Many would say that Apple was the first to bring 3D Touch pressure sensitive screens to smartphones. There are those who contest that the technology has been employed much before that. While you are free to choose your side, there is no denying that 3D Touch or Force Touch technology is here to stay. This fact has been accepted by companies like HTC, Meizu, Xiaomi, Oppo and many other OEMs as they all are rumoured to launch smartphones this year with pressure sensitive screens.
Recent rumours have suggested that HTC’s upcoming Nexus smartphone(s) will incorporate 3D Touch functionality. However, HTC will not be the first Android device to do so. Huawei already pushed out the feature with its Mate S smartphone.
Meanwhile, it also appears that Meizu’s upcoming Pro 6 will feature 3D Touch functionality as well. Weibo recently posted an image of what you can expect from the feature on the Pro 6 and it appears to work just like the iPhone 6s’ Peek and Pop. Force touching the display will bring up a context menu with options on top of a blurred background.
Apple’s 3D Touch in the recently launched iPhone 6s did exactly what the company had wanted. It was a smooth, no fuss feature that changed that way a phone could be operated. Apple played it smart too, keeping minimal functionality of its 3D Touch feature, restricting it to basic quick access features when, in fact, a pressure sensitive screen could have been used in unimaginable ways. There are literally a hundred untapped uses for pressure sensitive screens.
However, by restricting what developers can do with the 3D Touch, Apple can make sure there isn’t any unnecessary fragmentation. Yes, Apple’s 3D Touch functionality currently lacks novelty which works for Apple. But this is where Google can jump in and explore the full potential of 3D Touch.
Rumours have it that Google plans to incorporate the pressure sensitive technology as a native feature in Android. This will help make the technology common for Android users, and will boost adoption rate. Furthermore, this will also push app developers to come up with creative ways to allow users to fully utilize the technology. It is common knowledge that Apple is very choosy about the apps it lets in its App Store.
Where Apple may be restrictive about the way developers use 3D Touch, Google has the opportunity to let developers play with the feature a lot more. What one can expect to see, once 3D Touch becomes native to Android, are apps that will likely do a lot more than simple Peek and Pop function. 3D Touch has the potential to take mobile gaming to the next level, and this is something Google will be keen on in the future.
It is also interesting to note that prior to the launch of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, rumours were abound that Samsung would incorporate its own version of 3D Touch and was working with Synaptics to do so. This, however, never came to be. Perhaps Samsung wanted to wait until Google nativized 3D Touch before having it in its flagship device. Whatever may be the case, it looks as if 3D Touch is being embraced by many OEMs and it’s only a matter of time that pressure sensitive displays become the new norm for smartphones.
Many would say that Apple was the first to bring 3D Touch pressure sensitive screens to smartphones. There are those who contest that the technology has been employed much before that. While you are free to choose your side, there is no denying that 3D Touch or Force Touch technology is here to stay. This fact has been accepted by companies like HTC, Meizu, Xiaomi, Oppo and many other OEMs as they all are rumoured to launch smartphones this year with pressure sensitive screens.
HTC is among the most well-known and established brands. While the world awaits the launch of the One M10 flagship smartphone, it seems the company is already busy working on its next Nexus device. In fact, the last known rumour that circulated a few weeks ago suggested that HTC will not release one but two Nexus handsets, and both will likely feature 3D Touch functionality.
Huawei Mate S features 3D Touch functionality
Rumours also say that Google plans to incorporate the pressure sensitive technology as a native feature in Android. This will help make the technology common for Android users, and will boost adoption rate. Furthermore, this will also push app developers to come up with creative ways to allow users to fully utilize the technology.
It will still be a while before we hear anything more on HTC’s Nexus device(s). Before that, it is said that Meizu will be among the first this year to ship its upcoming Pro 5 handset with 3D Touch feature in the first half of 2016.
Looks like Miezu is all set to join the 3D touch bandwagon for phones. As revealed by Meizu VP and Flyme chief architect Yang Yan through a Weibo post just today, the feature which can be found on a couple of flagship devices will soon make its way to this Chinese smartphone maker’s Pro 6.
The screenshot as revealed by Yan hints at the implementation of this new tech in a similar way that Apple uses it. Force touching the display will bring up a context menu with options on top of a blurred background.
Currently, the 3D Touch feature is seen on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, which according to the Cupertino-based tech company was hard to develop at the beginning. Analysts predict that this feature that is still in its infancy will take a fair number of years to become mainstream. Other handsets that have this feature include the Huawei Mate S and the ZTE Axon mini.
Apple loves court-room drama because it clearly can’t keep itself out of them. The latest name to be added to the list of Apple lawsuits is Immersion. Immersion, another California based company, has taken Apple to court over what it claims is infringement of three patents related to haptic touch used in iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, Apple Watch and Apple Watch Sport Edition. Phew.
The patents include “Haptic Feedback System with Stored Effects” and “Method and Apparatus for Providing Tactile Sensations”. Additionally, two more Apple devices, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have led to the infringement of a third patent called “Interactivity Model for Shared Feedback on Mobile Devices.”
Apple devices have used haptic touch before Immersion’s patent. However, the company added an upgrade in its devices post the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, called “Taptic Engine” which provided them with 3D Touch/Force Touch.
“We will vigorously defend the intellectual property we have developed when it is infringed”, said Immersion in an official statement.
Immersion has a history of dragging other significant names of the tech world to the court. This includes AT&T, Microsoft, Motorola and Google. Before things turned sour between Immersion and Apple, there were rumours of the former actually working with the latter on haptic touch tech in its devices. But alas, now we all now how that ended.
Motorola launched the Moto X Force with ‘ShatterShield’ display on the 1st of February. The ‘shatterproof’ device is now on sale on Flipkart priced at Rs 49,999 for the 32GB variant and 53,999 for the 64GB variant.
On the specs front, Moto X Force packs a 5.4 inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core chipset along with 3 GB of RAM. The two internal storage options of 32 GB and 64 GB are expandable up to 2 TB with the help of a microSD card.
The highlight of the device is its super-hardy screen. Motorola claims to have integrated a ‘Moto Shattershield’ technology in the display of Moto Force which, it says, is the first shatterproof screen in a phone ever. The company feels confident enough to affirm the screen would stay intact for up to four years, owing to the multiple layers of different materials used in making it capable of absorbing shock and providing protection against cracking. The phone also boasts of two touchscreen layers, which make sure that the smartphone can be used even if one of the layers is cracked. Check out unboxing and hands-on of the Moto X Force as well as our 1000ft drop test video for all you need to know about the handset.
The Moto G (3rd Gen) and Moto G Turbo smartphones, which were available exclusively on Flipkart, are now available on Amazon India as well. Both the devices are available for order today but will be on stock starting tomorrow, February 10.
The Moto G (3rd Gen) comes with a 5-inch (12.7 centimeters) HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, 1280 x 720 pixels resolution and 2470 mAh lithium-ion battery. on the camera front, the device packs a 13MP f2.0 primary camera with CCT dual-LED flash and 4X digital zoom and a 5MP f2.2 front.
The device runs on Android v5.1.1 (Lollipop) OS operating system and is powered by a 1.4 GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916) processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB internal memory expandable up to 32GB. Check out our review of the Moto G (3rd Gen) for all you need to know.
The Moto G Turbo comes with a different chipset, a Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615, with Adreno 405 GPU and a quick charge capability that Motorola calls ‘Turbo Charge’. Everything else remains identical to the 16GB storage variant of the Moto G 3rd Gen. The Moto G Turbo is availble on Amazon for Rs 12,499 while the Moto G (3rd Gen) is priced at Rs 10,999. Amazon, however, does not offer an exchange option on the devices as Flipkart does.
Motorola launched the Moto X Force in India with a price tag of Rs 49,999 for the 32GB variant and Rs 53,999 for 64GB option. The phone was launched globally last year as Droid Turbo 2 and now it has arrived here with its much talked about ShatterShield display.
On the specs front, Moto X Force packs a 5.4 inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core chipset along with 3 GB of RAM. The two internal storage options of 32 GB and 64 GB are expandable up to 2 TB with the help of a microSD card.
The USP of the device is its super-hardy screen. Motorola claims to have integrated a ‘Moto Shattershield’ technology in the display of Moto Force which, it says, is the first shatterproof screen in a phone ever. The company feels confident enough to affirm the screen would stay intact for up to four years, owing to the multiple layers of different materials used in making it capable of absorbing shock and providing protection against cracking. The phone also boasts of two touchscreen layers, which make sure that the smartphone can be used even if one of the layers is cracked.
With the given specs and price tag, a few other devices come to mind like the Lumia 950XL, Nexus 6P, HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+. The Moto X Force not only has a strong exterior but does impressively in the hardware department as well. The AMOLED display is sharp and bright despite the layers of glass on top. The X Force also has a giant battery that will provide enough of juice to get you through the day and then some.
However, the camera in the moto X Force isn’t the best, especially when compared to the Galaxy S6 Edge+, Lumia 950XL and even the dubious HTC One M9. The Moto X Force also comes with a pretty bland design, which pales in front of the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and the Nexus 6P which come with a premium look and feel to it that fit the price bracket.
Let’s see where the Moto X Force stands when compared to these devices. Based on the specs, let us know your winner in the comments below.
Specification
Moto X Force
Lumia950XL
Nexus 6P
HTC One M9
Galaxy S6 Edge+
Display
5.4 inch Quad HD AMOLED
5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED
5.7-inch QHD Corning Gorilla Glass 4
5.2-inch WQHD, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
5.7 inches Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Moto X Force launches in India with a price tag of Rs.49,999 for the 32 GB variant and Rs 53,999 for the 64 GB variant. It was launched globally last year as Droid Turbo 2 and now it has arrived here with its much talked about ‘shattershield’ display. The device will be available on Flipkart and Amazon as well as offline stores starting 8th of February. It will come in three colour variants – Soft Rubber in White and Ballistic Nylon in Black and Grey.
On the specs front, Moto X Force packs a 5.4 inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core chipset along with 3 GB of RAM. The two internal storage options of 32 GB and 64 GB are expandable up to 2 TB with the help of a microSD card.
The highlight of the device is its super-hardy screen. Motorola claims to have integrated a ‘Moto Shattershield’ technology in the display of Moto Force which, it says, is the first shatterproof screen in a phone ever. The company feels confident enough to affirm the screen would stay intact for up to four years, owing to the multiple layers of different materials used in making it capable of absorbing shock and providing protection against cracking. The phone also boasts of two touchscreen layers, which make sure that the smartphone can be used even if one of the layers is cracked.
Motorola has not stopped talking about the sturdiness of its latest device and one wonders if the company would be able to live up to all the hype. During the last couple of days, Motorola has released a series of teasers taking a dig at companies like Samsung, Apple and HTC and their devices. We’ll soon be uploading the video of our own drop-test for Moto X Force. Check it out on iGyaan.
Find below the complete specifications of the Moto X Force.
Motorola has come out with yet another teaser for its latest device, the ‘shatter-proof’ Moto X Force. Following suit with the previous teaser which mocked iPhone 6s for its delicate body, the new one takes a dig at Samsung Galaxy S6.
https://youtu.be/BDRGaGvFekI
Though the new teaser isn’t as witty as its predecessor, the message is just as clear. Moving away from Cupertino, Motorola has now taken the challenge to the Korean tech-giant.
The highlight of the device is its super-hardy screen. Motorola claims to have integrated a ‘Moto Shattershield’ technology in the display of Moto Force which, it says, is the first shatterproof screen in a phone ever. The company feels confident enough to affirm the screen would stay intact for up to four years, owing to the multiple layers of different materials used in making it capable of absorbing shock and providing protection against cracking. The phone also boasts of two touchscreen layers, which make sure that the smartphone can be used even if one of the layers is cracked.
Needless to say, Motorola cannot stop talking about its first ever shatter-proof phone in the world. Let’s see if Moto X Force manages to live up to all the expectations. Watch this space for all the updates
Motorola India has just launched a teaser for its upcoming Moto X Force smartphone. The device’s major highlight is its shatter-proof display which is gloriously demoed in this teaser while taking a jibe at some other well known smartphones out there including the iPhone.
The teaser shows people dropping iPhones, Samsung devices and other devices in slow motion, capturing the many different ways in which the displays can shatter. At the end comes the Moto X Force which is dropped and comes out clean, without a single scratch to the display or dent on the sides.
Motorola claims to have integrated a ‘Moto Shattershield’ technology in the display of Moto Force which, it says, is the first shatterproof screen in a phone ever. The company feels confident enough to affirm the screen would stay intact for up to four years, owing to the multiple layers of different materials used in making it capable of absorbing shock and providing protection against cracking. The phone also boasts of two touchscreen layers, which make sure that the smartphone can be used even if one of the layers is cracked.
On the specs front, Moto X Force packs a 5.4 inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core chipset along with 3 GB of RAM. The two internal storage options of 32 GB and 64 GB are expandable up to 2 TB with the help of a microSD card.
The Moto X Force is set to launch in India by the end of January. Follow this space for more.
Last month we had reported about Moto X Force arriving in India in November. And now, Motorola has announced an imminent release of the Moto X Force in the country. The phone, famous because of its ‘crack-proof’ screen, will soon hit the Indian markets.
The country head for Motorola India, Amit Boni said in an official statement that the smartphone will soon arrive in India. This news follows a global press release where Motorola had mentioned that the Moto X Force, launched as Droid Turbo 2 in the US last month, would come to India in November. The smartphone is expected to hit the market with its current price tag of $624 (Rs. 40,000 approximately) and $720 (Rs. 47,000 approximately) for the 32GB and 64GB variants respectively.
On the specs front, Moto X Force packs a 5.4 inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core chipset along with 3 GB of RAM. The two internal storage options of 32 GB and 64 GB are expandable up to 2 TB with the help of a microSD card.
The highlight of the device is its super-hardy screen. Motorola claims to have integrated a ‘Moto Shattershield’ technology in the display of Moto Force which, it says, is the first shatterproof screen in a phone ever. The company feels confident enough to affirm the screen would stay intact for up to four years, owing to the multiple layers of different materials used in making it capable of absorbing shock and providing protection against cracking. The phone also boasts of two touchscreen layers, which make sure that the smartphone can be used even if one of the layers is cracked.
Needless to say, Motorola cannot stop talking about its first ever shatter-proof phone in the world. Let’s see if Moto X Force manages to live up to all the expectations. Watch this space for all the updates
3D Touch is the new cool thing in town and everyone wants to have a piece of it. It is indeed true that the touch-sensitive feature has opened up new possibilties in the way your phones works for you. It is also a feature many gaming companies are excited to ‘tap into’. We had earlier reported that Samsung was in talks with Synaptics to bring the 3D Touch feature seen in Apple’s iPhone 6s series into its 2016 flagship Galaxy S7. Samsung plans on calling it ClearForce.
Now, fresh rumours suggest that Samsung is not the only brand looking to incorporate the pressure sensitive feature into its phones. Reports emerging from China tell us that Xiaomi too is interested in having this technology for its future flagship devices. This could be one of the reasons the expected Mi5 announcement has been delayed.
G for Games cited Weibo that said that Xiaomi is working on a 3D Touch-like feature for its upcoming devices. Whether Xiaomi is going solo on this project or is seeking help from Synaptics (as it did with the Mi 4c, which uses Synaptics’ ClearPadS3708 capacitive touch controller) is not yet known. Meanwhile, Synaptic claims that its ClearForce technology will be superior to 3D Touch feature.
ClearForce – What We Know So Far
For those unaware, 3D Touch enables the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus to understand three distinct levels of pressure. This, then, enables new gestures such as Peek and Pop that lets you quickly see inside an app without actually having to open it. Users need to press the screen lightly to get a ‘Peek’ at a photo, email, web page or other content, and if pressed a little deeper, they can ‘Pop’ into the content itself.
ClearForce, on the other hand, is planning to take the feature up a notch. From what we know so far, the ClearForce technology, besides the expected 3D Touch functions, will have the ability to understand the difference between speed scrolling, zoom, gaming, texting and even operate photo editing tools by noting subtle variable pressure on the surface. Some of the new features, according to Synaptics, are as follows:
Line thickness control while drawing (e.g., when writing Chinese characters and creating artwork)
Image editing (brightness, contrast, saturation)
Upper case and symbol selection (to bypass keyboard mode changes)
The rumoured tie-up between Xiaomi and Synaptics is not yet confirmed and we will have to wait and see for more information on that. Synaptics has also mentioned that it plans to work with other OEMs as well. So we could see brands other than Samsung and Xiaomi making use of ClearForce in the months to come.
3D Touch is definitely one of the most talked about features of the new iPhones. This is a highly sensitive touch technology which is able to differentiate between three different kinds of touch. In simpler terms it means easier, quicker shortcuts for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus users.
However, Apple deliberately limited the functionality of this new feature, according to sources. Developer Victor Baro says,
“We need to take into account that, because 3D Touch is only available in iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, no action should be completed just by using this feature,” he said. “The user should be able to achieve any action without using 3D Touch (just like Peek & Pop does), and 3D Touch should only provide an extra level of interaction.”
Similarly, other developers have also pointed out how 3D Touch would allow users an entire range of features likethe ability to apply filters to images only using force on the screen, being an example. Take a look at developer FlexMonkey’s blog post right here to see what else 3D Touch has to offer.
One of the main reasons why Apple didn’t introduce many features with 3D Touch this time is that the company wants users to be more familiar with the technology first. The introduction of 3D Touch to iPhone 6s and 6s Plus is an attempt to familiarise users before they can be introduced to a more complex technological advancement.
Additionally, Apple also wants the same set of core features for all iOS users, irrespective of the device they’re using. Granted, all such devices are different from each other in many ways, but the essential requirements for apps to run is quite similar in all iOS 9 gadgets. Apple has thus made life easier for developers by making sure 3D Touch is only used for shortcuts at the moment.
iPhone 7 is the Apple device which is likely to bring in more 3D Touch features with it. Following from the rumours of getting rid of the home button we talked about yesterday, 3D Touch might be used to take care of tasks by replacing it. It seems like a long wait until iPhone 7 for us to find out more about 3D Force, but waiting is what we shall do for now.
Each year Apple’s revisions of their iPhone have propelled sales of their handsets. The Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were the company’s best selling handsets since the launch of the original iPhone.
In 2014, Apple sold a whopping 191 Million (approx) iPhones between the two main models, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and one old model, the iPhone 5s. Making the iPhone the most selling phone in the world, when compared to Samsung’s total sales across hundreds of handset models, sold globally, coming to around 392 million.
Does the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus improve what Apple was already doing with the iPhone 6 and 6 plus? Is the “s” variant a worthy upgrade? Let’s find out as we review this year’s iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.
Build Quality and Design
There are no points here, the design of the iPhone is not a lot different from what we saw last year, in fact, it’s a bit thicker and slightly heavier. You will also get a brand new Rose Gold colour which has attracted the fancy of many a folks. That being said, last year’s iPhone was the best selling iPhone for Apple, it was a refreshing design change from the iPhone 5s and rounded look felt more in harmony, as opposed to the square design which Apple followed for the 4-5s.
This year’s iPhone has an improved outer shell which offers resistance against the “bendgate” issue of last year’s iPhone. The new reinforced and strong series 7000 Aluminium adds strength to the outer structure. The iPhone 6s and 6s plus also come with some form of water resistance according to tests conducted by third parties. Apple downplayed the fact that the new iPhone was water resistant, in fact they don’t mention it anywhere. They coated the logic board with water resistant materials and added a rubber gasket to all parts that could potentially allow water to seep through like ports, display edge and buttons.
You could end up with your iPhone in the toilet, and still be using it a week later (hopefully after you have fully sanitized it ).
Hardware
The “s” variants of every iPhone till date have been the ones with hardware improvements. The iPhone 3Gs, 4s, 5s and now the 6s all add improved hardware and capability while keeping design changes to a minimum.
The new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus add an improved Apple A9 chip along with an M9 co-processor. Enhanced cameras both on the rear with a 12 MP shooter which now does 4k video. On the front with a 5 MP snapper, which however is still restricted to 720p.
Specifications
iPhone 6s
iPhone 6s Plus
Display
4.7-inch Retina HD display with 3D Touch, LED-backlit widescreen
5.5-inch Retina HD display with 3D Touch, LED-backlit widescreen
Resolution
1334×750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi
1920×1080-pixel resolution at 401 ppi
Processor
Embedded M9 motion coprocessor
Embedded M9 motion coprocessor
Chipset
A9 chip with 64-bit architecture
A9 chip with 64-bit architecture
RAM
2GB
2GB
CPU
Dual-core 1.84GHz
Dual-core 1.84GHz
GPU
PowerVR GT7600
PowerVR GT7600
OS
iOS 9
iOS 9
Internal Storage
16GB/64GB/128GB
16GB/64GB/128GB
Exapandibility
N/A
N/A
Rear camera
12-megapixel iSight camera with 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture
12-megapixel iSight camera with 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Optical image stabilization
Rear Camera Video
4K video recording (3840 x 2160) at 30 fps
Optical image stabilization for video, 4K video recording (3840 x 2160) at 30 fps
Front Camera
5-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash
5-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash
Front Camera Video
720p HD video recording
720p HD video recording
Weight
143 grams
192 grams
Special Features
Fingerprint sensor, 3D touch, live photo
Fingerprint sensor, 3D touch, live photo
Connectivity
23 LTE and faster Wi-Fi
23 LTE and faster Wi-Fi
Variants
Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold
Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold
Price
Rs. 62,000, Rs. 72,000 and Rs. 82,000 for 16GB/64GB/128GB respectively unlocked
Rs. 72,000, Rs. 82,000 and Rs. 92,000 for 16GB/64GB/128GB respectively unlocked
Compared to the iPhone 6s’ 1330 x 720p display , the Apple iPhone 6s Plus gets a larger display with a 1920 x 1080p resolution. It also gets a bigger battery and Optical Image Stabilisation in the rear camera. Everything else on both the devices is identical in terms of specifications.
Apple sticking to the old displays is one big let down. iPhones need higher resolution displays and this update may finally come in the iPhone 7. This time around however Apple has added 3D touch, which is a variant of their force touch trackpads for the iPhones.
3D Touch
This is something that Apple showed off at the launch, but it still feels under played. The technology is pretty impressive, and even though many companies have done this prior to the iPhone 6s’ launch. Apple’s iteration is impressive, accurate and easy to use.
Unlike many devices in the past, the iPhone’s display in itself is not clickable. The display senses the force on the screen which is paired with where your finger is on the screen, this then results in the outcome you receive.
iPhone 6s
The usability of this is a little strange at first but then it gets easier and easier. The peek and pop UI of iOS 9 makes this feature infinitely fun.
Things like messages and mail become easy to read or dismiss and the animations are really impressive. When you click down on an app the background blurs out and enhances the look of your touch and the experience of using the 3D touch. iOS9 lets you set live images as wallpapers that you can preview simply by pressing down on the screen. Its quite cool, and you can relive your fun moments of the perfect picture right from your lock screen.
And with apps like WhatsApp and Instagram taking advantage of this feature, soon iOS will be a mega 3D touch playground. However, this might happen later than sooner, because most developers will take a long time to implement this feature.
A New 12 MP camera
Cameras
The new Apple iPhone 6s and 6s plus come with enhanced cameras, keeping Apple’s image processing standards intact. the new 12 MP camera at the back offers a larger resolution keeping the pixel size at 1.22µ pixels and the aperture at f2.2.
The addition of 4k Video means that the iPhones have finally caught up to rest of the world. It also means that buying a 16 GB iPhone has become more or less pointless. The 4k video is turned off by default and there is good reason, 1 Minute of 4k video will take approximately 375 MB whereas 1080p video will take as low as 130 MB.
The image quality is fantastic and lowlight images are impressive. You get exception control of exposure and focus prior to capture, so you can compose shots with ease.
The HDR images have been best on the iPhone so far and that remains the case with the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. The OIS on the larger version iPhone 6s Plus helps people with shaky hands to capture better images and video.
The Live images are also a fun feature only when you understand that you need to keep your hand stable for longer. Else you end up with Live video loops ending with shots of your feet, or even worse, shots of your nostrils when clicking selfies. This also consumes more storage and 16 GB owners should stay away from this feature. This can easily be disabled from the camera interface.
Previous iPhone users will be happy with better resolution cameras, especially the front camera, where an overhaul was long overdue. The selfies are improved and also support the live photos feature.
Live photos are nothing new, HTC did this with ZOE and many manufacturers and apps have had this feature. However, all of them worked on the principle of capturing video and then saving a still from that. The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, unlike the others in the past, captures a burst of high res pictures in a .MOV format along with the main image. Therefore not affecting the quality of the image, technically this is multitasking for the camera and is an innovative way to execute live images. You can also set the live images as a lock screen wallpaper and execute the 3D touch to preview them whenever. They are like your own personal Vines.
Performance
This is major improvement on the overall usage of the iPhone. The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are both faster and snappier when compared to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. iOS is already pretty fast and smooth. The operation on the iPhone 6s is a lot better.
iOS 9 was designed primarily on the new iPhones hence you get a phenomenal experience. The new peek and pop UI works really well. New animations and live photos as wallpapers is an appreciated add-on. The fact that there is more RAM on the new iPhones means that games work in a better environment, loading and caching works better too. Apps that utilise this additional RAM speed up as well. The camera has a more prompt response and images are clicked and processed quicker.
Networks and Battery
The network strength is much more improved. Tested on Airtel and Vodafone in Delhi and Mumbai. on LTE Speeds upto 50 Megabits are easily available, however that is more network provider dependent. Compared to iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S6, network speeds are faster and network strength is better on the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. During the tests we also faced lesser network drops and overall sturdier network performance. Battery life is improved over the previous Gen iPhone 6 Plus and the network improvements could be a major contributor.
The new Apple A9 chipset is also better balanced to give you an improved battery performance. While “batterygate” has been said to be insignificant, the TSMC chipset is considered an advantage.
Overall with the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus get improved battery performance and seem to charge faster that the previous get iPhones. A 5-minute charge gets you from 5% to 30% and about an hour and 15 minutes gets you a full charge on an iPhone 6s Plus using an iPad 12W charger. Between 4-5 hours of talk time 3 hours of internet and 3 hours of music playback with the screen off, the iPhone 6s ends up with 20% battery at the end of the day and the iPhone 6s Plus with about 32%. If you are using the iPhone with the screen on, a lot of you will require a frequent charge.
Process
iPhone 6s
iPhone 6s Plus
Talk Time
5 hours
6.5 Hours
Gaming / Video
4.5 Hours Non Stop
5 Hours Non Stop
Internet
8 hours
9.5 Hours
Music
12 Hours Non Stop
16 Hours Non Stop
Conclusion
The iPhone is an ever growing phenomenon, the more people use the ecosystem the more it makes sense. And while the battle between Android and Apple iPhones is one that will never see the light at the end of the tunnel. The iPhone is clearly the most popular single handset in the world and the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus improve on that with the right kind of things. The hardware running the handset sees a major bump, and the cameras are a lot better and everyone will appreciate that. Live photos work well, and for the moment seem to not be a gimmick.
Soon third party apps will allow sharing of live images and it will become a phenomenon. 4k video is better too, so is network reception and battery life. But, that’s the thing a regular user is not concerned with the use case scenario of all the above features. Sure a better battery and better cameras are good things to have. And 3D touch is great to use and a really productive and time saving feature. However, how big of an improvement is it over the iPhone 6? Not a big improvement, but logically a significant one. Most iPhone 6 owners can and should skip this version for the iPhone 7 which will bring all this features and more with a more significant design change.
But, to sum it up, the iPhone 6s and 6s plus are sturdier iPhones, with new water resistant capabilities, a stronger chassis, cameras that are superior, a new screen technology, seriously fast processing capabilities, better battery life and better network capabilities. You also have new features like live photos and peek and pop capabilities which are not only fun but functional and unique to the iPhone for the moment. You also have the [s] badge on the back of the iPhone to show off to your friend who owns an iPhone 6. Pricey sarcasm aside, the new iPhones are brand new phones and hopefully all apps will allow users to exploit the functionality of things like peek pop and 3D touch, at least before the iPhone 7 arrives. There is also the price factor, each variant of the iPhone in India is significantly pricier than last year’s iPhone.
However that has not stopped people from pre-ordering the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus before it goes on sale officially today.
Apple is just three days away from announcing its upcoming iPhone 6s and 6s Plus and there are already rumours and reports about what the iPhone 7 is going to look like. Of course one is just assuming that the next flagship after the 6s Plus will be called the iPhone 7.
Now apparently, a KGI report says that the next iPhone, which is now being referred to as, the iPhone 7 could be as thin as the iPod touch, with a body between 6 and 6.5 mm. The exterior design of the iPhone doesn’t change very often, and that will be the case even with the iPhone 6s and 6s plus.
The iPhone 6 is 6.9 mm and the iPhone 6 Plus is 7.1 mm, so this iPhone 7 will be comparatively much slimmer. This could possibly be the size zero version of all iPhones till date. The new report also tells us that the next-gen iPhone will have the Force Touch technology, as is expected from the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.
KGI also suggests that Apple will not be moving to glass screen technology anytime soon, and will continue to stick to the in-cell panels. The in-cell panel, while limiting the maximum screen resolution, allows Apple to create slimmer products. Thereby, adding weightage to the iPhone 7 rumours.
Anyway, the iPhone 7 is perhaps a long way away, but for now, you can focus on the upcoming iPhone 6s and 6s Plus release on the 9th of September. Watch this space for more information.
The new iPhones, ready for their launch this week, will boast of a ‘3-D Touch’, along with a next-gen Force Touch Interface, according to 9to5 Mac. The phones will feature a next-generation version of a Force Touch seen in the latest MacBook trackpads and the Apple Watch.
While the trackpads and Apple Watch work on two levels, namely of press and tap, this updated version of Force Touch will feature a deeper press in addition to these. Thus, the feature has been rightly termed ‘3-D Touch’. The sensors would be taking into account three different types of touch rather than two. What has got buyers excited is the potential of new shortcut actions and commands likely to be part of the iPhone 6s version of iOS 9.
Citing the examples provided by 9to5 Mac, the new ‘3-D Touch’ feature of the device would allow a more convenient use of apps related to maps and music. Another added advantage of Touch would be the ease in using short-cuts. Many gestures will also be similar to Apple’s latest MacBooks like the ability to open a link in Safari using Force Touch to see a preview of that webpage. Deep pressing on an address or contact name to see a preview of a map or contact card, is another of its features. Force Touch will also allow the user to look up a word for its definition.
