WITH THE LAUNCH of the iPhone SE in April, Apple aimed to corner the budget smartphone market with a device that, although small in stature with a 4in display, was big in performance.
The iPhone SE shares more than a few similarities with the iPhone 6S, and we'll take you through some of the key parallels in a blow-by-blow comparison.
So if you're in the market for an upgrade, which phone should you plump for?
Design
iPhone SE: 123.8x58.6x7.6mm, 113g
iPhone 6S: 138.3x67.1x7.1mm, 143g
iPhone SE: 123.8x58.6x7.6mm, 113g
iPhone 6S: 138.3x67.1x7.1mm, 143g
Both phones have aluminium cases, but the iPhone SE recalls the boxy design of the iPhone 5 and 5S range and veers away from the more modern, curvaceous aesthetic Apple has since embraced. This is something of a mixed blessing as the harder angles and matte edges mean it's more grippy in the hand, but whether it looks good is down to personal preference.
On first impressions you might be forgiven for thinking you've picked up the wrong device by mistake, oblivious to the seemingly more powerful technology lurking within its chassis.
The iPhone SE is smaller and significantly lighter than the 6S at 113g vs 143g. However, the 6S is the thinner of the two, measuring in at 7.1mm compared to 7.6mm, and does an impressive job of disguising the extra weight.
If you're one for colours both handsets are available in the same Silver, Space Grey, Gold and Rose Gold options.
Winner: Draw
If you're one for colours both handsets are available in the same Silver, Space Grey, Gold and Rose Gold options.
Winner: Draw
Storage iPhone SE: 16GB/64GB
iPhone 6S: 16GB/64GB/128GB
iPhone 6S: 16GB/64GB/128GB
Both phones offer 16GB and 64GB storage options, but the iPhone SE loses out on the enormous 128GB variant offered by the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. Of course, this being Apple, neither handset offers any form of external storage.
Winner: iPhone 6S
Display
iPhone SE: 4in 1136x640 resolution at 326ppi
iPhone 6S: 4.7in 1334x750 resolution at 326ppi
iPhone SE: 4in 1136x640 resolution at 326ppi
iPhone 6S: 4.7in 1334x750 resolution at 326ppi
If you're looking for market-leading resolutions and masses of screen real estate you've come to the wrong place. The 1334x750 pixels of the iPhone 6S already sounded dated in September 2015, but it still manages to trump the antiquated panel found on the iPhone SE. However, despite the iPhone SE's smaller 4in screen size the two phones are actually capable of the same 326ppi pixel density.
In the iPhone 6S' favour, the larger phone uses dual-domain pixels that result in wider viewing angles. There are also significant differences when it comes to contrast ratio. The 6S is 1400:1, while the SE is 800:1.
The winning streak continues when you consider that the iPhone SE also lacks support for 3D Touch, meaning you won't be able to take advantage of pressure sensitive gestures now or in the future.
In addition, it's worth remembering that the smaller 4in display of the SE isn't for everyone, so if you're unfamiliar with a device of this stature we'd advise taking a look before you commit.
Winner: iPhone 6S
Performance and hardware
iPhone SE: 64-bit A9 SoC (two 1.8GHz cores), M9 motion coprocessor, 2GB of RAM
iPhone 6S: 64-bit A9 SoC (two 1.8GHz cores), M9 motion coprocessor, 2GB of RAM
Winner: iPhone 6S
Performance and hardware
iPhone SE: 64-bit A9 SoC (two 1.8GHz cores), M9 motion coprocessor, 2GB of RAM
iPhone 6S: 64-bit A9 SoC (two 1.8GHz cores), M9 motion coprocessor, 2GB of RAM
If you needed proof that the iPhone SE is a wolf in sheep's clothing you need look no further than the specs. In something of a boon for Apple's cut-price challenger, it uses the same A9 chipset and RAM configuration as the premium iPhone 6S. This performance injection means it's more than capable of holding its own when tussling with top-tier phones.
The addition of the M9 motion coprocessor means the SE also benefits from Hey Siri functionality. The iPhone 6S has Hey Siri as standard, unlike the iPhone 6 which needs plugging into the mains before the feature can be activated.
When it comes to security Apple hasn't forgotten about implementing Touch ID on the SE device. However, the decision to use the first-generation sensor (as opposed to the newer and faster sensor found on the 6S) is somewhat bewildering. Still, Apple needed to make cuts somewhere, and those coming to the SE fresh will just have to live with the slower response time.
The iPhone 6S shipped originally with iOS 9, but it can be upgraded to iOS 9.3.2 just like the iPhone SE. Both phones also support Apple Pay for wireless transactions.
Cameras
iPhone SE: Rear 12MP f/2.2 sensor with dual-LED flash, 1.2MP front-facing
iPhone 6S: Rear 12MP f/2.2 sensor with dual-LED flash, 5MP front-facing
iPhone SE: Rear 12MP f/2.2 sensor with dual-LED flash, 1.2MP front-facing
iPhone 6S: Rear 12MP f/2.2 sensor with dual-LED flash, 5MP front-facing
The camera tech is largely the same on both handsets until we get to the front-facing sensor. The iPhone SE forgoes the meatier 5MP snapper of the iPhone 6S for a lowly 1.2MP sensor. When comparing like for like, the drop in megapixels means captured images are somewhat lacking in detail.
The iPhone SE sports the same impressive rear-facing 12MP iSight camera as its pricier sibling, and you can take advantage of all the 6S' tricks including fun curios such as Live Photos. It's also worth noting that the SE has done away with the bothersome camera protrusion, meaning you can lay it flat on any surface.
Winner: iPhone 6S
Battery
iPhone SE: 1,642mAh
iPhone 6S: 1,715mAh
Battery
iPhone SE: 1,642mAh
iPhone 6S: 1,715mAh
On average the iPhone 6S can put in around 12 hours of mixed use. At worst it'll last you through a whole day. In our experience, and despite the slightly smaller capacity, the iPhone SE manages to trump its larger sibling. This is thanks in no small part to having to power a smaller, lower resolution display, and as such the device should quite happily see you through to the next day at least.
Winner: iPhone SE
Price
iPhone SE: 16GB £359, 64GB £439
iPhone 6S: 16GB £539, 64GB £619, 128GB £699
iPhone SE: 16GB £359, 64GB £439
iPhone 6S: 16GB £539, 64GB £619, 128GB £699
As you can see from our comparison, the SE takes most of what made the iPhone 6S great. At almost £200 cheaper it certainly makes a compelling case for those in the market for a smaller iPhone. Seeing as the SE apes the 6S' internals, you're guaranteed a device that's future-proofed for a good while yet.
Summary
There's a good chance that if you're reading this you're sold on Apple, or tempted by the iPhone SE's affordable price.
Summary
There's a good chance that if you're reading this you're sold on Apple, or tempted by the iPhone SE's affordable price.
Despite the iPhone 6S racking up more wins, in a lot of cases, it's only by the smallest of margins. The iPhone SE loses out in only a few areas, and if you're willing to forgive the older Touch ID technology, smaller screen, weaker selfie camera and lack of 128GB storage option we see no reason why it shouldn't be your next handset.
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