Are you puzzled about which model to buy between the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s? You are in luck as this iPhone 6 vs 6s comparison article will help you decide.
iPhone 6 vs 6s: At First Glance
The iPhone 6 and 6s are some of the oldest iPhones that are still very much in circulation. This is not surprising based on the fact that these iPhone models are durable and resilient.
Therefore, for whatever reason you decide to buy any of these models, you are good to go. However, the slight issue right now might be which of the models to buy.
Thankfully, I am more than happy to make your decision an easier one. Reading each section of this comparison article will help you with that decision.
The iPhone 6 been the oldest of the two models was released in September 2014. Meanwhile, Apple released the iPhone 6s a year after – September 2015.
As expected, both models have been discontinued and as such, cannot be bought directly from Apple. However, you can buy used ones from resellers.
The iPhone 6 and 6s are one of the most affordable iPhones you can buy these days. Speaking of affordability, as of December 2021 a used iPhone 6 starts from $97.95 on Amazon.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s is slightly more expensive when I checked, an iPhone 6s starts at $112.44 on Amazon.
Now, that you know the prices of both models, without further ado, let us get into the main business of comparing both iPhones.
iPhone 6 vs 6s: Design, Dimension, and Weight
If you place the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s side by side, you will find it difficult to tell them apart. That is not a surprise as it is typical of an iPhone’s S model to improve majorly on internals rather than the design.
In this section, I will discuss the design features of both models and also state the slight differences in their design. For a start, both models are built with a glass front as well as an aluminum frame and backplate.
Although both models have an aluminum build, the iPhone 6 is built with a 6000 series aerospace-grade aluminum. Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s is built with a 7000 series aerospace-grade aluminum which is said to be 3 times stronger.
The stronger aluminum of the iPhone 6s will likely combat the bendgate issue of the iPhone 6. Bendgate is a term used to describe the alleged tendency that iPhone 6’s case bends when placed in tight-fitting pockets
The metallic build of the iPhone 6 and 6s makes them very tough and durable. We can prove the durability of these phones by using a test performed by SquareTrade.com.
The test simulates a series of real-life scenarios to determine how tough a phone is. The performance is then rated on a scale of 1 to 10.
The higher the score, the more likely the phone is to break. Consequently, the iPhone 6 scored 4.5 points in the breakability test while the iPhone 6s scored 4 points.
The glass front of the iPhone 6 and 6s are coated with corning gorilla glass which makes the screen quite tough. However, that does not imply that the screen is unbreakable hence, it is recommended to use a tempered glass screen protector.
Apple did not list the iPhone 6 and 6s with IP ratings which implies that they are not waterproof. However, out of curiosity, some people have carried out some water tests by submerging the phones in a few inches of water.
During the test, the iPhone 6s was able to survive the ordeal for an impressive 30 minutes without losing any of its functionalities. However, the iPhone 6 did not get as lucky as its counterpart instead, it went off briefly into the test.
Let us move on to the size of the iPhone 6 vs 6s.
I can state with confidence that they are one of the most portable and compact iPhones. Specifically, the iPhone 6 measures 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm while the iPhone 6s measures 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm.
Based on their dimensions, the iPhone 6 is slightly more compact than the iPhone 6s but this slight difference is not so obvious.
For the weight, the 129g iPhone 6 is significantly lighter than the iPhone 6s which weighs 143g. Thankfully, the weight of both phones fall within the ideal smartphone weight preferred by the majority of users.
Research shows that most smartphone users prefer phones that weigh between 140g to 170g. This implies that you can easily hold your iPhone 6 and 6s with one hand and are easy to carry around.
Furthermore, let us discuss the physical features of the iPhone 6 and 6S. Both phone models have an identical front view. Speaking of the front view, it is dominated by a 4.7-inch display that is framed by thick bottom and top bezels.
The top bezel on both models houses the front camera, the proximity, and ambient light sensor as well as an earpiece. Meanwhile, the bottom bezel houses the circular home button that doubles as the fingerprint scanner.
Moving on to the back view, both phone models are also similar in this respect with just slight differences. Both models have a slightly protruding circular rear camera, a microphone, and flash located at the top-left corner.
There are also plastic antenna lines running across the backplate of the iPhone 6 and 6s. You can find these antenna lines at the top and bottom.
Another feature of the backplate on both models is the Apple logo, located close to the top of the backplate. Also, you will find an iPhone branding, close to the bottom.
Now, to differentiate the iPhone 6 from the 6s, you will notice a squared “s” below the branding of the iPhone 6s. which is absent on the iPhone 6.
Let us proceed to the edges which I will analyze from the front view. The edges have slight curves which makes the phones very sleek in the hands.
Meanwhile, the features on the edges are also identical on both phone models. The right edge houses the side button which functions as a power button on a long press and on light presses it wakes or locks the screen.
Below the side button, you will find the SIM card tray. You can eject the SIM tray with a pin-like tool and it houses a single nano sim.
Another feature you will find on the right edge is two antenna lines running across it. One runs across the top while the second runs across the bottom of the right edge.
Meanwhile, the left edge houses a silencer. Pushing the silencer down puts the phone in silent mode while pulling it up puts it in ring mode.
Moving on, the top edge has no features. On the other hand, the bottom edge houses a 3.5mm headphone jack by the left followed by a microphone.
Additionally, there is a lightning port by the center of the bottom edge. You can use the lightning port for connecting the lightning cable which charges the phone.
There is also the primary microphone and six-speaker grilles flank the right side of the lightning port.
For color options, the iPhone 6 is available in three color schemes – Space Gray, Silver, and Gold. The iPhone 6s is also available in these colors but, a new color has also been added to make it four color options.
Therefore the iPhone 6s is available in Space Gray, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. The Space Gray color options have dark gray antenna lines running across the back and edges.
Meanwhile, the silver models have light gray antenna lines. On the other hand, the other color options – Gold, and Rose Gold have white antenna lines.
However, the colors option I have mentioned above is just the colors of the frame and backplate, you still have to choose based on the front color you prefer.
The front is available in two colors – white and black – this makes it trickier to make a color choice. To make it easier for you to make a color choice, I will break it down further.
If you want a model with black front bezels then, the Space Gray option is your go-to choice. For lovers of white front panels, you can choose Silver or Gold.
The new color added to the iPhone 6s color scheme – Rose Gold – also has a white front panel.
In conclusion, the iPhone 6 and 6s are similar on most fronts. They both have a premium build quality with a compact form factor.
This makes it a bit tough to make a top pick. However, I will make the iPhone 6s my top pick in this category.
The reason for my choice is because the iPhone 6s is slightly more durable than the iPhone 6. Additionally, it has more color options to choose from.
Therefore, I will rate the iPhone 6s a nine. Meanwhile, I will rate the iPhone 6 an eight in this design and dimension review section.
iPhone 6 vs 6s: Display Features
In this section, I will be highlighting the similarities and differences between the display features of the iPhone 6 and 6s. For a start, let us consider the screen sizes.
Both models have a 4.7-inch screen which is smaller than the ideal size preferred by most users. Research shows that most users prefer phones with a screw screen size between 5.0 to 5.5 inches.
This implies that there is a limited screen estate for watching media content on the iPhone 6 and 6s. Another factor to consider is the aspect ratio.
Both models have an aspect ratio of 16:9. This is the standard aspect ratio and you will get sufficient viewing space for your contents.
The only downside is that the keyboard might obstruct a significant portion of screen content when using it.
The next display feature we will be considering is the display technology and resolution. Both the iPhone 6 and 6s are made with an IPS LCD with resolutions of 750 x 1334 pixels.
The display on both models also has the same pixel density of 326 PPI. Impressively, this is higher than the 300 PPI standard pixel quality which implies that pixels will be sufficiently sharp.
When it comes to contrast ratio and black value, IPS LCDs do not produce deep blacks as you will find on OLED displays. However, both the iPhone 6 and 6s produce better blacks than the majority of their rivals.
The iPhone 6 has a contrast ratio of 1213:1 (higher is better) and a black value of 0.61 cd/m² (lower is better). On the other hand, the iPhone 6s fares slightly better with a better contrast ratio and black value of 1481:1 and 0.36 cd/m² respectively.
This implies that the iPhone 6s displays deeper blacks than the iPhone 6.
In terms of screen brightness, the iPhone 6 hits a maximum screen brightness of 529 cd/m². Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s does it better with a maximum screen brightness of 586 cd/m².
The screen on both models is sufficiently bright which makes sunlight legibility excellent. Therefore, using your phones outdoors should not pose a problem as long as you avoid the sun’s reflection on the screen.
Furthermore, color reproduction on both phones is quite accurate but once again, the iPhone 6s does it better. The iPhone 6 covers 95.93% (higher is better) of the sRGB color space.
Additionally, it has a delta E score of 3.92 (lower is better). Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s has a Delta E score of 3.4.
Also, the iPhone 6s has a nearly perfect 99% coverage of the sRGB color space.
Another impressive feature of the iPhone 6 and 6s is their viewing angles stability. There was no critical color reduction or brightness loss when viewing from acute angles.
Additionally, the iPhone 6 and 6s displays are made with Ion-strengthened corning gorilla glass. This provides some levels of screen protection against cracks.
However, that should not stop you from using a tempered glass protector for extra protection.
The displays on both models also have an oleophobic coating that helps to reduce fingerprint smudges on the screen.
Moving on, one of the most significant upgrades of the iPhone 6s from the 6 is a new feature known as 3D touch. The 3D Touch feature gives the iPhone 6s some pressure-sensitivity capability.
Therefore, when you press hard on the screen, some menu options will pop up giving you access to more functions.
Overall, users of the iPhone 6 and 6s will get a good display experience. However, my top pick for this section is the iPhone 6s.
This is due to the deeper black representation of the iPhone 6s display, its better color accuracy, and its brightness. Additionally, the 3D Touch feature on the iPhone 6s gives it an upper hand in this category.
Hence, I will rate the iPhone 6 a seven. Whereas, I will rate the iPhone 6s an eight in this display feature review section.
iPhone 6 vs 6s: Camera Features
Next up is the camera features comparison of the iPhone 6 vs 6s. This is another area where you can easily notice the upgrades on the iPhone 6s from its predecessor.
The iPhone 6 has a main camera of 8 megapixels with an aperture size of f/2.2. The main camera also has a pixel size of 1.5 micron-pixel.
On the other hand, the iPhone 6s has a main camera of 12 MP. The camera also has an aperture size of f/2.2 and a pixel size of 1.22-micron pixel.
For the front camera, the iPhone 6 uses a 1.2 MP sensor with an aperture size of f/2.2. Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s uses an improved 5 MP sensor with an aperture size of f/2.2 as well.
The iPhone 6 front camera is good enough for making video calls. However, when it comes to selfies, the quality is poor and the images are infested by noise.
Thankfully, it is not so bad that you cannot make out the image contents.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s front camera takes relatively good selfies. You will only notice some level of blur at the edges when you zoom in.
The front camera on both models uses a retina flash for taking night pictures. Retina Flash uses the display light to brighten up the face.
On the iPhone 6, the Retina Flash does not brighten the pictures that much. However, it helps to reduce the shadows a bit especially when you move closer to the camera.
The Retina Flash of the iPhone 6s has also seen some improvement. Apple claims that the retina flash is now 300% brighter than that of the iPhone 6.
Additionally, the front cameras on both models support automatic HDR which is great and works well.
For videos, the front cameras of the iPhone 6 and 6s are capable of recording 720p resolution at 30 fps.
When it comes to preventing shaky videos, the iPhone 6 uses digital image stabilization technology. Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s uses electrical image stabilization.
There is not much difference between the two techniques as they both sufficiently prevent motion shakes in videos.
Additionally, both phone models support phase detection autofocus with Focus Pixels. This allows for faster focusing of your shots.
The performance of the main cameras on both models is not significantly different. This is a bit disappointing considering the improvement claims on the iPhone 6s’ rear camera.
However, both the iPhone 6 and 6s are capable of taking great photos in good and low lighting conditions.
There is a dual-LED rear flash on both models which Apple dubbed as True Tone flash. The True Tone flash works by mixing white and amber LEDs to create bright natural-toned photos.
The iPhone 6’s main camera is capable of shooting up to 1080p resolution videos at 60fps. Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s ups the game to 4K resolution videos at 30fps.
Furthermore, the iPhone 6 and 6s also support video features like time-lapse that captures fast-paced videos. You can also record slo-mo videos up to 240 fps.
Another significant upgrade of the iPhone 6s over the iPhone 6 is the introduction of Live Photos. Live Photos allows you to take short video clips rather than still photos.
Finally, the cameras on both models deliver acceptable performance. However, the iPhone 6s has an improved overall camera performance.
Moreover, the inclusion of the Live Photos feature on the iPhone 6s gives it an upper hand against the iPhone 6.
Putting these into consideration, I will rate the iPhone 6 a seven. However, I will rate the iPhone 6s an eight in this camera features review section.
iPhone 6 vs 6s: Battery Life and Talk Time
Battery performance is one of the important factors to consider when choosing a phone. Therefore, in this section, I will analyze the battery performance of the iPhone 6 vs 6s.
For a start, we will consider the battery type and capacity of both models. The iPhone 6 has a non-removable Li-Po battery with a capacity of 1810 mAh.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s uses a non-removable Li-Ion battery with a smaller capacity of 1715 mAh. With the iPhone 6 having a larger battery capacity, one might expect it to deliver a longer battery life.
Moreover, Apple has listed the iPhone 6 with an endurance rating of 250 hours. Whereas, Apple listed the iPhone 6s with an endurance rating of up to 240 hours on 3G standby.
To check the genuineness of Apple’s claim, we will consider a series of battery tests carried out by notebookcheck.com. The first is an idle test which involves putting the phones under minimum load with WiFi off and minimum brightness.
Consequently, the iPhone 6 lasted 22 hours 49 minutes. Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s lasted 25 hours 10 minutes.
Secondly, there is the WiFi web surfing test. Consequently, the iPhone 6 lasted 8 hours 50 minutes while the iPhone 6s lasted 8 hours 12 minute
The next test is the video playback test where the iPhone 6 lasted 9 hours 55 minutes. In contrast, the iPhone 6s lasted 11 hours 39 minutes.
Finally, the maximum load test squeezed out 2 hours 8 minutes from the iPhone 6. Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s did slightly better at 2 hours 17 minutes.
Surprisingly, our guess turned out wrong. The iPhone 6s beats the iPhone 6 in three out of the four battery tests despite its lower battery capacity.
Although the difference is not all that huge, however, it is quite significant. We can attribute the improvement of the iPhone 6s’ battery performance to the optimization in its new A9 chip.
When it comes to charging sadly, Apple has ignored fast charging technologies for the iPhone 6 and 6s. Consequently, it takes almost 2 hours to get the phones fully charged.
In conclusion, the battery performance shows that once again, the iPhone 6s is the better option. Therefore, I will rate the iPhone 6 a six.
On the other hand, I will rate the iPhone 6s a seven in this battery life comparison section.
iPhone 6 vs 6s: Storage Options and Performance
For storage options, the iPhone 6 was originally available in three storage configurations. There is the base model with an internal storage of 16 GB.
Also, there is a 64 GB midrange model, and finally a 128 GB model. However, Apple quietly relaunched a 32 GB model of the iPhone 6 in 2017 but it never sold on the Apple store.
Instead, the 32 GB model was sold by selected carrier stores in China. Meanwhile, the 32 GB models iPhone 6 are available in only gold colors.
On the other hand, the iPhone 6s was originally sold by Apple in four configurations. There is a 16 GB model, a 32 GB model, a 64 GB model, and a 128 GB model.
Therefore, users can make their choice based on the storage they need.
Unfortunately, users do not get the exact storage space stated. That is because the system files and iOS occupy a significant portion of the internal storage.
For instance, on a 16 GB model, you will be left with about 10 GB for your personal usage. Meanwhile, on a 64 GB model, you will have just about 50 GB for your personal use.
It is very important to buy the storage configuration that suits your needs because iPhones do not support storage expansion. Therefore, we recommend at least the 64 GB model so that you do not run out of storage space quicker than you would expect.
iPhones also offer cloud storage that you can use to securely save your files and retrieve them anytime. Users get 5 GB of free iCloud storage space – if you want more, all you need is to pay the required fee.
When choosing a model to buy based on the internal storage, it is important to note that the larger the storage option, the more expensive it gets.
In conclusion, both the iPhone 6 and 6s offers four storage options. Therefore, I will rate both models a tie in this category.
Specifically, I will rate both the iPhone 6 and 6s a seven in this storage options comparison section.
iPhone 6 vs 6s: Security Features and Sensors
Moving on to the security features and sensor comparison between the iPhone 6 and 6s. Both models pack the same number of useful sensors.
Before I proceed to the comparison, I will like to briefly explain what sensors are. Sensors are tiny chips that are built into smartphones.
These sensors enable smartphones to detect changes in their environment and respond to these changes accordingly. In a simpler term, sensors make it possible for phones to act smart hence the name “smartphones”.
All smartphones are embedded with some essential sensors and the iPhone 6 and 6s are not an exception. Speaking of which, both models are packed with fingerprint sensors, accelerometer, three-axis gyro, barometer, ambient light sensor and proximity sensor.
The fingerprint sensor is the main security feature of the iPhone 6 and 6s. It is located on the bottom bezel below the screen on both models.
Moreover, Apple has integrated the fingerprint sensor into the physical home button. As soon as you place your registered finger on the sensor, it reads the fingerprints quickly and unlocks the phone.
The fingerprint sensor is not only useful for unlocking the phone. it is also useful for signing in to some apps, websites authentication, and making mobile payments.
In addition to the fingerprint reading security feature, you can also secure your iPhone 6 and 6s with the use of a passcode. This will enable you to prevent unauthorized access to your phone.
Let us move on to the next sensor which is the accelerometer. An accelerometer just like the name suggests is used to measure acceleration.
It makes it possible for your smartphone to track your steps or to show your driving speed.
Additionally, the accelerometer detects vibrations, tilt, and the direction in which the phone is pointing. Consequently, it changes the screen’s orientation according to the position you are holding the phone.
The three-axis gyroscope on the other hand is used to detect up-down movements and left-right movements around three axes. The gyroscope helps with more precise orientation details.
Therefore, the accelerometer and the gyroscope works together to detect tilts and change your phone orientation automatically. For instance, when watching movies all you need is to bend your phone to the orientation you need.
Consequently, the screen conforms automatically as long as you do not lock the orientation setting.
Moving on to the barometer, it is used for measuring atmospheric pressure. This is how your smartphone is able to make weather forecasts.
The barometer is also responsible for detecting your altitude enabling it to tell what floor you are on.
Furthermore, the iPhone 6 and 6s have an ambient light sensor. The ambient light sensor is useful for detecting the surrounding light and regulating the screen brightness accordingly.
For instance, when you are in a dark room, the ambient light sensor detects this and reduces the screen brightness. This will help you from getting your eyes strained.
Also, when you step outdoors, the ambient light sensor is responsible for increasing the screen brightness in order to improve sunlight legibility.
Lastly, let us talk about the proximity sensor. You might have noticed that whenever you pick up your phone and take it close to your ears during a call, the screen goes off.
Well, that is the function of the proximity sensor. Switching off the screen will prevent your face from making unintended screen inputs and also help to conserve battery power.
In conclusion, the iPhone 6 and 6s packs the same sensors which makes them a tie in this category. Hence, I will rate both the iPhone 6 and 6s an eight in this security and sensors comparison.
Our Rating Summary
| Rating Areas | iPhone 6 | iPhone 6s | Notes/Comments |
| Design | 8 | 9 | The iPhone 6s is my top pick in this design category because it is made of a 7000 series aluminum that is more durable than the 6000 series used on the iPhone 6. Additionally, the iPhone 6s has four color options while the iPhone 6 has three. |
| Display | 7 | 8 | In this display category, the iPhone 6s is once again my top pick. This is because it has an overall better display quality. It also features the pressure-sensitive 3D Touch that is absent on the iPhone 6. |
| Camera | 7 | 8 | The camera sensors have also been improved on the iPhone 6s. Not only that but the iPhone 6s also supports Live Photos that enable you to make short clips as opposed to still pictures. Hence, the iPhone 6s is also my top pick here. |
| Battery | 6 | 7 | The iPhone 6 has a larger battery capacity than the iPhone 6s however, it fails to outperform. Matter of fact, the iPhone 6s performed better in the battery test. Therefore, the iPhone 6s is yet again my top pick. |
| Storage | 7 | 7 | The iPhone 6 and 6s are both available in four storage configurations. Hence, I will rate them a tie in this category. |
| Security/Sensors | 8 | 8 | Both models are packed with the same sensors. Therefore, in this security and sensors section of the iPhone 6 vs 6s, I will rate them a tie in this category. |
| Our Average Rating | 7.2 | 7.8 | On average, the iPhone 6s is the better option… |
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our expert comparison between the iPhone 6 and 6s, the iPhone 6s is the better option. It is made from stronger aluminum, has a better display, camera, and battery capacity.
It also received the latest IOS 15 update which the iPhone 6 did not get.
There are very few physical differences between the iPhone 6 and 6s. The first point is the slight difference in their sizes.
Another difference is the lettering at the back of the phone. However, the major differences are from the camera, display, processor, RAM, and battery capacity.
The iPhone 6s is one of the most durable portable iPhones. It might be old, but it is still a good buy even in 2021..
Moreover, the iPhone 6s got the latest IOS 15 update in 2021. Therefore, the iPhone 6s is still worth buying.
The iPhone 6 was released in September 2014. This makes the iPhone 6 about 7 years old at the time we published this article (December 2021).
The maximum IOS update for the iPhone 6 is IOS 12 which was released in 2018. Thankfully, the iPhone 12 is still supported by Apple even in 2021 and still receives security updates.
The current IOS 12 version is the IOS 12.5.5 which was released in September 2021.
Yes, the iPhone 6s got the IOS 14 update but it did not stop there. It also got an IOS 15 update in 2021.
The iPhone 6s is impressively one of the longest supported iPhones to date. Although we are still not sure if it will get the next update.
The iPhone 6 has an 1810 mAh Li-Po non-removable battery. For the endurance rating, Apple has advertised 250 hours of 3G battery talk time.
The result from an idle test performed by notebookcheck.com shows that the iPhone 6 lasted 22 hours 49 minutes. Also, in a WiFi web surfing test, it lasted 8 hours 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, it lasted 9 hours 55 minutes in an HD video playback test. Finally, the battery lasted 2 hours 8 minutes under maximum load.
Definitely yes, an iPhone 6 can last for ten years. However, to achieve this, it has to be properly maintained and kept in a proper working condition.
Moreover, considering the durability of the iPhone 6, keeping it up and running for as long as ten years looks like a possibility.
Matter of fact, some people still have functioning iPhone 5 or older models even in 2021. Although the iPhone 6 is limited to the IOS 12 is still very much supported by Apple.
The iPhone 6s is slightly bigger than the iPhone 6. It has a dimension of 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm.
Contrastingly, the iPhone 6 measures 138.1 x 67.0 x 6.9 mm. Like I mentioned earlier, the difference is subtle and you might not readily notice it.
Unfortunately no, the iPhone 6s does not support portrait mode due to its single camera lens. The first iPhone with support for portrait mode is the iPhone 7 Plus that was released in 2016.
Conclusion
The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s are two of the oldest iPhones. They might be old, but they are still gold.
They are portable and durable. Matter of fact, you do not get iPhones as durable as the iPhone 6 and 6s these days.
However, the iPhone 6s is the more durable option among both models. It also packs more improvement in areas like camera, display, battery, and performance.
Therefore, having considered these factors in this iPhone 6 vs 6s comparison, I recommend going for the better performance model.
However, if you want a cheaper option, you can go for the other model.
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