Review: iPhone 6S Plus

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

3D Touch is especially useful with a larger device like the iPhone 6S Plus since one finger can suddenly access myriad options decided on simply by force.  When I’m scanning messages, I can ‘peek’ to get a bigger picture of what Is behind the message and if I need to act on it (i.e. respond quickly), I can ‘Pop’ in and do so.

Reliable, long-lasting and extremely competent, the iPhone 6S Plus continues building on the reputation of its predecessor and makes Apple’s largest smartphone one of the most powerful and multifunctional mobile devices in the market today.

Like with most supersized smartphones, the iPhone 6S Plus either fits you or it doesn’t. If it is too large, or too heavy to carry or use in one hand, the smaller iPhone 6S is probably your best option.

For me, the iPhone 6S Plus is a work device. It handles all my communications, it is my in-car entertainment and navigation tool, it is my go to personal camera and my back-up professional camera and one that’s already saved me when I needed to capture images or video to accompany stories for this website.

That doesn’t even include all the apps that I rely on. Uber to get rides in various cities, Apple Wallet to store movie, plane and concert tickets plus various points cards. Access to my Canary home security camera system so I can watch my cats and various work and personal apps that help me get through the day without having to sit down at the computer unless it is absolutely necessary.

Aside from the size difference, the iPhone 6S Plus offers a larger display with almost 2K worth of pixels. The 5.5-inch 1920 by 1080 display as a ppi. (pixels per inch) of 410 and is tack sharp and also responsive thanks to the new Apple A9 chip and also 2GB of onboard RAM.

Consider that Apple designs its own silicon and has it built to spec to serve the tightly integrated OS they also create and the performance and efficiency gains are very impressive. Even after almost a month of constant use, the iPhone 6S Plus feels telepathically fast in almost every way.

The new 3D Touch feature, which senses touch and offers vibration feedback via a Taptic Engine, enhances how many popular apps and features are accessed and managed.

3D Touch is especially useful with a larger device like the iPhone 6S since one finger can suddenly access myriad options decided on simply by force.  When I’m scanning messages, I can ‘peek’ to get a bigger picture of what Is behind the message and if I need to act on it (i.e. respond quickly), I can ‘Pop’ in and do so.

This seems like a small and simple thing, but when multiplied dozens of times a day, makes for a real lifesaver. While 3D Touch was initially offered by Apple’s apps, other developers have reshaped their app’s functionality to take advantage of the feature. Carrot Weather and Tweetbot are just a few of my go to apps that have done a great job incorporating 3D Touch. 

I have gotten so used to 3D Touch that I've found myself trying it on non iPhone review devices out of force of habit, it is just one of those features that makes so much sense after you get used to it that you unconsciously look for it.

It also features Optical Image Stabilisation for its 12-megapixel camera. This means a huge leap forward in shooting videos and even still photos without a tripod. The iPhone 6S Plus is a reliable shooter in most conditions. Apple does include some of its own post processing but you will rarely get a poor image.

The iPhone 6S Plus’s camera capabilities make it the best iOS device for serious, almost pro-quality video capture. While Apple has omitted RAW photo output, which would have made it possible to capture more image information (better for editing in post), I doubt that the majority of iPhone users will miss this feature.

Live Photos is another features that, if used properly, can really amp up an image and turn it into a special moment. Too bad, though, that you can't freely share Live Photos on Instagram, Facebook or other forms of social media. This is a deficiency that Instagram has even capitalized on with their Boomerang app (takes short video snippets), which isn't anywhere as smooth as Live Photos.

Having covered various tech press events this past two weeks, I’ve noticed that the iPhone 6 Plus or iPhone 6S Plus is the go-to device for many journalists and reporters heading into crowded press conferences and events. One device is sufficient to take notes, record audio and take product photos for instant sharing online or posting on their blogs. That they could also shoot HD video with the same device is simply a big bonus.

While iPhone 6S Plus is already reinforced with stronger Cover Glass and Aluminum and seems to have been hardened sufficiently to withstand scratches, I like the added protection and convenience of a case. I ordered a BellRoy iPhone Case 3 Card for the iPhone 6S Plus, this is made of high grade materials and even includes a small slot for a nanoSIM card, which makes it easy to switch whenever I travel.

There’s not much more I can say for the iPhone 6S Plus, it has all the qualities and attributes of the iPhone 6S but adds a larger display, better camera capabilities and guarantees over a day and a half of battery use which makes it a great phone for work and for play. Granted, its larger size does pose some challenges for anyone with smaller hands or who prefers a more pocketable iPhone experience, but as someone whose eyes and hands have gotten used to the iPhone 6S Plus' benefits, it's the most practical choice for my needs.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5