Apple iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus camera review
Apple iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus camera review
Improvements in the iPhone's camera result in better contrast and less distortion than before.
-- By Anick Jesdanun
Photography gets even better with Apple's new iPhones.
Although the iPhone is already among the best smartphones for everyday shots, images from previous iPhones haven't been as sharp as what rival cameras produce. The new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus models address that, with 50% more detail, while introducing animation for still images and brighter low-light selfies.
Screens remain at 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch diagonally, but they have new technology offering shortcuts to frequent tasks.
The iPhone 6S starts at $200 with a two-year contract in the US, and $649 without. The Plus costs $100 more. Both models start shipping Friday in the US, China, Japan, the UK and several other markets. Last year's models are now $100 cheaper than the new ones.
You might not need a 6S if you just got a new phone last year, but go for the 6S over the 6 if you're ready to upgrade from an older model. After testing both new models for nearly two weeks, I find the price difference worth it.
Cameras get better
Photography gets even better with Apple's new iPhones.
Although the iPhone is already among the best smartphones for everyday shots, images from previous iPhones haven't been as sharp as what rival cameras produce. The new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus models address that, with 50% more detail, while introducing animation for still images and brighter low-light selfies.
Screens remain at 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch diagonally, but they have new technology offering shortcuts to frequent tasks.
The iPhone 6S starts at $200 with a two-year contract in the US, and $649 without. The Plus costs $100 more. Both models start shipping Friday in the US, China, Japan, the UK and several other markets. Last year's models are now $100 cheaper than the new ones.
You might not need a 6S if you just got a new phone last year, but go for the 6S over the 6 if you're ready to upgrade from an older model. After testing both new models for nearly two weeks, I find the price difference worth it.
Cameras get better
At 12MP, instead
of 8MP, the new cameras produce sharper photos. The difference is
particularly noticeable when cropping or enlarging photos for printing.
Samsung's high-end phones are at 16MP, but their images are wider. If
you chop off the sides to match the iPhone's 4-by-3 ratio, resolution is
about the same. More important is getting your shot in focus, and the
automatic focus on both cameras is good.
Other improvements in the iPhone's camera result in better contrast and less distortion than before. Trees look greener and buildings browner in several test shots. Samsung's phones have also been good at contrast, but colours are sometimes off. Orange construction barriers look red using Samsung's Galaxy S6 phone, while a greenish statue came out grey. The iPhones reproduce colours more accurately.
For video, the iPhone catches up with several Android phones and can now record at Ultra HD, also known as 4K. There aren't many 4K displays available yet, so this is mostly about recording memories for tomorrow's screens. But the new phones do let you zoom in during playback, so you can see some of that 4K detail today. The Plus model also has better anti-shake technology, so scenes don't look as though you're on a boat.
Still images on the front camera improve to 5MP, from 1.2MP, matching Samsung's phones. Better yet, the new iPhone's screen functions as a flash so faces come out when snapping selfies in bars and other low-light settings. This is rare in smartphones.
Animated photos
Other improvements in the iPhone's camera result in better contrast and less distortion than before. Trees look greener and buildings browner in several test shots. Samsung's phones have also been good at contrast, but colours are sometimes off. Orange construction barriers look red using Samsung's Galaxy S6 phone, while a greenish statue came out grey. The iPhones reproduce colours more accurately.
For video, the iPhone catches up with several Android phones and can now record at Ultra HD, also known as 4K. There aren't many 4K displays available yet, so this is mostly about recording memories for tomorrow's screens. But the new phones do let you zoom in during playback, so you can see some of that 4K detail today. The Plus model also has better anti-shake technology, so scenes don't look as though you're on a boat.
Still images on the front camera improve to 5MP, from 1.2MP, matching Samsung's phones. Better yet, the new iPhone's screen functions as a flash so faces come out when snapping selfies in bars and other low-light settings. This is rare in smartphones.
Animated photos
When you open the camera app, the phone continually records video in
the background. Snap a shot, and the phone saves some of that video
leading to that shot, plus some afterward -- three seconds in all. Now,
that photo comes to life when you view it. Apple calls this 'Live
Photos'. Just tap and hold the screen to see the three-second animation.
Share it with other iPhones, the Apple Watch and Mac computers -- and
soon, through Facebook.
HTC's One camera had a similar feature, but you have to know about it and turn that on. With iPhones, it's on by default. It takes practice and requires about double the storage of a regular photo. But it's worth it -- especially for parents and pet owners. Imagine taking a shot of your kid blowing out birthday candles, then tapping the screen to see it in action.
HTC's One camera had a similar feature, but you have to know about it and turn that on. With iPhones, it's on by default. It takes practice and requires about double the storage of a regular photo. But it's worth it -- especially for parents and pet owners. Imagine taking a shot of your kid blowing out birthday candles, then tapping the screen to see it in action.
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