Apple iPhone 13 vs Apple iPhone SE 4
Compare Apple iPhone 13 vs Apple iPhone SE 4 side by side: Apple A15 Bionic vs Apple A18 (3nm), 12MP vs 48MP camera, 3240mAh vs 3279mAh battery, $599 vs $499…
Apple
iPhone 13
$599
2categories won
Apple
iPhone SE 4
$499
8categories won
10 categories tied · 20 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Apple iPhone SE 4 takes the overall win
The Apple iPhone SE 4 proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 13, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the iPhone SE 4 leads with superior optics, while battery life remains closely matched. Choose the iPhone SE 4 if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 13 if its specific hardware strengths better fit your budget.
Both phones deliver comparable battery performance with 3,240 mAh.
iPhone SE 4 provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A18 (3nm) and 8GB RAM.
iPhone SE 4 takes photography with 48MP optics and 1x optical telephoto capabilities.
iPhone SE 4 wins on budget and value at $499 compared to $599.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone SE 4: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.06" |
| Resolution | 1170 x 2532 | 1170 x 2532 |
| Pixel density | 457 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1200 nits | 1200 nits |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | Apple A18 (3nm) |
| Process node | 5 nm | 3 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 1,240,000 | 2,400,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 5320 | 8900Winner |
| Maximum RAM | 4 GB | 8 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 512GBWinner | 128GB |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 2Winner | 1 |
| Optical zoom | — | 1x |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | — |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps Dolby Vision HDR | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,240 mAh | 3,279 mAh |
| Wired charging | 20 W | 20 W |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 174 g | 165 gWinner |
| Thickness | 7.65 mm | 7.8 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front, glass back | Aerospace aluminum frame, glass front and back |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 15 | iOS 18 |
| OS updates | 6 years | 7 yearsWinner |
| Security updates | 7 years | 7 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $599 | $499Winner |
Apple iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 introduced sensor-shift optical image stabilisation to mainstream phones, reduced the TrueDepth notch by 20%, doubled base storage to 128GB, and delivered outstanding battery efficiency with the 5nm A15 Bionic.
- Display
- 6.1"
- Chipset
- Apple A15 Bionic
- Main camera
- 12MP
- Battery
- 3,240mAh
Apple iPhone SE 4
The iPhone SE 4 transforms Apple’s budget lineup: the home button and thick bezels are replaced with a 6.1-inch OLED, Face ID, USB-C, 48MP camera, and full Apple Intelligence capability for under $500.
- Display
- 6.06"
- Chipset
- Apple A18 (3nm)
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 3,279mAh