iPhone SE 2022 vs iPhone 6s Plus: A Head-to-Head Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone SE (2022) wins on performance and future software updates thanks to its A15 Bionic chip. However, the iPhone 6s Plus boasts superior sunlight visibility and slightly longer battery life. Ultimately, the SE offers a more modern experience, while the 6s Plus provides a budget-friendly option with a larger screen.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone SE (2022) | Apple iPhone 6s Plus |
| 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, 30 - A1633 |
| 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 - A1634 | |
| 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) | 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm (6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 144 g (5.08 oz) | 192 g (6.77 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) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~67.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) | IPS LCD |
| - | 3D Touch display | |
| 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 | 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, OIS |
| 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 384 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 24 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2018 mAh (6.96 Wh) | Li-Ion 2750 mAh, non-removable (10.45 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight, Starlight, Red | Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold |
| Models | A2783, A2595, A2785, A2782, A2784, iphone14,6 | A1634, A1687, A1690, A1699, iPhone8,2 |
| Price | $ 119.84 / C$ 199.99 / £ 142.00 / € 173.00 | About 240 EUR |
| SAR | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) | 1.12 W/kg (head) 1.14 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.20 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) | 0.93 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -71.1dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 62h | Endurance rating 85h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1424:1 (nominal) | Contrast ratio: 1382:1 (nominal), 3.530 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.2 LUFS (Very good) | Voice 65dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 64dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 723486 (v9) GeekBench: 4629 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | Basemark OS II 2.0: 2261 |
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
- Blazing-fast A15 Bionic chip
- Compact and pocketable design
- Guaranteed software updates for years
- Good camera performance
- Shorter battery life compared to 6s Plus
- Smaller screen size
- No advanced camera features (e.g., Night mode improvements)
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
- Larger screen size
- Excellent sunlight visibility
- Longer battery life
- More affordable
- Significantly slower performance
- Outdated processor
- Limited software update support
- Older camera technology
Display Comparison
The iPhone SE (2022) features a contrast ratio of 1424:1 and a measured peak brightness of 605 nits, offering vibrant colors and good visibility. The iPhone 6s Plus has a contrast ratio of 1382:1 (nominal) and an impressive 3.530 rating in sunlight, making it easier to see outdoors. While the SE is brighter, the 6s Plus's sunlight performance is a significant advantage.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer decent photo and video capabilities for their time. The iPhone SE (2022) benefits from Apple's computational photography advancements, resulting in slightly better image quality, especially in low light. The 6s Plus's camera is still capable, but noticeably behind the SE's.
Performance
Here's where the iPhone SE (2022) truly shines. Its A15 Bionic chip is significantly faster than the iPhone 6s Plus's A9 chip. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the SE. The A15 is a generational leap in processing power.
Battery Life
The iPhone 6s Plus has an endurance rating of 85 hours, slightly edging out the iPhone SE (2022)'s 62 hours. However, the SE's faster charging (20W wired vs. the 6s Plus's slower charging) can offset this difference.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the iPhone SE (2022)? Users prioritizing speed, a compact design, and guaranteed software updates for years to come. Who should buy the iPhone 6s Plus? Budget-conscious buyers who value a larger screen and don't need the absolute latest technology.