iPhone 6s Plus review

A Bigger, Stronger Body That Weighs a Little More — The iPhone 6s Plus

The iPhone 6s Plus shares the same basic silhouette as its predecessor, but Apple made some important changes to the materials. The company swapped to a stronger 7000 series aluminum alloy for the unibody shell, which was a direct response to earlier bending concerns. You can feel the difference when you hold it — the phone feels more rigid and solid than before. That added strength comes with a weight penalty, though. At 192 grams, this is one of the heaviest phones in its size class, a fact that is especially noticeable if you are coming from a lighter device.

Apple also introduced a new color option with the 6s Plus: Rose Gold, joining Space Gray, Silver, and Gold. The dimensions are nearly identical to the previous model, but the phone is slightly thicker and heavier. Most of that extra weight comes from the new technology packed inside, particularly the hardware needed for 3D Touch. The Taptic Engine and capacitive sensors add noticeable heft. If you are buying a used unit, pay close attention to the battery service history rather than just the exterior condition.

The heavier, reinforced body is a clear upgrade in build quality, but it is a phone you will definitely feel in your pocket.

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3D Touch: Pressing Down Opens New Shortcuts — The iPhone 6s Plus

What this means for The iPhone 6s Plus

The headline feature of the 6s generation is 3D Touch, and the Plus model gets the full treatment. Apple added a pressure-sensitive layer to the 5.5-inch Retina HD LCD, allowing the screen to recognize different levels of press. Lightly pressing on an app icon pops up a quick-action menu with shortcuts like "Take a Selfie" or "New Message." Pressing harder opens the app fully. This system, called Peek and Pop, also works inside emails, messages, and photos, letting you preview content without actually opening it.

This is a genuinely new way to interact with your phone. It is not just a gimmick — once you get used to pressing to peek at a link or quickly launching a specific action, it feels natural. Apple added haptic feedback through the Taptic Engine to confirm your press, which helps you learn the right pressure. The implementation is polished and convincing. However, the feature only works if you are using it consistently. If you are moving between apps quickly, you will appreciate how much time it saves.

While Android phones have long offered long-press shortcuts, 3D Touch is faster and more intuitive because it relies on pressure rather than waiting. It is one of the strongest arguments for choosing the 6s Plus over competing large phones from the same era.

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Faster Performance With the Apple A9 Chip — The iPhone 6s Plus

Under the hood, the iPhone 6s Plus is powered by the Apple A9 chip, which brought a significant performance boost over the previous generation. The jump in CPU and GPU speed is noticeable across the board — apps open faster, scrolling is smoother, and demanding tasks like editing photos or playing graphics-intensive games feel more responsive. The A9 also enables 4K video recording, a first for an iPhone. The 12-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilization helps keep that video steady, which is a real advantage over the smaller 6s.

The 6s Plus also features a second-generation Touch ID sensor, which is noticeably faster at enable the phone than the original. In daily use, the combination of the A9 chip and 2GB of RAM (Apple does not officially state the RAM amount, but it is widely reported) means the phone handles multitasking well. iOS 9, which shipped with the phone, takes advantage of the extra power with features like slide-over and split-view multitasking on the larger screen.

While the phone is now several years old, the A9 still holds up for basic tasks like web browsing, social media, and video playback. Just be aware that the 5W charger is slow by modern standards, and you will want to check the battery health on any used unit you consider.

A 12-Megapixel Camera With Stabilized 4K Video — The iPhone 6s Plus

Apple equipped the iPhone 6s Plus with a 12-megapixel main camera that could record 4K video, a first for the iPhone line. What truly set this model apart from the smaller iPhone 6s, however, was the inclusion of optical image stabilization. This hardware feature helps keep your footage steady without relying solely on software, making it a strong choice for capturing smooth video or sharper low-light photos. The larger 5.5-inch Retina HD LCD display also gave users a bigger canvas for framing shots and editing.

Another key innovation here was 3D Touch, a pressure-sensitive screen that added a new layer of interaction. Pressing firmly on icons or links could bring up quick actions or previews—what Apple called Peek and Pop. While not every app took full advantage of it, 3D Touch could speed up common tasks like previewing emails or jumping to a specific feature within an app. Combined with the roomier screen, these tools made the Plus model feel distinctly more capable for content consumers who also wanted to capture and review their media in greater detail.

Battery Life and Charging: What to Know on an Old Unit — The iPhone 6s Plus

The iPhone 6s Plus uses a non-removable battery rated for up to 14 hours of video playback, a decent figure for its era. However, the provided 5W charger is slow by modern standards, and owners today should expect that any used unit may have a degraded battery. Apple’s own guidance recommends checking battery service history rather than relying only on cosmetic condition, since an older battery can lead to unexpected shutdowns or diminished runtime. Replacing the battery can restore much of the original endurance, but it’s an important cost to factor in when considering a second-hand purchase.

Beyond battery concerns, the phone’s weight of 192 grams is noticeable. This additional heft came from the technology behind 3D Touch, including the Taptic Engine that provides haptic feedback, as well as the switch to stronger 7000 series aluminum to address durability worries from earlier models. The result is a well-built device that feels solid in hand, but one that can tire your wrist during long sessions. If you are looking at a used unit, also check the Home button, display edges, and 3D Touch responsiveness—these often show wear before other parts.

Is the iPhone 6s Plus right for you?

The iPhone 6s Plus makes the most sense today if you value a large screen and optical stabilization in a budget-friendly iPhone. Its 12-megapixel camera with stabilized 4K video still holds up well for casual use, and 3D Touch offers shortcuts that can improve daily workflow. However, the phone’s weight, slow charging, and potential battery issues are real drawbacks that demand attention before buying.

For those exploring other options, you can use our phone finder to filter by features you care about. If you are comparing directly with the smaller iPhone 6s, a side-by-side comparison can help you decide whether the larger screen and optical stabilization justify the extra bulk. in the end, the iPhone 6s Plus is a capable device for its age, but only if you are prepared to manage its limitations and invest in a fresh battery.