iPhone 6S Review

iPhones 6 Plus Review

At first glance, the new batch of iPhones appear to adhere to what we’ve come to expect from an evolutionary update to what we see from Apple and the upgrades.

Apple first introduced the iPhone “s” variants in 2009. The label stood for speed back then, but is now indicative of a “tock” in Apple’s annual tick-tock release cadence. S models are typically characterised by modest refinements, and while they traditionally afford at least one defining feature — the iPhone 4s introduced Siri and the 5s delivered Touch ID — they aren’t known for generating the same sort of fanfare as generational updates.

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus share much of the same hardware as last year’s models, though there are some noteworthy differences.

I took the decision to upgrade from my iPhone 5C to the iPhone 6S. I could not fault the phone but after dropping the iPhone 5C one too many times I made the decision to upgrade the phone and have always had an iPhone since they first launch. I have used all types of phones along with the iPhone.

The iPhone 6s Plus features the same 5.5-inch LED-backlit Retina display as last year’s model, sporting a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 that translates to 401 pixels per inch. Other display specifications include a 1300:1 contrast ratio, 500 cd/m2 max brightness and a full sRGB color gamut.

The big takeaway here is that Apple continues to use a 1080p display at a time when much of the flagship-level competition has moved to 1440p panels. The merit of that decision is worth considering: 1440p displays include 78 percent more pixels than their 1080p counterparts. More pixels translate to a sharper display, but the tradeoff is that it takes more processing power – and in turn, more juice from the battery – to push those extra pixels.

We’ll see how having to push fewer pixels affects performance in a bit but in terms of visuals, the iPhone 6s Plus’ display looks great. Images and text are incredibly sharp without being over-saturated. Brightness levels are also quite acceptable; in a side-by-side comparison with last year’s 6 Plus, both displays look virtually identical and exhibit the same maximum brightness levels.

Powering the new iPhones is Apple’s own 64-bit dual-core A9 “Twister” SoC clocked at 1.85GHz with 2GB of RAM on tap. Apple has also embedded its M9 motion co-processor directly into the SoC, allowing it to remain on at all times.

A dual-core chip with 2GB of RAM seems slow by today’s mobile standards but we must remember that this is a highly optimised solution that’s built specifically for iOS (and vice-versa). Factor in the lower resolution display and Apple’s claim of a 70 percent faster CPU and 90 percent faster GPU (compared to last year’s A8) might not be all that far-fetched.

This year’s iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are offered with your choice of 16GB, 64GB and 128GB of flash storage in silver, gold, space grey and a new color, rose gold. Curiously enough, the 16GB option is still hanging around and hasn’t yet been replaced with 32GB. Given the continued proliferation of apps as well as the camera upgrades, those opting for the 16GB model will almost certainly run into storage concerns. I really can’t see why would still offer the 16GB one minimum should really be 32GB I went for the 64GB one and my fiancée who I upgraded at the time went for the 128GB as was full on the 64GB 5S she was using before.

The iPhone 6s Plus measures 7.3mm thick – up from 7.1mm a year ago – and tips the scales at 6.77 ounces (192 grams) versus the original Plus at 6.07 ounces (172 grams). The additional weight is noticeable although the added thickness probably isn’t enough to warrant a new protective case for those upgrading from last year’s model.

It’s uncharacteristic for Apple to put out a new phone that’s both heavier and this thicker than its predecessor. So, what gives?

The new aluminium is only a minor contributor as it adds just two grams to the 6s Plus. Rather, it’s the 3D Touch-enabling display that weights more than twice as much as the previous panel. With that kind of compromise, Apple must be pretty confident in its new Apple Watch-inspired technology.

Speaking of the display, it’s coated in a sheet of glass that uses a dual ion-exchange process to make it stronger on the molecular level. Apple clearly hasn’t managed to find a manufacturer that can produce the hardened sapphire glass it wants to use following the blunder that was GT Advanced Technologies.

Touch ID, new camera and secret water resistance

Apple’s fingerprint authorisation system built into the Home button is back and better than ever. In fact, it may be too good. Touch ID is now incredibly fast, unlocking the phone almost instantaneously. This presents a problem when you simply want to check the time or a notification on the lock screen and may force you to use an unauthorised finger or press the power button to do so without unlocking the phone.

Something else that’s been upgraded is the rear iSight camera. Apple has traded in its 8-megapixel rear shooter for a 12-megapixel variant with 1.22µ pixels, offering 50 percent more pixels than before. The camera features a five-element lens with f/2.2 aperture and a sapphire lens cover. There’s also the familiar true tone flash and optical image stabilisation although the latter is only a feature of the 6s Plus.

3D Touch

Apple’s new 3D touch-enabled screen takes multi-touch to the next level by adding a third dimension: pressure. It’s sort of like Force Touch on the Apple Watch, but with special features for the iPhone and different levels of pressure. Apple calls it “3D Touch.” A light press on the screen will bring up a preview of content, whether it be an image, a website, or an itinerary. If you keep pressing, you’ll enter the content you selected. It allows you to dip in and out of where you are without losing context. The background of the app you’re in blurs out a bit, so you can see a preview on top.