What are all the differences between the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and the earlier iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s? Are any of these models still a usable option?

Please note that all of these models have been discontinued. However, this Q&A has been updated with current iOS support details and more and can be particularly helpful for anyone buying one of these models on the used market.

With even a quick glance at the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s compared to the subsequently introduced, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, it is obvious that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are substantially larger and pack much larger displays.

This immediate observation is correct, but there are many other differences that are also useful to evaluate in detail. It also is worth noting that there actually are a whopping twenty nine different models in these lines -- five iPhone 5 models, eight iPhone 5c models, eight iPhone 5s models, four iPhone 6 models, and four iPhone 6 Plus models -- but this Q&A mostly covers collective differences for relative simplicity and explains who should still consider these devices.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, & iPhone 6 Plus)

External Design Differences

Although these models look similar from the front, the overall designs are rather different, which is quite apparent from the back. The iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s are largely aluminum and have a "chamfered cut" flat edge whereas the iPhone 5c uses a polycarbonate over steel case.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 5 - Left, iPhone 5c - Center, iPhone 5s - Right)

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, on the other hand, also have a largely aluminum case, but they are thinner than these other models with an almost entirely aluminum back without the glass top and bottom portions like the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus - Back)

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models also have gently rounded sides rather than a flat edge, which gives them an overall look similar to the previously released iPod touch 5th Gen.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus - Rounded Edges)

Color options are different between these models as well, with the iPhone 5 offered in black and slate or white and silver; iPhone 5c models all offered with a black front and the choice of a glossy polycarbonate back in white, pink, yellow, blue, or green; and the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus each originally offered in black and space gray, white and silver, or white and gold. However, on September 9, 2015, Apple eliminated the gold color option for the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. On the used market, of course, gold remains available.

All of these models have a bottom mounted headphone jack, microphone, Lightning connector, and a single speaker. Each ships, or shipped, with "EarPod" headphones that include the integrated Remote and Mic, too.

However, the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c do not have the embedded biometric "Touch ID" sensor in the home button whereas the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus each do.

Display Differences

All of these iPhone models have a multitouch-capable IPS LED-backlit display, but there are significant differences in size and quality.

iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s models all have a 4" display, whereas the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have 4.7" and 5.5" displays, respectively. Other specific differences include:

	5	5c	5s	6	6 Plus
Display Size:	4"	4"	4"	4.7"	5.5"
Resolution:	1136x640	1136x640	1136x640	1334x750	1920x1080
Pixel Density:	326 ppi	326 ppi	326 ppi	326 ppi	401 ppi
Contrast Ratio:	800:1	800:1	800:1	1400:1	1300:1
Max Brightness:	500 cd/m2	500 cd/m2	500 cd/m2	500 cd/m2	500 cd/m2
Dual-Domain Pixels:	No	No	No	Yes	Yes

All of these displays are high quality, and only those with excellent eyesight even will be able to differentiate between the 401 ppi of the iPhone 6 Plus and the 326 ppi of the other devices. However, it is important to note that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are not just larger, but better quality, as well, with a noticeable "pop" provided by the enhanced contrast ratios as well as wider viewing angles provided by the "dual-domain pixels."

Bendability & Durability Differences

Shortly after their introduction, there was a great deal of chatter across the blogosphere about the potential "bendability" of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. It is worth noting that there also have been a small number of reports of bent iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s models over the years.

However, the "bendgate" discussion was louder for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus than earlier models, no doubt at least partially because one early reviewer from Wired bent his iPhone 6 Plus in testing. It also is worth noting that this reviewer "probably" sat on it.

Apple officially stated that "with normal use a bend in [an] iPhone is extremely rare" and in the first six days of shipping only "nine customers" reported a bent iPhone 6 Plus to the company. It is an interesting qualifier that the company acknowledged the number of bent iPhone 6 Plus models alone rather than together with the iPhone 6, but this may be in direct response to Wired's findings for the iPhone 6 Plus, specifically.

In an effort to add a bit of scientific rigor to customer observations, the respected Consumer Reports tested the iPhone 5, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus -- as well as three Android mobiles -- with an Instron compression test machine:

For the iPhone models, Consumer Reports determined that the following pounds of pressure -- placed horizontally across the middle back of each device for 30 seconds -- were required to deform (bend) and completely separate the display from the housing (higher numbers are better):

	Deformation	Case Separation
iPhone 5	130 Pounds	150 Pounds
iPhone 6	70 Pounds	100 Pounds
iPhone 6 Plus	90 Pounds	110 Pounds

Perhaps it is possible to accidentally apply more than 70 pounds of pressure to an iPhone in the front pocket of a tight pair of jeans -- or perhaps apply enough pressure directly to the reportedly weaker area around the volume buttons (which logically, because the buttons need to penetrate the housing, would seem to be weaker than portions of the sides that are solid). However, it certainly would seem to be noticeable and presumably unpleasant to your leg to apply so much pressure. Bending (or cracking the display) on an iPhone by sitting on it seems more likely.

Ultimately, although Consumer Reports concluded that the "fears of a serious structural design flaw on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus seem overblown," the publication did formally determine that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are substantially weaker than the iPhone 5.

The iPhone 5s is similar enough in design that it should perform quite similarly to the iPhone 5 whereas the thicker, polycarbonate iPhone 5c should be even less likely to bend (although it still may crack if mistreated).

EveryiPhone.com would recommend a protective case for all iPhone models, but the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in particular. In hands-on evaluation, EveryiPhone.com found the thin housings, rounded edges, and fairly slick finish combine to make these models easier to drop than earlier iPhone devices with flat sides.

Effectively, if durability and easy pocketability are important to you, you might prefer a smaller and tougher iPhone 5, 5c, or 5s (or SE) rather than an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus. Or, you might prefer an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus (or later model), which Apple quietly improved with stronger aluminum or steel cases.

Camera Differences

All of these iPhone models have dual cameras, but there are quality and capability differences between them that are important to note.

The front-facing "FaceTime" or "FaceTime HD" cameras have a fair amount in common:

	5	5c	5s	6	6 Plus
Megapixels:	1.2 MP	1.2 MP	1.2 MP	1.2 MP	1.2 MP
Aperture:	f/2.4	f/2.4	f/2.4	f/2.2	f/2.2
Pixel Size:	1.75µm	1.9µm	1.9µm	1.9µm	1.9µm
720p Video:	30 fps	30 fps	30 fps	30 fps	30 fps
Auto HDR:	No	No	Photo	Photo/Video	Photo/Video
Burst Mode:	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

The rear-mounted "iSight" cameras have more significant differences:

	5	5c	5s	6	6 Plus
Megapixels:	8 MP	8 MP	8 MP	8 MP	8 MP
Aperture:	f/2.4	f/2.4	f/2.2	f/2.2	f/2.2
Pixel Size:	1.4µm	1.4µm	1.5µm	1.5µm	1.5µm
LED Flash:	Single	Single	Dual	Dual	Dual
1080p Video:	30 fps	30 fps	30 fps	30/60 fps	30/60 fps
Slo-Mo:	No	No	120 fps	120/240 fps	120/240 fps
Focus Pixels:	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Automatic Image Stabilization:	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Optical Image Stabilization:	No	No	No	No	Yes
Cinematic Video Stabilization:	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Continuous Autofocus Video:	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Burst Mode:	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

Of these models, the iPhone 6 Plus has the best camera -- most notably because of optical image stabilization for better low light photography and less "shaky" video -- but the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 both are quality cameras, as well. A good photographer could capture decent images with the camera in any of these devices.

For the fastidious, note that the rear iSight camera in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models bumps out a few millimeters from the housing. This is unlikely to cause major issues, although it does mean that these devices will not lay completely flat on a desk if they are not in a protective case.

Identification Differences

At the moment, it is fairly simple to collectively identify these five iPhone devices visually when all are side-by-side. However, it is not possible to visually identify the twenty nine specific models.

Many of the devices can be identified by Model Number, which is listed on the back of each phone in tiny type, but not all can be individually identified in this way, either.

Nevertheless, for the purpose of this Q&A, it is sufficient to note that the following model numbers refer to these devices:

iPhone	Model Numbers
iPhone 5	A1428, A1429, A1442
iPhone 5c	A1456, A1507, A1516, A1526, A1529, A1532
iPhone 5s	A1453, A1457, A1518, A1528, A1530, A1533
iPhone 6	A1549, A1586, A1589
iPhone 6 Plus	A1522, A1524, A1593

However, also note that multiple models in each line share model numbers, so it is not always possible to uniquely identify a specific iPhone by model number alone.

If you need to uniquely identify one of the iPhone models that share an external model number, they can be spotted by other identifiers.

Specifically, EveryiPhone.com's Ultimate iLookup feature can precisely identify these iPhone models by Order Number (referred to as "Model" within the iOS "Settings" app under General > About), and their Serial Numbers, as well.

Battery Life Differences

The battery life for the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s is similar, but is substantially improved for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus:

	5	5c	5s	6	6 Plus
Talk Time (3G):	8 Hours	10 Hours	10 Hours	14 Hours	24 Hours
Internet (3G):	8 Hours	8 Hours	8 Hours	10 Hours	12 Hours
Internet (4G/LTE):	8 Hours	10 Hours	10 Hours	10 Hours	12 Hours
Internet (Wi-Fi):	10 Hours	10 Hours	10 Hours	11 Hours	12 Hours
Video Playback:	10 Hours	10 Hours	10 Hours	11 Hours	14 Hours
Audio Playback:	40 Hours	40 Hours	40 Hours	50 Hours	80 Hours
Standby Time:	225 Hours	250 Hours	250 Hours	250 Hours	384 Hours

As the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have physically larger housings, Apple was able to use physically larger batteries with longer runtime, as is clearly demonstrated by the above.

Wireless Connectivity & Data Differences

All of these iPhone models support GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) and at least 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus also support 802.11ac with speeds up to 433 Mbps), as well as Bluetooth 4.0. When releasing iOS 9, Apple upgraded the Bluetooth capability in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to Bluetooth 4.2, but it only supports improved privacy rather than increased speed.

Otherwise, connectivity varies considerably between the twenty nine models. For details, refer to these separate Q&As:

• iPhone 5 (Five Models)
• iPhone 5c (Eight Models)
• iPhone 5s (Eight Models)
• iPhone 6 (Four Models)
• iPhone 6 Plus (Four Models)

Most of these iPhone models -- but not all of them -- support some kind of 4G/LTE connectivity, but for specific details on 4G/LTE support, it also will be necessary to check with carriers in a particular location.

Internal Differences

These iPhone models all have 1 GB of RAM, somewhat surprisingly, but otherwise have significant internal technical differences:

	5	5c	5s	6	6 Plus
Clockspeed:	1.3 GHz	1.3 GHz	1.3 GHz	1.4 GHz	1.4 GHz
Processor:	Apple A6	Apple A6	Apple A7	Apple A8	Apple A8
Architecture:	32-Bit	32-Bit	64-Bit	64-Bit	64-Bit
Coprocessor:	None	None	M7 Motion	M8 Motion	M8 Motion
Storage (GB):	16/32/64	8/16/32	16/32/64	16/32/64/128	16/64/128
Apple Pay (NFC):	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Barometer:	No	No	No	Yes	Yes

Note that current iPhone 6 models have 32 GB of storage. The iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 6 Plus models all have been discontinued. All capacities of all models are available on the used market, naturally.

iOS Support Differences

The iPhone 5 models support iOS 6, iOS 7, iOS 8, iOS 9, and iOS 10; the iPhone 5c models support iOS 7, iOS 8, iOS 9, and iOS 10; the iPhone 5s models support iOS 7, iOS 8, iOS 9, iOS 10, iOS 11, and iOS 12; and the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus support iOS 8, iOS 9, iOS 10, iOS 11, and iOS 12. None of these iPhone models support iOS 13 or later versions of the iOS, including the current version of the iOS.

It is not possible to install a version of the iOS earlier than the one that was pre-installed, and it is difficult even to "downgrade" to an earlier version after upgrading a compatible iPhone to a later version of the iOS.

It also is worth noting that iOS 8 and iOS 9 are of equivalent speed on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, but iOS 8 is noticeably faster than iOS 9 on the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c. Running iOS 9, the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus also support "Facedown detection" whereas the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c do not.

Essentially, if you value performance over compatibility with the latest apps, you likely would prefer to run iOS 8 on the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c. Running iOS 10, the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c also do not support Rich Notifications (or the more minor "Raise to Wake" feature).

The iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus are faster running iOS 12 than running iOS 11, which makes it a particularly worthwhile upgrade for these devices. To reiterate, they do not run iOS 13 or later versions of the iOS at all.

iPhone 5/5c/5s & iPhone 6/6 Plus Comparison Chart

These differences -- design, biometrics, displays, durability, cameras, identifiers, connectivity, processor, and storage -- along with US pricing information is summarized below:

	5	5c	5s	6	6 Plus
Introduced:	Sep 2012	Sep 2013	Sep 2013	Sep 2014	Sep 2014
Discontinued:	Sep 2013	Sep 2015	Mar 2016	Sep 2016	Sep 2016
Clockspeed:	1.3 GHz	1.3 GHz	1.3 GHz	1.4 GHz	1.4 GHz
Processor:	Apple A6	Apple A6	Apple A7	Apple A8	Apple A8
Architecture:	32-Bit	32-Bit	64-Bit	64-Bit	64-Bit
Coprocessor:	None	None	M7 Motion	M8 Motion	M8 Motion
RAM:	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB
Orig. Storage (GB):	16/32/64	8/16/32	16/32/64	16/64/128	16/64/128
Curr. Storage (GB):	Used	Used	Used	32	Used
Battery Life (Hours):	8-40	8-40	8-40	10-50	12-80
Display Size:	4"	4"	4"	4.7"	5.5"
Resolution:	1136x640	1136x640	1136x640	1334x750	1920x1080
Pixel Density:	326 ppi	326 ppi	326 ppi	326 ppi	401 ppi
Contrast Ratio:	800:1	800:1	800:1	1400:1	1300:1
Dual Domain Pixels:	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
3G Internet:	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
4G/LTE Internet:	Most	Most	Most	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi (802.11):	a/b/g/n	a/b/g/n	a/b/g/n	a/b/g/n/ac	a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth:	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Rear Camera Mount:	Flush	Flush	Flush	Bump	Bump
Rear Megapixels:	8 MP	8 MP	8 MP	8 MP	8 MP
Rear Aperture:	f/2.4	f/2.4	f/2.2	f/2.2	f/2.2
Rear Pixel Size:	1.4µm	1.4µm	1.5µm	1.5µm	1.5µm
Rear LED Flash:	Single	Single	Dual	Dual	Dual
Touch ID:	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Apple Pay (NFC):	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Barometer:	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Facedown:	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
SIM Card:	Nano	Nano	Nano	Nano	Nano
Original iOS:	iOS 6	iOS 7	iOS 7	iOS 8	iOS 8
Fastest iOS:	iOS 8	iOS 8	iOS 12	iOS 12	iOS 12
Maximum iOS:	iOS 10	iOS 10	iOS 12	iOS 12	iOS 12
Primary Material:	Aluminum	Polycarb.	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum
Bendability:	130 lbs.	130 lbs.+	~130 lbs.	70 lbs.	90 lbs.
Height:	4.87 in.	4.90 in.	4.87 in.	5.44 in.	6.22 in.
Width:	2.31 in.	2.33 in.	2.31 in.	2.64 in.	3.06 in.
Depth/Thinness:	0.30 in.	0.35 in.	0.30 in.	0.27 in.	0.28 in.
Weight:	3.95 oz.	4.65 oz.	3.95 oz.	4.55 oz.	6.07 oz.
Orig. Price* (US):	US$199 US$299 US$399	US$99 US$199	US$199 US$299 US$399	US$199 US$299 US$399	US$299 US$399 US$499

* Note that these prices in the US are subsidized by a two-year carrier contract and often locked, as well. Unlocked and contract-free models also were available at a premium.

For pricing in dozens of countries, see the "Global Prices" on the specs page for each iPhone as well as the "By Global Original Prices" section of EveryiPhone.com.

So, should I buy an iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, or iPhone 5s? Or should I buy a iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus? Are any of these models still a usable option?

None of these iPhone models run the current version of the iOS, and app support will start to wane, accordingly. Nevertheless, all of these iPhone models remain capable -- particularly the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus because they at least support iOS 12 and will remain usable for longer.

Compared just to one another, and ignoring newer models, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have the advantage of large and high-quality displays, longer battery life, faster performance, better camera quality, the option of larger storage capacity, and Apple Pay capability. The iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s, on the other hand, are more compact, more durable, and are easier to use with one hand.

For most users who are not on the tightest of budgets, the newer iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus (or even newer models) are a better choice than the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus because they have more durable housings, better and stronger displays with more advanced 3D touch capability, better cameras, better connectivity, faster performance, more recent iOS support, and more.

At this point, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models only really are a reasonable choice for someone who wants an iPhone with a larger display at the lowest price possible and who is willing to compromise on durability, cameras, connectivity, performance, and operating system support to save some money. If your budget is tight, note that a great deal of the cost of an iPhone is its mobile service, so make sure that you also can afford the voice and data plans. Also note that because the iPhone 6/iPhone 6 Plus no longer support the current version of the iOS, you will be required to buy a newer model sooner if up-to-date apps are important to you.

Likewise, for those who are not on the tightest of budgets and who prefer a smaller phone, the newer iPhone SE is a better choice than the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, or iPhone 5s, as the "Special Edition" model essentially is an iPhone 5s with newer and better internal parts and more recent iOS support.

However, if you are on a very tight budget, and portability, durability, and one-handed ease-of-use are important, the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, or iPhone 5s models still are capable. Of the three, the iPhone 5s is the best option because it supports a newer version of the iOS (iOS 12) whereas the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c only support iOS 10. The iPhone 5s also is much faster than the iPhone 5 or iPhone 5c and has a significantly better camera. The iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c are unlikely to support current apps.

iPhone Purchase & Sale Options

There are no shortage of places to buy a new or used iPhone. However, buying your iPhone from an excellent company in business for many years -- and a history of after sales support -- will provide the best experience and save you money and time, too.

In the US, site sponsor Other World Computing sells used and refurbished iPhone models with free shipping. On the other hand, if you need to sell an iPhone, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older iPhone with an instant quote and prompt payment.

Please also see EveryiPhone.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPhone model to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad.

Also see:

• What are all the differences between the iPhone 6 models?
• What are all the differences between the iPhone 6 Plus models?
• What are all the differences between the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus models?
• What are all the differences between the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 5? Are these older models still worth considering?