iPhone 6s Plus vs iPhone 8 Plus: A Detailed Comparison

Apple's iPhone lineup has evolved significantly over the years. Two popular models, the iPhone 6s Plus and the iPhone 8 Plus, offer distinct experiences. This comparison dives deep into their features to help you decide which one best suits your needs and budget.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 8 Plus is the clear winner, offering a significantly faster processor, improved camera capabilities, wireless charging, and a slightly better display. While the 6s Plus remains a capable device, the 8 Plus provides a more modern and refined user experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Apple iPhone 6s Plus	Apple iPhone 8 Plus

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(AWS) / 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, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
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) Cat12 600/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 - A1634	-

Launch
Announced	2015, September 09. Released 2015, September 25	2017, September 12. Released 2017, September 22
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Corning-made glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame	Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame
Dimensions	158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm (6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 in)	158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5 mm (6.24 x 3.07 x 0.30 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM
Weight	192 g (6.77 oz)	202 g (7.13 oz)
	Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins) 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 (~67.4% 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	Hexa-core (2x Monsoon + 4x Mistral)
Chipset	Apple A9 (14/16 nm - maker dependant)	Apple A11 Bionic (10 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics)	Apple GPU (three-core graphics)
OS	iOS 9, upgradable to iOS 15.8.5	iOS 11, up to iOS 16.7.12

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM	64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM
	NVMe	NVMe

Main Camera
Dual	-	12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 57mm (telephoto), PDAF, 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@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps

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	5.0, 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
Charging	-	15W wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)
Stand-by	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 2691 mAh, non-removable (10.28 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold	Gold, Space Gray, Silver, Red
Models	A1634, A1687, A1690, A1699, iPhone8,2	A1864, A1897, A1898, , A1899, iPhone10,2, iPhone10,5
Price	About 240 EUR	About 340 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)	0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -71.1dB	Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -80.2dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 85h	Endurance rating 81h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1382:1 (nominal), 3.530 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1395:1 (nominal), 3.957 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 64dB	Voice 76dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 79dB
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 2261	GeekBench: 10037 (v4.4)

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -71.1dB	Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -80.2dB
Battery (old)	Endurance rating 85h	Endurance rating 81h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1382:1 (nominal), 3.530 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1395:1 (nominal), 3.957 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 64dB	Voice 76dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 79dB
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 2261	GeekBench: 10037 (v4.4)

Apple iPhone 6s Plus

Large 5.5-inch display
Still functional and reliable
More affordable

Outdated processor
Older camera technology
No wireless charging
Slower charging

Apple iPhone 8 Plus

Significantly faster A11 Bionic chip
Improved dual-camera system
Wireless charging support
Faster charging (PD 2.0)
Better display sunlight readability

More expensive than the 6s Plus
Older model (though still supported)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 5.5-inch Retina HD display with a 1382:1 contrast ratio. However, the iPhone 8 Plus boasts a slightly better sunlight readability score (3.957 vs 3.530), indicating improved visibility outdoors. The 8 Plus also has slightly better color accuracy.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 8 Plus features a dual-camera system with improved image stabilization and larger sensors, resulting in better low-light performance and more detailed photos. Portrait Mode is also significantly enhanced on the 8 Plus. While the 6s Plus camera is still decent, the 8 Plus offers a superior photographic experience.

Performance

The iPhone 8 Plus's A11 Bionic chip is a massive upgrade over the iPhone 6s Plus's A9. The A11's hexa-core design delivers significantly faster processing speeds and smoother multitasking. Gaming and demanding applications run noticeably better on the 8 Plus.

Battery Life

While both phones have an endurance rating of around 81-85 hours, the iPhone 8 Plus benefits from faster charging (15W wired and wireless) and PD 2.0 support, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

The iPhone 6s Plus is a good option for budget-conscious users who need a large screen and don't require the latest features. The iPhone 8 Plus is ideal for those seeking a faster, more capable phone with a better camera and modern conveniences like wireless charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the iPhone 6s Plus still worth buying?

If you're on a very tight budget and only need basic smartphone functionality, the 6s Plus can still be usable. However, the lack of modern features and slower performance make it less appealing compared to newer options.

❓ What are the biggest differences between the two phones?

The biggest differences are the processor speed (A11 Bionic vs A9), camera capabilities (dual-camera vs single-camera), and the addition of wireless charging and faster charging on the iPhone 8 Plus.