The new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus are great. If you're in the market for a smartphone, you should buy one - but not for the reasons you might think.
As is usually the case in an "S" year, Apple has refined last year's model. There are some new features alongside the processor-upgrading and general screw-tightening we've come to expect. Naturally, the new features are getting the most attention. By out count, there are three this year: 3D Touch, Live Photos, and upgrades to the front-facing camera.
3D Touch is a pressure-sensitive layer that's been added to the iPhone's display, allowing you to access shortcuts and previews when you press down on an icon or link. It's a bit like right-clicking on a mouse. The question remains: What can you do with it? Right now, not all that much.
The second big change is something Apple's calling Live Photos. In addition to upgrading the iPhone's rear-facing camera to 12 megapixels, when you open the camera app, the phone is already buffering the second and a half of audio and video before the shutter is released. When you decide to take a picture, the camera includes brief, lo-res video from the moments before and after you release the shutter.
The last upgrade of note is the way the 6S and 6S Plus can take selfies. The problem with front-facing cameras is that they often lack a flash capacity. Instead of adding a second flash, Apple has turned the display into one when needed. It's mightily clever and completely automatic. Maybe that's what's most impressive about the new iPhones - the things that fade into the background. Apple's A9 processor just screams with speed. Moving between apps is lightning fast. Fast-moving games are smooth. The Touch ID sensor is instantaneous: By the time you've pressed the home button to wake up the phone, you've already authenticated yourself and are on the home screen. The new iPhones can get on faster Wi-Fi and 4G networks.
The best thing about the 6S and 6S Plus isn't all the new stuff to pay attention to, it's all the stuff you never notice.
Display: 4.7-inch, 750x1,334p at 326 ppi
Processor: Apple A9
RAM: 2GB
Camera (rear/front): 12MP with dual-LED flash; 5MP
As is usually the case in an "S" year, Apple has refined last year's model. There are some new features alongside the processor-upgrading and general screw-tightening we've come to expect. Naturally, the new features are getting the most attention. By out count, there are three this year: 3D Touch, Live Photos, and upgrades to the front-facing camera.
3D Touch is a pressure-sensitive layer that's been added to the iPhone's display, allowing you to access shortcuts and previews when you press down on an icon or link. It's a bit like right-clicking on a mouse. The question remains: What can you do with it? Right now, not all that much.
The second big change is something Apple's calling Live Photos. In addition to upgrading the iPhone's rear-facing camera to 12 megapixels, when you open the camera app, the phone is already buffering the second and a half of audio and video before the shutter is released. When you decide to take a picture, the camera includes brief, lo-res video from the moments before and after you release the shutter.
The last upgrade of note is the way the 6S and 6S Plus can take selfies. The problem with front-facing cameras is that they often lack a flash capacity. Instead of adding a second flash, Apple has turned the display into one when needed. It's mightily clever and completely automatic. Maybe that's what's most impressive about the new iPhones - the things that fade into the background. Apple's A9 processor just screams with speed. Moving between apps is lightning fast. Fast-moving games are smooth. The Touch ID sensor is instantaneous: By the time you've pressed the home button to wake up the phone, you've already authenticated yourself and are on the home screen. The new iPhones can get on faster Wi-Fi and 4G networks.
The best thing about the 6S and 6S Plus isn't all the new stuff to pay attention to, it's all the stuff you never notice.
Display: 4.7-inch, 750x1,334p at 326 ppi
Processor: Apple A9
RAM: 2GB
Camera (rear/front): 12MP with dual-LED flash; 5MP
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