iPhone SE (2016) or 6s which iPhone you recommend?

[Aquaris]

Hi there!

I need a second hand iPhone to replace my laggy Android phone. I find two cheap model, $50 for iPhone SE 2016 and 6s around $75. iOS 15 should be base for my usage but I can't buy new model right now.
which one you recommend? both are in healthy condition even batteries.

Thank you!

 

[Reverend Benny]

Hi there!

I need a second hand iPhone to replace my laggy Android phone. I find two cheap model, $50 for iPhone SE 2016 and 6s around $75. iOS 15 should be base for my usage but I can't buy new model right now.
which one you recommend? both are in healthy condition even batteries.

Thank you!

None of them, they are EOL in terms of support even if the get the occasional update when a severe security flaw is found or severe bug.
At least look at getting a iPhone SE2020 or iPhone 11, they an be found fairly cheap and can run the latest iOS version and get updated.

 

[eyoungren]

None of them, they are EOL in terms of support even if the get the occasional update when a severe security flaw is found or severe bug.
At least look at getting a iPhone SE2020 or iPhone 11, they an be found fairly cheap and can run the latest iOS version and get updated.

As the owner of an iPhone 6s Plus (and 11 Pro Max) and the father of a son who still has his iPhone SE, it pains me to agree here. But, I do agree.

@Aquaris, you state that iOS 15 should be the base for your usage. Well, I'm not sure about the SE, but the last version of iOS that the 6s models can run is iOS 15. So right there, you're stuck at that version. And as time goes by you will remain stuck on iOS 15.

Now, if that's not important (my own 6s Plus is primarily used to be just a phone with some light texting and email when out walking) then maybe you won't mind being stuck on iOS 15. But, like @Reverend Benny, I can't recommend it.

 

[now i see it]

The 6S and 6S plus runs everything you’ll want on iOS 15. That phone isn’t slow at all. I’m using one (downgraded from a iPhone 11).

 

[Andeddu]

The 6S and SE are both very usable on iOS 15. I still regularly use my 6S as a media device and everything runs reasonably well. I wouldn’t recommend using it for longer than a year as app support will begin to slip shortly due to the phone being unsupported by Apple.

 

[Slix]

I'd recommend getting a 2020 (2nd gen) SE if you can. Much newer, same size screen as the 6S, but they can be found used for about $80-120 depending on condition and storage size.

 

[geta]

Both of them are fine machines, it all come down to screen size preference and as long as their batteries are in good condition you’ll be fine.

As for iOS15, at least for the next 2 years most of the apps will continue supporting it, so no need to worry about this.

That been said, at the moment im using SE1 with new battery with zero issues and all the apps that I need running smooth. And depends on my daily usage I can get easily 2 days between charges.

 

[rui no onna]

As for iOS15, at least for the next 2 years most of the apps will continue supporting it, so no need to worry about this.

I dunno about the next 2 years. A lot of my apps have already dropped support for iOS 14. I'm guessing next year, we'll see apps dropping support for iOS 15.

 

[geta]

I dunno about the next 2 years. A lot of my apps have already dropped support for iOS 14. I'm guessing next year, we'll see apps dropping support for iOS 15.

That’s why i said most of the apps…

 

[adrianlondon]

I kept my old 6S as a backup phone and currently have the base iPhone 11 (which I highly recommend instead if you can get it for a good price. It's running iOS 18 beta really well).

On the positive side, it runs iOS 15 well.

On the negative side, my 16 GB model can't have more than a few apps installed before it runs out of memory.

 

[Andeddu]

I always use a secondary device for video streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+ and Prime along with web-browsing and music/podcast streaming. I have an SE1 for bed and a 6S for the rest of the time. Both are on iOS 15 and have new OEM batteries from Apple. I also have an iPhone 8 which is on iOS 16 with a newly installed OEM battery from Apple. I think I’ll be good with these devices for at least the next 3-4 years by which time my iPhone 13 will be relegated to secondary device status.

 

[winxmac]

iPhone SE 2016 - only similarity with iPhone 6s are the chipset [A9] and main camera [12MP], the rest are parts from iPhone 5s and/or iPhone 6

In the end, would you want a smaller phone or a phone with better specs overall?

iOS 15.x should still be okay since many apps still support it, although as time passes, some require iOS 16.x or later...