A month ago I posted a gadget diary entry about how I have been thinking about switching back to the iPhone. After yesterday’s mega Apple event, I have made my decision and will be pre-ordering the iPhone 6s Plus this Saturday morning. Why am I going to switch from Android and why have I picked the iPhone 6s Plus instead of the iPhone 6s?
The first question is an easy answer. After using Android smartphones exclusively for the past three years, I am ready for a change. I did an audit of how I use my phone on an average day and found that iOS or Android can easily handle the same main tasks, which are phone calls, text messages, game playing, RSS feed reading (Feedly), Facebook reading and posting, eBook reading, music streaming and picture taking. I’m also looking forward to almost instant OS updates instead of having to wait for the phone manufacturer and carrier to schedule them.
It’s the second question that I struggled with a little longer. Which new iPhone do I choose between the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus? I have been carrying an LG G3 for a year now and recently have been testing the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 for an upcoming review. The iPhone 6s Plus is considerably larger than both of those phones, which had me considering the smaller sized iPhone 6s. But then I started going through Apple’s specs list for the new iPhones and discovered that there is a subtle difference between the two new phones other than the obvious differences of physical dimensions and screen size. Both phones have the new 12MP iSight camera, but the iPhone 6s does NOT have optical image stabilization for images or video. That difference sealed the deal for me, the iPhone 6s Plus it is, either in silver or space grey. As for which capacity I’ll choose, I’ll probably go middle of the road and opt for the 64GB version. At least that’s what I’m leaning towards today.
The coolest new iPhone feature for me is the live photos feature. Did anyone else think of Harry Potter when you saw the moving images?
And is it just me, or does the 3D touch feature seem way overhyped for what seems like a feature that we’ve had for ages called touch and hold? I guess there’s a lot more to it than that – I hope 🙂
Anyone else going to order one of the new iPhones?
Update 09/12/15
I pre-ordered the space grey 64gb iPhone 6s Plus in the wee hours of the morning. I opted to pay full price instead of using one of my Verizon upgrades. I actually was interested in using Apple’s new upgrade plan, but it appears that they require that you make an in-store reservation for that. Since the nearest Apple store is about 70 miles away and I don’t want to take off work to drive up there, I’ll try the phone first before I do that.
Update 09/15/15
I cancelled my order for the iPhone 6s Plus. I am still going to try one, but I will be getting a loaner from a Verizon rep instead of buying one for myself and potentially returning it later. Since Verizon charges a $40 upgrade fee even when you order one at full price, I decided I didn’t want to foot that bill if I decided on a return.
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Nope. 😀 I’ll keep my wallet fat.
We will be pre-ordering/ordering the iPad Pro / Pencil as soon as it is available. We have been asking for something like it (size, stylus, etc) since 2012… http://rainydaymagazine.com/wp/2012/03/19/what-would-get-us-to-upgrade/
Me too! Can’t wait to get the iPad Pro and Pencil. I always use my Ipad together with a Jot Touch for meeting notes and doodling. This beast will be undoubtedly be magnificent for what I want. Not cheap but heck, I just gotta have it!
I’ve been eyeing the new Jot Dash stylus. I’ll be curious to see how it compares to the iPencil.
BTW…as to iPhone6 or Plus? We went for the Plus because its size was JUST big enough for web surfing…such that we were able to get rid of the iPads because of it. As a policy, we always get the least amount of memory just to limit the amount of crap we would accumulate (apps we don’t use get deleted, data goes up to the cloud, music is streamed) on the device 🙂
16gb just seems very limiting.
my question to Julie… so which color appleWatch are you ordering to pair with your new iPhone? 😉
I’m leaning towards the 38mm Silver with the Orange band.
I just got the new sport gold with midnight blueband. It is gorgeous. So beautiful. A very nice light gold satin finish. This color combo spoke to me
Nice sharing, as always… thanks 🙂
Yup. I’ll be up at 12:01 earrrrrly Saturday PDT for the 6S Plus.
64gb or 128gb? Which color?
Space Gray (I still say black); I MIGHT spring for the 128 this time.
I will order a 64GB 6s Plus with 64GB in space gray, too. For my brother, the order is a 6s with 64GB in space gray. The alarm clock for 9 a.m. on saturday is set (I live in Germany…)
For now I have a 6 Plus in silver. I have tested the optical image stabilization several times in my holidays. This allows to make photos out of tha car at 35mph without problems. For videos, you don’t need a selfie-stick or so…. I was at the Bellagio Fountain in Las Vegas, had no selfie-stick. I have hold up my 6+ and the video is very great, there are nearly no wobbler in it.
A 16GB device, is in my eyes, a little bit too small. The system itself uses around 7GB of ths space.
Currently using a Space Grey 6 and will be updating to a Silver 6S Plus tethered to my Stainless Steel Apple Watch. As I use my 6 less now (I can see so much on my watch that I dont have to handle the phone very often) I decided the bigger version would be ideal. I have to wait until mid October when I will be in UK to be able to buy though so I will be reading with earnest your “experience so far” updates!!
Such compelling reasons to switch phones. First world problem for sure.
Is someone miffed because Julie is changing from Android to Apple?
The presentation itself was actually nothing really spectacular this year. As are the advancements on the new iPhones.
I actually, just a few days ago, went from a Samsung S5 back to my iPhone 6, because of the WhatsApp feature (that you can link WhatsApp to your internet browser and type on your PC)! Been waiting on that for a long time (Android had it first and longer). In that I wanted to use it on my Apple Watch (replying to messages). Well guess what: it doesn’t work to the fullest on Apple Watch – so I am hoping for that to be solved under Watch OS2.
Basically I just love the OS and the way it handles as opposed to Android. What I still hate is my slavish link to iTunes, no LEDs to let you know if a message has arrived (of course that now works more indescrete with Apple Watch) and the notification dropdown hasn’t changed or been maxed out to it’s fullest potential – too bad.
As much as I enjoy an update from Apple on their hardware (the “s” series) it didn’t move me this time around.
What struck me as really GREAT was the new Apple iPad Pro w. Pencil. Unfortunately the Pencil will not be backwards compatible to other iPads (real bummer). I will not be buying the newer one, since I already have one.
So all together: in my opinion it was, just what it was: a hardware update. Nothing to write home about.
I’m planning a nice evening nap so I’ll be up at 12:01 PDT to order a 128GB 6s Plus (debating on color…decisions, decisions. Rose Gold because it’s the newest color? Regular Gold? I…just…don’t…know.)
My biggest decision is coming in at whether to buy it outright or get stuck with an AT&T Next plan.
I had that same debate when I upgraded to the Note 5. Buy outright or go with AT&T Next. Well the chances of me leaving AT&T are next to 0 since I am on a rather large family plan. I opted for Next and what is essentially 0% financing. I picked the 12 month plan (payments over 18 months) so in 12 months I can trade in the phone if I wish (ending the rest of the payments) and get a new phone at that time.
I’m considering Apple’s new iPhone + Applecare every year deal.
What Apple is calling “3D touch” starts with “press and hold” but if you press HARDER, it is treated as a different event which in software can do something else.
I’m not sure if there is much granularity in how hard you press (i.e. does the OS report to the app “the user pressed at 57% of maximum sensitivity” and will it make sense to respond differently to different levels of pressure? For drawing apps maybe, but for other things? I guess some experimentation is in order.
I am not a big fan of the iPad Pro, just because it’s a wannabe Surface. I wish the Pro had OSX.. that would have been amazing! But just iOS is limiting.. kinda like the original Surface RT’s were so limiting.
But, phonewise.. I would most likely not be getting a phone this year if not for the fact that my husband is in need of a new phone. So he’s getting the 6, while I’ll get a 6S Plus. I am debating whether to go Space Grey this time.. with the husband getting my hand-me-downs……. I don’t think he’ll go for Rose Gold. 😉
I want to know more about the Apple financing plan. I am still one of the holdouts that have unlimited data on Verizon, so if I can do a payment plan and keep my unlimited data, I’ll be a happy camper!
I agree 100%! I would have ordered the iPad Pro in a heartbeat if it ran OSX. No interest in iOS. I’ll be buying a Surface 3 with LTE now.
Nope, there is nothing there to justify the price of an upgrade. Maybe the iPhone 7…
I pre-ordered the space grey 64gb iPhone 6s Plus in the wee hours of the morning. I opted to pay full price instead of using one of my Verizon upgrades. I actually was interested in using Apple’s new upgrade plan, but it appears that they require that you make an in-store reservation for that. Since the nearest Apple store is about 70 miles away and I don’t want to take off work to drive up there, I’ll try the phone first before I do that.
Hi Julie,
Curious to hear if you had some time with the iPhone 6S Plus loaner from Verizon? Can you share an update on your experience? I am about to upgrade from a 5S and believe there will be a significant difference in performance.
Also, coming out of a 2 year contract I am really weighing the pros and cons of all the installment plans. It seems that most carriers really want you to switch to an installment plan really bad. The only providers IMO that still offer 2 year contracts are AT&T and SPRINT. Debating between AT&T NEXT and Apple Upgrade. Maybe you can elaborate on that a bit more if you have some information or heard feedback.
Thanks for the great reviews.
Mario
I haven’t received the loaner yet. Thanks for the reminder!
I went with the 64GB iPhone 6 Plus last Christmas and don’t regret it one bit! You’ll love it, and will get spoiled with TouchID now. 🙂 I too loved Android but was wanting a change. I’ll probably switch back if the Nexus line comes back with a nice looking/feature rich phone in a few years.
I ended up with the 128GB 6s Plus in Rose Gold (for no other reason then it’s the newest color).
Like Julie, I went with buying the phone outright. I ordered through AT&T’s upgrade method, which was open early, and they didn’t offer me Next pricing. Just two year contract, which would have upped my bill by $25.
Did any one else get a generic shipping date of October 16th instead of this month? I’m thinking it was a programming error or a placeholder on AT&T’s site.
Pam, my ship date still says 9/25. Did you log in to your Apple order page and check it there?
I went through AT&T’s site, so I expect their system might not be entirely accurate…or maybe it is. 🙂
I ordered the 64GB 6S in space gray. I also opted to pay full price instead of getting into another 2-year contract with AT&T.
3DTouch is similar to Force Touch, which is currently found on the Apple Watch and the MacBook 12″ Retina. I love it. The haptic feedback is incredible.
On the MacBook, the trackpad itself is just a sheet of glass. There are no springs. When the computer is off and you try to push on the trackpad, the trackpad doesn’t move. When you turn on the computer, the haptic touch engine pushes back when you touch the trackpad to make it feel like it is spring-loaded.
3DTouch on the iPhone 6s is supposed to recognize two levels of pressure, instead of one level like Force Touch. So on the new iPhone, you have touch, soft press, and hard press — three layers. It’s not the same as a press-and-hold or a long press. You shouldn’t have to hold your finger on the screen. Just press hard.
Forbes has a fantastic article on how it works: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jvchamary/2015/09/12/3d-touch-iphone-6s/
Can’t wait to try it out.
Pretty sure I’m going to upgrade from my Verizon 5c to a ebay 5s 🙂 I love the old design much better honestly. I know the new 6s and 6s plus will be super fast, but yeah all glass! 🙂
Pretty sure I’m going to upgrade from my Verizon 5c to a ebay 5s 🙂 I love the old design much better honestly. I know the new 6s and 6s plus will be super fast, but yeah all glass! 🙂 And I’m not liking the almost un-pocketable 6 and 6 plus.
Also I will get a 128gb 5s cheaper than a 16gb new iphone 6s
I love the hardware design on Apple products but they just don’t get it when it comes to inking. Instead of putting an active digitizer in the new Ipad Pro it just uses a Bluetooth pencil. Older Ipads have had options for Bluetooth pens. Have tried them all and they just don’t compare to the inking on Windows Tablets like the Surface Pro 3 and my Lenovo Thinkpad. If Apple would have put a digitizer layer on the Ipad Pro then I would be impressed. Just designing a proprietary Bluetooth pencil is old technology. I have an iPhone 6 Plus and will not upgrade for this minor product release. Had they put in a QHD display, full NFC and wireless charging I might have considered it. I will keep my Samsung Note 5 for media consumption.