Apple iPhone 6S vs Apple iPhone 6: Is it worth the upgrade?

Apple announced the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus in September 2015, but despite being an S year, the company claimed it “changed everything about the new iPhones”. The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus succeed the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, although the two older devices are available.

Apple fans would have known not to have expected anything too dramatic in terms of design changes for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, but there is more to talk about than we thought there would be when it comes to differences.

We have put the two devices head-to-head to see how the iPhone 6S compares to the iPhone 6 and help you decided whether the iPhone 6S is worth the upgrade.

Apple iPhone 6S vs iPhone 6: Design

The design of the Apple iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6 are almost identical. Not much changed in this field. In fact, they look exactly the same with all ports and buttons remaining in the same place for the iPhone 6S as they are on the iPhone 6.

This isn’t a bad thing because the iPhone 6 offers a fantastic design with a zero-gap construction and a remarkable execution. There isn’t a sharp edge in sight and the same applies for its successor, even if there have been some slight changes to the measurements and weight.

The iPhone 6 measures 138.1 x 67 x 6.9mm and weighs 129g, while the iPhone 6S is ever so slightly bigger at 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm and a little heavier at 143g. Will you notice those fractions of millimetres? Definitely not. You might feel the extra grams of weight if you hold a 6 and 6S in each hand but the iPhone 6S is still a lovely slim and light device like the iPhone 6.

The iPhone 6S is made from a slightly different material than the iPhone 6 however, although still aluminium. Apple opted for the same 7000 grade it used on the Apple Watch. which is said to be stronger and lighter than the aluminium used for the iPhone 6. The extra weight comes in the 3D Touch technology in case you were wondering – more on that in a minute.

Last thing on design is colour options. When the iPhone 6 launched it came in silver, space grey and a new gold colour, but this gold option is no longer available directly through Apple. The iPhone 6S also introduced a new colour when it launched called Rose Gold, but it is also available in the gold launched on the iPhone 6, as well as silver and space grey, offering more options than the older device.

Apple iPhone 6S vs iPhone 6: Display

The Apple iPhone 6S and the Apple iPhone 6 both have a 4.7-inch LED back-lit display with IPS technology. Both the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6 come with a 1334 x 750 pixel resolutions, which deliver a pixel density of 326ppi.

On the whole, this is pretty low for this level of the market, with competitors sitting around the 600ppi mark and one even at 806ppi, but in reality, we have no real complaints about the iPhone 6 or 6S displays. The colours aren’t as punchy as competitors but the viewing angles are still great on both and everything looks crisp and sharp on both devices.

Apple did make the iPhone 6S’s display a little more interesting than the iPhone 6 though. The latest iPhone features what Apple calls 3D Touch, which you can read all about in our what is 3D touch feature.

In a nutshell, this technology knows how light or hard you are pressing the display in order to bring up a new level of interaction and it allows you to do things like launch the selfie camera by deep pressing the camera app rather than opening it altogether. It isn’t just secondary menus on the homepage though – the 3D Touch feature also offers a feature called Peek and Pop. This allows you to peek into things, like an email without opening it fully, while the Pop element opens what you have been peeking at with a longer press.

Is 3D Touch worth the upgrade? It’s a great addition and very clever. Third-party apps including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Citymapper, MyFitnessPal and plenty of others also have support for the technology which is useful. It requires you to reprogramme the way you use the iPhone so it’s a learning curve, but it’s a positive one.

Apple iPhone 6S vs iPhone 6: Camera

The camera has also seen some improvements for the iPhone 6S, moving from an 8-megapixel sensor, found on the iPhone 6, to a 12-megapixel sensor. Apple highlighted all kind of technical terms during the presentation but concluded with the fact that we didn’t really need to know any of them and that actually all we needed to know was that the iPhone 6S will take better pictures than the iPhone 6, which turned out to be the case.

The improvements on the iPhone 6S over the iPhone 6 can be clearly seen, and Apple has continued to move the capabilities of the camera forward in its latest. Shots aren’t just bigger in terms of output size, they’re better as a result of all those additional tweaks. The iPhone 6S can also shoot 4K video, which the iPhone 6 is unable to do and the quality is good, even if you can’t opt for slow-motion capture at this resolution.

The front-facing camera also changed from a 1.2-megapixel snapper on the iPhone 6 to a 5-megapixel snapper on the iPhone 6S, but that isn’t the only thing looking to improve your selfies. The Retina display also doubles up as a flash on the iPhone 6S, with the device then analysing the light needed and changing the hue of the white accordingly.

Apple also announced Live Photos with the iPhone 6S, which all Apple devices are able to play but not capture. It’s not a new idea, but it is new for Apple users. When you take a picture, the iPhone 6S captures 1.5-seconds before the shot is taken and 1.5-seconds after the shot is taken. When you then go back to look at the image, it will show you the ripple of water or moving cars when you hold down.

Everything else remains the same between the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S, including the True Tone flash on the rear, auto image stabilisation, auto HDR and features such as burst mode and timer mode.

Apple iPhone 6S vs iPhone 6: Hardware

As you would expect, Apple introduced a new chip under the hood of the iPhone 6S, opting for the new A9 processor with an integrated, always-on M9 motion co-processor over the A8 and separate M8 motion co-processor found in the iPhone 6.

Performance is great on the iPhone 6 but things are that little bit faster and smoother with the iPhone 6S. The latest device also comes with a one generation of Touch ID and it’s noticeably quicker to respond. Battery life is also improved on the iPhone 6S.

The iPhone 6S also has an extra storage option of 128GB in addition to the 16GB and 64GB, the latter two of which are also available on the iPhone 6. Apple doesn’t offer microSD support on any of its devices so if you need the storage, you’ve no choice but to splash the cash and pick the iPhone 6S.

Talking of cash, the new iPhone 6S starts at £539, while the iPhone 6 starts at £459 so it is slightly cheaper to go old. 

Apple iPhone 6S vs iPhone 6: Software

The Apple iPhone 6S debuted with iOS 9, which was originally previewed at WWDC in June. The new software brings several new features with it including improvements to Siri and search. Apple has also added transit to Maps in the software, which is useful.

The iPhone 6 is also on iOS 9 too though so the software experience on these two models is the same, except for 3D Touch and Live Photos. You can read our iOS 9.3 tips and tricks feature to find out everything the iPhones can do.

Apple iPhone 6S vs iPhone 6: Conclusion

The Apple iPhone 6S is the most exciting S model for a long time. It bucks the usual trend and delivers a phone that offers plenty to iPhone users new and old alike. 

The iPhone 6 is still an excellent smartphone but the iPhone 6S offers improved battery life, enhanced cameras and 3D Touch, the latter of which is a great feature when you get used to it. The addition of Live Photos and 4K video on the iPhone 6S might be less integral to all, but they’re delivered well.

If you’re an iPhone 5S user, the iPhone 6S will move leaps and bounds ahead of what you’ve come to expect from your phone, but even keen iPhone 6 users will see benefits too.

READ: Apple iPhone 6S review / Apple iPhone 6 review

Buying a new TV? Here’s what to look for

With the European Championships and Rio Olympics both looming, you might be thinking of upgrading your television soon.

You might have already heard a lot about 4K and have decided that, with plenty of Ultra HD content on the horizon, now’s the time to leap on board.

Reducing your living room clutter might also be a consideration, ditching the set-top-box or paid TV service in favour of a connected Smart TV with Freeview Play being at the forefront of your plans.

Whatever your reason for taking the plunge, here are a few of our tips on what to look out for if you are in the market for a new telly.

4K and Ultra High Definition

One of the biggest leaps forward for TV technology recently is in resolution. Just when we’ve got all cosy with 1080p Full HD sets, the tech has improved further.

Ultra HD or 4K TVs have a 3840 x 2160 (2160p) resolution which amounts to almost 8.3 million pixels. That’s four times the pixel count of a standard 1080p Full HD set so UHD TVs are capable of incredibly detailed and sharp images.

At present, native 4K videos are few and far between, but 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays recently launched alongside players from brands such as Panasonic and Samsung. Netflix and Amazon Video also both have some 4K content, which can be played back on a compatible telly, and you’ll definitely see the benefit if you have access to either.

HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2

Another thing to check when you’re buying a new TV, especially if you want it to be future proof, is that it has at least one HDMI 2.0 port with HDCP 2.2 copy protection. You should look for even more, to be honest, as all external 4K content will require both technologies to playback on the screen.

HDMI 2.0 is the latest standard for the video and audio connectivity. It effectively allows data to be transmitted at up to 6Gbps, which means that 4K video running at 60 frames per second can be played back. HDMI 1.4 ports are restricted to 3.4Gbps, so can only playback 4K video at 30fps maximum. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players and set-top-boxes, such as the latest Amazon Fire TV, required HDMI 2.0 connectivity.

In addition, all protected 4K content is compliant to HDCP 2.2. This is a copy protection technology that is designed to prevent piracy of official 4K movies and shows. A 4K Blu-ray player, for example, will only play a disc if it sees that the TV has the same copy protection standard.

Only HDMI 2.0 ports have HDCP 2.2 currently, so you need to make sure your new set has both.

High dynamic range (HDR)

There are plenty of 4K TVs out there but only recently have we started to get models that feature high dynamic range technology. HDR basically ensures that a TV has a wider colour range than non-HDR sets, while also giving better contrast between the dark and light areas of a picture.

The effect is more natural colours, yet also presenting vivid, bright images.

The latest batch of 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays are encoded with HDR TVs in mind, so although the playback fine on normal 4K televisions, they look much better on sets with HDR on board.

Netflix and Amazon Video are also starting to present some of their 4K content with HDR.

READ: What is HDR, what TVs support HDR, and what HDR content can I watch?

Freeview Play

Although all televisions bought today have Freeview TV tuners – more often than not Freeview HD tuners – you might have seen a new logo appear on some manufacturers’ boxes.

Freeview Play is the free catch-up technology from Freeview that makes finding retrospective TV shows easier to find and watch on a connected TV without having to search through a manufacturer’s own application hub.

All Freeview TVs have at least a seven-day electronic programme guide that you can scroll forwards through in order to find out what shows are coming up. Freeview Play TVs also give you the option to go backwards through the EPG to catch-up on shows that originally aired in the past.

You only need to scroll back through the guide to find shows broadcast by the BBC, ITV or Channel 4 (and their respective sister stations), press play on their programme description and the respective catch-up service will launch – BBC iPlayer for BBC content, for example. The chosen show will then play automatically.

Channel 5 shows will also soon be added to Freeview Play (you can currently access My 5 content through the app). And UKTV will be adding programming from its channels, Dave, Yesterday, Really and Drama this summer.

Panasonic has some Freeview Play TVs available, while LG has also adopted the tech for its latest sets. Other manufacturers are said to follow suit. Click here to find out more.

Smart TV

For Freeview Play to work, a television needs to be connected to the internet. Online connectivity is also needed for Smart TV functionality and most TVs now come with Wi-Fi and/or wired internet connections.

You’re best to check that it can be connected wirelessly unless your broadband internet router is somewhere close to the set’s position in your home.

Smart TVs also adopt one of several different operating systems and user interfaces, which tends to change depending on the manufacturer. Some are nicer to use than others, while some have more apps. There are TVs based on Android (Sony and Philips), Firefox (Panasonic), Tizen (Samsung) and webOS (LG). Others have their own software running the smarter features.

What’s most importantly to look out for, however, is not the system itself but the different portals and services it offers. Most feature Netflix, for example, but not all have apps for Amazon Video or other streaming services. Basically, if you subscribe to a paid service, check it is available on your new TV before you take the plunge.

LED or OLED?

Another main factor in your choice of new TV is what television image technology does it use. LED sets have LCD panels with LED backlighting are are the most readily available. They are also the cheapest on the whole. They are capable of high brightness.

OLED TVs on the other hands are still fairly rare. They don’t use a backlight at all as each pixel is self-illuminating. That allows for a much slimmer TV and less bleed through from surrounding light. And as each pixel can switch off completely, with no light shining through, the black levels are incredible.

OLED TVs aren’t as capable of as high a brightness as an LED TV, but they make up for it with the deepest blacks. As it’s a newer technology though, OLED sets are often more expensive.

Curved or flat?

There is one final choice to make, but it’s entirely down to personal preference.

There are plenty of curved TVs available on the market – most notably from brands like Samsung and LG. A curved screen is purportedly better to watch from a central position as the screen wraps around your field of vision and therefore remains constant for contrast. However, the viewing angle can be compromised when viewed from another angle, so in that scenario you might find a conventional flatscreen suits your seating arrangement better.

Conclusion

There are also many other badges you’ll see on the packaging of a new TV, with many of them specific to certain manufacturers. Some promise better image processing or refresh rates. Others supposedly improve pixel stability. It is very hard though to recommend one over the other without seeing them side-by-side.

That’s why we’d always recommend that, if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, you should check out TVs in a store that has many to compare alongside each other.

If you do, ask the assistant to turn off the dynamic modes on demo TVs that many retailers use in store. These invariably punch through a shop’s lighting to make the image look as bright and vibrant as possible. However, it isn’t the mode you’d use at home.

Get catch-up and on demand TV for £0 per month with Freeview Play. Click here to find out more.

Doom Collector’s Edition is amazing: See what you get inside the box

The long awaited reboot of Doom is out for PC, PS4 and Xbox One today and we’ve got our hands on the £100 Collector’s Edition.

Our review will be coming over the next few days because multiplayer servers have only just been switched on by Bethesda and developer id Software, so we want to make sure we get the full experience before giving you our final opinions. However, the moment we saw what was inside the special edition version of the game, we had to share it with you.

As you will see when you click through our gallery above, the Doom Collector’s Edition comes with an incredible 12-inch statue of a Revenant – modern style. What’s especially good about it though is that when two AAA batteries are inserted in the base, red LED lights come on under its feet and an internal fan starts to move slowly.

READ: 37 best Xbox One games every gamer should own

That means light flickers on the beast in a foreboding manner. We can’t wait to see what it looks like when it gets darker tonight.

As well as the statue, you get an exclusive steelbook metal case for the game itself. It includes the full Doom game and the Demon Multiplayer Pack, that came as a pre-order bonus.

READ: 37 best PS4 games every gamer should own

So have a browse through the pics above. We can see that Game still has copies of the Collector’s Edition listed on its webpage, for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

MIT’s tiny robot operates on your stomach from the inside

Imagine this: you accidentally swallowed a battery (!), and to get it out, you need to take a pill that turns into a robot. Researchers from MIT, the University of Sheffield and the Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a new kind of origami robot that transforms into a microsurgeon inside your stomach. They squished the accordion-like robot made of dried pig intestine inside a pill, which the stomach acid dissolves. A magnet embedded in the middle allows you or a medical practitioner to control the microsurgeon from the outside using another magnet. It also picks up the battery or other objects stuck inside your stomach.

This new design is a follow up to an older origami robot also developed by a team headed by MIT CSAIL director Daniela Rus. It has a completely different design and propels itself by using its corners that can stick to the stomach’s surface. The team decided to focus on battery retrieval, because people swallow 3,500 button batteries in the US alone. While they can be digested normally, they sometimes burn people’s stomach and esophagus linings. This robot can easily fish them out of one’s organs before that happens. Besides origami surgeons, Rus-led teams created a plethora of other cool stuff in the past, including robots that can assemble themselves in the oven.

Source: MIT