iPhone SE vs. iPhone 6s: Specs, Design, and Price Comparison
The wait is over as Apple has finally taken the wraps off its latest smartphone offering, the iPhone SE. The brand new phone was unveiled during the Apple "Let Us Loop You In" event on Monday.
Those looking to buy or replace their old phones with either the new iPhone SE or the iPhone 6s might find this comparison of the two devices' specifications, design, and price useful.
Design and specifications
Get Our Latest News for FREE
In terms of specs, the iPhone SE includes what most would expect from the latest iPhone like an A9 chip and 4K video. Both iPhones also run iOS 9, which means the iPhone SE owners can take Cookie Monster's lead and say "Hey Siri" for hand-free use. However, unlike the iPhone 6s, it lacks 3D Touch functionality, a feature that allows users to use Peek and Pop preview or Quick Actions.
The new iPhone sports the same design as the iPhone 5S, measuring 4.87 inches x 2.31 inches x 0.30 inch and weighing 113 grams. Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s measures 5.44 inches x 2.64 inches x 0.28 inch and weighs 143 grams. Although the old iPhone is slimmer, the new one is smaller and would make a good choice for those who prefer to use their phones in one hand.
The iPhone 6s bigger 4.7-inch Retina HD display boasts a higher resolution than the iPhone SE at 1,334 x 750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi. Although both displays look crisp, the older phone is sharper overall, according to PC Mag. The iPhone SE features a 4-inch Retina display with 1,136 x 640‑pixel resolution at 326 ppi.
In terms of battery, Apple lists the devices as having the same talk time of up to 14 hours on 3G, audio playback of up to 50 hours, and standby time of up to 10 days. The iPhone SE, however, supposedly lasts longer in terms of Internet use with: up to 12 hours on 3G, up to 13 hours on LTE, and up to 13 hours on Wi-Fi.
The iPhone SE's connectivity is similar to the iPhone 6s: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and NFC for Apple Pay. In terms of camera, the two phones are basically the same, except the iPhone SE doesn't have optical image stabilization and only has a 1.2 MP front shooter while the iPhone 6s has a 5 MP shooter.
Price and availability
The iPhone SE will start at $399 for the 16 GB variant and cost $499 for the 64 GB model. The phone will also be available through carrier financing starting at $13.30 per month from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Apple will start accepting orders for the iPhone SE on March 24 but units will begin shipping on March 31 in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Germany, France, Singapore, and Puerto Rico. The device will roll out to other territories by the end of May.
It is a less expensive option than the iPhone 6s, which costs $649, $749, and $849 SIM-free or $21.64, $24.97, and $28.30 per month through carrier financing for its 16 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB, respectively. Both phones are available in the same color pallette: Silver, Space Gray, Gold, and Rose Gold.
With the iPhone SE and iPhone 6s sporting pretty much the same specs and features, choosing which one to buy really boil down to how much consumers are willing to spend for their phones and if they prefer a small device or a bigger one.
