iPhone SE 3 vs Pixel 8a
Different logos, same mission. The iPhone SE 3 and the Pixel 8a both want to be your next phone. The numbers lean one way: the Pixel 8a comes out ahead in 4 of the 5 areas we compared, with its clearest lead in the display category.
At a glance
- Display Pixel 8a wins
- Performance Pixel 8a wins
- Memory & Storage Pixel 8a wins
- Camera Pixel 8a wins
- Battery & Charging Tie
- Price iPhone SE 3 wins
- Display0.0
- Memory & Storage0.0
- Camera0.0
- Display8.4
- Memory & Storage2.2
- Camera6.9
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The Pixel 8a has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz
This is one of the widest gaps in the whole comparison: 120 Hz for the Pixel 8a versus 60 Hz for the iPhone SE 3. A higher refresh rate makes scrolling, animations and games look smoother. Once you’re used to it, a lower-rate screen can feel sluggish by comparison.
-
The iPhone SE 3 has a 1.55 oz lighter build
The Pixel 8a lists 6.63 oz; the iPhone SE 3 comes in at 5.08 oz. That’s not a rounding error. A few grams won’t matter, but bigger gaps add up in a pocket or a small bag over a full day.
-
The Pixel 8a has 220% higher peak brightness
At 2,000 nits versus 625 nits, this is a decisive lead for the Pixel 8a, the kind of difference you notice without looking for it. Peak figures are usually reached only in short bursts or small areas of the screen, but a higher ceiling still helps outdoor visibility.
-
The Pixel 8a has 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB
If base storage is one of your priorities, this settles it: the Pixel 8a leads clearly with 128 GB to the iPhone SE 3’s 64 GB. The Pixel 8a starts with more room, which means fewer “storage full” warnings and less time deleting old videos.
-
The Pixel 8a has a higher-resolution 64 MP main camera
The numbers aren’t close. The Pixel 8a lists 64 MP for main camera, while the iPhone SE 3 lists 12 MP. The Pixel 8a’s higher-resolution main sensor gives you more room to crop, which helps when you can’t get closer.
Design & Size
- iPhone SE 3 5.45 in × 2.65 in × 0.29 in
- Pixel 8a 5.99 in × 2.86 in × 0.35 in
Want the smaller footprint? That’s the iPhone SE 3. The Pixel 8a is the larger of the two. The Pixel 8a is 1.55 oz heavier than the iPhone SE 3. There’s 0.06 in of extra thickness on the Pixel 8a.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.45 in | 5.99 in |
| Width | 2.65 in | 2.86 in |
| Thickness | 0.29 in (winner) Slimmest in class | 0.35 in |
| Weight | 5.08 oz (winner) Lightest in class | 6.63 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Display
Pixel 8a leads
No contest in display: the Pixel 8a is the stronger of the two. Choose the Pixel 8a and you get a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. Smoother motion is one of the most visible display upgrades, and adaptive high-refresh panels can slow down on static content to save power. Prioritize display, and the Pixel 8a is where you should land.
Refresh rate
iPhone SE 3: 60 Hz Pixel 8a: 120 Hz You notice refresh rate every time you scroll a feed or a web page, which is why the Pixel 8a feels more fluid in everyday use.
Peak brightness
iPhone SE 3: 625 nits Pixel 8a: 2,000 nits Peak brightness decides how readable the screen stays in direct sunlight and how punchy HDR content looks.
Performance
Pixel 8a leads
On performance, the Pixel 8a comes out slightly ahead. The Pixel 8a stands out with a newer 4 nm chip process. The Pixel 8a’s chip is built on a more advanced process. That usually points to efficiency gains, though chip design matters just as much. If this section decides it for you, choose the Pixel 8a.
CPU cores
iPhone SE 3: 6 Pixel 8a: 9 Treat the core count as background information; the chipset name tells you far more about real performance.
Process node
iPhone SE 3: 5 nm Pixel 8a: 4 nm A finer process node generally lets a chip do the same work with less power, which can mean cooler running and better battery life.
Memory & Storage
Pixel 8a leads
The Pixel 8a clearly takes the memory & storage round. Here the Pixel 8a offers 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB. Base storage is what you get without paying extra. Photos, videos and apps add up quickly, so more space at the entry price is real value. Anyone shopping mainly on memory & storage should start with the Pixel 8a.
Base storage
iPhone SE 3: 64 GB Pixel 8a: 128 GB If you shoot a lot of video or keep music and maps offline, base storage is one of the specs you’ll feel most over the years.
Camera
Pixel 8a leads
This section belongs to the Pixel 8a. In camera, it leads the iPhone SE 3 by a margin that’s hard to ignore. The Pixel 8a takes this one with a higher-resolution 64 MP main camera. Megapixels are only one part of image quality, so treat this as a sign of detail potential, not a verdict on photos. Net result: the Pixel 8a leads this part of the comparison.
Main camera
iPhone SE 3: 12 MP Pixel 8a: 64 MP More megapixels on the main camera allow bigger crops and more detail in good light, but sensor size and processing matter just as much.
Rear cameras
iPhone SE 3: 1 Pixel 8a: 2 An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
Battery & Charging
Too close to call
Side by side, the battery & charging figures for the iPhone SE 3 and the Pixel 8a barely differ. Either phone will serve you equally well on battery & charging.
Software & Updates
The software & updates entries below are descriptive rather than numeric. Read them side by side to see where the iPhone SE 3 and the Pixel 8a part ways.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 4.7 in | 6.1 in |
| Panel type | LCD (Retina HD) | OLED (Actua) |
| Resolution | 1334 x 750 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Pixel density | 326 ppi Lowest pixel density | 430 ppi (winner) |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz (winner) |
| Peak brightness | 625 nits Dimmest screen in class | 2,000 nits (winner) |
| Always-on display | No | Yes (winner) |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A15 Bionic | Google Tensor G3 |
| CPU cores | 6 | 9 |
| Process node | 5 nm | 4 nm (winner) |
| RAM | N/A (not specified) | 8 GB |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 64 GB Least base storage | 128 GB (winner) |
| Max storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 12 MP Lowest-res main camera | 64 MP (winner) |
| Ultra-wide camera | N/A (not specified) | 13 MP |
| Rear cameras | 1 | 2 (winner) |
| Front camera | 7 MP Lowest-res selfie camera | 13 MP (winner) |
| Max video | 4K60 | 4K60 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | N/A (not specified) | 4,492 mAh |
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 15 h Shortest rated playback | N/A (not specified) |
| Wired charging | N/A (not specified) | 18 W |
| Wireless charging | 8 W | 8 W |
| Port | Lightning | USB-C |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 15.4 | Android 14 |
| Promised OS updatesManufacturer commitment | N/A (not specified) | 7 years |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.45 in | 5.99 in |
| Width | 2.65 in | 2.86 in |
| Thickness | 0.29 in (winner) Slimmest in class | 0.35 in |
| Weight | 5.08 oz (winner) Lightest in class | 6.63 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Price
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $429 (winner) | $499 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
The launch price difference is small: $70, favoring the iPhone SE 3. That $70 gap does buy something tangible: a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 220% higher peak brightness.
These are US launch prices, recorded May 2024; what you pay today may be higher or lower.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone SE 3 if…
- you notice every gram in your pocket (5.08 oz vs 6.63 oz)
- you care about a thin profile in your pocket (0.29 in vs 0.35 in)
- you’d rather keep $70 in your pocket
Choose the Pixel 8a if…
- you game or scroll a lot and like motion to look fluid (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you want the screen that stays readable on sunny days (2,000 nits vs 625 nits)
- you shoot a lot of photos and video (128 GB vs 64 GB base storage)
- you want the higher-resolution main camera (64 MP vs 12 MP)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the iPhone SE 3 or the Pixel 8a?
For most people, the Pixel 8a is the stronger choice, unless you need a 1.55 oz lighter build, which only the iPhone SE 3 offers.
Is the iPhone SE 3 bigger than the Pixel 8a?
It’s the Pixel 8a that is larger: 5.99 × 2.86 × 0.35 in, versus 5.45 × 2.65 × 0.29 in for the iPhone SE 3.
Which is faster, the iPhone SE 3 or the Pixel 8a?
Going by the specs, the Pixel 8a comes out ahead: it offers a newer 4 nm chip process.
Which has the better camera, the iPhone SE 3 or the Pixel 8a?
Going by the hardware, the Pixel 8a comes out ahead: a higher-resolution 64 MP main camera and an extra rear camera.
Which has the better screen, the iPhone SE 3 or the Pixel 8a?
Going by the numbers, the Pixel 8a’s screen comes out ahead: a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 220% higher peak brightness.
Which costs less, the iPhone SE 3 or the Pixel 8a?
The iPhone SE 3 is the cheaper option, launching at $70 less than the Pixel 8a (launch prices as of May 2024).
Executive Summary
Honestly, the iPhone SE 3 versus the Pixel 8a is one of those matchups where your priorities matter more than the logo. The single spec I’d point a friend to is this: the Pixel 8a has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. Then there’s 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB, another point for the Pixel 8a. I’ll admit the iPhone SE 3 has a point with a 1.55 oz lighter build.
I think of the iPhone SE 3 as the one for portability and the Pixel 8a as the one for display.
My pick: the Pixel 8a, though the iPhone SE 3 makes sense if you’d trade the rest for a 1.55 oz lighter build.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.