Hosted by site sponsor WebMate.
iPhone Q&A
Update Published October 11, 2022
All Apple Q&As >> iPhone Q&A (Home) | iPhone Repair Q&A (Home)
To be notified of new Q&As, sign up for EveryMac.com's bimonthly email list.
What are all the differences between the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus? Which is best for me?
Please note the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models have been discontinued. However, this Q&A has been updated with the latest on iOS support details and more. It is quite useful to anyone buying or selling one of these models on the used market.
It would be easy to take a look at the larger iPhone 6s Plus and smaller iPhone 6s side-by-side and conclude that size is the differentiating factor. Although there is some truth to this general observation, there are other important differences that are not so obvious.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 6s Plus, Left; iPhone 6s, Right)
It also is worth noting that there actually are four distinct iPhone 6s models -- the iPhone 6s (AT&T/SIM Free), iPhone 6s (Global), iPhone 6s (Mainland China), and iPhone 6s (China Mobile) -- and four distinct iPhone 6s Plus models -- the iPhone 6s Plus (AT&T/SIM Free), iPhone 6s Plus (Global), iPhone 6s Plus (Mainland China), and iPhone 6s Plus (China Mobile) -- and each of the four have network support differences that are particularly important to evaluate.
The similarities of each model are good to know, too.
External Differences & Similarities
Both the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus use thin aerospace-grade 7000 series aluminum cases with thin bezels around the respective multitouch "Retina HD" display covered by an ion-strengthened glass cover that Apple boasts is the "strongest glass on any smartphone."
Both screens are LED-backlit, have IPS technology and an advanced "Tapic Engine" in lieu of a simpler vibration sensor, and have a 500 cd/m2 typical maximum brightness as well as "dual-domain pixels" which means a wider viewing angle than more primitive displays.
Both screens also introduce new pressure-sensitive "3D Touch" capability that support gestures that Apple refers to as "Peek and Pop" to "dip in and out of content without losing your place" for quicker access to a variety of functions within the iOS and third-party software.
However, the displays are different, and they differ by more than just physical size -- 4.7" (1334x750) for the iPhone 6s and 5.5" (1920x1080) for the iPhone 6s Plus.
The iPhone 6s has a superior 1400:1 contrast ratio compared to 1300:1 for the iPhone 6s Plus. The iPhone 6s Plus, on the other hand, has a higher pixel density, 401 ppi compared to 326 ppi for the iPhone 6s. Unless you have particularly sharp vision, it is unlikely that you will be able to differentiate the higher pixel density of the iPhone 6s Plus, but this display is proper "HD" -- which is defined as at least 1920x1080 -- whereas the iPhone 6s display is not.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus Color Options)
Both models are available in four color options -- (1) gold, (2) silver, a pink tinted (3) "rose gold," which all have a white glass front and (4) "space" gray, which has a black glass front.
The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus also both have a faster "second generation" Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the home button for biometric authentication, a bottom mounted headphone jack, microphone, Lighting connector, and a single built-in speaker as well as an on/off switch on the righthand side.
Camera Differences
The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus both have an identical "FaceTime HD" camera on the front of each device. This camera has a 5 megapixel sensor, an f/2.2 aperture, and can record 720p video.
Both models have an "iSight" camera on the rear with a 12 megapixel sensor, 1.22µm pixels, an f/2.2 aperture, and are capable of recording 4K video (3840x2160) at 30 fps, 1080p video at 30 fps or 60 fps (as well as 120 fps for 1080p slo-mo and 240 fps for 720p video).
However, the iSight camera on the iPhone 6s Plus includes optical image stabilization for both video and still photos, which means that the device performs better with shaky hands and provides much better low light performance than the standard iPhone 6s.
Identification Differences
It is easy to differentiate between the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus when both are side-by-side, but identifying the specific iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus requires more precise data.
Each of the devices can be uniquely identified by Model Number, which is listed on the back of each iPhone in tiny type:
iPhone |
Model Number |
Although the Model Numbers are sufficient, these iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s models also can be pinpointed 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
Battery life is another important point of differentiation between the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. As the iPhone 6s Plus is physically larger, Apple was able to pack in a larger capacity battery, and it delivers longer runtime accordingly:
| iPhone 6s | iPhone 6s Plus | |
| Talk Time (3G) | 14 Hours | 24 Hours |
| Internet Use (3G) | 10 Hours | 12 Hours |
| Internet Use (4G/LTE) | 10 Hours | 12 Hours |
| Internet Use (Wi-Fi) | 11 Hours | 12 Hours |
| HD Video Playback | 11 Hours | 14 Hours |
| Audio Playback | 50 Hours | 80 Hours |
The iPhone 6s Plus provides longer standby time as well -- up to 16 days -- compared to just 10 days for the regular iPhone 6s.
Wireless Connectivity & Data Differences
There is a great deal of confusion about the cellular connectivity of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, no doubt at least partially because Apple's original documentation was incorrect. Confusingly, Apple originally stated that the iPhone 6s (AT&T) A1633 and iPhone 6s Plus (AT&T) A1634 models do not support CDMA. They do, though, and Apple subsequently corrected this error.
Consequently, the only connectivity difference between the A1633/A1634 models intended for use on AT&T -- but also sold unlocked, contract-free, and without a bundled nano-SIM starting October 8, 2015 -- and the "global" A1688/A1687 models is that the AT&T model also supports LTE band 30 (WCS) for improved speed and reduced data congestion, largely in the future, as AT&T is in the process of adding support for this standard in major US cities.
All iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models support TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); and GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz).
Complete LTE support is enumerated below:
| iPhone Model | Model No. | LTE Bands (4G) |
| 6s (AT&T) | A1633 | LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30); TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) |
| 6s (Global) | A1688 | LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29); TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) |
| 6s (China) | A1700 | FDD-LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29); TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) |
| 6s (CN Mobile) | A1691 | FDD-LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29); TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) |
| 6s+ (AT&T) | A1634 | LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30); TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) |
| 6s+ (Global) | A1687 | LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29); TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) |
| 6s+ (China) | A1699 | FDD-LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29); TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) |
| 6s+ (CN Mobile) | A1690 | FDD-LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29); TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) |
Note that the mainland China iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models support the WCDMA flavor of UMTS on the same frequencies as the other models as well as the same selection of FDD-LTE and TD-LTE bands as the "global" devices, but UMTS and FDD-LTE formally are "only for international roaming" rather than for use within mainland China. No doubt clever hackers will figure out workarounds for mainland use, too.
All iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi with MIMO as well as Bluetooth 4.2, too.
Internal Differences & Similarities
In terms of specific parts, there are numerous internal differences between the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. For example, the displays, cameras, and batteries are different as are a variety of other internal components.
However, in general terms, these models also have much in common. Both have 2 GB of RAM, for example. Both also are powered by a dual core 64-bit 1.8 GHz Apple A9 processor with an embedded M9 motion coprocessor. Interestingly, as conclusively determined by third-party analysis from Chipworks, there actually are two different "A9" processors used in these models. Some have a 14 nm Samsung-produced APL0898 processor and others have a 16 nm TSMC-produced APL1022 processor with slight variation in heat and battery life.
Although there was some controversy that the battery life, in particular, was much worse in models with the Samsung processor than the TSMC processor, perhaps as much as 20% less when running the Geekbench 3 benchmark. Apple formally responded that the battery life difference between individual devices was no more than 2 to 3 percent in "real-world usage" and a variety of independent tests confirm that battery life generally is better with the TSMC processor, but just barely.
Both the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus originally were available with 16 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB of storage. Note that the original entry-level configurations have 16 GB of storage whereas the mid-level offering was 64 GB, which meant that the mid-level configuration provided 300% more storage for just 15% more money when the device is purchased outright.
On September 7, 2016, Apple discontinued the 16 GB and 64 GB options and introduced a new entry-level 32 GB option alongside the 128 GB capacity. Accordingly, the higher-end 128 GB option once provided 300% more storage for 18% more money when purchased outright. Apple discontinued the iPhone 6s entirely on September 12, 2018, though.
Both devices also have an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip to allow digital payments in conjunction with "Apple Pay" software, too.
iOS Support Similarities
The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus both shipped pre-installed with iOS 9 and provide full support for the operating system, including Apple Pay. They fully support iOS 10, iOS 11, and almost fully support iOS 12, with the exception of the minor "Memoji" feature.
These models support iOS 13, but they do not support the Adjust Portrait Lighting and High-Key Mono photgraphy features, Dolby Atmos playback, and modest AR features (Motion Capture and People Occlusion).
These models also support iOS 14. However, none support the minor Car Keys, Spatial Audio, App Clips, Location Anchors, Exposure Compensation, Burst Photos, QuickTake Video, and On-Device Dictation features.
The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus support iOS 15, as well, but they do not support a large number of advanced features including Spatial Audio, Portrait Mode, Immersive Walking Instructions, Live Text in Photos, Live Text Translation, Visual Look Up, 3D Landmarks, Home Keys, and more.
Finally, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus do not support iOS 16 or later versions of the iOS, including the current version.
iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus Comparison Chart
These differences -- displays, cameras, battery life, identifiers, and dimensions -- as well as other details and pricing information are summarized below:
 iPhone 6s |
 iPhone 6s Plus |
|
|---|---|---|
| Display Size: | 4.7" | 5.5" |
| Display Resolution: | 1334x750 | 1920x1080 |
| Pixel Density: | 326 ppi | 401 ppi |
| Contrast Ratio: | 1400:1 | 1300:1 |
| Front Camera: | 5 Megapixels | 5 Megapixels |
| Rear Camera: | 12 Megapixels | 12 Megapixels |
| Original Storage: | 16, 64, 128 GB | 16, 64, 128 GB |
| Final Storage: | 32, 128 GB | 32, 128 GB |
| Optical Image Stabilization: | No | Yes |
| Optical Video Stabilization: | No | Yes |
| Talk Time (3G): | 14 Hours | 24 Hours |
| 3G Battery Life: | 10 Hours | 12 Hours |
| 4G Battery Life: | 10 Hours | 12 Hours |
| Wi-Fi Battery Life: | 11 Hours | 12 Hours |
| Video Playback: | 11 Hours | 14 Hours |
| Audio Playback: | 50 Hours | 80 Hours |
| Standby Time: | 250 Hours | 384 Hours |
| Connector Type: | Lightning | Lightning |
| SIM Card: | Nano | Nano |
| Apple Pay (NFC): | Yes | Yes |
| Touch ID: | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28* | 6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29* |
| Weight: | 5.04 oz. (143 g) | 6.77 oz. (192 g) |
| Original Price (US†): | US$649, US$749, US$849 | US$749, US$849, US$949 |
* In inches, height x width x depth.
† These prices are unlocked and contract-free. Carrier subsidized and lease options also are available.
So, should I buy an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus? Which is best for me?
At this point, most users should purchase a newer iPhone. However, for those on a tight budget -- and/or who really want a headphone jack -- the iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus are worth considering, although because they no longer support the current version of the iOS, app support will wane quickly from here on out.
For most of those deciding just between the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, the size is the most important criteria. If you prefer to use your mobile device with one hand, the iPhone 6s is a better choice than the iPhone 6s Plus. For those with all but the largest of hands, the iPhone 6s Plus really is a two-handed device and it's too large to fit in the front pockets of many pairs of pants or jeans, as well.
However, if your mobile usage consists heavily of reading, watching video, and gaming -- and not nearly as much one handed typing and navigation (which can be awkward and make it rather easy to drop the device) -- and you tend to carry your mobile in a briefcase, purse, or other bag rather than in a pocket, the iPhone 6s Plus can be an excellent choice. 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.
The iPhone 6s is a bit cheaper, and that may be another advantage of the smaller device, along with more convenient one-handed use and pocketability, too. If price is of great concern, you might also want to consider an even cheaper used iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus (although note that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models are even more out-of-date in terms of iOS support).
iPhone Purchase & Sale Options
There are no shortage of places to buy a used iPhone. However, buying your iPhone from a good company with an excellent reputation -- and quality 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.
Permalink | Report an Error/Typo | Sign Up for Site Update Notices
<< iPhone Q&A (Main) | All Apple Q&As
Established in 1996, EveryMac.com has been created by experts with decades of experience with Apple hardware. EveryMac.com includes, and always has included, original research incorporating detailed, hands-on inspection of packaging, computers, and devices as well as extensive real-world use. All information is provided in good faith, but no website or person is perfect. Accordingly, EveryMac.com is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind whatsoever. EveryMac.com, and the authors thereof, shall not be held responsible or liable, under any circumstances, for any damages resulting from the use or inability to use the information within. For complete disclaimer and copyright information please read and understand the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy before using EveryMac.com. Copying, scraping, or use of any content without expressed permission is not allowed, although links to any page are welcomed and appreciated.