Camera Lab Test Scores iPhone 6s on Same Level as iPhone 6 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Camera Lab Test Scores iPhone 6s on Same Level as iPhone 6

by

In a new review for the iPhone 6s, DxOMark concluded that the camera on the 2015 iPhone line deserved a score of 82, equal to that of the score it gave for the iPhone 6 one year ago. The website measured seven factors (exposure and contrast, color, autofocus, texture, noise, artifacts, and flash) to determine an overall score for the camera on the iPhone 6s, giving the lowest marks to texture and noise (via CNET).

Scores-photo

From our tests, images are generally well-exposed and for the most part colors are vivid and pleasing outdoors. However, there are occasional differences in exposure noticeable between consecutive captures in very bright outdoor scenes, typically due to the inconsistent activation of the HDR mode.

There is also a slight but consistent underexposure in extremely low light levels (5 lux); the result however is still quite usable and an improvement over the iPhone 6. White balance is reliable though inevitably some inaccuracies were noticeable at times, with a slight yellow cast visible in some outdoor scenes. Although this cast was present in captures from the iPhone 6 the cast was slightly stronger and more noticeable on the 6s.

A score of 82 is the same as the iPhone 6 in 2014, but also behind the 87 given to the Sony Xperia Z5 and the 86-scoring Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Apple's rivals also won in a series of similar video tests, scoring between four and six points higher than the 80 awarded to the iPhone 6s.

DxOMark's closing statement regarding the new iPhone line is a bit similar to the overall consensus found elsewhere online regarding the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. The French optics and image processing firm described the smartphone as a "good balance of performance and top-notch user experience," but not an entirely compelling upgrade from an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, especially when considering solely the camera and video tests conducted by the firm.

Tag: DxOMark
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

138 months ago
The new iPhone cameras are pretty much certainly the best available in any smartphone anywhere.
purple is pretty much certainly the best available color out of any color anywhere.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oneMadRssn Avatar
138 months ago
I knew it, they just half-assesly bumped up the pixel count on the same sensor size.
If the pixel count is higher, but the noise, artifacts, color, etc. are no worse, than that is a great improvement. Typically, higher pixel count means more noise, more artifacts, worse color, etc. The fact they got higher pixels without sacrificing the other attributes is great.

This means the picture is just as good as before, except you can crop it more without worrying about loosing detail, or you can zoom further in after taking the photo than you could before.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
doelcm82 Avatar
138 months ago
I knew it, they just half-assesly bumped up the pixel count on the same sensor size.
If that's all they had done, the score would have been much lower for the 6S.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dilster3k Avatar
138 months ago
I knew it, they just half-assesly bumped up the pixel count on the same sensor size.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ZacNicholson Avatar
138 months ago
I have the 6s + and i can tell the camera is better
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Genkakuzai Avatar
138 months ago
If the image quality is just as good and has 50% more pixels, that's great.
This. People don't seem to understand that it's quite a feat. Especially considering it has the same sized sensor.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple's Next Era Begins September 1

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:36 am PDT by
Apple recently announced that Tim Cook will be stepping down as CEO later this year, after 15 years of leading the company. Effective September 1, Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company's next CEO, while Cook will become executive chairman of Apple's board of directors. In his new role, Apple said Cook will assist with "certain aspects" of the company,...
Instagram Feature 2

PSA: Instagram Encrypted Messaging Ends on Friday, May 8

Tuesday May 5, 2026 8:24 am PDT by
Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform. Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say ...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Just Released a New Accessory

Monday May 4, 2026 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today released a new Pride Edition Sport Loop for the Apple Watch. The band features a rainbow design with 11 colors of woven nylon yarns. The new Pride Edition Sport Loop is available to order now on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm sizes, and it will be available at Apple Store locations starting later this week. In the U.S., the band costs $49. There...