iPhone 6s Plus vs iPhone 7: A Detailed Comparison

The iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 7 were both significant devices in Apple's history, but they represent different generations of technology. Choosing between them can be tricky, especially considering their age. This comprehensive comparison will help you understand the key differences and decide which phone best suits your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 7 offers a noticeable performance boost thanks to its A10 Fusion chip and improved camera. While the 6s Plus boasts slightly better sunlight display performance, the iPhone 7's overall improvements in speed, camera quality, and water resistance make it the better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Apple iPhone 6s Plus	Apple iPhone 7

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - A1660, A1778
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - A1660, A1778
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, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 - A1660, A1778
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 (3CA) Cat9 450/50 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	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO & TD-SCDMA - A1660

Launch
Announced	2015, September 09. Released 2015, September 25	2016, September 07. Released 2016, September 16
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)	138 g (4.87 oz)
	Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)

Display
Protection	Ion-strengthened glass, oleophobic coating	Ion-strengthened glass
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	Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
	3D Touch display	3D Touch display & home button

Platform
CPU	Dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister	Quad-core 2.34 GHz (2x Hurricane + 2x Zephyr)
Chipset	Apple A9 (14/16 nm - maker dependant)	Apple A10 Fusion (16 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics)	PowerVR Series7XT Plus (six-core graphics)
OS	iOS 9, upgradable to iOS 15.8.5	iOS 10.0.1, upgradable to iOS 15.8.5

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM	32GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM, 256GB 2GB RAM
	NVMe	NVMe

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR	Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR
Single	12 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, PDAF, OIS	12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/3.0", PDAF, OIS
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@120fps, 720p@240fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@240fps

Selfie camera
Features	Face detection, HDR, panorama	Face detection, HDR, panorama
Single	5 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard)	7 MP, f/2.2, 32mm (standard)
Video	720p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	16-bit/44.1kHz audio	-

Comms
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP, LE	4.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (Apple Pay only)	Yes
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)	-
Talk time	Up to 24 h (3G)	Up to 14 h (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 2750 mAh, non-removable (10.45 Wh)	Li-Ion 1960 mAh, non-removable (7.45 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold	Jet Black, Black, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Red
Models	A1634, A1687, A1690, A1699, iPhone8,2	A1660, A1778, A1779, A1780, A1853, A1866, iPhone9,1, iPhone9,3
Price	About 240 EUR	About 180 EUR
SAR	1.12 W/kg (head) 1.14 W/kg (body)	1.19 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.93 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body)	1.38 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -71.1dB	Noise -92.4dB / Crosstalk -80.9dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 85h	Endurance rating 61h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1382:1 (nominal), 3.530 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1603:1 (nominal), 3.964 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 64dB	Voice 67dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 75dB
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 2261	Basemark OS II 2.0: 3416

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -71.1dB	Noise -92.4dB / Crosstalk -80.9dB
Battery (old)	Endurance rating 85h	Endurance rating 61h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1382:1 (nominal), 3.530 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1603:1 (nominal), 3.964 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 64dB	Voice 67dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 75dB
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 2261	Basemark OS II 2.0: 3416

Apple iPhone 6s Plus

Larger screen
Good sunlight display
Relatively affordable

Slower performance
Older camera
No water resistance
Outdated chipset

Apple iPhone 7

Faster performance
Improved camera
Water resistance (IP67)
Stereo speakers
More modern design

Smaller battery (potentially shorter real-world usage)
Older model

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 5.5-inch display, but the iPhone 7 has a slightly better contrast ratio (1603:1 vs 1382:1) and superior sunlight readability (3.964 vs 3.530). The iPhone 7 also introduced wider color gamut support, resulting in more vibrant and accurate colors.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 7's camera received a substantial upgrade. It features a larger aperture (f/1.8) for better low-light performance, optical image stabilization (OIS), and improved image processing. The iPhone 6s Plus's camera is still capable, but the iPhone 7 consistently produces sharper, more detailed photos and videos.

Performance

The iPhone 7's A10 Fusion chip is significantly faster than the iPhone 6s Plus's A9 chip. The A10's quad-core design and higher clock speed provide a noticeable improvement in app loading times, multitasking, and overall responsiveness. The iPhone 7 also benefits from improved thermal management.

Battery Life

Despite the iPhone 6s Plus having a higher endurance rating (85h) on paper, the iPhone 7's more efficient A10 chip and optimized software often translate to longer real-world battery life, especially with demanding tasks. The iPhone 7 also introduced stereo speakers, which can impact battery usage.

Buying Guide

The iPhone 6s Plus is a viable option for budget-conscious users who prioritize a larger screen and don't need the latest features. The iPhone 7 is recommended for those seeking a faster, more capable phone with a better camera and improved durability, even if it's an older model.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the iPhone 7 still worth buying in [current year]?

Yes, the iPhone 7 remains a capable device, especially if you're on a budget. It offers a significant performance upgrade over older iPhones and still receives security updates. However, consider its age and limited future software support.

❓ Which phone has better low-light camera performance?

The iPhone 7's larger aperture (f/1.8) and improved image processing give it a noticeable advantage in low-light photography compared to the iPhone 6s Plus.