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Review: Apple iPhone 6s Plus

Hardware Software Wrap-Up Comments 3

It's not a stretch to say the iPhone 6s Plus is the best iPhone Apple has ever made. I am generally not all that impressed with the odd-year "S" models, but this time around things are different. The 6s Plus is significantly better than its immediate predecessor, and most of the competition. The 6s Plus may look identical to last year's iPhone, but nearly everything that counts has been improved.

The hardware is as refined as always; the display impresses; wireless network performance is top-notch; and battery life is quite good. I wish it were a bit better for making phone calls, but it still does well enough.

3D Touch sets the iPhone 6s Plus apart the most. It adds a layer of shortcuts to the home screen that can speed up certain activities. Its initial feature set is somewhat limited, but I expect it to expand rapidly. Some may be unimpressed, but 3D Touch is only going to get better with time.

The camera is the other big selling point for the iPhone 6s Plus. The improved sensor takes better pictures and Live Photos are a fun new feature that will surely delight many. The user-facing camera receives a huge boost in performance thanks to the new sensor and flash.

Who is the iPhone 6s Plus for? If you're using an iPhone older than the 2013 iPhone 5s, please go out and get the 6s or 6s Plus right away. If you have a 6 Plus from last year, the 6s Plus is enough of a jump that I'd recommend it, but only if you can sell your old phone to offset the cost.

Speaking of which, the iPhone 6s Plus is pricey. The 64GB model costs $849. Most competing devices — even the Galaxy Note 5 — cost less. It may be out of reach for many people, but installment plans from the carriers are one option to make it a more palatable purchase.

The Galaxy Note 5 may be the best Android device in the market, but the iPhone 6s Plus is the best smartphone in the market.

Our Ratings

Overall

Reception

Battery Life

Hardware Usability

Hardware Quality

Display

Interface Speed

Audio Volume

Camera

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Apple iPhone 6s Plus

5.5" display FHD+ resolution
Apple A9 processor 2 GB RAM
Headphone Jack (3.5mm), NFC, Fingerprint Reader

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