Apple iPhone 6S Plus 2018 Quick Review : Should You Still Buy It?
"Mark, I've had my Apple iPhone 6S Plus for almost three years now but, I don't know, I can't seem to let go of it to upgrade to a new iPhone. Sure, the Apple iPhone X looks great with that all-screen face but I just don't feel compelled to ditch my current handset and to grab that updated model. As an Apple fan, am I wrong to feel this way?
That's what my friend asked me earlier while we were having coffee at Starbucks SM San Lazaro amidst the thunderstorm that's currently over Manila. He knows I am also a big Apple fan.
"Not at all," I answered. "Did you know that the Apple iPhone 6S Plus is still part of the company's current product line-up? Apple is still selling that model in the company's official websites all around the world, even here in the Philippines. It means that there's still a demand for it."
"Even after all these years?!" He retorted. "Why do people still want this particular iPhone model?"
I replied, "I believe there are several reasons why. Let me dedicate an entire blog post on TechPinas for that and I'll send a link to you once I'm done writing it."
Update as of September 12, 2018: Apple iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, along with the Apple iPhone X and Apple iPhone SE, have just been officially discontinued by the Cupertino company. I know. It's really sad but there's no helping it. It's Apple decision and we'll just have to live with it.
Kevin, my friend, this entry is for you; I worked on it as soon as I got home. I hope that you and other Apple fans would find it useful.
Here are my reasons why the Apple iPhone 6S Plus remains to be a compelling purchase in 2018 - almost three years after it launched.
1. The Design Is Still Trendy
I'll be frank. Apple iPhone 6S Plus looks almost exactly like the Apple iPhone 8 Plus, which was launched just in 2017. In fact, many non-techie people still have a hard time figuring out which one is which between those two models. Clearly, this only means that the 2015 release still looks hip and trendy. Add to that the fact that there are more than a handful of handset makers these days that still copy this design language; The look is everywhere.
2. Apple iPhone 6S Plus Can Run The Latest Version of iOS
I've just installed iOS 11.3 on my own iPhone 6S Plus and earlier, I checked for software updates and iOS 11.4 is ready for download. Later this year, this model will also receive iOS 12, which - according to Apple - will bring performance improves across the system, including 70% faster camera launch time and 50% faster typing experience.
3. It's a Reliable Point-and-Shoot Camera Substitute
Apple iPhone 6S Plus features a 12 MegaPixel iSight camera at the back with 1.22µ pixels, enhanced local tone mapping, and noise reduction. But what's really amazing about this shooter is that it features Optical Image Stabilization for both stills and videos -- thanks to a 'floating lens' that moves to compensate for movement or shaking when taking photos and recording clips.
If you love to take selfies, the 5 MegaPixel front cam with Retina Flash should be good enough to deliver decent-looking self-portraits in various lighting conditions. If you require beautification software, you can always download apps like Youcam Perfect, which works perfectly with the Apple iPhone 6S Plus.
Apple iPhone models that followed this release all have far better low light imaging capabilities. But I think that, in well-lit conditions - especially outdoors under good sunlight, the Apple iPhone 6 Plus' main shooter can still stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of them in terms of capturing colors and details.
4. The Large Display Doesn't Have a Notch and It Has 3D Touch
Some people are OK with the notch. Some people still hate it. If you belong to the latter, then I don't imagine you'd have any issues with the Apple iPhone 6S Plus' classic face -- replete with a clear and crisp 5.5-inch Full HD Retina Display framed by thick bezels for good proportion.
On top of that, like the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, the iPhone 6S Plus' glass touchscreen incorporates 3D Touch, which detects subtle changes in pressure, allowing you to input "half" and "full" clicks. This innovation enables new gestures like the 'Peek and Pop' that lets the user make commands or perform actions without the need to fully open an application.
5. Apple iPhone 6S Plus Remains To Be a Beast of a Handset
Going by the high 150,428 Antutu Benchmark Score that my Apple iPhone 6S Plus got when I ran the test on it earlier, it's clear that this 2015 model can still run the most resource-intensive applications and games that you can download from the Apple App Store. In fact, I've just recently installed the very popular Fortnite mobile version on it and the handset runs that title very smoothly; No lags or stuttering at all!
Of course, newer iPhone releases would have more beastly innards compared to the Apple iPhone 6S Plus -- but what I'm saying is that, if you get this model, you can still get a fun and enjoyable gaming experience and daily performance from it.
6. It Has a 3.5mm Audio Jack and A Fingerprint Scanner
Some of the best headphones in the market are wired ones and if you have several of those in your collection, you'd be glad to know that you can use them all on the Apple iPhone 6S Plus as it still has a 3.5mm audio jack, a feature that the Cupertino company has altogether removed on its newer handsets, starting on the Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, which were released in 2016. In fact, the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus are the last two iPhones to have this much needed hardware component for entertainment.
To make the Apple iPhone X's screen bigger without increasing the footprint of the device, the company had opted to remove the familiar Fingerprint Scanner on its face. While many Apple fans have accepted this and are now good with Facial Recognition for unlocking their iPhone X, some of my friends who own this model are still missing the Fingerprint Scanner, which - they say - is faster and more convenient to use than face scan.
Plus, This Model is Now More Affordable Than Ever
As of today - June 9, 2018, the 32GB version of Apple iPhone 6S Plus goes for only $549 USD in the United States while the 128GB variant sells for $649 USD. Here in the Philippines, the same versions have an official suggested retail price of PHP 35,490 and PHP 41,990, respectively.
For comparison, the 64GB version Apple iPhone 8 Plus - which has better low-light imaging performance and more powerful internal hardware - sells for $799 USD while the 256GB variant goes for $949 USD in the United States. In PH, the same models have an SRP of PHP 51,490 and PHP 60,990, respectively, via Apple Store website.
There you have it! Those are my 6+ reasons why the Apple iPhone 6 Plus remains to be a desirable handset even after three years of its release. Do you agree with me or not? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below or by messaging me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Let's talk. Cheers!
That's what my friend asked me earlier while we were having coffee at Starbucks SM San Lazaro amidst the thunderstorm that's currently over Manila. He knows I am also a big Apple fan.
"Not at all," I answered. "Did you know that the Apple iPhone 6S Plus is still part of the company's current product line-up? Apple is still selling that model in the company's official websites all around the world, even here in the Philippines. It means that there's still a demand for it."
"Even after all these years?!" He retorted. "Why do people still want this particular iPhone model?"
I replied, "I believe there are several reasons why. Let me dedicate an entire blog post on TechPinas for that and I'll send a link to you once I'm done writing it."
Update as of September 12, 2018: Apple iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, along with the Apple iPhone X and Apple iPhone SE, have just been officially discontinued by the Cupertino company. I know. It's really sad but there's no helping it. It's Apple decision and we'll just have to live with it.
Kevin, my friend, this entry is for you; I worked on it as soon as I got home. I hope that you and other Apple fans would find it useful.
Here are my reasons why the Apple iPhone 6S Plus remains to be a compelling purchase in 2018 - almost three years after it launched.
1. The Design Is Still Trendy
I'll be frank. Apple iPhone 6S Plus looks almost exactly like the Apple iPhone 8 Plus, which was launched just in 2017. In fact, many non-techie people still have a hard time figuring out which one is which between those two models. Clearly, this only means that the 2015 release still looks hip and trendy. Add to that the fact that there are more than a handful of handset makers these days that still copy this design language; The look is everywhere.
2. Apple iPhone 6S Plus Can Run The Latest Version of iOS
I've just installed iOS 11.3 on my own iPhone 6S Plus and earlier, I checked for software updates and iOS 11.4 is ready for download. Later this year, this model will also receive iOS 12, which - according to Apple - will bring performance improves across the system, including 70% faster camera launch time and 50% faster typing experience.
3. It's a Reliable Point-and-Shoot Camera Substitute
Apple iPhone 6S Plus features a 12 MegaPixel iSight camera at the back with 1.22µ pixels, enhanced local tone mapping, and noise reduction. But what's really amazing about this shooter is that it features Optical Image Stabilization for both stills and videos -- thanks to a 'floating lens' that moves to compensate for movement or shaking when taking photos and recording clips.
If you love to take selfies, the 5 MegaPixel front cam with Retina Flash should be good enough to deliver decent-looking self-portraits in various lighting conditions. If you require beautification software, you can always download apps like Youcam Perfect, which works perfectly with the Apple iPhone 6S Plus.
Apple iPhone models that followed this release all have far better low light imaging capabilities. But I think that, in well-lit conditions - especially outdoors under good sunlight, the Apple iPhone 6 Plus' main shooter can still stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of them in terms of capturing colors and details.
4. The Large Display Doesn't Have a Notch and It Has 3D Touch
Some people are OK with the notch. Some people still hate it. If you belong to the latter, then I don't imagine you'd have any issues with the Apple iPhone 6S Plus' classic face -- replete with a clear and crisp 5.5-inch Full HD Retina Display framed by thick bezels for good proportion.
On top of that, like the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, the iPhone 6S Plus' glass touchscreen incorporates 3D Touch, which detects subtle changes in pressure, allowing you to input "half" and "full" clicks. This innovation enables new gestures like the 'Peek and Pop' that lets the user make commands or perform actions without the need to fully open an application.
5. Apple iPhone 6S Plus Remains To Be a Beast of a Handset
Going by the high 150,428 Antutu Benchmark Score that my Apple iPhone 6S Plus got when I ran the test on it earlier, it's clear that this 2015 model can still run the most resource-intensive applications and games that you can download from the Apple App Store. In fact, I've just recently installed the very popular Fortnite mobile version on it and the handset runs that title very smoothly; No lags or stuttering at all!
Of course, newer iPhone releases would have more beastly innards compared to the Apple iPhone 6S Plus -- but what I'm saying is that, if you get this model, you can still get a fun and enjoyable gaming experience and daily performance from it.
6. It Has a 3.5mm Audio Jack and A Fingerprint Scanner
Some of the best headphones in the market are wired ones and if you have several of those in your collection, you'd be glad to know that you can use them all on the Apple iPhone 6S Plus as it still has a 3.5mm audio jack, a feature that the Cupertino company has altogether removed on its newer handsets, starting on the Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, which were released in 2016. In fact, the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus are the last two iPhones to have this much needed hardware component for entertainment.
To make the Apple iPhone X's screen bigger without increasing the footprint of the device, the company had opted to remove the familiar Fingerprint Scanner on its face. While many Apple fans have accepted this and are now good with Facial Recognition for unlocking their iPhone X, some of my friends who own this model are still missing the Fingerprint Scanner, which - they say - is faster and more convenient to use than face scan.
Plus, This Model is Now More Affordable Than Ever
As of today - June 9, 2018, the 32GB version of Apple iPhone 6S Plus goes for only $549 USD in the United States while the 128GB variant sells for $649 USD. Here in the Philippines, the same versions have an official suggested retail price of PHP 35,490 and PHP 41,990, respectively.
For comparison, the 64GB version Apple iPhone 8 Plus - which has better low-light imaging performance and more powerful internal hardware - sells for $799 USD while the 256GB variant goes for $949 USD in the United States. In PH, the same models have an SRP of PHP 51,490 and PHP 60,990, respectively, via Apple Store website.
There you have it! Those are my 6+ reasons why the Apple iPhone 6 Plus remains to be a desirable handset even after three years of its release. Do you agree with me or not? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below or by messaging me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Let's talk. Cheers!
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