On Monday, Apple unveiled its newest iPhone model, the iPhone SE. While the main thing you’ve been told is that it’s smaller, you may be curious how the specs and features compare to other iPhone models like the iPhone 5S or the iPhone 6S. If you’re curious how the price, specs, size, and other features of the SE compare against the popular iPhone 5S and 6S, we’ve put together a comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know to choose the best Apple phone for you.
iPhone SE vs. iPhone 5S vs. iPhone 6S Comparisons
Quick Stats:
- Processing Power – same CPU, GPU as iPhone 6S, faster CPU and GPU than iPhone 5S
- Camera – Same as iPhone 6S, better than iPhone 5S
- Software – All three devices use the same
- Size – Smaller than iPhone 6S, same size as iPhone 5S
- Weight – Less than both iPhone 6S and 5S
- Colors – Same colors as iPhone 6S, more colors than iPhone 5S (adds gold and rose gold)
- Storage – Less than iPhone 6S, same as iPhone 5S (16, 64GB)
- Battery Life – Same as iPhone 6S, more than iPhone 5S (14 hours vs. 10 hours)
- Misc Features – Same as iPhone 6S, more than iPhone 5S (missing 3D Touch)
- Price –$250 less than 6S, $200 higher than 5S
You should buy or upgrade to iPhone SE if:
- You love the power and new features of the iPhone 6S, but miss the compact size or body style of the iPhone 5S
- If you need to upgrade your iPhone 5S but don’t want to fork out more that $600 to do so.
In-Depth Point-by-Point Comparison For iPhone SE vs. iPhone 6S vs. iPhone 5S
Comparison Point #1: Design/Appearance
In terms of physical appearance, the iPhone SE very much resembles the iPhone 5S. It includes the same 4-inch screen, features an aluminum body and has the fingerprint scanning home button. It also maintains the boxier body type of the iPhone 5S. By appearance, you would basically call it an iPhone 5S. The main difference appearance-wise is that an iPhone 5S only comes in Silver or Space grey, while the iPhone SE adds the Rose Gold and Gold options as well.
Since the iPhone SE is basically a souped-up model of the iPhone 5S, the appearance doesn’t much resemble the iPhone 6S. The iPhone 6S is larger, with a 4.7-inch screen, and the rounded and light-weight body design that was introduced with the iPhone 6. The only similarity between the iPhone SE and iPhone 6S appearance is the color options. The iPhone SE will also sport the 3D touch screen that the iPhone 6S has, but that is missing in the iPhone 5S. In terms of weight, the iPhone SE is lighter than both the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5S coming in at just 3.99 ounces.
Comparison Point #2: Hardware Processor Speeds And Storage
In terms of hardware, the iPhone SE and iPhone 6s both run a 64-bit A9 chip and M9 motion coprocessor. And both likely have the same RAM. The iPhone 5S sports a much older 64-bit A7 processor so it won’t perform as heartily as the iPhone SE for gaming.
In terms of storage, the iPhone SE will have the same amount as the iPhone 5S but not as much as the iPhone 6S with it maxing out at 64 GB, while the iPhone 6S has up to 128 GB.
Comparison Point #3: Battery Life
Battery life is a common concern and if you are looking to upgrade, the iPhone SE has battery life advantages against both the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 6S. It beats the talk time battery life of the iPhone 5S getting up to 14 hours as opposed to 10. When it comes Internet use, the iPhone SE out performs both with 14 hours on 3G and 13 on LTE or Wi-Fi.
Comparison Point #4: Camera
The camera is probably one of the biggest upgrades the iPhone SE has over the iPhone 5S. It sports a 12-megapixel iSight camera on the rear and has 4K video recording at 30fps and 1080p recording at 60fps. It takes Live Photos just like the iPhone 6s and has the same retina flash. The only thing the iPhone SE doesn’t have compared with the iPhone 6S is the optical image stabilization, which helps stabilize shots and improves low-light performance. The iPhone SE front facing camera is less powerful than the iPhone 6S, coming in at only 1.2-megapixels vs. the 5-megapixel selfie shooter, but it still outperforms the iPhone 5S camera hands down.
Comparison Point #5: Price
If price is the only thing really holding you back from upgrading you iPhone 5S to the iPhone SE, then you’re gonna love the pricing Apple revealed for the new iPhone. The SE will start at just $399. This is $250 less than the iPhone 6S starting price, and if you enjoy the smaller size of the iPhone 5S, the iPhone SE is definitely a solid upgrade choice.
