Apple iPhone 5S vs Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)
A spec-by-spec comparison of the Apple iPhone 5S and the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation), taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.
Head to head
| Apple iPhone 5S | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|
| Price | $41 | $45 |
| Our rating | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Battery | 1,560 mAh | 1,624 mAh |
| RAM (max) | — | 2 GB |
| Storage (max) | 64 GB | 128 GB |
| Screen size | 4 in | 4 in |
| Main camera | 8 MP | 12 MP |
| Weight (lower is lighter) | 112 g | 113 g |
| Released | Sep 2013 | Mar 2016 |
Summary: Apple iPhone 5S is ahead on our rating, weight (lower is lighter). Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) is ahead on battery, storage (max), main camera.
★ Which should you buy? Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) is the stronger overall pick on the measured specs. If budget matters more than the extra capability, Apple iPhone 5S is the cheaper option.
Reviewed by the infozme.com Editorial Team — see how we research & rate phones.
Display
| Apple iPhone 5S | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|
| Type | IPS LCD | Retina IPS LCD, LED-backlit |
| Size | 4.0 inches | 4.0 inches (diagonal) |
| Resolution | 640 x 1136 pixels | 1136 x 640 pixels, 326 ppi |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass, oleophobic coating | — |
| Features | 800:1 contrast ratio (typical), 500 cd/m2 max brightness (typical) | 800:1 contrast ratio (typical), 500 cd/m2 max brightness (typical), Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, Full sRGB standard |
Platform
| Apple iPhone 5S | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|
| OS | iOS 7, upgradable to iOS 12.5.8 | iOS 9.3.1, upgradable to iOS 15.8.8 (as of May 2026) |
| Chipset | Apple A7 (28 nm) | Apple A9 (14 nm) |
| CPU | Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based) | Dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister |
| GPU | PowerVR G6430 (quad-core graphics) | PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics) |
| Coprocessor | M7 motion coprocessor | — |
Memory
| Apple iPhone 5S | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 16GB, 32GB, 64GB | 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB (2GB RAM) |
| RAM | 1GB LPDDR3 | — |
Main Camera
| Apple iPhone 5S | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3.0", 1.5µm, AF | 12 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3", 1.22µm, PDAF |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash (True Tone flash), HDR | Dual-tone LED flash, HDR, Live Photos, Autofocus, IR filter, Burst mode, Face detection, True Tone flash |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@120fps (slow-motion), 720p@240fps (slow-motion) |
Selfie Camera
| Apple iPhone 5S | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|
| Single | 1.2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard) | 1.2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard) |
| Features | Face detection, HDR | Face detection, HDR, Retina Flash |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
Battery
| Apple iPhone 5S | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|
| Type | Non-removable Li-Po 1560 mAh (5.92 Wh) | Li-Po 1624 mAh, non-removable (6.21 Wh) |
| Charging | — | Standard charging |
Body
| Apple iPhone 5S | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|
| Dimensions | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 in) | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight | 112 g (3.95 oz) | 113 g (4.0 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Colors | — | Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold |
Comms
| Apple iPhone 5S | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| NFC | No | Yes (Apple Pay only) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | Lightning, USB 2.0 | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
Launch
| Apple iPhone 5S | Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, September 10 | March 21, 2016 |
| Status | Released 2013, September 20 | Released March 31, 2016 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better battery, Apple iPhone 5S or Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)?
Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) — 1,560 mAh for the Apple iPhone 5S versus 1,624 mAh for the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation).
Which is lighter, Apple iPhone 5S or Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)?
Apple iPhone 5S — 112 g for the Apple iPhone 5S versus 113 g for the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation).
Which is newer, Apple iPhone 5S or Apple iPhone SE (1st generation)?
Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) — Sep 2013 for the Apple iPhone 5S versus Mar 2016 for the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation).
Is the Apple iPhone 5S or the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) rated higher?
We rate the Apple iPhone 5S 6/10 and the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) 5/10.
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