IPhone SE vs iPhone 6s size

The iPhone SE is a wonderful contradiction. On the one hand its low key arrival and ageing iPhone 5 design disappointed those hoping for an ‘iPhone 6S Mini’. But under the surface it is a revelation and outguns the more expensive iPhone 6S in key areas. So what are the major differences between them?

Note: for tech enthusiasts my epic iPhone SE vs iPhone 6S review compares both phones in great detail. This guide will satisfy those looking to identify the main differentiators.

Design & Size - Good Things Come In Small Packages

For such a design focused company, reusing the four year old iPhone 5 chassis for the iPhone SE shocked a lot of people. But this actually comes with a lot of positives:

  • iPhone SE - 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 in), 113g (3.99 oz)
  • iPhone 6S - 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm (5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28in), 143g (5.04oz)

Yes, the iPhone SE is significantly smaller and lighter than the iPhone 6S. In fact it’s a true one handed phone, even for those with small hands. This is a revelation in today’s phablet-obsessed world and - while both phones could (and arguably should) have smaller top and bottom bezels to reduce their sizes further) - they aren’t the huge slabs most flagship smartphones are today.

Aside from size, the iPhone SE is also far more boxy than the iPhone 6S. It’s a case of hard angles vs curves and this actually makes the iPhone SE easier to hold as it feels less slippery. Whether it looks as good, however, is a matter of personal opinion.

Read more - Galaxy S7 Vs iPhone 6S Review: Easy Wins, Big Losses

Displays - Age Tells

It is almost six years since Apple changed the smartphone world with the iPhone 4’s ‘Retina Display’. But time has marched on:

  • iPhone SE - 4-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD, 1136 x 640 pixels (326 ppi pixel density), 60.8% screen-to-body ratio
  • iPhone 6S - 4.7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD, 1334 x 750 pixels (326 ppi), 65.6% screen-to-body ratio

Yes neither phone sports the extreme 2K (2560 x 1440) resolutions sported by iPhone rivals, but which has the edge? It’s the iPhone 6S. It’s display is brighter and the contrast ratio is greater. That shouldn’t be surprising as the iPhone SE uses an old iPhone 5S panel with no upgrades.

iPhone SE (left) and iPhone 6S (right) displays are far from perfect - especially on close... [+] inspection, but it's more acceptable on the cheaper handset. Image credit: Gordon Kelly

The iPhone SE also lacks the main party trick of the iPhone 6S: 3D Touch. This pressure sensitive technology lets users press more strongly on the screen to jump to app shortcuts (hard press on app icons) and preview URLs and emails by pressing on them. It’s handy stuff with the potential to be intuitive and exciting as it evolves, but it remains very early days.

So if you like to live on the cutting edge and watch 3D Touch mature over time, opt for the iPhone 6S. But be warned, it’s a big factor in the higher price of the iPhone 6S (more later).

3D Touch support on the iPhone 6S (pictured) is still patchy but improving slowly. Image credit:... [+] Gordon Kelly

Performance - Cutting Edge Stablemates

Here’s where the cheaper iPhone SE really surprises: it is just as fast as the iPhone 6S:

  • iPhone SE and iPhone 6S - Apple A9, CPU: Dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister, GPU: PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics), 2GB RAM

The grunt the A9 chip provides will future proof both these phones for years to come. In fact the A9 is largely as fast as the 2016 generation of flagship Android devices and iOS remains the smoother operating system.

In short: there’s no difference between either iPhone in this instance but, given their respective prices, that’s a big win for the iPhone SE.

The iPhone 6S (right) has newer, faster Touch ID fingerprint recognition than the iPhone SE (left).... [+] Image credit: Gordon Kelly

Elsewhere the iPhone 6S does have some premium advantages. It uses Touch ID 2.0 so its fingerprint recognition is faster (though the iPhone SE is still quick) and it has a 300Mbit-capable 4G modem compared to the 150MBit-capable 4G iPhone SE. But if you live in an area where you can get over 150Mbit 4G let me know and I’ll move!

Next page: Cameras, Battery Life, Storage Options, Cost and Bottom Line...

Cameras - The Selfie Question 

Increasingly the most important aspect for many phone buyers, Apple has again done iPhone SE owners a real favour here because it has given the cheaper phone the exact same rear camera:

  • iPhone SE – Rear: 12 megapixel sensor, f2.2 aperture, Focus Pixels, EIS, dual-LED flash, 4K video recording. Front: 1.2MP Front Camera, f2.4 aperture, 720p video recording
  • iPhone 6S – Rear: 12 megapixel sensor, f2.2 aperture, Focus Pixels, EIS, dual-LED flash, 4K video recording. Front: 5MP Front Camera, f2.2 aperture, 720p video recording

Even a mixture of lighting conditions cannot separate the iPhone 6S (left) and iPhone SE (right).... [+] Image credit: Gordon Kelly

Apple has lost its camera crown in recent years to Samsung (and strong claims can also be made by the Google Nexus 6P and LG G5) but the iPhone 6S remains a great point and shoot device - meaning by extension, so does the iPhone SE.

You can see from the shots here that the two produce excellent results that are indistinguishable. The issue is at night neither phone competes with the best Android cameras (see below vs the Galaxy S7), but again that matters less at the iPhone SE’s lower price tag.

The Galaxy S7 (left) blows away with iPhone 6S (right) with far greater detail and colour accuracy... [+] at night, but this matters less on the cheaper iPhone SE. Image credit: Gordon Kelly

Instead where the difference lies between the two iPhones is their front facing camera. Here Apple has cut costs by giving the iPhone SE the older 1.2MP module from the iPhone 6 not the 5MP module in the iPhone 6S. For the rest of us, however, it’s not a big compromise.

Read more - iPhone SE Vs iPhone 5S: What's The Difference?

Battery Life And Charging - Tiny Marvel 

If one area is more important to users than a smartphone’s camera, it is the battery life and it is here where the iPhone SE unleashes the biggest surprise of all: it lasts considerably longer on a full charge than the iPhone 6S. And it does this despite having a smaller battery:

  • Phone SE - 1642 mAh
  • iPhone 6S - 1715 mAh

What makes the difference is the iPhone SE’s smaller, lower resolution display and the results are dramatic. Apple itself on its own specifications page admits you’ll get 20% longer 3G surfing time, 30% more on 4G and it will also last 20% longer when watching videos.

iPhone charging remains slow with both the iPhone 6S and iPhone SE and there's still no wireless... [+] charging. Image credit: Gordon Kelly

In reality this bears out as well. Whereas the iPhone 6S struggles to make it through a day, the iPhone SE lasts more like an iPhone 6S Plus and only extremely heavy use will see it fail before bedtime. Yes, Apple has finally made a major battery life improvement - but in the most unlikely of devices.

It’s not all good news though. The lack of quick charging (especially via the supplied cable - iPad chargers improve things a bit) means these phones take an age to charge compared to the competition (about 2.5 hours vs 1-1.5 hours with a Galaxy S7), but there’s still another difference here. The smaller battery in the iPhone SE means it charges about 20 minutes faster than the iPhone 6S. A minor, but still useful victory.

Storage And Price - The 16GB Curse Continues

Easily the best thing about the iPhone SE and perhaps its biggest differentiator from the iPhone 6S is its price:

  • iPhone SE - 16GB ($399), 64GB ($499)
  • iPhone 6S - 16GB ($649), 64GB ($749), 128GB ($849)

A $250 saving makes it a no brainer compared to the iPhone 6S unless you are wedded to the larger screen or 3D Touch. Unfortunately the fly in the ointment is the controversial 16GB entry level tier meaning many will need to spend $100 more the 64GB versions, but the iPhone SE is still very well priced at this tier.

Of course some will miss the iPhone SE having a 128GB version, but again I think this will only prove a deal breaker for a minority of potential buyers.

There's very little to choose between these phones, so price becomes crucial and here the iPhone SE... [+] is the bigger winner. Image credit: Gordon Kelly

Bottom Line 

The iPhone SE and iPhone 6S may share the same chipset and rear camera, but they are otherwise very different phones.

The surprise is the $250 price gap between them because for this money the iPhone SE can stand toe-to-toe with the iPhone 6S in almost every major area mainstream customers care about. The fact it also has a far better battery is the cherry on top.

Buy the iPhone 6S if you have deep pockets, want the bigger display and 3D Touch and take a lot of selfies. Buy the iPhone SE if you effectively want the iPhone 6S in a smaller, longer lasting package… and you want to save $250!

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Is the iPhone SE the same size as the iPhone 6s?

With a weight of just under 4 ounces and dimensions of 4.87x2. 31 inches, the iPhone SE is definitely more pocket- and small-hands-friendly than the 5.04-ounce iPhone 6s, which measures 5.44x2. 64 inches. Curiously, the iPhone SE is slightly thicker (7.6 mm) compared with the slimmer iPhone 6s (7.1 mm).

Is an iPhone 6s the same size as a iPhone SE 2nd gen?

Let us move on to the size and dimensions of the iPhone 6s and iPhone SE 2nd Gen. This is another aspect where both models are quite similar. The iPhone 6s measures 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm while the iPhone SE measures 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm. Their weights are also not so different.

Are iPhone 6 and SE 2022 the same size?

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Will an iPhone 6s case fit an iPhone SE 2022?

Will Old Cases Fit the iPhone SE (2022)? If you're upgrading from the 2020 iPhone SE, we have good news: yes, the case from your older phone will absolutely fit the latest model.