My Take on the Apple iPhone 6s: All The Nitty Gritty Pros and Cons

The iPhone 6s was one of the best Smartphones I’ve ever owned, and I really miss it. The size, the feel, the design – it all just clicked perfectly for me.

But of course, what was once cutting-edge has definitely shown its age. The following is a summary of my thoughts on the 6s, breaking down the pros and cons from my three year ownership experience:

Pros of the iPhone 6s

1. Perfect Size and Comfortable in Hand

One of the main reasons why I loved the iPhone 6s was its size. I have medium-sized hands, and this phone fit like a glove. I could easily reach across the entire screen with just my thumb without any awkward stretching. Even by today’s standards, I still think this is one of the best phone sizes Apple has ever made. It still feels natural and comfortable (not too big or too small).

2. Thin and Lightweight

The 6s is super slim and lightweight. You could slip it into your pocket without even noticing it was there. This made it easy to carry around all day without any issues. Compared to the chunky phones we have now, this feels like a breath of fresh air.

3. Elegant Design

This phone just looks classy. The rounded edges and smooth curves made it feel like a premium device. The clean lines and minimalistic design still hold up well today, and Apple’s attention to detail really shines here.

4. Physical Home Button with Touch ID

The home button was a standout feature for me. It wasn’t just a button you pressed; it had a fingerprint sensor built-in, which was super fast and always reliable. I really miss having a physical button. It gave tactile feedback you don’t get with today’s touch phones.

5. Headphone Jack

The iPhone 6s was one of the last models to have a headphone jack. Even though I mostly use wireless headphones now, having that jack was a real convenience back then. No dongles or adapters – just plug and play.

6. Solid Build Quality

After three years of use, my 6s still felt solid. There was some minor wear and tear, like slight staining on the edges, but no major cracks or broken buttons. The home button is still clicky and responsive, and the phone feels sturdy in hand.

7. Decent Camera for Its Time

Back when it launched, the iPhone 6s camera was top-notch. It had a single lens but took great photos in good lighting. For social media, casual photography, and everyday pics, it was more than enough. It was 90% as good as the camera on my iPhone 11 Pro.

Cons of the iPhone 6s

1. Small Screen by Today’s Standards

While the size was a pro for comfort, the screen itself feels tiny now. Compared to the edge-to-edge display of the iPhone XS that I ultimately upgraded to, the 6s’s screen is cramped. It has thick bezels at the top and bottom, which makes watching videos or browsing the web feel a bit outdated.

2. Dim and Low-Resolution Display

The screen brightness is another downside. Even on a cloudy day, the display struggled to be bright and clear – especially when held at an angle. The resolution is also noticeably lower than current phones, and if you look closely, you can see individual pixels. Back in the day, this was acceptable, but now it feels outdated.

3. Lightning Port Instead of USB-C

The iPhone 6s uses Apple’s proprietary Lightning port, which I never really liked. Sticking with Lightning means extra cables and adapters, which was always annoying.

4. Home Button Durability Concerns

The home button on the 6s has been known to wear out over time. It was often the first component to fail, and when it does, it can seriously impact the phone’s usability. I never had an issue with mine though.

5. Single-Lens Camera Limitations

The camera, while good for its time, is pretty basic by today’s standards. No zoom, no night mode, no ultra-wide lens – just one single camera.

6. Outdated Software and Performance

Obviously, the iPhone 6s struggles with modern apps and software updates. Apple stopped supporting it with the latest iOS versions a while ago, so it won’t get any new features and security improvements. Performance-wise, it’s slower compared to today’s phones, which can be frustrating.

7. Battery Life Has Deteriorated

After three years (or more), battery life on these phones tends to be pretty poor unless you’ve replaced the battery. The 6s’s battery was never long lasting to begin with.