Apple iPhone 17e vs Apple iPhone SE (2nd generation)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

iPhone 17e compared with iPhone SE (2nd generation)
AppleiPhone 17eAppleiPhone SE (2nd generation)
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2026April 2020
Display
Screen size6.1″4.7″
Resolution2532 × 1170 (better)1334 × 750
Sharpness457 pixels per inch (better)326 pixels per inch
PanelOLEDLCD
Refresh rate60 Hz60 Hz
Peak brightness1,200 nits (better)625 nits
Display typeSuper Retina XDR OLED displayRetina HD display; 4.7-inch (diagonal) widescreen LCD Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
Pixel density460 ppi326 ppi
Brightness detail800 nits max (typical); 1,200 nits peak (HDR)625 nits max brightness (typical)
Screen protectionCeramic Shield 2 frontFingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Display featuresHDR; True Tone; Wide colour (P3); Haptic Touch; 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical); anti-reflective coatingTrue Tone; wide colour display (P3); Haptic Touch; 1400:1 contrast ratio (typical); Display Zoom; Reachability
Performance
ChipA19A13 Bionic
Memory8 GB (better)3 GB
Storage256 GB, 512 GB (better)64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB
CPU6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores; 3 GB of RAM (GSMArena)
GPU4-core GPU with Neural Accelerators; hardware-accelerated ray tracing4-core GPU
AI engine16-core Neural Engine8-core Neural Engine
Cameras
Main camera48 MP (better)12 MP
Ultra wide cameraNoneNone
Telephoto cameraNoneNone
Optical zoomNoneNone
Front camera12 MP (better)7 MP
Main camera48MP Fusion Main, 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, optical image stabilisation, Hybrid Focus Pixels; 24MP and 48MP photos12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilisation, six-element lens, LED True Tone flash with Slow Sync, sapphire crystal lens cover
Front camera12MP TrueDepth camera, ƒ/1.9 aperture, autofocus with Focus Pixels7MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash
Zoom12MP 2x Telephoto (52 mm) from the Main camera; digital zoom up to 10xDigital zoom up to 5x (photos) and 3x (video)
Video recording4K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p Dolby Vision at 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; HEVC and H.2644K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; 720p at 30 fps; extended dynamic range up to 30 fps; optical image stabilisation for video; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; QuickTake; stereo recording
Front video4K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 fps1080p HD at 25 or 30 fps
Camera featuresPhotonic Engine; Deep Fusion; Smart HDR 5; next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control; Night mode; Photographic StylesNext-generation Smart HDR; Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control and six Portrait Lighting effects on both cameras; Live Photos; panorama (up to 63MP)
Battery and charging
Battery4,005 mAh (better)1,821 mAh
Video playback (maker's claim)Up to 26 hoursUp to 13 hours
Wireless chargingUp to 15 WYes (wattage not published)
Battery life detailUp to 21 hours streamed video playback; EU energy label class A, 45 hours per charge, at least 1,000 charge cyclesVideo playback up to 13 hours (8 hours streamed); audio playback up to 40 hours; 6.96 Wh (iFixit); 1,821 mAh (GSMArena)
Wired chargingUp to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)Up to 50% in 30 minutes with an 18W adapter or higher (sold separately)
Wireless chargingMagSafe and Qi2 up to 15W with a 20W adapter or higherWorks with Qi chargers
Connectivity
Satellite messagingYes–
Mobile networkApple C1X modem; 5G (sub-6GHz) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO; UK model A3634Gigabit-class LTE with 2x2 MIMO and LAA; VoLTE; Wi-Fi calling
SIMDual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM); dual eSIM supportDual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMOWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 5.0
NFCNFC with reader mode; Express Cards with power reserveNFC with reader mode; Express Cards with power reserve
Satellite featuresEmergency SOS via satellite; Roadside Assistance via satellite–
USBUSB-C with charging and USB 2 (up to 480Mb/s)Lightning connector; video mirroring and video out up to 1080p through the Lightning Digital AV Adapter and Lightning to VGA Adapter (sold separately)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou and NavIC; digital compass; iBeacon micro-locationBuilt-in GPS/GNSS; digital compass; Wi-Fi; cellular; iBeacon microlocation
Design
TypeStandardStandard
Weight170 g148 g (better)
Thickness7.8 mm7.3 mm (better)
Height × width146.7 × 71.5 mm138.4 × 67.3 mm
Water and dust resistanceIP68IP67
MaterialsAluminium design; glass backAerospace-grade aluminium and glass with an all-black front
ColoursBlack, White, Soft PinkBlack, White, (PRODUCT)RED
ButtonsAction button; side button; volume up/downHome/Touch ID sensor; volume up/down; ring/silent; side button
Water resistance detailIP68 (maximum depth of 6 metres up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529IP67 (maximum depth of 1 metre up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529
BiometricsFace IDTouch ID fingerprint sensor built into the Home button
SensorsBarometer; high dynamic range gyro; high-g accelerometer; proximity sensor; dual ambient light sensorsTouch ID fingerprint sensor; barometer; three-axis gyro; accelerometer; proximity sensor; ambient light sensor
SpeakersBuilt-in stereo speakersStereo playback
MicrophonesBuilt-in microphones; Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes–
Software
Operating systemiOSiOS
Software at launchiOS 26iOS 13
Software updatesSecurity, corrective and functionality updates for at least 5 years after it stops being sold (EU product information sheet)–
AI featuresApple Intelligence; Visual Intelligence–
Safety featuresCrash Detection–
In the boxiPhone 17e, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m), documentation; no power adapter–

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