iPhone 6s Puts Focus on Its Cameras With Higher-Quality Photos and Video, Front Flash, and More - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iPhone 6s Puts Focus on Its Cameras With Higher-Quality Photos and Video, Front Flash, and More

With the launch of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus a few days away, the first reviews for the new devices have begun appearing online today. Many reviewers touted Apple's inclusion of the new 3D Touch technology and the overall performance enhancements that were brought in thanks to the A9 processor. One of the biggest points of attention given in a number of the reviews, however, was the 12-megapixel camera, which has the ability to capture Live Photos and shoot 4K video.

iphone 6s photo 1
In one of its two in-depth reviews on the iPhone 6s, The Verge simply called the new smartphone's camera, "the best camera most people will ever own." Still, the site thought that the overall camera improvement from the iPhone 6's 8-megapixel offering was a "mild" update in the grand sense, given that most customers probably won't be able to tell the difference between the two unless they were side-by-side. Not to mention that most people will be using the camera on its simplest terms for social media.

iphone 6s photo 2
Pocket-lint noted the front-facing camera's 5-megapixel upgrade also has some improvements that are worth mentioning. The site described the new flash feature -- which turns the entire iPhone screen into a camera flash -- works quite well and provides impressively dynamic color palette to match the lighting situation, from "bright clean whites to creamy tones."

iphone 6s photo 3
Pointing out that the iPhone 6s rear camera upgrade is the first resolution improvement made to an iPhone since the iPhone 4 in 2011, The Telegraph called the new 12MP camera "a necessity." Impressed with the better and more accurate autofocus and bump in pixel density, the site found photos taken with the camera to have "greater depth of field, richer, more accurate colour and greater detail."

Aside from today's reviews, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have also been used in a few high-profile photo shoots in recent days, including the above photos from TIME, a set from Sports Illustrated shot at recent San Francisco Giants games, and even a few pictures from New York Fashion Week taken by Vogue. Video footage taken with the 4K-enabled iPhone 6s rear camera is also appearing online, with popular YouTuber Casey Neistat trying out the high-quality format for his latest vlog.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

M5 MacBook Pro

RIP, MacBook Ultra

Monday October 19, 2026 9:37 am PDT by
Apple today sent out invites for an experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, and the "Pro and tell" tagline on the invitation likely means that the rumored MacBook models with touch-enabled OLED displays will stick with MacBook Pro branding instead of the once-rumored "MacBook Ultra" name. The long-rumored "iPhone Ultra" ended up being named iPhone Duo, so speculation that Apple...
iPhone Duo Trio

Here's What Apple's Apps Look Like on the iPhone Duo

Tuesday October 20, 2026 11:12 am PDT by
With just three days to go until the iPhone Duo is released, Apple is getting ready for the launch. Behind the scenes, the App Store now has screenshots of Apple's built-in apps running on the Duo. We've seen some apps in marketing materials, but images of the ones we haven't seen give us an idea of what it will be like using the iPhone Duo day to day. Many apps are shown in landscape...
apple pro tell logo

Apple Announcing New Products Next Week: 'Pro and Tell'

Monday October 19, 2026 9:05 am PDT by
Apple's Greg Joswiak today hinted at new product announcements coming next week, sharing a social media post that says "Can't wait to pro and tell next week." Rumors suggest Apple is planning to debut the new MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen display, an M6 entry-level MacBook Pro, an M6 iMac, an iPad mini with an OLED display. Can't wait to pro and tell next week....

Top Rated Comments

OSXMavericks Avatar
145 months ago
Still can't get over the fact that they wait 4 years to increase the megapixels on both front and rear + add 4k video recording and then still offer 16GB.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spendlove Avatar
145 months ago
It is a smartphone/portable computer. Not a £3000 and up dedicated pro photography camera.

Get over yourselves. If you lot lived in the North of England you'd be torn to pieces for your bleating armchair expertise.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
doelcm82 Avatar
145 months ago
Still can't get over the fact that they wait 4 years to increase the megapixels on both front and rear + add 4k video recording and then still offer 16GB.
I got over it almost instantly. You must have a really bad case. Have you seen a doctor?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
naeS1Sean Avatar
145 months ago
Omg…enough about the 16GB base storage already!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
145 months ago
Some of you folks are beyond dense. The camera on this smartphone is NOT meant to try and compete with a DLSR or Mirrorless or even m43. Good lord, some of you guys just need to get a new hobby or something.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
venomgt95 Avatar
145 months ago
The 16GB. An immortal flash memory. Since 2009. 
Still rocking that beast too ;)

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Tesla App Gains iPad and iPhone Duo Support
Tesla App Gains iPad and iPhone Duo Support
54 minutes ago
Apple Reportedly Boosts iPhone Duo Orders by 44%
Apple Reportedly Boosts iPhone Duo Orders by 44%
1 hour ago
Fortnite Returning to Australian App Store After Court Ruling
Fortnite Returning to Australian App Store After Court Ruling
2 hours ago
Apple Ordered to Open iPhone to Rival App Stores in Australia
Apple Ordered to Open iPhone to Rival App Stores in Australia
2 hours ago
Apple Suppliers Face Hurdles Cutting Circuit Board Emissions
Apple Suppliers Face Hurdles Cutting Circuit Board Emissions
2 hours ago
Things Updated for iPhone Duo With Adaptive Layout
Things Updated for iPhone Duo With Adaptive Layout
3 hours ago
Simplicity and Siri AI Are HomeView's Killer Features, Apple Says
Simplicity and Siri AI Are HomeView's Killer Features, Apple Says
3 hours ago
iPhone Duo Reviewers Really Miss Face ID
iPhone Duo Reviewers Really Miss Face ID
8 hours ago
Does the iPhone Duo Run Hot? Here's What Reviews Found
Does the iPhone Duo Run Hot? Here's What Reviews Found
10 hours ago
Apple Music's New Look is Now Live on Apple's Website
Apple Music's New Look is Now Live on Apple's Website
10 hours ago
Anthropic Launches Claude Duet, a Proactive AI Agent
Anthropic Launches Claude Duet, a Proactive AI Agent
11 hours ago
What 32,000 Folds Did to the iPhone Duo's Hinge
What 32,000 Folds Did to the iPhone Duo's Hinge
12 hours ago
iPhone Duo's Hidden FaceTime Camera Takes 'Trash' Photos
iPhone Duo's Hidden FaceTime Camera Takes 'Trash' Photos
13 hours ago
iPhone Duo Has 'Edge Light' Feature That Debuted on Macs Last Year
iPhone Duo Has 'Edge Light' Feature That Debuted on Macs Last Year
14 hours ago
Apple Support App Updated for iPhone Duo's Larger Display
Apple Support App Updated for iPhone Duo's Larger Display
14 hours ago
Amazon Sweetens the Deal on Entry-Level 16-Inch MacBook Pro With $570 Off
Amazon Sweetens the Deal on Entry-Level 16-Inch MacBook Pro With $570 Off
14 hours ago
iPhone Duo Tips Over on MagSafe Stands When Unfolded
iPhone Duo Tips Over on MagSafe Stands When Unfolded
14 hours ago
Apple Music's New Look Officially Announced
Apple Music's New Look Officially Announced
16 hours ago
iPhone Duo Supports Apple Pencil Starting With iOS 27.2
iPhone Duo Supports Apple Pencil Starting With iOS 27.2
16 hours ago
iPhone Duo Accessories Roundup: Cases and Screen Protectors From OtterBox, ZAGG, and More
iPhone Duo Accessories Roundup: Cases and Screen Protectors From OtterBox, ZAGG, and More
17 hours ago
Apple Stores Will Have 'Limited' Availability of iPhone Duo for Walk-In Customers
Apple Stores Will Have 'Limited' Availability of iPhone Duo for Walk-In Customers
18 hours ago
iPhone Duo Reviews Explain Why Device is Both 'Fun' and 'Frustrating'
iPhone Duo Reviews Explain Why Device is Both 'Fun' and 'Frustrating'
18 hours ago
Apple Says 'Reachability' Feature Coming to iPhone Duo Later This Year
Apple Says 'Reachability' Feature Coming to iPhone Duo Later This Year
19 hours ago
Loop Capital Cuts Apple Rating Over iPhone Sales Outlook
Loop Capital Cuts Apple Rating Over iPhone Sales Outlook
23 hours ago
Apple Stores in Bordeaux and Lille Looted During French Protests
Apple Stores in Bordeaux and Lille Looted During French Protests
23 hours ago
Bluesound Adds Native Apple Music Support
Bluesound Adds Native Apple Music Support
1 day ago
Apple CEO John Ternus Explains What Makes Good Product Design
Apple CEO John Ternus Explains What Makes Good Product Design
1 day ago
UK Proposes New Ways to Help Apple Pay Rivals
UK Proposes New Ways to Help Apple Pay Rivals
1 day ago
WhatsApp Developing In-App Browser for All Chat Links on iPhone
WhatsApp Developing In-App Browser for All Chat Links on iPhone
1 day ago
Apple's App Store Chief Explains Its Push for Premium Games
Apple's App Store Chief Explains Its Push for Premium Games
1 day ago