iPhone 6s Plus vs iPhone 6s: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone 6s Plus offers significantly better battery life and slightly improved sunlight visibility on its display. However, the iPhone 6s is more pocketable and arguably more appealing for those prioritizing portability. Ultimately, the Plus wins on endurance, but the standard 6s is a more convenient daily driver.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone 6s Plus | Apple iPhone 6s |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30 - A1633 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29 - A1688 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 - A1634 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 - A1687 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2015, September 09. Released 2015, September 25 | 2015, September 09. Released 2015, September 25 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Corning-made glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Corning-made glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm (6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 in) | 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm (5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 143 g (5.04 oz) |
| Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Ion-strengthened glass, oleophobic coating | Ion-strengthened glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~67.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 500 nits |
| 3D Touch display | 3D Touch | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister | Dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister |
| Chipset | Apple A9 (14/16 nm - maker dependant) | Apple A9 (14/16 nm - maker dependant) |
| GPU | PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics) | PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics) |
| OS | iOS 9, upgradable to iOS 15.8.5 | iOS 9, upgradable to iOS 15.8.5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM |
| NVMe | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, PDAF, OIS | 12 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@120fps, 720p@240fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps,1080p@120fps, 720p@240fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Face detection, HDR, panorama | Face detection, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard) | 5 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard) |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| 16-bit/44.1kHz audio | 16-bit/44.1kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (Apple Pay only) | Yes (Apple Pay only) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | Lightning, USB 2.0 | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 384 h (3G) | Up to 240 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 24 h (3G) | Up to 14 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2750 mAh, non-removable (10.45 Wh) | Li-Ion 1715 mAh, non-removable (6.91 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold | Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold |
| Models | A1634, A1687, A1690, A1699, iPhone8,2 | A1633, A1688, A1691, A1700, iPhone8,1 |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 230 EUR |
| SAR | 1.12 W/kg (head) 1.14 W/kg (body) | 1.14 W/kg (head) 1.14 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.93 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) | 0.87 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -71.1dB | Noise -93.8dB / Crosstalk -73.2dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 85h | Endurance rating 62h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1382:1 (nominal), 3.530 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: 1481 (nominal), 3.783 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 65dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 64dB | Voice 66dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 65dB |
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 2261 | Basemark OS II 2.0: 2195 |
| OUR TESTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -71.1dB | Noise -93.8dB / Crosstalk -73.2dB |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 85h | Endurance rating 62h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1382:1 (nominal), 3.530 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: 1481 (nominal), 3.783 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 65dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 64dB | Voice 66dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 65dB |
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 2261 | Basemark OS II 2.0: 2195 |
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
- Superior battery life
- Larger display for media
- Slightly better sunlight visibility
- Potentially better multitasking (due to RAM)
- Larger and heavier
- Less pocketable
- Can be unwieldy for one-handed use
Apple iPhone 6s
- More compact and lightweight
- Easier to use one-handed
- More pocketable
- Shorter battery life
- Smaller display
- Slightly worse sunlight visibility
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 4.7-inch (6s) and 5.5-inch (6s Plus) Retina HD display with 3D Touch. The 6s Plus boasts a slightly better contrast ratio (1382:1 vs 1481:1 nominal, 3.530 vs 3.783 sunlight), resulting in marginally better visibility in bright conditions. The larger screen of the Plus is ideal for watching videos and browsing, while the 6s is more comfortable to hold and use one-handed.
Camera Comparison
The camera systems are essentially the same: a 12MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. Image quality is comparable in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is adequate for their time, but not exceptional by today's standards. Video recording capabilities are also similar, both supporting 4K video recording.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Apple A9 chip and a dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister CPU. Performance is virtually identical in everyday tasks and most apps. While older, they can still handle many modern apps, though demanding games might show some limitations. The 6s Plus has slightly more RAM (2GB vs 3GB), which *could* offer a marginal advantage in multitasking, but it's unlikely to be noticeable in most scenarios.
Battery Life
This is where the 6s Plus truly shines. It has a significantly larger battery (2915 mAh) compared to the 6s (1810 mAh), resulting in a much longer endurance rating (85h vs 62h). This translates to significantly more screen-on time and less frequent charging for the 6s Plus.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the iPhone 6s Plus? Users who prioritize battery life and a larger screen for media consumption and productivity. Who should buy the iPhone 6s? Those seeking a more compact and manageable device for everyday use, prioritizing portability over extended battery life.