Apple
iPhone SE (2nd gen) 256GB
A13 · iOS · 256GB
72
/ 100
From $499
VS
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White) wins by 26
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White)
A19 Pro · 256GB · White
98
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone SE (2nd gen) 256GB lands at 72 and iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White) at 98. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White) ahead by 26 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPhone SE (2nd gen) 256GB if…
- ✓iOS ecosystem
- ✓Long update support
- ✓Polished hardware
Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White) if…
- ✓Apple A19 Pro silicon
- ✓120 Hz ProMotion (Pro/Air)
- ✓Apple Intelligence Gen 2
iPhone SE (2nd gen) 256GB 72
vs 98 iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White)
Score breakdown
iPhone SE (2nd gen) 256GB
72 cpu 72
gpu 70
camera 71
battery 66
display 69
design 72
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White)
98 cpu 99
gpu 98
camera 97
battery 92
display 96
design 99
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone SE (2nd gen) 256GB | iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A13 | A19 Pro |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| OS | iOS 14 | iOS 19 |
| Release year | 2020 | 2025 |
| Color | — | White |
iPhone SE (2nd gen) 256GB
Pros
- +iOS ecosystem
- +Long update support
- +Polished hardware
Cons
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited customization
- −Lightning/USB-C split across generations
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White)
Pros
- +Apple A19 Pro silicon
- +120 Hz ProMotion (Pro/Air)
- +Apple Intelligence Gen 2
Cons
- −Still Lightning-free, USB-C only
- −Premium pricing
- −AI features require online offload for some tasks
FAQ: iPhone SE (2nd gen) 256GB vs iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White)
Which is better, iPhone SE (2nd gen) 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White)? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White) scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 26. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPhone SE (2nd gen) 256GB worth the price? +
At $499, iPhone SE (2nd gen) 256GB delivers a Specdex score of 72 — strongest in cpu.
Is iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White) worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White) delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPhone SE (2nd gen) 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (White) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.