What color iPhone 6s should you get—Silver, gold, space gray, or rose gold?

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus come in four finishes now, silver, space gray, gold, and the all new rose gold.

Color is one of the most visually distinctive and personal things about a new iPhone, which makes it one of the most important choices you'll have to make. Originally there was only one color, aluminum and black, but Apple eventually went to black and white, the space gray, silver, and gold, and now they've added rose gold as well. If you're on the fence about which color iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus you should get, here's what you need to consider!

Distraction dangers

The silver, gold, and rose gold iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus have white faceplates which means white is the color you'll see most when looking at the screen. That's something you'll likely be doing a lot. TV sets are almost always black for a reason: when you're watching a show or a movie, or playing a game, you want the TV set to disappear so you can enjoy what you're doing without noticing a big, bright rim around it.

The same goes for the iPhone. Some people find having a white faceplate distracting when they're watching videos or gaming, and others just don't like the contrast between the white border and the black screen when the device is off. It's very "panda".

Conversely, iOS has a very bright interface. So, if you do more texting, reading, and browsing than media, white can actually blend better into Messages, Safari, iBooks, etc.

I've had both a space gray iPhone 6 and a gold iPhone 6 Plus and have never been distracted nor irked by either one. If a white faceplate catches your eye, however, you might want to stick with space gray.

Discoloration doubts

When something is white, like the faceplate on the silver, gold, and rose gold iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, there's always some concern that it may stain or otherwise discolor. Apple's been working with white since the early days of the iPod and MacBook, however, and they've gotten really good at it.

When there is an issue, like the iPhone 4, they don't ship it until they fix it. So, if you're buying it online or at a store, you'll be just fine. I've had white iPhones since the iPhone 3g in 2008 and they're all still fine.

Coolness concerns

Black is almost always the most popular color for electronics and electronics accessories. That's why it's so common. It's literally the hot little black number. However, true black is incredibly hard to anodize, which is why the dark iPhone 5 was closer to charcoal and the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus is closer to graphite. Gray may not look as cool as blackout black, but it'll likely still be the default for many people.

That said, some people just love white phones. They stand out more and can be more obvious with brightly colored cases. Black phones tend to disappear more, and let the accessories be the star.

Likewise, for some people gold looks hot, or portents prosperity. Others might worry it comes off as chintzy or tacky. It's neither of those things. It's just gold. If you like it, if it appeals to you, if it represents what you want in an iPhone color, than it absolutely doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

This year the rose gold iPhone is the new hotness, so whether you've simply been wishing for a pinker iPhone or you always want everyone to know you have the latest and the greatest, it's the one to show off with.

4. Withstanding wear

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus have 7000 series aluminum unibodies. On the silver iPhones, it's clear coated but not otherwise treated. That means if there's a scratch or chip, it's not particularly noticeable unless the light hits it just so. The space gray, gold, and rose gold iPhones are anodized.

Since dark colors are the hardest to anodize, that means any chip or scratch on the space gray model might be more easily noticeable under a wider range of lighting conditions. Since gold is much easier to anodize and much lighter, it'll likely be somewhere in the middle.

Some people don't care. Like any great object, some people feel wear makes and iPhone look even better. If the idea of wear bothers you, however, you'll want to skew towards the white models.

5. Cases closed

For many people the color of the phone they get is of only passing concern, because they'll lock it up in a case the moment it leaves the box. Depending on the design, however, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will still show through. For example, many cases don't cover the face plate and some cut out the Apple logo and the buttons and ports.

Just because you're wearing a jacket doesn't mean the clothes you have on beneath don't matter. Choose a color you love, then add a case you love to complete the look. (They're accessories because they accessorize!).

If you already have a case you love, pick the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus color that either makes it pop (black) or helps it shine (white). Either way, make sure you love the phone you get regardless of the accessories you may or may not add - or keep - to it later.

Who should get the space gray iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus?

If you want a color that won't distract you when you game or watch video, that absolutely won't discolor, even if it does show wear and tear a little more visibly, that's closer to timeless even if it's also more reserved, then get the space gray and black iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

It's the classic for a reason.

Who should get the silver iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus?

If you want a color that draws more attention in its own right and stands out better from the crowd (without being overly fussy about it), that may be more of a distraction but that doesn't show damage as much, then get the silver and white iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

Who should get the gold iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus?

If you want to stand out as much as possible while doing so, that you're also not as easily distracted and enjoy that it doesn't show damage as much, if a little tasteful bling is your thing, then get the gold and white iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

Who should get the rose gold iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus?

If you've always wanted a pinker iPhone or what matters most to you is that you have the color exclusive to the latest, greatest iPhone so everyone knows you have the latest, greatest iPhone, then get the rose gold iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

Still undecided?

If you're still not sure about the color jump into our iPhone forums and the best community on the web will happily help you out.

At the end of the day, the only real answer is get the color you like best. Nothing else matters. Just close your eyes, picture your iPhone in your hand, and carefully look at what color you're picturing. Then buy that. And if you change your mind later, you can get a case. Once you've decided, though, et me know—which color did you go with and why?










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