iPhone SE (2nd gen) 512GB
A13 · iOS · 512GB
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange)
A19 Pro · 256GB · Cosmic Orange
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone SE (2nd gen) 512GB lands at 72 and iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange) at 98. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange) ahead by 26 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPhone SE (2nd gen) 512GB if…
- ✓iOS ecosystem
- ✓Long update support
- ✓Polished hardware
Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange) if…
- ✓Apple A19 Pro silicon
- ✓120 Hz ProMotion (Pro/Air)
- ✓Apple Intelligence Gen 2
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone SE (2nd gen) 512GB | iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A13 | A19 Pro |
| Storage | ▲ 512GB | 256GB |
| OS | iOS 14 | iOS 19 |
| Release year | 2020 | 2025 |
| Color | — | Cosmic Orange |
iPhone SE (2nd gen) 512GB
- +iOS ecosystem
- +Long update support
- +Polished hardware
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited customization
- −Lightning/USB-C split across generations
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange)
- +Apple A19 Pro silicon
- +120 Hz ProMotion (Pro/Air)
- +Apple Intelligence Gen 2
- −Still Lightning-free, USB-C only
- −Premium pricing
- −AI features require online offload for some tasks
FAQ: iPhone SE (2nd gen) 512GB vs iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange)
Which is better, iPhone SE (2nd gen) 512GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange)? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange) scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 26. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPhone SE (2nd gen) 512GB worth the price? +
At $599, iPhone SE (2nd gen) 512GB delivers a Specdex score of 72 — strongest in cpu.
Is iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange) worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange) delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPhone SE (2nd gen) 512GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Cosmic Orange) 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.