Those shopping for a new iPhone now have another option to consider.
Apple on Monday added a new smartphone to its lineup. Called the iPhone SE, the Cupertino, Calif. firm’s latest smartphone brings new features to a smaller and cheaper form factor.
The iPhone SE means Apple now offers five different iPhones to choose from, some of which come in different sizes to boot. If you’re having trouble deciding which iPhone to go with, here’s a look at the main differences between each model.
iPhone 6s
The iPhone 6s is Apple’s most powerful medium-sized iPhone. It’s best for those who want a slightly bigger phone, but not something monstrously huge. The iPhone 6s is a great choice if you care about having some of Apple’s newest features, like 3D Touch, faster performance, a better camera, and Live Photos. It’s not the cheapest iPhone, but it’s worth considering if you want the latest and greatest.
Price: Starts at $649 without a carrier subsidy
Display: 4.7-inches with a resolution of 1,334×750 and 326 pixels per inch
Processor: Apple A9 chip with M9 motion co-processor
Storage Options: 16GB, 64GB, 128GB
Color Options: Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Rose Gold
Camera: 12-megapixel main camera with 1.22µ pixels, Panorama up to 63 megapixels, 4K video recording, 5-megapixel front-facing camera with Retina flash
Special Features: 3D Touch pressure-sensitive screen, Supports Live Photos, Can activate “Hey Siri” without being plugged in, Supports Apple Pay, Improved Touch ID fingerprint sensor
iPhone 6
The iPhone 6 offers many of the same features as the newer iPhone 6s, but it’s about $100 cheaper. However, if you’re considering the iPhone 6, you may want to wait. Apple is likely to announce this smartphone’s replacement in September. Once that’s out, you can probably get the iPhone 6s for a lower price, or opt for whatever new phone the company unveils.
Price: Starts at $549 without a carrier subsidy
Display: 4.7-inches with a resolution of 1,334×750 and 326 pixels per inch
Processor: Apple A8 chip with M8 motion co-processor
Storage Options: 16GB or 64GB
Color Options: Silver or Space Gray
Camera: 8-megapixel main camera with 1.5µ pixels, Panorama up to 43 megapixels, 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera
Special Features: Supports Apple Pay, First-generation Touch ID fingerprint sensor
iPhone SE
The iPhone SE seems like an excellent value for those who want Apple’s new features at a cheaper price and in a smaller form factor. Although the 6s and SE are similar from a technical standpoint, there are a few subtle differences: the SE doesn’t have 3D Touch, it has a lower resolution front-facing camera, and it has Apple’s older Touch ID sensor.
Still, the iPhone SE offers many of Apple’s most important enhancements, like a newer processor and improved camera. If you’re more comfortable with the size of Apple’s older 4-inch iPhones and you’re shopping on a budget, the iPhone SE is a great deal.
Price: Starts at $399 without a carrier subsidy
Display: 4 inches with a resolution of 1,136×640 and 326 pixels per inch
Processor: Apple A9 chip with M9 motion co-processor
Storage Options: 16GB or 64GB
Color Options: Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Rose Gold
Camera: 12-megapixel main camera with 1.22µ pixels, Panorama up to 63 megapixels, 4K video recording, 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera with Retina flash
Special Features: Supports Live Photos, Can activate “Hey Siri” without being plugged in, Supports Apple Pay, First-generation Touch ID fingerprint sensor
Should You Get a Plus Model?
Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus and 6s Plus models are great for those who want a large display, but they’re not for everyone. If you spend most of your day staring at your phone, whether you’re reading articles and books, editing documents in the cloud, or watching Netflix and YouTube, you may benefit from a big-screened phone. But if you tend to rock a desktop PC or tablet instead, you’re probably fine with a smaller device.
That aside, the larger iPhones are roughly $100 more than their smaller cousins, which is worth considering. Still, the bigger models do bring a few other benefits besides a larger screen. Most notably: Their battery lasts longer. They also include camera technology that cuts down on blur from shaky hands.
iPhone 6s Plus
Price: Starts at $749 without a carrier subsidy
Display: 5.5-inches with a resolution of 1,920×1080 and 401 pixels per inch
Processor: Apple A9 chip with M9 motion co-processor
Storage Options: 16GB, 64GB, 128GB
Color Options: Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Rose Gold
Camera: 12-megapixel main camera with 1.22µ pixels, Panorama up to 63 megapixels, 4K video recording, Optical image stabilization for photo and video, 5-megapixel front-facing camera with Retina flash
Special Features: 3D Touch pressure-sensitive screen, Supports Live Photos, Can activate “Hey Siri” without being plugged in, Supports Apple Pay, Improved Touch ID fingerprint sensor
iPhone 6 Plus
Price: Starts at $649 without a carrier subsidy
Display: 5.5-inches with a resolution of 1,920×1080 and 4 pixels per inch
Processor: Apple A8 chip with M8 motion co-processor
Storage Options: 16GB or 64GB
Color Options: Silver or Space Gray
Camera: 8-megapixel main camera with 1.5µ pixels, Panorama up to 43 megapixels, Optical image stabilization, 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera
Special Features: Supports Apple Pay, First-generation Touch ID fingerprint sensor
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