashlight, open the camera, start a voice memo, switch silent mode, or run any shortcut you set up.
Camera Control button
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
A button on the side made for the camera. It reacts to clicks, light presses and finger slides.
Click once to open the camera from anywhere, press to take a photo, and slide your finger along it to zoom, like on a real camera.
Matters most if:
You take a lot of quick photos.
Weight
Different (+105 g)
144 g›249 g
What does this mean?
Weight in grams. 100 grams is about 3.5 ounces.
Around 30 grams difference is noticeable when holding the phone for a long time, lying down, or in a shirt pocket. Bigger batteries and screens add weight.
Frame
Different
Aluminum›Aluminum unibody
What does this mean?
The material around the edge of the phone.
Aluminum is light and spreads heat well. Stainless steel is shiny and heavy. Titanium is strong and light. Day to day, most people notice the weight more than the material, and many use a case anyway.
Water resistance
Different
IP67 (1 m)›IP68 (6 m)
What does this mean?
IP stands for Ingress Protection, a standard rating for how well something keeps out dust and water. The first number is dust (6 is the highest), the second is water. IP67 survives 1 meter for 30 minutes. IP68 goes deeper; Apple lists the tested depth in meters.
Rain, spills and a quick drop in the sink are fine on all of these. Protection wears down over the years, and Apple does not cover water damage under warranty, so swimming with the phone is still not a good idea.
Charging & ports
Port
Gain
Lightning›USB-C
What does this mean?
The socket for the charging cable. Lightning is the older Apple-only plug. USB-C is the standard plug used by most laptops, tablets and Android phones.
With USB-C, one cable can charge your iPhone, iPad, Mac and many headphones. You can also charge AirPods or a watch from the iPhone. Old Lightning cables and accessories will not fit without an adapter.
Cable transfer speed
Gain
USB 2 (480 Mb/s)›USB 3 (10 Gb/s)
What does this mean?
How fast files move over a cable. Mb/s is megabits per second, Gb/s is gigabits per second (1 Gb/s = 1,000 Mb/s). 10 Gb/s is about 20 times faster than 480 Mb/s.
Only matters when you copy large files, like long 4K videos, to a computer with a cable. A long video that takes 20 minutes to copy at USB 2 speed can take just a few minutes at USB 3. You need a USB 3 cable, which is sold separately.
Matters most if:
You move a lot of video to a computer.
MagSafe
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
A ring of magnets inside the back of the phone.
Chargers snap into the right spot every time, and magnetic wallets, car mounts, stands and battery packs stick on without a special case.
Wireless charging
Gain (+17.5 W)
7.5 W›25 W
What does this mean?
W (watts) measures how much power flows into the battery. Higher watts means faster charging. This is for wireless charging, where you lay the phone on a charging pad.
At 7.5 W wireless charging is slow, good for overnight. At 15 W or more it is handy during the day. The top speed only works with a matching charger and power adapter.
Wi-Fi
Gain
Wi-Fi 6›Wi-Fi 7
What does this mean?
Wi-Fi generations. Each new one handles more devices at once and higher speeds: Wi-Fi 5 (2014), Wi-Fi 6 (2019), Wi-Fi 6E adds a new, less crowded radio band, Wi-Fi 7 is the newest.
You only get the extra speed if your home router supports the same generation. With an older router, the difference is small.
Ultra Wideband (precise AirTag finding)
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
Ultra Wideband is a short-range radio that can tell exactly where another device is, down to a few centimeters.
Find My shows an arrow and distance to your AirTag or friend ("Precision Finding"), AirDrop picks the right nearby phone, and it can work as a digital car key with some cars.
Safety
Emergency SOS via satellite
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
Lets you text emergency services through a satellite when there is no mobile signal and no Wi-Fi.
The phone shows you where to point it at the sky. Messages take longer than normal texts, especially under trees or clouds. Useful for hiking, rural driving or disasters. It is available in a limited list of countries.
Matters most if:
You go hiking, camping, or drive through areas with no coverage.
Crash Detection
Gain
No›Yes
What does this mean?
The phone can detect a severe car crash using its motion sensors and microphone.
If you do not respond after a crash, it calls emergency services automatically and notifies your emergency contacts.
Chip & storage
Chip
Different
A15 Bionic›A20 Pro
What does this mean?
The chip is the phone's brain. It runs every app, processes photos and handles the AI features.
A newer chip makes the phone faster, keeps it fast for more years, and decides which new features it can get. Apple Intelligence, for example, only works on recent models.
Storage options
Different
64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB›256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
What does this mean?
Storage is where your photos, videos, apps and messages are kept. 1 TB (terabyte) is 1,024 GB.
iPhones have no memory card slot, so you cannot add storage later. As a rough guide, 128 GB fills up fast if you shoot a lot of video. 256 GB suits most people.