iPhone 6s Plus vs. iPhone 7 Plus vs. iPhone 8 Plus: What's the difference?

A lot of iPhones are called the “Plus.” But what’s so plus about them, and really...what makes each generation better than the one before? Wow. So glad you asked. 

The Plus version of each generation used to imply that it’s the best version of that release. Now they’re identified as the Pro or Pro Max version. But those older generations aren’t obsolete by any stretch. In fact, they’re all still great phone options made even better since you can get them on a budget (especially if you buy them refurbished). 

iPhone 8 Plus Frank Mobile

Come with us on a little adventure we’re calling “Perusing the Pluses.” (Please don’t let the name deter you...we swear it’s worth it.) 

First off, the 6s Plus was eye-opening in terms of how big an iPhone screen could be. Considering the 5s had a screen size of 4inches, the 5.5” screen of the 6s Plus really started the trend of bigger screens (much to the dismay of those with small hands). 

Alright, let’s get into some specs, shall we?

Colour

Once again we start with the colour options. Why not, right?

  • iPhone 6s Plus: Space Grey, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold
  • iPhone 7 Plus: Black, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold
  • iPhone 8 Plus: Silver, Black, Gold

  • Display

    Here’s an easy one for you. All three of these phones have the same display, a 5.5” Retina HD display. The sizing didn’t change on these as new generations were released. There are a couple of subtle differences, though. The 6s Plus has full sRGB standard while the other two have wide colour display. The 8 Plus also has True Tone display. 

    Camera

    While the cameras are almost the same for the 6s Plus, 7 Plus, and 8 Plus, they have some differences.

  • iPhone 6s Plus: Single 12-megapixel Wide camera, digital zoom at up to 5x, True Tone flash, HDR for photos
  • iPhone 7 Plus: Dual 12-megapixel Wide and Telephoto cameras, 2x optical zoom in, True Tone Flash, Portrait Mode, HDR for photos
  • iPhone 8 Plus: Dual 12-megapixel Wide and Telephoto cameras, 2x optical zoom in, True Tone flash with Slow Sync, Portrait Mode, Portrait Lighting with five effects (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage and Stage Mono), Auto HDR for photos

  • Chip

    Each of these phones has a different chip. The 6s Plus has the A9 chip, the 7 Plus has the A10 Fusion Chip, and the 8 Plus has the A11 Bionic Chip. 

    Battery Life

    Battery life is always an important factor when it comes to choosing a phone (and rightly so). 

  • iPhone 6s Plus: up to 14 hours of video playback, up to 80 hours audio playback
  • iPhone 7 Plus: up to 14 hours of video playback, up to 60 hours audio playback
  • iPhone 8 Plus: Qi wireless charging, up to 14 hours of video playback, up to 60 hours audio playback, fast-charge capable (up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher)


  • Water Resistance

    Water resistance is a new feature being promoted on more recent iPhones, but it’s actually been around for a few years. Here’s the details on these three models and whether or not they’re water resistant: 

  • iPhone 6s Plus: it’s not, don’t even try it. 
  • iPhone 7 Plus: water-resistant to a depth of 1 metre for up to 30 minutes
  • iPhone 8 Plus: water-resistant to a depth of 1 metre for up to 30 minutes

  • Headphones

    The 6th Generation iPhones seems to be where the glorious headphone jack disappeared. 

  • iPhone 6s Plus: EarPods 3.5-mm Headphone Plug
  • iPhone 7 Plus: EarPods with Lightning Connector
  • iPhone 8 Plus: EarPods with Lightning Connector

  • Just because these phones are older models doesn’t mean they’re not worth the money. They’re great for people who just want a device for basic use, or even if you’re looking to get a first phone for your kid or teen. 

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