So I tried the iPhone 6S Plus for a day

[michaelqian88]

Just want to share some of my thoughts with iOS, and the iPhone 6S Plus.

For the past 3 years I've been an Android User, had the S2, Note 3, Note 4, and the Note 5 has been my daily driver since September 2015. I have always been a strong advocate of Android, and a harsh critic of Apple, but even so I impulsively decided to try iOS for a change, and picked up a iPhone 6S Plus 64GB for a good deal.

After using it for a day I'm even more amazed at the amazing marketing tactics by Apple to pull wool over the consumer's eyes and sell these things at a super premium price. The 6S Plus lags behind the Note 5 in every single way, and mean EVERY SINGLE way.

Just some of my observations below:

1 - 6S Plus screen size is smaller. Yet the phone is bigger! Unnecessarily thick top and bottom bezel, a very thick side bezels. What a waste of real estate.

2 - Screen resolution is still 1080p even though mid-range Android phones have QHD now. Screen is also not as bright as the Note 5.

3 - Lack of "Back" button. Not having a back button means every app has a back button at a different place, or sometimes not at all. This also makes the phone very difficult to use one-handed. I have no problem using my Note 5 one-handed.

4 - The settings are all over the place. Doesn't it make more sense to have the settings within each individual app itself, rather than putting them all in one place. What's even worse is that some downloaded app does in fact have settings within the app itself, this makes it all very confusing finding the setting you want. The notifications settings are also in two different places within the main Settings.

5 - No way to close all apps at once. Still like the old iPhones where you have to swipe up one by one.

6 - No multitasking. Apple claims it's multitasking but it's really not. It's just quick switching between apps, not not even quicker than just clicking the Home button and opening another app.

7 - Lack of useful toggles. To turn on/off things such as Location or Mobile Data you must go into the settings. Where as in my Note 5 it's a quick on/off from the pull down toggle. Also why is Aircraft mode the first option considering 99.9% of us don't fly on a daily basis.

8 - Lack of a "Ultra Power Saving Mode" or equivalent.

9 - Battery takes almost 3 hours to charge? Seriously Apple? My Note 5 takes about 75 minutes for a full charge.

10 - Lack of an overall "Sync" toggle.. I found this very useful on my Note 5 when I go to sleep I just disable WIFI and Sync.

11 - The Note 5 (and other Samsungs) have a Notification LED above the screen to show you that you've missed something, i.e. call, txt, etc... The iPhone has no such thing, hence the only way is to pick it up and turn the screen on to find out if you've missed any notifications while you were away.

11 - No open file system. In my Note 5 I have all my documents (mostly .pdf) neatly arranged into folders, and I open, copy, delete, move any at will. No such freedom in iOS.

12 - The keyboard is awkward to use. I hate flipping between the alphabetical keyboard and the numeric/symbol keyboard. There isn't even a full-stop or coma. With a 5.5" screen surely Apple could have put a row of numerals 0-9 above the alphabetical keys?

13 - Significantly limiting attachment options in email. Most of the time for work I need to attach pdf files and this seems to be impossible or at least not without using the iCloud.

14 - No widgets. In my Note 5 I have very useful weather, calendar widgets etc... In the iPhone it's an extra step.

15 - The 3D Touch feature is cool but it only really saves you time in maybe a couple of apps. Most other times it takes equally as long as going into the app itself.

16 - The touchscreen sensitivity doesn't seem to be as good as on the Note 5. The first few hours I kept on having to press it twice and the first press didn't seem to register. For example on the keyboard it seems that I have to press the letter right in the center for it to register, otherwise nothing happens.

I think that's all for now. I totally don't understand how people say the iPhone is "simple" or "use-friendly". It seems to me that on the Note 5 everything was at my fingertips, but totally opposite with the iPhone.

This thing is going back on EBAY tomorrow! I bought it cheap enough I can probably make an extra 100 bucks.

 

[Hadron]

The "Settings" thing in iOS has always seemed clumsy to me (leave app, move to Settings app, locate section for your app, change setting, return to original app is a spectacularly awkward way of doing things). But locating settings within Android apps is no longer as simple as it was: in most apps you look for the "three dot" button, but apps are not consistent in where this is on the screen, and then for some you need to look in the "hamburger" (3 stacked horizontal lines) menu instead. Personally I blame Google for getting rid of the menu button - it used to be very straightforward back when that was standard (I know your Samsungs have it, but almost no others do).

Not being able to close all apps at once isn't a problem though. Why would you ever want to do that? Certainly I've never done that in 6 years of using Android, and if it is necessary I'd take that as a sign that the manufacturer has messed the memory management up badly (or you have a rogue app but haven't identified it).

I agree about the Apple keyboard, but find it ironic that a Samsung user is saying this, since the big drawback of the Samsung keyboard on my Note tablet is that you need to toggle to enter symbols (other than numbers, where it does have a number row). On both platforms you can use replacement keyboards, so that should be soluble anyway.

 

[MLSS]

My wife loves ios. Android is complicated to her. She has never complained about adjusting any settings or had and complaints about it. She has had the 3,5s, and now the 6s and she will stay with them forever lol

It all comes down to personal choice.

I have a 5s as my work phone and it works great. The only problem I've ever had with ios is not having an app drawer.
If apple ads an app drawer they will convert me lol

 

[LizMac]

Good points! You're right about the no "back" button, it's very frustrating. I love the swype feature on my phone, if I use my daughters phone it takes me forever to text and where the hell are the punctuations????!!!!!! <<< can't do this.

 

[chanchan05]

Good points! You're right about the no "back" button, it's very frustrating. I love the swype feature on my phone, if I use my daughters phone it takes me forever to text and where the hell are the punctuations????!!!!!! <<< can't do this.

Doesn't the iOS version of Swiftkey have swiping?

 

[zuben el genub]

http://www.cultofmac.com/410926/apple-stock-lost-most-value/

They oversold and too expensive. Have to see what the next big thing is. I haven't seen lines at the stores waiting that used to be big on the news a couple of years ago.

They also have this:
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer...orking-iphone-6-and-6s-handsets-beyond-repair

Not that Android is perfect, but items good, bad, or indifferent seem to get posted in more places.

 

[aysiu]

Doesn't the iOS version of Swiftkey have swiping?

Yes, it does.

Honestly, I was expecting typical anti-Apple FUD with the original post, but the specifics of what's wrong with iOS are spot-on. Unfortunately, that doesn't really matter. Almost everyone I know who has an iPhone loves the iPhone, despite its flaws (or doesn't even recognize the flaws because of Steve Jobs post-memorial distortion field).

Yes, the settings being everywhere is a bad design decision, but I will say the three things I see most affecting users (I have to support iPad/iPhone users as part of my job and also use an iPad at work):

1. The lack of a filesystem. Many people ask for help when iOS won't let them share a file from an app the way they want to share it out. They just want to find the file and transfer it via USB or email it. There isn't always an easy way, or iOS doesn't make it obvious.

2. iCloud prompts and bugginess. iCloud's warnings about storage (pay after 5 GB) are confusing to end users, who think they're running out of space on their actual device and will magically get more space on the device if they pay for more iCloud (I'm not kidding). iCloud prompts for passwords or upgrades to iCloud Drive are annoyances users complain about, and then sometimes things that are supposed to sync to iCloud, don't.

3. Apple ID password resets. You'd be surprised how many people who know their email passwords and other passwords have no idea what their Apple ID password is (and because Apple ID passwords have very specific requirements, oftentimes these folks cannot merely recycle a "usual" password). The worst part is that about 1/4 of the time you send a password reset request, Apple just doesn't send one to you. You just sit there refreshing your inbox and... nothing.

Very few users I support actually complain about this fourth thing, but I find it frustrating—the inability to change default launching applications. No, I don't like Safari or Apple Maps or Mail. Let me choose what launches when I click on a link. Nope. It's Apple's way or the highway.

Oddly enough, Mac OS X doesn't suffer from most of this stuff (iCloud prompts are still annoying) and Macs are great, even though iPhones and iPads are terrible.

 

[Slug]

Almost everyone I know who has an iPhone loves the iPhone, despite its flaws (or doesn't even recognize the flaws because of Steve Jobs post-memorial distortion field).

Or perhaps they're just, I dunno, happy with their iPhone and don't recognise/care about such 'flaws'?

Let's be perfectly honest.... substitute "Android" for "iPhone" in the first line above and it is probably true for 99% of the members here. Not because of any "distortion field" but simply because, for them, it's true.

 

[aysiu]

Or perhaps they're just, I dunno, happy with their iPhone and don't recognise/care about such 'flaws'?

Let's be perfectly honest.... substitute "Android" for "iPhone" in the first line above and it is probably true for 99% of the members here. Not because of any "distortion field" but simply because, for them, it's true.

I am being honest. I'm not talking about members here. I'm talking about people I know in real life.

All the Android users I know fully recognize the flaws of the platform. They may still love or prefer Android, but they know the flaws are there.

Most (not all) of the iPhone users I know complain about the flaws but still "love" their iPhones anyway.

 

[Stuntman]

Android and iOS are just different. A lot of it is what you are used to. There are people who are used to iOS and complain that there are things that Android isn't more like iOS. The keyboard is an example. There was a thread where someone wanted a keyboard like the iOS keyboard.

 

[Androidcurious]

I don't understand the point of this entire thing. So you're saying as someone who loves and prefers Android you used an iPhone and came to the conclusion that you love and prefer Android?

And this is all personal preference anyway. I use both iOS and Android daily and I think iPhone's keyboard is the best out there save for Google's native keyboard.

Can't believe in 2016 we're still doing Android vs iOS. They both won, doesn't matter anymore.

 

[Phil Indeblanc]

One thing I can appreciate is when installing an APP on my MotoX, it tells me the different private info the app will install, so I know to reject it. Apple doesn't give you details, it just says personal info.

I have been using apple for most of the time, and just recently changed to Android as I felt like I was locked in a box.
A couple things I notice so far...

Oh boy are the Android Emoticons ugly looking...at least the faces, and thankfully it has a "recent" tab or I would be lost finding things. Its hard just to find the faces.

Other than that, I find the OS more fluid, and responsive. I do like where the settings are to apps. I like the screen difference from my iP5 to the MotoX..motoX is much better, and it is a 2014 phone. Still not decided to go with a Note4, or other model.
(fingerprint reader, SD, battery life, and stylus are nice/bloatware is not!)

One of the reasons I switched was because I have large finders and mistype way too often. I thought the MotoX's larger screen would help, but I STILL make just as much or MORE errors!, and selecting text to correct is NOT easier.
(These are DAILY structural use features that make all the difference). I find Android maybe moving closer to working like iOS, but I hope I'm wrong.

I like Androids CLOCK much more, easy quick one look screent o set alarms and such.
iOS, you scroll aorund, and things are NOT color coded!!!
We HAVE FULL FnCOLOR OS's ! ....USE the concept!!!

Here is my take away so far from the experience in a general scope of things....
iOS is supposed to be a "design oriented" company...but its really not.
iOS is more like an artist to convince us of having it in its specific way, and thats it!
Not designed for an artists individuality. True artists will want to have things adapt to their needs, not conform to others needs. Its a true followers phone, not a thinkers. If you were book smart, you will be able to follow the directions. If you think for yourself, you just need something more flexible.

On the Plus side of iOS. Even the latest 6plus. Screen breaks, you can change it. back is a alloy. New droid phones are losing SD slots, and following Apple's path on expansion. This is a bad thing, and will eventually ruin Droid. Top droid like the Note5 has no SD, AND a dual glass design to double your chances of breakage. Sure you will case it, but wouldn't in be nice to have it out the case sometimes with some confidence?

 

[Slug]

New droid phones are losing SD slots [...]

Only those from Samsung. Every other major OEM, and indeed most others, continue to support external microSD storage.

 

[Hadron]

And indeed all of the rumours, leaked photos etc suggest that Samsung has recognised this was a mistake (not that that took much insight - others who'd made that error had reversed it 1-2 years before Samsung even tried it...).

 

[Phil Indeblanc]

Only those from Samsung. Every other major OEM, and indeed most others, continue to support external microSD storage.

Nexus 6p?

 

[Phil Indeblanc]

I also noticed a couple of the major apps I use are limited. They don't have full features like on the iOS. Weird. This I thought would be the flip situation. On Amazon app, I can't comment on reviews (yet to try reviewing).
On another app, had a similar limitation last week. I think it was Yelp.

 

[Slug]

Nexus 6p?

The Nexus range not supporting external storage isn't a new thing; it's been this way for some years, since the Nexus S I believe.

Huawei and LG, OEMs of the 6P and 5X respectively, continue to support microSD storage in their own-branded handsets.

 

[Phil Indeblanc]

The Nexus range not supporting external storage isn't a new thing; it's been this way for some years, since the Nexus S I believe.

Huawei and LG, OEMs of the 6P and 5X respectively, continue to support microSD storage in their own-branded handsets.

What brand would that be? So the Huawei international market has a 6P with an SD slot?

 

[Slug]

What brand would that be?

Erm, Huawei? Or LG.

So the Huawei international market has a 6P with an SD slot?

No, Huawei devices continue to support microSD cards.

The Nexus 6P, although built by Huawei, is a Google device and it is they who decided that the Nexus range do not support microSd cards.

 

[chanchan05]

What brand would that be? So the Huawei international market has a 6P with an SD slot?

Huawei makes other phones apart from the 6P. The Huawei Honor 5 for example.

 

[mrex]

Just some of my observations below:

1 - 6S Plus screen size is smaller. Yet the phone is bigger! Unnecessarily thick top and bottom bezel, a very thick side bezels. What a waste of real estate.

it is pretty huge... i wish it had a smaller bezel.

2 - Screen resolution is still 1080p even though mid-range Android phones have QHD now. Screen is also not as bright as the Note 5.

i dont see this is a problem. it is a phone still... i cant see separate pixels on the screen. I dont know about the brightness, but in a day light, outside, iphone has a good screen.

3 - Lack of "Back" button. Not having a back button means every app has a back button at a different place, or sometimes not at all. This also makes the phone very difficult to use one-handed. I have no problem using my Note 5 one-handed.

depends... if you use safari you can swipe to go back.

4 - The settings are all over the place. Doesn't it make more sense to have the settings within each individual app itself, rather than putting them all in one place. What's even worse is that some downloaded app does in fact have settings within the app itself, this makes it all very confusing finding the setting you want. The notifications settings are also in two different places within the main Settings.

most of the things are in the Settings. there isnt much to change.

8 - Lack of a "Ultra Power Saving Mode" or equivalent.

there is power saving option in Settings. check the battery and the first option there ;-)

9 - Battery takes almost 3 hours to charge? Seriously Apple? My Note 5 takes about 75 minutes for a full charge.

well, considering that you shouldnt let it to drop down to zero and charge it more often, i dont see that is a problem. the fast charging may harm the battery anyway.

11 - The Note 5 (and other Samsungs) have a Notification LED above the screen to show you that you've missed something, i.e. call, txt, etc... The iPhone has no such thing, hence the only way is to pick it up and turn the screen on to find out if you've missed any notifications while you were away.

unfortunately.

11 - No open file system. In my Note 5 I have all my documents (mostly .pdf) neatly arranged into folders, and I open, copy, delete, move any at will. No such freedom in iOS.

iphone is made for dumbs... sorry, i mean... to be as easy as possible to use. i hate that there is no "real" filesystem because that is also causing that whenever you open for example a photo and edit it with differend apps, you have multiple copies of the same file.

sharing isnt easy and relies mostly on iclown, i mean icloud of course... and some files are hard to open. an app called Documents is a must have app with ios devices.

12 - The keyboard is awkward to use. I hate flipping between the alphabetical keyboard and the numeric/symbol keyboard. There isn't even a full-stop or coma. With a 5.5" screen surely Apple could have put a row of numerals 0-9 above the alphabetical keys?

apple keyboard is probably the best simple keyboard i have used, but i really cant understand why there are no symbols/numbers and they need to be open separately.

14 - No widgets. In my Note 5 I have very useful weather, calendar widgets etc... In the iPhone it's an extra step.

widgets are in the notifications. i dont like the implementation, it is horrible to use and the notification panel is a mess after couple of widgets. scroll down and up and...

15 - The 3D Touch feature is cool but it only really saves you time in maybe a couple of apps. Most other times it takes equally as long as going into the app itself.

i think it is abit gimmick... i only use it with a launcher app to get more action on the dock area.

16 - The touchscreen sensitivity doesn't seem to be as good as on the Note 5. The first few hours I kept on having to press it twice and the first press didn't seem to register. For example on the keyboard it seems that I have to press the letter right in the center for it to register, otherwise nothing happens.

my experience is the opposite... i feel i do less mistakes with the apple keyboard.