iPhone 6s Plus vs iPhone 7 Plus: A Detailed Comparison

The iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 7 Plus were both flagship devices in their time, offering premium features and a large-screen experience. But with several years separating their releases, how do they stack up against each other today? This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which phone is right for you.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 7 Plus edges out the 6s Plus thanks to its faster A10 Fusion chip, improved camera capabilities (including portrait mode), and slightly better battery life. While the 6s Plus remains a capable device, the 7 Plus offers a more modern and refined experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Apple iPhone 6s Plus	Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - A1661, A1784
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - A1661, A1784
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 - A1661, A1784
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 - A1661

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)	158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm (6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM
Weight	192 g (6.77 oz)	188 g (6.63 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)	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)
Size	5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~67.7% screen-to-body ratio)	5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~67.7% 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 3GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM
	NVMe	NVMe

Main Camera
Dual	-	12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/3.0", PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 56mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", AF, 2x optical zoom
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	-
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
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)	Up to 384 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 24 h (3G)	Up to 21 h (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 2750 mAh, non-removable (10.45 Wh)	Li-Ion 2900 mAh, non-removable (11.1 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold	Jet Black, Black, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Red
Models	A1634, A1687, A1690, A1699, iPhone8,2	A1661, A1784, A1785, A1786, iPhone9,4, iPhone9,2
Price	About 240 EUR	About 320 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)	1.24 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -71.1dB	Noise -93.1dB / Crosstalk -80.5dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 85h	Endurance rating 75h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1382:1 (nominal), 3.530 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1398:1 (nominal), 3.588 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 64dB	Voice 68dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 72dB
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 2261	Basemark OS II 2.0: 3796

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -71.1dB	Noise -93.1dB / Crosstalk -80.5dB
Battery (old)	Endurance rating 85h	Endurance rating 75h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1382:1 (nominal), 3.530 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1398:1 (nominal), 3.588 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 64dB	Voice 68dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 72dB
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 2261	Basemark OS II 2.0: 3796

Apple iPhone 6s Plus

Larger screen
Good value for money (used)
Familiar iOS experience
3D Touch (though diminishing support)

Older processor
Less impressive camera
Shorter battery life
Limited software updates

Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Faster processor
Improved camera with Portrait Mode
Slightly better battery life
Wider color gamut display
Water resistance (IP67)

Higher price (used)
Still an older device
3D Touch removed

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 5.5-inch Retina HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. The contrast ratios are remarkably similar (1382:1 vs 1398:1 nominal, 3.530 vs 3.588 in sunlight), suggesting comparable image quality. However, the iPhone 7 Plus introduced wider color gamut support, resulting in slightly more vibrant colors.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 7 Plus introduced a dual-camera system, enabling optical zoom and Portrait Mode, a feature absent on the 6s Plus. While both phones capture decent photos, the 7 Plus's larger aperture and improved image processing result in better low-light performance and more detailed images. Video recording capabilities are also slightly improved on the 7 Plus.

Performance

The iPhone 7 Plus boasts a significant performance advantage with its A10 Fusion chip and quad-core CPU (2.34 GHz) compared to the 6s Plus's A9 chip and dual-core CPU (1.84 GHz). This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better overall responsiveness. The A10 Fusion also handled more demanding games and applications with greater ease.

Battery Life

The iPhone 7 Plus has a slightly larger battery and more efficient processor, resulting in a marginally better endurance rating (75h vs 85h, though this is an old rating and real-world usage will vary). Both phones will likely require daily charging with moderate to heavy use.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the iPhone 6s Plus? Users on a tight budget who still want a large-screen iPhone experience and don't need the latest features. Who should buy the iPhone 7 Plus? Those seeking a noticeable performance boost, better camera quality, and slightly improved battery life, willing to spend a bit more.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the iPhone 6s Plus still usable in 2024?

Yes, the iPhone 6s Plus is still usable, but it's showing its age. Software updates are limited, and performance may struggle with newer apps. It's a good option for basic tasks and users on a budget.

❓ Does the iPhone 7 Plus have water resistance?

Yes, the iPhone 7 Plus has an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, meaning it can withstand submersion in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. The 6s Plus does not have an official water resistance rating.