iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone SE (3rd gen)
Winner
Apple iPhone 14 Plus
Lifespan decides this one: the iPhone 14 Plus is supported until Oct 2029 at $7.85 per month of safe use, while the iPhone SE (3rd gen) runs out in Mar 2029 ($3.16/month). On a which-lasts-longer question, that's not a tie — it's the whole answer.
Value Score: iPhone 14 Plus 67 · iPhone SE (3rd gen) 56 — methodology
Who should pick which
Beyond the scores — our take on each phone and the buyer it actually suits.
The cheapest big-screen iPhone with real life left: ~$301 used buys a 6.7-inch display, huge battery, and an estimated three-plus years of updates — if you can accept Lightning and 60Hz.
Pick it if
- ✓ Big-screen buyers on a tight budget
- ✓ Battery-first users
- ✓ Streaming and reading
Skip it if
- ✗ You can stretch ~$100 more — the iPhone 15 Plus adds USB-C and a year of support
- ✗ You want any AI features
The quiet TrueCost champion of the used market: $100 buys an estimated ~33 more months of updates — about $3 per month of safe iPhone, the cheapest safe phone we track.
Pick it if
- ✓ Maximum safety per dollar
- ✓ Small-phone lovers
- ✓ Kids and seniors who want Touch ID
Skip it if
- ✗ You want a big modern screen
- ✗ Battery life is a priority
The lifespan decider
When specs are close, support length decides it — this is what each phone costs per month of safe use.
Category by category
Both displays are effectively the same class.
Performance is a wash — same chip tier.
The iPhone 14 Plus has the stronger camera system (2 real rear lenses vs 1).
4,325mAh vs 2,018mAh — the iPhone 14 Plus lasts longer between charges.
The iPhone 14 Plus is supported until Oct 2029 — 7 months longer than the iPhone SE (3rd gen).
Overall value goes to the iPhone 14 Plus at $7.85 per month of safe use.
Frequently asked
Is the iPhone 14 Plus still supported in 2026?
Yes. It runs the latest iOS in 2026 and Apple confirmed at WWDC 2026 that it gets iOS 27. Based on Apple's typical seven-year pattern, we estimate updates until around October 2029 — roughly three years and four months away.
Is the iPhone 14 Plus worth buying used in 2026?
At around $301, yes — that's about $7.50 per month of remaining safe use, and its big battery is one of the few that still lasts a full day even with some degradation. It's the budget pick among large iPhones; the 15 Plus is the better long-term one.
Is the iPhone SE 3rd generation still supported in 2026?
Yes — comfortably. It launched in March 2022 with the same A15 chip as the iPhone 13, and on Apple's typical seven-year pattern we estimate updates until around March 2029.
Is a used iPhone SE 3 worth buying in 2026?
At ~$100, it's arguably the single best value in phones: roughly $3 per month of estimated safe use, cheaper than even the $199 Galaxy A16. You trade screen size and battery for that — but nothing this cheap is safer.
Full spec table
| Spec | iPhone 14 Plus | iPhone SE (3rd gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price (street) | $301 | $100 |
| Display | 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz, 1200 nits HDR peak | 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD, 60Hz |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic (5-core GPU) | Apple A15 Bionic |
| RAM | 6GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB | 64GB/128GB/256GB |
| Battery | 4,325 mAh | 2,018 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired (50% in ~30 min), MagSafe 15W wireless | 20W wired, Qi wireless 7.5W |
| Rear cameras | 12MP main, 12MP ultra-wide | 12MP main |
| Dimensions | 160.8 × 78.1 × 7.8 mm | 138.4 × 67.3 × 7.3 mm |
| Weight | 203 g | 144 g |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
| Supported until | Oct 2029 | Mar 2029 |
More comparisons
Scores and verdicts are computed from our verified database — see exactly how. Specs from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers.