First iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus Press Reviews Hit the Web [Roundup]

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There are only four more days to go until the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are available in stores, and the first reviews have already hit the Web. While Apple has highlighted some of the key features of the devices, such as the 5 MP FaceTime and 12 MP rear camera sensors, with 4K video recording, 3D Touch and Live Photos, it is interesting to see what these journalists think about these features and more after using the device for a week – especially if you are waiting for yours to ship.

Overall, the reviewers seem to agree that the iPhone 6s is definitely a nice upgrade considering the features it packs. We have gathered a few of the reviews that went live today.

The Verge:

One of my favorite features of 3D Touch is that, if you press down hard on the keyboard while writing or editing, it becomes a trackpad, for easy and precise cursor placement and text selection. After a few days, I found 3D Touch natural and useful. But it feels like it’s just getting started. For one thing, it only works on Apple’s own apps for now, though it is available for third party apps, and I’m anxious to see what developers do with it. Games, in particular, could make great use of 3D Touch. Apple says Apps like Instagram, Pinterest, Dropbox and Facebook plan to support 3D Touch.

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The Wall Street Journal:

The absolute best thing about the 6s is Live Photos. While capturing a still photo, it also captures a bit of live action. They’re awesome for reliving fun moments, especially of an active puppy or child, and anyone with an iOS 9 iPhone or iPad can view them. But they generally take up two to three times as much space as an iPhone 6 pic because they also save three seconds of video. Sure, you can turn them off, but you won’t want to.

The New York Times:

For those with an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, the new 3D Touch and Live Photos perks aren’t substantive enough to make it worth upgrading to a 6s. While Apple improved the camera resolution and designed the 6s and 6s Plus with stronger metal and glass than the last iPhones, a major component — battery life — was not improved. It would be wiser to hold off until the next version, which will most likely include more significant improvements.

Mashable:

Is it a must-have upgrade? No, unless you must have gorgeous 4K video and can’t live without the innovative 3D Touch. By sheer volume, iOS 9 probably adds more feature enhancements than the iPhone 6S Plus, and you can get it for free.

This doesn’t diminish Apple’s accomplishment. Take me, for instance: Now that I’ve had a taste of 4K and Peek and Pop, I don’t know if I can go back.

TechCrunch:

I was incredibly impressed by the differences in camera quality between the iPhone 6 Plus and the iPhone 6s Plus. It’s very, very noticeable and very welcome. The images aren’t over-sharpened because they don’t need to be — the detail is already there. The shots I took at night are pleasantly grainy, not so noise-reduced that they’re muddy blobby messes. The stabilization in the iPhone 6s Plus is still a very good reason for iPhone photographers to upgrade over the iPhone 6s — though both have ‘cinematic’ stabilization done in software.

Vogue:

If you default to taking photographs on your iPhone when it is to hand, then the latest camera technology is likely to sound the death knell for the traditional camera – the iSight Camera is more sophisticated than ever, making it easier to get great images even in low light. Also, the “peek and pop” functionality appears in camera too – a small icon appears in the left corner pulling in the last image you took, so you can quickly review it and then decide whether you need to take an additional shot.

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