Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) vs Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)
A spec-by-spec comparison of the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) and the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016), taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.
Head to head
| Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) | Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) |
|---|
| Price | $45 | $6,999 |
| Our rating | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Battery | 1,624 mAh | 2,300 mAh |
| RAM (max) | 2 GB | 5 GB |
| Storage (max) | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Screen size | 4 in | 4.7 in |
| Main camera | 12 MP | 13 MP |
| Weight (lower is lighter) | 113 g | 132 g |
| Released | Mar 2016 | Dec 2015 |
Summary: Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) is ahead on weight (lower is lighter). Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) is ahead on our rating, battery, ram (max), screen size.
★ Which should you buy? Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) is the stronger overall pick on the measured specs. If budget matters more than the extra capability, Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) is the cheaper option.
Reviewed by the infozme.com Editorial Team — see how we research & rate phones.
Display
| Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) | Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) |
|---|
| Type | Retina IPS LCD, LED-backlit | Super AMOLED |
| Size | 4.0 inches (diagonal) | 4.7 inches |
| Resolution | 1136 x 640 pixels, 326 ppi | 720 x 1280 pixels |
| Features | 800:1 contrast ratio (typical), 500 cd/m2 max brightness (typical), Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, Full sRGB standard | — |
| Protection | — | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
Platform
| Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) | Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) |
|---|
| OS | iOS 9.3.1, upgradable to iOS 15.8.8 (as of May 2026) | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat) |
| Chipset | Apple A9 (14 nm) | Exynos 7578 Quad |
| CPU | Dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| GPU | PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics) | Mali-T720MP2 |
Memory
| Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) | Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot for single SIM models, shared with SIM slot for dual SIM models), up to 128GB |
| Internal | 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB (2GB RAM) | 16GB 1.5GB RAM |
Main Camera
| Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) | Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) |
|---|
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3", 1.22µm, PDAF | 13 MP, f/1.9, AF |
| Features | Dual-tone LED flash, HDR, Live Photos, Autofocus, IR filter, Burst mode, Face detection, True Tone flash | LED flash, panorama |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@120fps (slow-motion), 720p@240fps (slow-motion) | 1080p@30fps |
Selfie Camera
| Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) | Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) |
|---|
| Single | 1.2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard) | 5 MP, f/1.9 |
| Features | Face detection, HDR, Retina Flash | — |
| Video | 720p@30fps | Not specified |
Battery
| Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) | Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) |
|---|
| Type | Li-Po 1624 mAh, non-removable (6.21 Wh) | Li-Ion 2300 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | Standard charging | — |
Body
| Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) | Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) |
|---|
| Dimensions | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 in) | 134.5 x 65.2 x 7.3 mm |
| Weight | 113 g (4.0 oz) | 132 g |
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM (Single SIM or Dual SIM, dual SIM models may use a shared microSD slot) |
| Colors | Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold | — |
Comms
| Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) | Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) |
|---|
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS | — |
| NFC | Yes (Apple Pay only) | Yes |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | Lightning, USB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| Positioning | — | GPS, GLONASS |
Launch
| Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) | Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) |
|---|
| Announced | March 21, 2016 | December 2015 |
| Status | Released March 31, 2016 | Available. Released January 2016 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better battery, Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) or Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)?
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) — 1,624 mAh for the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) versus 2,300 mAh for the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016).
Which has more RAM, Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) or Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)?
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) — 2 GB for the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) versus 5 GB for the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016).
Which is lighter, Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) or Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)?
Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) — 113 g for the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) versus 132 g for the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016).
Which is newer, Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) or Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)?
Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) — Mar 2016 for the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) versus Dec 2015 for the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016).
Is the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) or the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) rated higher?
We rate the Apple iPhone SE (1st generation) 5/10 and the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) 7/10.
Best phone lists →
