Mobile Phones > iPhone & iOS 157 157 people found this article helpful The Differences Between the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Five ways the two smartphones are different By Sam Costello Sam Costello Facebook Twitter Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 28, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email iPhone & iOS Switching from Android It's easy to see how the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are different: The iPhone 6 Plus has a larger screen and is bigger overall. Beyond the physical, though, the differences between the two models are somewhat subtle. It's important to understand those differences if you plan to buy one of these models. This article explains five key things that make the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus different. Use this information to make an informed iPhone buying decision. This article covers how the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are different. Want to know what makes the iPhone 6 series different from its successor, the iPhone 6S? Read 6 Key Ways the iPhone 6 & iPhone 6S Are Different. 01 of 05 iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus: Screen Size and Resolution Apple Inc. The most apparent difference between the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is screen size. The iPhone 6 sports a 4.7-inch screen, which is a nice improvement over the 4-inch screen on the iPhone 5S and 5C. The iPhone 6 Plus upgrades the display even more. The 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch screen. That makes it a "phablet" (a combination phone and tablet) and a close competitor to the iPad mini, which has a 7-inch screen. The 6 Plus has a different screen resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels versus 1334 x 750 pixels on the iPhone 6. Users looking for screen size and portability with a good feel in hand will prefer the iPhone 6. Those seeking the largest possible display will enjoy the 6 Plus. Learn how to make onscreen icons bigger and reach icons on these large screens in How to Use Reachability and Display Zoom on iPhone. 02 of 05 iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus: Battery Life Because of its larger screen, the iPhone 6 Plus drains the battery faster. Its larger battery offers much a longer battery life than the battery in the iPhone 6, based on information supplied by Apple. Here's what to expect: iPhone 6 iPhone 6 Plus Talk time 14 hours 24 hours Audio time 50 hours 80 hours Video time 11 hours 14 hours Internet time 11 hours 12 hours Standby time 10 days 16 days So, if having the longest-lasting battery matters to you, check out the iPhone 6 Plus. 03 of 05 iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus: Price Daniel Grizelj / Getty Images Because of its larger screen and improved battery, the iPhone 6 Plus is more expensive than its sibling. Both models offer the same storage options—16 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB—but expect to spend about $100 more for the iPhone 6 Plus than the iPhone 6. While that's not a tremendous price difference, it matters if you're very budget-conscious when making your buying decision. 04 of 05 iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus: Size and Weight Manuel Breva Colmeiro / Getty Images Because of the differences in screen size, battery capacity, and some internal components, weight is a critical difference between the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The iPhone 6 weighs 4.55 ounces, just 0.6 ounces more than its predecessor, the iPhone 5S. On the other hand, the 6 Plus tips the scales at 6.07 ounces. The physical dimensions of the phones are different, too. The iPhone 6 is 5.44 inches tall by 2.64 inches wide by 0.27 inches thick. The 6 Plus is 6.22 by 3.06 by 0.28 inches. While those differences are not huge, pay attention to these details if keeping your pockets or purse as light as possible is important to you. 05 of 05 iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus: Camera: Image Stabilization Based on their specs, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus cameras appear to be identical. The back cameras take 8-megapixel images and 1080p HD video, while the front cameras capture video at 720p HD and photos at 1.2 megapixels. Both offer the same slo-mo features. However, one element of the cameras makes a big difference in photo quality: image stabilization. Image stabilization reduces motion in the camera—the movement of your hand as you take the photo, for example. It improves focus and delivers higher-quality images. There are two kinds of image stabilization: hardware and software. In software image stabilization, a program automatically tweaks photos to improve their look. Both phones have this. Hardware image stabilization uses the phone's gyroscope and M8 motion co-processor to cancel out movement. It's even better. The iPhone 6 Plus has hardware stabilization, but the regular iPhone 6 doesn't. So, if taking the best possible photos is important to you, choose the 6 Plus. iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus: the Phones Compared iPhone 6 iPhone 6 Plus Screen Size 4.7" 5.5" Screen Resolution 1134 x 750 1920 x 1080 Storage 16GB64GB128GB 16GB64GB128GB Front Camera 1.2 megapixel photos720p video 1.2 megapixel photos720p video Back Camera 8 megapixel photos1080p videosoftware image stabilization 8 megapixel photos1080p videohardware image stabilization Battery Life talk: 14 hoursaudio: 50 hoursvideo: 11 hoursinternet: 11 hours talk: 24 hoursaudio: 80 hoursvideo: 14 hoursinternet: 12 hours Size 5.44 x2.64 x0.27 6.22 x3.06 x0.28 Weight 4.55 oz 6.07 oz Original Price US$649 and up $749 and up Apple has discontinued the iPhone 6 series in favor of newer models. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! 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