How much faster is Touch ID on the iPhone 6s?

By Serenity Caldwell
last updated

Some folks are still eagerly awaiting their iPhone 6s and 6s Plus deliveries, while others have yet to decide whether they want to pick up the phone. Regardless of your iPhone 6s-less state, one of the big questions we've heard lately is about Touch ID: Is it really twice as fast as the iPhone 6?

Answer: With few exceptions, yes!

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The video above shows three different Touch ID tests I ran my iPhone 6s and iPhone 6 through.

The first test involves putting a fingerprint on the sensor after the screen is already on. The 6s did dramatically better than the 6 in all my tries, frequently arriving on the Home screen two and three times as fast as the iPhone 6.

For the second test, I turned on my iPhone 6s and 6 by pressing the Home button and keeping my finger on the button. The 6 actually comes remarkably close to the 6s in this test, lagging only a few milliseconds behind.

The final test, however, is the kicker: Again, I started with my device off and woke it with the Home button, but this time, I immediately lifted my thumb and then replaced it. On the third test, every single time I woke my 6s with the Home button—even if I barely put my thumbprint on it—the phone immediately went to the home screen. The 6 never triggered directly to the Home screen from a wake press; I had to rest my thumb several seconds more to get it to register.

Just early tests, and we'll do more thorough ones in the weeks to come. But in short: New Touch ID? Fast. Very fast.

Serenity Caldwell
Serenity Caldwell

Serenity was formerly the Managing Editor at iMore, and now works for Apple. She's been talking, writing about, and tinkering with Apple products since she was old enough to double-click. In her spare time, she sketches, sings, and in her secret superhero life, plays roller derby. Follow her on Twitter @settern.

28 Comments
  • I want one Ren!
  • third test results could be an issue, or at least require some getting used to. i like to use the home button to wake the phone just to check for notifications. however it seems like chances are high that it will register your finger (provided it's registered with Touch ID) and unlock the phone unless you're super quick about removing your finger.
  • Yes totally! I am really used to hitting the home button to check the time or my notifications and it has been so fast that it opened the phone each time. Sent from the iMore App
  • You can also just click the 'power' button on the side of the phone instead of the home button if you just want a quick glance of the screen.
  • And that's the issue I'm having Sent from the iMore App
  • Or you can use a non-registered finger to do that...
  • Yeah, especially when you pick out the iPhone from the pocket and you're using one hand.... Sent from the iMore App
  • I have this problem. I will try to use another finger or the on/off button. Needs some getting used to! But I won't complain, this Touch ID 2 blows me away, it is amazingly fast.
  • Comparing it to my iPad Air 2 with the previous version of Touch ID, I'm extremely impressed by the speed of which my new iPhone 6s Plus recognises my fingerprint - literally as I place my finger on the home button! Sent from the iMore App
  • To me, the only time Touch ID is slow on my 6 plus is unlocking the phone. All my banking apps and such that use Touch ID to login are near instantaneous.
  • Going to agree. Not only that but sometimes it hangs and I have to swipe or press the button to enter the phone. I don't have to type a password, but additional input is needed to get off the lock screen. All other times Touch ID is pretty fast. Sent from the iMore App
  • Does the 6s Touch ID work any better than the 6 when moisture is involved?
  • Too fast.
  • Yeah even with 6 its hard to see notifications. Wasnt there an article here or idb said apple did something so it is easier to see them?
  • http://www.imore.com/how-view-your-iphones-notifications-date-instead-app
  • That doesn't really solve the problem though. Especially now with bigger phones. In that scenario I would hit the home button, the phone would spring open then I would have to shift the phone in my hand to swipe down for the notifications. Or dbl tap the home button and swipe down without shifting the iPhone. Not really good UX.
  • How about 3D Touch for waking the screen (also)? The Touch ID is "too" fast and navigates instantly to the home screen? That's a solution. Sent from the iMore App
  • It's so fast. It's awesome! Sent from the iMore App
  • Wicked fast. Amazing!
  • So the Touch ID is the same in 5s and 6?? Or... Sent from the iMore App
  • What about Reachability? Is it faster too?? Sent from the iMore App
  • I love how fast it is on my 6s Plus compared to my old 5s. Only issue I have run across is sometimes unlocking with Touch ID will cause a slight freeze on the home screen. Otherwise, it's great.
  • I'm glad I'm not the only one with that problem. I couldn't figure out why there was some unresponsiveness after waking from sleep. I decided that it had to be due to the Touch ID being so fast that the home screen can't keep up! Sent from the iMore App
  • So fast I have to relearn my opening the phone to see just the time and notifications. It's great and yes it's too fast and amazing that that's even possible. So I'm not complaining. Sent from the iMore App
  • My experience with the new Touch ID in 6S is extremely fast now than the 6+. No I just do a quick press to the home button and read my print and open right away. Awesome improvement! Sent from the iMore App
  • So fast I'm going to have to de-register one of my fingers just so I can read the notification screen or check the time. Here's what MKBHD thinks: https://twitter.com/MKBHD/status/647744151308627968
  • Yes iphone touch is very fast Sent from the iMore App
  • I'm all for a faster Touch ID, but i'm still waiting on the 7. Just not enough to leave my 6. Hopefully then we finally see the demise of 16 GB