Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

Apple’s iPhone SE is as powerful as the iPhone 6s, but not nearly as durable

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 9:15PM EST
iPhone SE vs iPhone 6s Durability
Image: Apple

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

When it comes to specs for the price, not many phones hold a candle to the recently released iPhone SE. In nearly every category, it’s just as powerful as the flagship iPhone 6s, making it a tempting offer for Apple fans who want to upgrade before the fall. But there’s at least one area where it doesn’t stack up.

DON’T MISS: Video reveals hidden Tesla Model 3 details

In its most recent round of testing, SquareTrade determined that the iPhone SE is less durable than the iPhone 6s and only slightly more durable than the iPhone 6s Plus. You can see some of the tests in this video:

Although the sleek size makes for a more grippable device, the iPhone SE lost to the iPhone 6s in nearly every other category, from a water test to corner drops to bendability. Obviously, if you’re looking for a phone that can weather a rugged lifestyle, the iPhone is never going to be your first choice, but the iPhone SE should be even closer to the bottom of your list.

“The iPhone 6s proved that thinner and bigger phones aren’t necessarily less durable than more compact phones like the iPhone SE,” said Aileen Abaya, director of communications at SquareTrade. “However, it’s important to remember that no phone is perfect. No matter the size and weight of a phone, accidental drops – especially on a sidewalk – can still cause its demise.”

Here’s an infographic with even more details:

Jacob Siegal
Jacob Siegal Associate Editor

Jacob Siegal is Associate Editor at BGR, having joined the news team in 2013. He has over a decade of professional writing and editing experience, and helps to lead our technology and entertainment product launch and movie release coverage.