Reviewing the iPhone 6s and iOS 9: Six months later

App Store on iPhone
(Image: © iMore)

It's been an eventful six months for iPhone and iOS: Though the 6s is just a half-year old, it's been joined by a 4-inch upstart — the iPhone SE — and iOS 9 has seen three significant updates, culminating with iOS 9.3. Is the iPhone 6s still best in class? Have any of our iOS wish list items been checked? Here's our six-month review.

First: Are you still happy with the iPhone 6s and iOS 9?

Rene

Yeah. Hell yeah. For the last couple weeks I've been shrink-graded to the iPhone SE, but my heart is still with iPhone 6s Plus. It's everything I loved about the bigger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus but with the convenience of 3D Touch and a much-improved camera. Oh, and ludicrous speed.

iOS 9 wasn't as transformational as iOS 7, which had a whole new design, or iOS 8, which changed the functionality game with extensions, but it's been solid. The biggest thing it's given me is compatibility with Apple Watch, which is huge but another topic entirely.

Serenity

Internally, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are just about perfect. They have a stunning camera for both photographs and video, blazing fast processor, and I almost never run into slowdowns, even when attempting somewhat memory-intensive tasks. When it comes to the exterior, however, I'm still not convinced. My iPhone 6s is rose gold and stunning — but you'd never know, because I've kept it in a case my entire time with the phone. The slippery rounded bezel is still too prone to slipping out of my hand for me to want to ever risk it caseless; my iPhone 6 still bears gravity's scars, and I'm not stupid enough to do it a second time. Instead, my 6s lives in Apple's Smart Battery Case (opens in new tab), both to keep it protected and to extend its battery life. I had no qualms about my battery life on the 6s Plus, but once I returned to the 6s, mid-day drain became a definite problem for my power-user habits.

iOS 9 has continued to impress as Apple's internal team polishes. There are still bits that elude me — despite the Proactive system being a neat concept, I rarely use anything the phone suggests save for recently-opened apps — but the company has made big strides in solidifying the operating system and pushing forward great initiatives like Night Shift.

Bader

I haven't used the iPhone 6s as much as I thought I would back in September, largely because I immediately gravitated to its larger sibling, the 6s Plus. While I spent most of the previous year with the iPhone 6, thinking its Plus counterpart too big, something coalesced in the intervening 12 months, and now I can't get enough of the 5.5-inch screen.

It also helps that iOS 9, despite lacking picture-in-picture (which I believe to be a fundamental omission from the 6s Plus), feels more like a full-fledged desktop OS than ever before, even on a phone screen. Subtle things, like the interchange between 3D Touch-based multitasking and quick access to content through the Today menu in Notification Center, makes a huge difference in getting things done. And it's so much easier to type on the larger screen, especially in portrait.

Lory

I was never happy with Apple's decision to update its flagship phone exclusively as a larger device. That's why I never upgraded to the iPhone 6 or 6s. Thank goodness Apple launched the iPhone SE this year. I finally have a current model device, but it feels exactly the same as my favorite design, the iPhone 5.

As for iOS 9, overall, I'm pleased. Since updating to iOS 9.3, there are a few features that are even more impressive, like Night Shift mode.

Let's talk iPhone first. What size are you using right now?

Rene

iPhone SE, because shiny and new. But I used the iPhone 6s Plus from September until March, and I'll be back to using it again fairly soon. If the iPhone is a pocket-sized window into the internet and apps, then the iPhone Plus is the biggest such window that will still fit into most pockets.

That means, when I'm out and about, even if I don't have a MacBook or iPad Pro with me, I can still get some measure of work done. Oh, and watch surprise Star Wars or Marvel trailers at a decent size. That's invaluable.

Serenity

I just switched back to an iPhone 6s after months of using 6s Plus — and wow, does it feel better. Now, the 6s Plus has a lot of phone going for it: I love its optically-stabilized video and huge screen, and it's hard to say no to its incredible battery life. But I found that as nice as having an almost-tablet in my pocket is, it's also a bit dangerous if you have a job you can get done with a computer. I'd frequently spend longer amounts of time attempting to work on my 6s Plus rather than switch over to my iPad or Mac — even when the task made far more sense to do on the larger devices. I guess I'm device lazy. Switching back to the 6s has gotten me out of most of these bad habits, and I can't say I hate being able to put my phone comfortably into a pocket again.

Bader

iPhone 6s Plus! But also iPhone SE! And the contrast is so stark it's almost comical. Going between them, as I have been for two weeks or so, allows you to see the diversity of experiences inherent in using the same operating systems with a screen nearly 40% larger and with over two million more pixels.

Subjectively, going back to using a one-handed phone is a relief, but typing is cramped and reading is much more difficult (though it could be due to my quickly-aging eyes!). That said, I'm going to stick with the iPhone SE for a while and see what comes of it.

Lory

iPhone SE in the house!

Are you sticking with the 6s, or are you coveting the SE?

Rene

I'm using the SE because it's review season, and I want to give it a fair shot, and because it really is the fastest engine in the smallest body imaginable. But I'll be back on iPhone 6s Plus eventually.

The display size simply can't be beat for me, and that camera — including the optical image stabilization — is just aces.

And yeah, I do miss 3D Touch when it's not there. I've made it a point to use it to increase my navigational speed and so now I'm pressing hard on the SE and it kinda keeps looking at me like "What's your problem, pressy person?!"

Serenity

I thought very, very briefly about picking up the SE, but in the end, chose the 6s to return to. I love the design and form-factor of the 4-inch screen, but it's just a teensy bit too small for my purposes. 4.7-inch is the sweet spot for my enjoyment — and my pockets. And though most people may look at 3D Touch as a niche feature, I love having it on my iPhone. I use left-edge multitasking constantly, as well as the Settings app's 3D Touch shortcut to turn on Low Power Mode.

Bader

There are a couple of things keeping me from going SE full-time: the vibration motor, which sounds like a chainsaw compared to the Taptic Engine inside the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus; and 3D Touch-based multitasking, which I didn't realize how much I used until I no longer had it in front of me.

Six months in, what's your favorite feature?

Rene

The speed and optics. I'm cheating by bundling them together, but the A9 processor includes the Image Signal Processor (ISP) that helps make the camera so great.

I can grab my phone, take a picture, and have something not only usable, but natural and often times beautiful, without any fuss or muss. And when you just want to capture a moment, especially a fleeting moment, that's all that matters.

Bader

What I can capture with the camera still blows me away. Though Apple may not be alone at the top of the camera pile anymore, I still feel like the A9+12MP iSight consistently offers the best camera experience in the smartphone world. I'm also a huge fan of Live Photos and leave the feature on practically all the time, because I love seeing what little quirks those three seconds of video pick up on either side of the shutter.

Serenity

Seconding Bader. Camera and Live Photos are a constant delight. I've even taken some hero shots for iMore with my iPhone camera over my DSLR — camera you have with you, and all that — and they've come out great. I also really enjoy 3D Touch shortcuts, even if no one else does.

What are you less than thrilled with?

Rene

If Apple would just delete the bezels, double the battery size, and make it twice as light, it would be perfect. Oh, wait? You mean in a universe with physics and stuff. Okay…

I wish iPhone 6s also had OIS. I wish I could double-click the sleep/wake button to quickly access the camera. I wish it had four speakers like iPad Pro, so I didn't cover up the sound so freaking always. I wish the screen was 10-bit and DCI-P3 color space. (Yeah, sure, native @3x would be nice to avoid the scaling flicker, but only when it's power-efficient.)

But those are more hopes for the future than condemnations of the present. Apple made a lot of smart choices with the iPhones 6s, and it shows.

Serenity

Battery life on the 6s isn't great for power users, especially coming from a 6s Plus. The iPhone Smart Battery Case helps a ton, but if I have to hide my beautiful phone in a case, I sure wouldn't mind if Apple put out just a few more colors in its lineup: Rose gold case for Rose gold phone, maybe?

Bader

The iPhone 6s Plus is massive: it's heavier than its predecessor, and compared to other 5.5-inch phones on the market, it feels unwieldy. Apple has to, at some point, improve the screen to bezel ratio, which will hopefully cut down on the amount of extra space above and below the display. While I understand the home button is necessary for a number of tasks, I'm hoping it gets incorporated into display itself at some point — if not iPhone 7, then iPhone 8!

Lory

As I mentioned before, I'm less than thrilled with the size of the iPhone 6s. After watching Ren and Bader taking pictures with their iPhone 6s, I can admit that the larger screen does look like it is great for photography, but it is still too large to be comfortable for me.

What's your number one wish-list item for iPhone 7?

Rene

Lighter. Hey, stop laughing. Seriously. When I use an iPhone 6s Plus I use it constantly. I check messages while out walking, I read before going to bed, and it's still heavy enough that I feel the weight after a while.

Apple's "obsession" with thinness has always been a side effect of lightness, because lightness is core to usability. iPhone 6s Plus traded some lightness for 7000 Series aluminum, a Taptic Engine, and 3D Touch. Just like iPad 3 did for Retina. I'd like to see the Plus get that lightness back and then some. Just like iPad Air.

Oh, yeah, and even more waterproofing, inductive charging, dual cameras, and, of course, delete the bezels!

Serenity

I would not mind a case redesign for iPhone 7: The screen size is great, but those curved bezels will be the death of my phone if left caseless. With something as gorgeous as the rose gold iPhone, you want to feel like you can show it off, not hide it away in a case.

I'm also hoping for more depth of field in the iPhone 7's camera. When taking photo comparisons last month with the Galaxy S7, I definitely felt a bit jealous comparing my macro photos to the S7's gorgeous f/1.7 aperture — though Apple would need to first fix the light and pixel dilation problems a larger aperture would present.

Bader

As attractive as the iPhone 6s is, I believe Apple overcorrected from the 5s. The all-metal phone is too slippery, and often feels precarious while in the hand without a case. I don't worry about screen resolution or pixel density; I worry about the phone slipping from my hand and cracking on the concrete. Here's hoping the iPhone 7 has a more hand-friendly design.

Lory

Better be four inches is all I'm sayin'. No, actually, I'm certain the iPhone 7 will not have a four-inch model. But, if there is going to be a second generation iPhone SE released at the same time as the iPhone 7, I'd hope for 3D Touch.

Apple needs to go back to the drawing board on the EarPods. Those things are so uncomfortable (and the name is stupid) that I can't wear them for more than 10 minutes at a time. I know there are hundreds of third-party earbuds that are better, but I'd like to be able to use the freebies without them literally bruising my cartilage.

iOS: How's it been treating you?

Rene

Pretty great. I love the new deep and back links in iOS 9. They make it much easier to move into apps at specific places, and back out of them to exactly where you were before. The new typeface, San Francisco, is gorgeous and makes everything look fresh and elegant. News is a first step to what I hope will be a system-level news service. The new Spotlight stuff is really useful, though I'd love it to be a full-on, first-class Siri variant for text entry. And wow-bang do I love the new Notes app. The old one was a useful text sync tool. The new one lets me collect almost anything and have it available almost everywhere.

For iPad, everything from Split View to keyboard shortcuts makes working on an iPad much less work and much more productive. More of that, please.

Serenity

Even with its occasional bugs, iOS 9 is lovely to spend time in — and between iPhone and iPad Pro, I spend a lot of time in it. As with all operating systems, there are still bits that need improvement, but I'm overall quite happy with what I can do in iOS 9.

Bader

Never better! I've reached a point where I spend more time on my iPhone than I do on my laptop, and increasingly feel comfortable taking on tasks, from editing documents to filing tax returns, that I wouldn't have just a couple of years ago. Much of that can be attributed to the incredible developer community, but credit to Apple for sticking with its single-screen modality and adding features, such as Handoff, Today widgets and Extensions, that add considerable value for power users. It's a deft balancing act that continues to defy expectations.

Lory

I haven't had any complications with iOS 9. The only real issue I've had is remembering all of the cool features that weren't there in iOS 8.

Your favorite feature?

Rene

Oh, not fair! If I had to choose, it would be deep and back links on iPhone, and multi-window multitasking on iPad.

Serenity

On the iPhone, it's going to have to be iOS 9.3's Night Shift. I could never get into Fluxx on the Mac becuase the graphic designer in me saw nothing but "ORANGE!", but that feeling has gone away surprisingly quickly with iOS and Night Shift. Maybe it's because I'm largely viewing text and tweets at night, rather than photos and huge desktop screens, but I'm very thankful for the feature making bright white screens easier on the eyes. On the iPad, Split View is how I live my life. Without a Mac laptop, Split View and the keyboard's quick app switcher make my day-to-day work at iMore possible, and they've completely changed how I use the iPad, full stop.

Bader

It's a small thing, but being able to clear every notification from an entire day, rather than by app, has completely changed the way I interact with my iPhone. It took a long time, but I can finally say that Apple's notifications are as good as Android's, which was an area the OS underperformed for many years.

Lory

The app suggestion feature is one of my favorites. In the morning, the Remote app is on deck for me to control my Apple TV. When I connect my iPhone to my iHome iDL100 alarm clock (opens in new tab) at night, my sleep aid app, myNoise (opens in new tab) is right there on my Lock screen. I also love the additions to the Notes app. I'm all about making lists and the checklist feature in Notes is the best thing Apple ever did for productivity.

Your biggest frustration?

Rene

Most of my frustrations have been fixed over the last few years. I agree with Serenity and Bader that a better Home screen for iPad would be fab, and better custom keyboard support is overdue. I also wish Skype wouldn't ring on my phone after I've answered on my computer. Or call relay, same thing. More than anything, I'm looking forward to what's coming next.

Serenity

Notification Center, despite its helpful widgets, is a mess. Widgets are helpful. Notifications are helpful. But the current display is chaotic and highly unhelpful. I really want to see Apple take a redesign stab at it in iOS 10.

Also: Home screen redesign, anyone? The 12.9-inch row of home screen icons just looks farcical at this point.

Bader

Third-party keyboards are still treated as second-class citizens, which I don't understand. It feels like Apple threw the functionality in there with iOS 8 and forgot about it. But I want to swipe with SwiftKey and predict with Fleksy, but neither are stable enough to continue using for more than a few hours.

iOS 9.3: Improvement? Too many bugs?

Rene

I've had no major bugs with iOS 9.3. Night Shift is neat, and the education stuff is the beginning of something special. Notes lock is okay, but I want it on the system level for every app. And I want News in more countries. Feels like even Apple Pay is moving faster, and that's... demoralizing?

Bader

Night Shift! What an awesome addition. Subtle, yes, but it's meant to just work. I don't have any quantitative data to suggest I am sleeping better, but I believe it's taking me less time to actually fall asleep now, which I think is the goal.

Serenity

As mentioned above, I heart Night Shift. I'm also finding myself actually using the News app, now: The algorithms have been much improved, and I'm getting information I actually care about, rather than articles that seem to be pulled out of the sky.

Lory

Well, since Apple had to immediately pull the update for older devices, and then subsequently send out a second update to fix a bug with links in Safari, I'd say iOS 9.3 was off to a bad start. But, I haven't had any problems since the initial changes. I'm a big fan of Night Shift. I've been using Flux on my Mac for years, so I'm familiar with the concept. When my face is in front of a screen starting at 6:00 a.m., you'd better believe I don't want that harsh blue light burning my retinas first thing in the morning. So, yeah. I think the 9.3 update is an improvement.

Your top wish-list item for iOS 10?

Rene

. HEYO!

Serenity

Home screen redesign, home screen redesign, home screen redesign. Pretty please.

Bader

Let's start recognizing the Plus line for what it is: a small tablet. I want picture-in-picture and split-screen multitasking in landscape mode.

Lory

The only thing I can think of is better Handoff and Continuity. It is a source of frustration for me because sometimes Handoff and AirDrop works perfectly, and other times, I am stuck trying to figure out workarounds because I've lost the connection between devices.

What are your impressions?

Do you have an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus? How are you liking it, six months in? Let us know below.

Daniel Bader

Daniel Bader is a Senior Editor at iMore, offering his Canadian analysis on Apple and its awesome products. In addition to writing and producing, Daniel regularly appears on Canadian networks CBC and CTV as a technology analyst.

41 Comments
  • "Blazing fast"... Until the summer when the next iPhone is released and it'll be 'OK, but unable to compete' Sent from the iMore App
  • For me 6s is so good. im design freak..not small not big..hate big phones. im up more than on laptop. went from android Htc soo bad support u wait 1 year from announce for update..on iphone same day that crazy :). battery its not so problem. im case and bags hater. i like well optimized os and perfect made phone for that money. thats apple for me. 3 generation support...soso nice Sent from the iMore App
  • Huh? Sent from the iMore App
  • lol i went cross-eyed and got out of breath just reading that
  • What did you just say? Sent from the iMore App
  • My wish for iOS 10 (but too be honest I think it should have been implemented in iOS 9) is to have some sort of (for want of a better word) symbol on the app icon, to indicate that it has 3D Touch functionality. Apart from the stock apps, it's currently a guessing game 3D Touching the app icon to initiate 3D Touch or to not if it doesn't have 3D Touch functionality. I really like 3D Touch and use it a lot on the Messages app, but when you have a lot of apps, its impossible to remember which have been updated for 3D Touch
  • Great suggestion - love it!
  • Still happy: yep, I especially love Apple Pay with the super fast Touch ID sensor and 3D Touch. I got my iPhone 6S later than usual and didn't upgrade right away, so it still feels very new to me. I don't have a new iPad that can take advantage of split screen mode, but will be getting the new iPad pro to do that. My favourite thing about the iPhone 6S is always on Siri. It's so handy. The News app came very late to the UK, and I've tried using it but I have a few complaints about it. Mainly how slow it loads new stories. When reading the News is something you love to do with your iPhone, it makes the whole phone seem really slow, I don't even bother to try on my old iPad. I'm an Evernote freak and don't take much advantage of Apple's notes app, but more security is wonderful for those that use it more than I do. I remember taking advantage of it once to take a photo in a note. Very nice. Transport view still isn't available in Birmingham, UK, so I haven't seen any improvements there. I used it once on the Tube in London. iCloud Drive is well needed, but does still require better apps to use with it, like Readdle's Documents app, which has similar but better functionality. Quick Type and text selection doesn't seem as fast as the old way in my opinion. And I miss dividing the keyboard on my iPad. Low power mode is amazing. Makes a huge difference. For iPhone 7 I'd love the sleep/wake button to go back to the top. I always accidentally press it when I want to hit the volume button. I'm with Rene on waterproofing too.
  • I want a better way to do Split View. Scrolling through apps is stupid. A search function would have been better.
  • agreed... and the more apps that end up supporting it the more you scroll through. definitely needs to be rethought
  • i want siri to make me coffe in the morning Sent from the iMore App
  • This Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • Small question, off topic, what is the wallpaper used on the article photo?
  • Trim the bezels. the 6s+ would be perfect if it didn't have those huge bezels that make it comparable in size to android devices with larger screens. That and add a larger battery.
  • Amen Posted from my Nexus 6P
  • +1 Sent from the iMore App
  • The bezels are fine as they are on the 6s Plus, I wish everyone would stop complaining about the bezels as they add to the charm of the iPhone. Then again maybe the side bezels could be trimmed a little Sent from the iMore App
  • How do needlessly large bezels add to the "charm" of the phone? They're basically the only thing that hasn't changed over the years. I get that the bottom bezel is the size it is due to the home button but the top one has tons of wasted space that could be used to either make the screen bigger, the phone shorter, or bit of both.
  • I hate uneven bezels as it makes the viewing angles poor like the Nexus 6 with its uneven bezels. Mist people don't care about the bezels, only people like you complain about them. It's what undoubtedly makes the iPhone an iPhone. Sent from the iMore App
  • I can appreciate not liking uneven bezels and I didn't know any phones even had them and looking at the Nexus 6 I can't tell that they are uneven. Most people don't care about the bezels because they probably don't think about how they can affect the screen size and phone size. If you asked people that don't care about bezels if they would like to make the screen bigger, the phone shorter, or a bit of both, the answer would be an overwhelming "yes".
  • The bezels are there for a reason. I've used devices without thick bezels and you end up accidentally touching the screen with the edge of your hand, Apple is about usability, it can't always be form over function
  • You can make the top and bottom bezels smaller and not have usability problems. As for the side bezels, they're about perfect and I too have/had issues with too small of side bezels and accidentally touching the screen.
  • Great review, very informative, which supported my decision to stay away from 6s, keep the iPhone cheap (SE) for the sake of buying the new 9.7 inch iPad Pro with Apple Pencil.
  • Favorite iOS 9 Features: Night Shift and Backlinking iOS 10 Wish List: improved AirPlay and Airdrop (it's very inconsistent). When notifications clear from the app (app badge) I want those notifications to be cleared from NC. Why do it twice? iPhone 7 Wish List: camera and battery improvements will never disappoint me. Less bezel to make the phone easier to hold while maintaining screen size. Other than that, surprise me! Sent from the iMore App
  • I had my iOS 9 fun. Last month I got my hands on a Nexus 6p and Google works so much better. Google now is so smart even reminds me to leave my house when it see there is more traffic on the way. Google now on tab just way better than ...what? OK iOS doesn't support anything like that. To create a reminder it just looks better and when I set my alarm all week at 7am it stays on the notification center and I can mute it there. I carried an iPhone for a long time until iOS 9 and people who saying iOS is better they never tried Google. I am still a apple fan boy but the iPhone just doesn't make it right. I hope iOS 10 is a bit smarter
  • I've tried Android (had a Nexus 6 and Moto G and I hated the Moto G and hated Lollipop and found Android really annoying)didn't like it. It's too difficult to use beyond the basics and I have all the customisation I need with iOS. So in perfectly qualified to say that iOS is still better than Android, iOS is more fluid, easier to use and has the best app ecosystem in the App Store not to mention faster updates. Siri is the only thing letting down iOS now. Sent from the iMore App
  • Hardware: gripper case design, more battery life
    Software: Dark Mode, screen size specific adjustments (more landscape views on non-Plus iPhones, tighter icon spacing on Big iPad Pro)
  • Would like to see smaller bezels and smaller form factor from this too.
  • Would everyone just stop complaining about the bezels? They're there for usability and really add to the design of the iPhone, Apple isn't going to change the bezels anytime soon so if you don't like it, then go and get an Android phone. Sent from the iMore App
  • Bought iPhone SE for wifey and will be selling our iPhone 6S Plus. We are extremely delighted and excited with our new faster SE. As of now I will continue with my 5S till my contract is over. Will be grateful to Apple if they release a smaller flagship along with iPhone 7 or at least a faster smaller phone in the next year March iPhone SE cycle. Sent from the iMore App
  • Then why get the 6s Plus in the first place if you weren't happy with it? Personally I love my 6s Plus and would never go back to that tiny screen. Glad you're happy with the iPhone SE. Sent from the iMore App
  • I'm on 6s Plus and I've never been happier as and iPhone user, iOS 9 is rock solid for me, great battery life and functionality. My wishes for next iOS are dark mode, split screen for iPhone Plus, new 3D Touch features, Touch ID for Photos and Messages. In terms of hardware I hope Apple will finally introduce force touch Home button, high resolution OLED screen and deal camera setup.
  • iPhone 7 wish list: Keep the jack.
  • Lol Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • How about no, outdated technology must go
  • iOS 10:
    *dark mode for ALL native apps!
    *One-hand use keyboard: smaller buttons so I don't have to stretch from side to side when typing! The size can be like iPhone 5's keyboard but adding cut, copy & paste buttons! That would make 3D Touch even funnier to use! Sent from the iMore App
  • I'm a performance freak and I am absolutely happy with the performance of 6S. I would use 5SE but I want a smaller phone with ALL features of 6S.
  • Ren... What's your daily use feedback on the Apple battery case? Sent from the iMore App
  • Ability to open two windows of an app side by side.
    Two .docx files, two .xlsx, etc.
    Once that is done, I could move from Mac to iPad Pro for good.
  • I'm extremely happy with my 6s Plus that I got last month. I upgraded from a refurbished iPhone 5C which was showing its age hardware wise and I had always planned to get the 6s Plus last month anyway with the 5c being a stop gap (having switched back to iPhone from my brief stint with ugh Android). Sent from the iMore App
  • 3D Touch is great but I wish app developers could embrace 3D Touch and the suggestion about having some sort of symbol to indicate which apps support 3D Touch is a very good one. Sent from the iMore App