iPhone SE (2022) vs iPhone 6s: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone SE (2022) is the clear winner, boasting a significantly faster A15 Bionic chip, a brighter display, and modern features. While the iPhone 6s offers a nostalgic experience and similar battery life, its aging hardware makes it less appealing for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone SE (2022) | Apple iPhone 6s |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 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, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2783, A2784, A2785 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29 - A1688 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2783, A2784, A2785, A2782 | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G, 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 / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2595 | 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 | 2022, March 08 | 2015, September 09. Released 2015, September 25 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 18 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Corning-made glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 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 + eSIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 144 g (5.08 oz) | 143 g (5.04 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Ion-strengthened glass | Ion-strengthened glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) | 750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 500 nits |
| - | 3D Touch | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) | Dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) | Apple A9 (14/16 nm - maker dependant) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics) |
| OS | iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 26.1 | iOS 9, upgradable to iOS 15.8.5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM |
| NVMe | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS | 12 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, PDAF |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec. | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps,1080p@120fps, 720p@240fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Face detection, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 5 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard) |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS | 720p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| - | 16-bit/44.1kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (Apple Pay only) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, 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/6, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi) | - |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 240 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 14 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2018 mAh (6.96 Wh) | Li-Ion 1715 mAh, non-removable (6.91 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight, Starlight, Red | Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold |
| Models | A2783, A2595, A2785, A2782, A2784, iphone14,6 | A1633, A1688, A1691, A1700, iPhone8,1 |
| Price | $ 119.84 / C$ 199.99 / £ 142.00 / € 173.00 | About 230 EUR |
| SAR | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) | 1.14 W/kg (head) 1.14 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.20 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) | 0.87 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.8dB / Crosstalk -73.2dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 62h | Endurance rating 62h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1424:1 (nominal) | Contrast ratio: 1481 (nominal), 3.783 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.2 LUFS (Very good) | Voice 66dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 65dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 723486 (v9) GeekBench: 4629 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | Basemark OS II 2.0: 2195 |
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
- Blazing-fast A15 Bionic chip
- Bright and vibrant display
- Modern features (5G, etc.)
- Faster charging
- Excellent value for performance
- Classic iPhone design may not appeal to everyone
- Small screen size
Apple iPhone 6s
- Affordable
- Compact size
- Nostalgic design
- Outdated processor
- Lower camera quality
- Slower charging
- Limited software updates
Display Comparison
The iPhone SE (2022) features a noticeably brighter display (605 nits vs. unknown for 6s) and a slightly better contrast ratio (1424:1 vs 1481:1 nominal, 3.783 sunlight for 6s). While the 6s's sunlight readability is impressive, the SE's overall brightness provides a better viewing experience in various conditions. Both have similar resolution and size.
Camera Comparison
While both offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the iPhone SE (2022) has a superior camera system. It benefits from Apple's computational photography advancements, resulting in better image quality, especially in low light. The 6s camera is still usable, but noticeably less detailed and vibrant.
Performance
This is where the iPhone SE (2022) truly shines. Its A15 Bionic chip is a massive upgrade over the iPhone 6s's A9. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The A15 handles demanding tasks with ease, while the A9 shows its age.
Battery Life
Both devices surprisingly share the same endurance rating of 62h. However, the iPhone SE (2022)'s more efficient A15 chip likely translates to longer real-world usage despite the similar rating. The SE also supports faster charging (20W wired vs. likely slower for the 6s).
Buying Guide
Who should buy the iPhone SE (2022)? Users seeking a budget-friendly iPhone with excellent performance and a modern design. Who should buy the iPhone 6s? Primarily those seeking a very affordable, basic smartphone or those with a strong sentimental attachment to the older design.