Is an iPhone 6S the same as iPhone 6 Plus?

Apple may have moved on with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, but let’s not forget about the smartphones that came before. When announced, the iPhone 6 Plus and the iPhone 6S Plus were Apple’s flagship devices.


A few years down the line, and they remain quality phones that offer excellent performance for the price. Having spent enough time with both devices, we now know exactly what made the 6 Plus and 6S Plus notable upgrades for Apple aficionados. To get an idea of what sets the 6S Plus apart from its predecessor, we’ve decided to pit the two against each other in a spec comparison. May the best phone win (spoiler alert: the iPhone 6S Plus wins, though you should just wait for the iPhone 8).

Contents

  • Specs
  • Design
  • Power and productivity
  • Camera
  • Availability
  • Conclusion
  • Show 1 more item

Specs

Apple iPhone 6S Plus

Apple iPhone 6 Plus

Size6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 inches6.22 x 3.06 x 0.28 inchesWeight6.77 ounces6.07 ouncesScreen5.5-inch5.5-inchResolution1920 x 1080 pixels1920 x 1080 pixelsOSiOS 10iOS 10Storage32, 128GB16, 64, 128GBSD Card SlotNoNoProcessorApple 64-bit, A9Apple 64-bit, A8RAM2GB1GBConnectivity4G LTE, 802.11ac4G LTE, 802.11acCamera12MP rear, 5MP front8MP rear, 1.2MP frontBluetooth4.24.0Fingerprint sensorTouch IDTouch IDBattery24 hours of 3G talk time24 hours of 3G talk timeChargerLightningLightningMarketplaceApple App StoreApple App StoreAvg. Price$27.05/month for 24 months, or $649 without a contractN/AAvailabilityAT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-MobileNo longer availableDT Review4.5 out of 5 stars4.5 out of 5 stars

Design

Apple’s design for theiPhone 6 Pluswas beautiful simplicity, wrapping rounded edges into glass in an unassuming style typical of past iPhones. Apple decided not to fix what wasn’t broken, bringing back a nearly identical style for the 6S Plus. However, it did improve the phone’s enclosure, borrowing a page out of the aerospace industry’s book and wrapping it in an alloy of 7000 Series aluminum. In other words, this is the strongest and most durable iPhone yet.

Aside from the dimensions of the 6S Plus registering one-hundredth of an inch bigger in height, width, and thickness, these two phones are mirror images of each other. Back is the same 5.5-inch screen with the same gorgeous 1920 x 1080 screen resolution owners of the 6 Plus came to know and love. Where theiPhone 6SPlus does diverge a bit from the 6 Plus is its available colors. While the 6 Plus comes in just Space Gray, Silver, and Gold (the Gold has been discontinued), the 6S Plus comes in Space Gray, Silver, Gold, or Rose Gold, giving buyers an even greater opportunity to customize their smartphone.

Power and productivity

The 6S Plus is definitely faster than the 6 Plus. Apple’s A9 chip runs 70-percent faster than the A8, with a GPU that’s a staggering 90-percent faster. TheiPhone 6SPlus also features 2GB of RAM, which is double that of the original 6 Plus. Additionally, Touch ID is faster — there’s no lag when you swipe around — and games run more smoothly.

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Jessica Lee Star/Digital Trends

TheiPhone 6SPlus also touts what Apple calls 3D Touch, which grants users an extra level of touch sensitivity. Slightly touching an application, for instance, brings up a table that’s similar to the right-click menu you might see on a computer. Apple claims the feature improves productivity and streamlines thesmartphoneexperience when time is at a premium. Although you can get iOS 10 on the 6 Plus, it doesn’t support the 3D Touch feature.

Camera

The one area where theiPhone 6SPlus arguably blows the 6 Plus out of the water concerns its camera functionality. Instead of an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a sub-par 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera, the 6S Plus touts a gorgeous 12-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. In other words, Apple continues to make it easy for casual photographers to ditch digital cameras altogether and rely solely on the contraption they have in their pocket. For years, Apple has continuously boasted about the iPhone’s camera prowess, and theiPhone 6SPlus legitimately raises the bar.

Packed within the camera’s massive upgrade is also the ability for users to not only shoot HD videos, but incredibly detailed 4K videos. Obviously it’s tough to put much stock in4Kactually mattering on something with a screen as “small” as aniPhone 6SPlus, but videos shot in4K certainly looked a whole heck of a lot better than anything shot on a 6 Plus. Moreover, with4Kgaining popularity and momentum in the HD community, why not include it if the tech is there?

Availability

As always, the 6S Plus comes in three different storage sizes, each of which carries its own price tag. The 32GB 6S Plus comes in at $649 (or $27.05/month for 24 months), and the 128GB at $749 (or $31.21/month for 24 months). As of 2017, however, theiPhone 6 Plusis no longer being sold by Apple or any of the major carriers. With the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus out now, the iPhone SE is the represents the company’s entry-level model. If you want to buy aniPhone 6 Plus, you’ll have to scour the second-hand market.

Conclusion

As is typically par for the course for Apple, each new line of iPhones is described as the most advanced ever created, when compared to other smartphones available at the time. With a newer processing chip, a much-improved camera, a new operating system, and two extra snazzy colors, theiPhone 6SPlus offers a tangible step up from its predecessor. The 6S Plus has also dropped in price since the 7 Plus was released, making it even more tempting. If you already have a 6 Plus, then skip the 6S Plus, and look at the latest model. But if you’re choosing between a second-hand 6 Plus and a new 6S Plus right now, we’d definitely advise you to go for the 6S Plus. If you’re not in a rush, we recommend wiating for the iPhone 8, which is rumored to arrive in September 2017.

What is the difference between iPhone 6s and 6s Plus?

As noted above, the iPhone 6s Plus has (1) a higher resolution as well as a larger display, (2) a better quality camera, and (3) longer battery life, and those are excellent advantages of the larger option.

Is iPhone 6 Plus higher than iPhone 6s?

Aside from the dimensions of the 6S Plus registering one-hundredth of an inch bigger in height, width, and thickness, these two phones are mirror images of each other. Back is the same 5.5-inch screen with the same gorgeous 1920 x 1080 screen resolution owners of the 6 Plus came to know and love.

How do I know if I have an iPhone 6 or 6s?

If you're wondering whether your phone is an iPhone 6 or 6s, the easiest way to tell is to look at the back of the phone and see if it has the “S” logo at the bottom of the casing. If you don't see it, then you're probably using an iPhone 6.

Is iPhone 6s still good in 2022?

Updated Sept 15, 2022 - Yes, the iPhone 6s is still a good phone.