Apple iPhone 17 Air vs Apple iPhone SE 4
Compare Apple iPhone 17 Air vs Apple iPhone SE 4 side by side: Apple A19 Pro (2nm) vs Apple A18 (3nm), 48MP vs 48MP camera, 3150mAh vs 3279mAh battery, $1099…
Apple
iPhone 17 Air
$1,099
11categories won
Apple
iPhone SE 4
$499
2categories won
8 categories tied · 21 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 17 Air, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. For battery longevity and charging speed, the iPhone SE 4 takes the lead, while the iPhone 17 Air is the clear choice for demanding 3D gaming and heavy multitasking. Choose the iPhone SE 4 if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 17 Air if its specific hardware strengths better fit your budget.
iPhone SE 4 takes battery honors offering 3,279 mAh alongside 20W charging.
iPhone 17 Air leads gaming and raw performance powered by the Apple A19 Pro (2nm) and 12GB RAM.
Both camera setups are closely matched for daily street photography and low-light shooting.
iPhone SE 4 wins on budget and value at $499 compared to $1099.
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 17 Air vs iPhone SE 4: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 17 Air | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.6" | 6.06" |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2740Winner | 1170 x 2532 |
| Pixel density | 457 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 HzWinner | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2800 nitsWinner | 1200 nits |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 17 Air | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro (2nm) | Apple A18 (3nm) |
| Process node | 2 nmWinner | 3 nm |
| AnTuTu score | 2,400,000 | 2,400,000 |
| Geekbench multi | 8900 | 8900 |
| Maximum RAM | 12 GBWinner | 8 GB |
| Maximum storage | 256GBWinner | 128GB |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 17 Air | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 48 MP | 48 MP |
| Rear cameras | 1 | 1 |
| Optical zoom | 1x | 1x |
| Selfie camera | 24 MPWinner | 12 MP |
| Max video | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 17 Air | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,150 mAh | 3,279 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 25 WWinner | 20 W |
| Wireless charging | 25 WWinner | 15 W |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 17 Air | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 149 gWinner | 165 g |
| Thickness | 5.5 mmWinner | 7.8 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Grade 5 Titanium mid-plate, ultra-thin ceramic back, Ceramic Shield 2 front | Aerospace aluminum frame, glass front and back |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 17 Air | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 19 | iOS 18 |
| OS updates | 7 years | 7 years |
| Security updates | 7 years | 7 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 17 Air | iPhone SE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $1,099 | $499Winner |
Apple iPhone 17 Air
Measuring an astonishing 5.5mm and weighing only 149 grams, the iPhone 17 Air represents Apple’s most daring design revolution since the iPhone X, delivering full A19 Pro power in a featherweight frame.
- Display
- 6.6"
- Chipset
- Apple A19 Pro (2nm)
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 3,150mAh
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