Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review

     The new Surface Pro 4 is Microsoft taking a victory lap -- and a well-deserved one at that.
After three generations of pitching "a tablet that can replace your laptop" -- with mixed success -- the formula has finally clicked. The 2015 version of Microsoft's tablet adds the latest Intel processors, a slightly larger screen (perfectly sized at 12.3 inches with a just-right 3:2 aspect ratio), and a handful of hardware and software tweaks, but doesn't radically change the DNA of its predecessor, 2014's excellent Surface Pro 3 . That's a wise move, because at this point, the Surface Pro line is less about pitching the very concept of the tablet PC with a detachable keyboard to wary shoppers, and more about seeing how far it can go in refining the finished product.
Looking at the finely polished Pro 4, it's worth remembering the humble beginnings of the Surface line . Debuting in 2012, Microsoft's line of tablets were, if not outright mocked, then damned by faint praise at best: an overreach by a software-and-services company into the rough-and-tumble world of computer hardware; a Hail Mary response to the megasuccess of Apple's iPad the previous year. Any design innovations -- the snap-on keyboard, the fold-out kickstand -- felt overwhelmed by quirks and compromises. Not the least of which was the choice of operating system: either the much-maligned Windows 8, or the severely limited (and now deservedly extinct) Windows RT. In those early days, the Surface was looking less like an Xbox-style home run for Microsoft, and more a Zune -like fiasco.

But that's all ancient history -- call it the Ballmerzoic Era. The 2014 Surface Pro 3 became what Microsoft always hoped it would be: the flagship device for touch computing on Windows, the go-to alternative for those who wanted both a tablet and a laptop without feeling shortchanged on either front. The Surface Pro 4 refines the hardware formula even further, and with Windows 10 on board rather than Windows 8, the platform's final big compromise evaporates too. Now, the Surface line is the design leader: Apple's upcoming iPad Pro and Google's Pixel C tablets are the ones aping Microsoft's design, adding snap-on keyboards and ramping up the multitasking chops of their touch-first operating systems.

But, as a very refined product, the Surface Pro 4 is not inexpensive. The wide variety of configuration options and accessories mean that its starting price of $899, £749 or AU$1,349 is not very realistic. For that entry price, you get a Surface Pro tablet with an Intel Core M3 CPU, 128GB of solid state storage and 4GB of RAM, plus a touchscreen stylus that magnetically attaches to the side of the screen.

From the handful of systems we've tested with earlier Core M processors from Intel, it's just not what you're looking for from a full-time, all-day, everyday computer. The latest versions may be better, but we have yet to benchmark them in a consumer laptop or tablet. A more suitable choice for most will be the mainstream Intel Core i5. Microsoft has updated the processors across the board in the Surface Pro 4 line to Intel's still-new sixth-generation models, sometimes referred to by the codename Skylake, and a configuration with a Core i5 jumps to $999. Double the storage to 256GB and the RAM to 8GB, and you're at $1,299 (and that is the specific configuration tested here). You could spend more than $2,000 for an even faster Core i7 processor and bigger hard drive.

The Surface Pro 4 next to the Surface Pro 3.
But no matter how much you spend on a Surface Pro 4, when you open the box and set it up, there will be one important missing ingredient. The Type Cover, a slim keyboard and screen protector in one, is still sold separately, no matter which Surface Pro 4 configuration you buy. From the earliest days of the Surface, that keyboard cover has rightly been called out as an impressive engineering feat, and the latest version even improves on that. It now features widely spaced island-style keys (like those found on practically every laptop), and a larger touchpad with a better touch surface.Like the previous Type Covers, it connects via a magnetic hinge along the bottom of the tablet, and folds shut over the cover for easy transport. Also like previous Type Covers, it costs an extra $129, £109 or AU$199. We rarely see a Surface in Microsoft's advertising materials or press previews without the keyboard cover attached, but for some reason, the company still won't pack the most noteworthy part of the Surface ecosystem into the box. For such a premium product, it's an omission that continues to mystify.At least the touchscreen stylus -- improved over last year's version, and magnetically attachable to the tablet's edge -- is included by default. Likewise, the display is a tad larger (12.3 inches diagonally versus 12), without expanding the overall size of the tablet.

The one design issue that Microsoft hasn't changed with the Surface Pro 4 is its "lapability" problem. When the keyboard is attached, its rear kickstand works well on a tabletop -- but typing on your lap or in a crowded airline seat remains a logistical challenge. Instead, Microsoft has addressed this problem with a whole new sister product, the Surface Book . Billed as the "ultimate laptop," it takes some of the Surface Pro's design cues (detachable screen, impressive keyboard) and folds them into a more traditional notebook-style product with a strong hinge that keeps it from tipping back. The Surface Book is cool, and available in even more powerful configurations -- but it lacks the Pro 4's lighter weight and better portability.

Just as the Surface Pro is a full-time tablet and part-time laptop, the Surface Book is a full-time laptop and part-time tablet, and may be what someone looking for a combination of laptop and tablet features is really looking for. Detached from their respective keyboards, the two screens are difficult to distinguish at even a few feet away, and it makes one wonder if the next generation of these products won't be a single high-performance tablet that combines with your choice of a clamshell laptop base or a portable keyboard cover. Now, that would be something that could truly be a no-compromise tablet and laptop at the same time.

Design and features

The Surface tablet line set out its basic design rules with the very first generation of products and has largely stuck to its guns since. What we've seen, instead of wholesale reimagining, is a steady march of improvements to the display and chassis, helping the product feel just a bit more premium with every generation.

The earliest Surface Pro models were 13mm thick, while last year's Surface Pro 3 shaved that down to 9.1mm. This year, we're down to 8.4mm, despite increasing the size of the screen. Both the Surface Pro 3 and Surface Pro 4 are 1.7 pounds (771 grams) by themselves, or 2.5 pounds (1.13 kg) with their keyboard cover and stylus pens attached.

One of the biggest improvements to last year's Surface Pro carries over here: the highly adjustable kickstand, which can be adjusted to nearly any angle between 22 and 150 degrees. The kickstand, which runs the entire width of the system, is stiff enough that it will stay where you put it, and hardly moves at all, even when using your fingers or the pen on the touchscreen.

Missing from the black bezel surrounding the screen this time around is the capacitive Windows logo touch button. In previous Surface models, this moved around from the long edge to the short edge of the system, but always served the same purpose: to take you back to the Windows 8 tile interface. As we're now operating in the Windows 10 world, having a physical home button isn't necessary, although the Windows 10 "tablet mode" is still very similar to what Window 8 looked like.

The pen, almost perfected

Also missing is the awkward plastic loop that used to tether the included stylus (Microsoft calls it a pen) to the keyboard cover. The new pen accessory is a little larger than the previous model, and has a flat edge along one side. This allows it to securely connect to the left or right edge of the tablet via a fairly strong magnetic connection. While it may seem dodgy if you plan on running around all day with your tablet, inserting and removing it from a backpack or shoulder bag, I found that the pen remained securely attached, even in my bag -- although I'd recommend doing frequent spot-checks to make sure it hasn't popped off.

Clicking the eraser-like button on the back of the pen automatically brings up OneNote, Microsoft's preferred app for pen input. If you have all your Microsoft cloud services properly setup, your OneNote files can sync to other devices such as your phone or tablet (with cross-platform support on Android and iOS devices) or laptop (Windows or Mac).

I also used the pen with a variety of other apps, including the built-in Fresh Paint, for drawing and sketching, and the New York Times crossword puzzle app, which took pen input and converted it to printed characters. You can also tap the pen on most text fields, even in a Web browser, and a pop-up box will take handwritten input and convert it to text for Web searches, filling in forms or composing email.

Microsoft says the new pen offers reduced latency, and 1,024 pressure levels. It's excellent overall, and an improvement over last year's version. Aftermarket swappable tips for the pen should appeal to artists looking for a specific feel and size.

But don't take my word for it. We were able to coax comic book writer and artist Dan Parent, best known for his work on "Archie" comics, to test drive both the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book. As an illustrator who works both on paper and in programs such as Photoshop, he was impressed by the feel of the Surface Pen and especially its eraser. You can see more of his reactions and a live drawing demo in our video.

The Type Cover is still a must-buy add-on

Looking at the Surface Pro 4 next to previous models, the most obvious generation-over-generation difference may be the keyboard cover. Though sold separately, it's still an integral part of the Surface ecosystem, and it's hard to imagine anyone would purchase a Surface Pro without stumping up the extra $129, £109 or AU$199 for the keyboard accessory.

The new version makes a major change to the keyboard itself, dropping the wide-faced, tightly packed keys of the previous Type Covers, and replacing them with widely spaced, island-style keys that mimic the look and feel of practically every consumer laptop on sale today. In practical terms, it means typing has less of a learning curve, and I was typing accurately on the Surface Pro 4 keyboard right away. On previous versions there was always an adjustment period, and it never felt completely natural.

Also revamped is the touchpad built into the cover. Touchpads on most hybrids are a hit-or-miss affair, and while it was great to have one built into previous Surface covers, it was never more than barely adequate. The new version is a little larger, but more importantly, has a more responsive feel, and a surface coating that feels more like a high-end touchpad, where last year's had a distinct plastic feel. It's still not as responsive as the touchpad on a MacBook, but it's another step in the right direction.

This new keyboard cover retains last year's other big addition, a secondary hinge near the top edge that you can fold the cover along. This lifts the rear up to hold it against the body via a magnetic connection and provides a more natural typing angle.

A bigger, better screen

One area we never had a problem with in previous Surface tablets was with the display. Over the past three years, the screen resolution and size has evolved, most recently going from 12 to 12.3 inches, with a small resolution bump as well, to 2,736x1,824 pixels from 2,160x1,440. The aspect ratio is 3:2, the same as a standard piece of A4 paper, which makes the Surface Pro 4 especially conducive to reading e-books and PDFs, or working on designs and layouts intended for eventual paper use.

The display looks great, even from far side angles, and the higher resolution makes sure you won't see individual pixels, even when reading plain black text on a white background. Apple calls this kind of very high resolution "retina," and has rolled it out across much of its product line. Microsoft calls it "PixelSense," but it's essentially the same concept.

Connections and performance

When you've got a hybrid that's mostly laptop but with a removable screen, such as the Surface Book, there's usually plenty of room for ports and connections. When it's a hybrid that is primarily a tablet, your options suddenly narrow. The Surface Pro 4 fits in a single USB 3.0 port, a Mini DisplayPort for video, a microSD card slot, and an audio jack, which is essentially the same setup as last year's Surface Pro 3. By way of comparison, the Surface Book adds a second USB 3.0 port and has a full-size SD card slot.

Inside, you can choose from Intel Core M, Core i5 or Core i7 processors, all from the latest Skylake generation of chips just hitting products now. Both our Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 review units had the same Intel Core i5 processor, and the same 8GB of RAM.

Not surprisingly, in our benchmark tests, those two units performed nearly identically, and a bit faster than last year's one-generation-behind Surface Pro 3. The Core i5 is going to be your standard mainstream choice, and with it, the Surface Pro 4 could juggle multiple browsers, HD media streaming, office applications and more, without any slowdown. Using Photoshop on high-resolution images was similarly trouble-free. Basic games ran fine as well, although without a dedicated graphics chip, you're restricted to only the most casual of games.

As a tablet, you'd expect the Surface Pro 4 to run all day, but neither the older Surfaces nor this new one are at the bleeding edge when it comes to battery life. In fact, this year's Surface Pro 4 ran for less time in our standard battery drain test than the Surface Pro 3, at 6 hours 32 minutes for the Pro 4 versus 7 hours 46 minutes for last year's Pro 3. This particular test can be tough on some systems, and since last year, we've also had a major OS jump, from Windows 8 to Windows 10.

We went back and re-tested the Surface Pro 3, and after more one year of moderate use, and with a Windows 10 upgrade, it now runs for 6 hour 19 minutes on the same test. Any of these scores should be fine for moderate use through most of the day, but unlike the new Surface Book, there's no extra battery hidden away in the keyboard dock.

Conclusion

Microsoft always called the Surface Pro the tablet that could replace your laptop. And then the company went and made its own laptop, the ambitious new Surface Book. That's fine, because the Surface Pro was never really a laptop anyway. It's an amped up iPad (or iPad Pro), that can also run any Windows software you need, but particularly excels at drawing and sketching apps, and is great for reading and video viewing.

It's lightweight and portable enough to go around with you anywhere, and the hinge and keyboard cover provide lots of flexibility for setting up in potentially awkward spots, although it still doesn't feel quite right on your lap.

The same complaint comes up over and over again, that the keyboard cover isn't included, and a decent configuration costs well over the $899 starting price (the hardware we tested is $1,428, £1,188 or AU$2,198 altogether). But beyond that, the Surface Pro 4 adds some very valuable refinement to last year's already excellent Surface Pro 3, and its only real competition as a showpiece premium detachable hybrid is the still-embryonic Surface Book.

Google Pixel C review

     Google's latest tablet is its greatest yet. In fact, the Pixel C hands down is the most powerful Android tablet I've ever used. The real question here isn't if the Pixel C is the best tablet, it's "who cares"?
The Pixel C starts at $500 and has a high-end design, spectacular screen, fast performance and long-lasting battery. (UK and Australian pricing has yet to be announced, but the US price converts to around £335 or AU$695.) But with interest in tablets dicreasing more and more every year, Google's best effort at a high-end tablet may fall upon deaf ears.
As a standalone tablet, its aluminum design is both elegant and solid. When combined with its optional magnetic Bluetooth keyboard ($150), which is made of the same material, the tablet turns into a productivity-geared hybrid. Its duality -- and $500 starting price -- makes it ripe to compete against the Microsoft Surface 3 and the iPad air 2. The problem is, that's like comparing apples and oranges. The Surface is powerful enough to replace a laptop, whereas the iPad works best for leisure activities, like gaming and streaming video. The Pixel C exists somewhere between the two.
The Pixel C is hands down the best Android tablet today. It earns a place near the top of the charts and rivals the iPad Air 2 for the title of overall best tablet. If you're interested in a tablet for work, the strength of its performance will depend on your needs. But if I had to pick between the two, I'd go with the Google Pixel C due to its exceptionally designed keyboard, gorgeous screen and speedy performance.

Where can I buy this and what's the price?
The Pixel C is available now at Google's Store starting at $500 with 32GB of onboard storage. There's also a 64GB version priced at $600, which converts to £400 or AU$835.
The optional keyboard is also available at Google and costs $149, which converts to about £100 or AU$205.

That's one good-looking tablet
Google has consistently released great Android tablets in partnership with the likes of Asus and HTC, but this is the first time the company has built its own model from the ground up. From the looks of it, Google should've been designing its own tablets all along.
The Pixel C has an anodized aluminum frame that looks as luxe as any Apple tablet. It's fashionably matte, smooth and solid. In order to allow space for a large battery, the Pixel C is thicker and heavier than the iPad Air 2, though the difference isn't dramatic to the naked eye. I found both similarly comfortable to hold for long periods of time.

One of the best things about the Pixel C is its optional Bluetooth keyboard. It's magnetic and charges inductively. For such a skinny little thing, it's surprisingly comfortable. The main keys are almost full-sized, and the tab and enter keys are sized down. Typing on it doesn't feel as cramped as other Bluetooth keyboards -- it's small yet spacious, and compact enough to use even in the most confined spaces.

Once you magnetically attach the keyboard onto the tablet, it automatically connects over Bluetooth and hides the on-screen keyboard. This worked without a hitch most of the time. In a handful of instances, it took 10-20 seconds for it to work. It still automatically connected without me having to go into the Bluetooth settings, it just sometimes took a little longer than usual.

The keyboard doubles as a removable cover, which makes it look more like a laptop, or a tablet with armor. It's probably the most protective keyboard cover around -- built from the same aluminum as the tablet, which makes it both stylish and sturdy. The magnetic connection between the keyboard and tablet is freakishly strong. I never had to worry about them disconnecting, even if I shook it or held it upside down. Once attached, it's almost like they're superglued together.

Despite its excellent construction, I have a few gripes about the Pixel C's design. There's no trackpad, the keyboard makes it a bit heavy, separating the keyboard from the tablet can be awkward when it's being used as a cover and it's hard to tell which ends of the tablet to magnetically attach. You can solve the latter problem by flipping one of them around until they click into place since there are only two ways the tablet and keyboard can fit together -- open like a laptop or closed.

Personally, I didn't miss the trackpad that much. Maybe that's because I never lost sight of the fact that I was using a tablet, not a laptop-like device. In fact, aside from the keyboard, the tablet isn't an attempt to replace your laptop. It does, however, carefully consider how an Android tablet with a keyboard should work.

Unfortunately, the keyboard suffereddd from frequently stuck keys. They weren't physically stuck, but letters and key functions dragged out on the screen as if they were. IIt was slightly comical how it elongated letters to create an unintentionally dramatic typing of a word, but it was less funny when the stuck key was the backspace button and I unintentionally deleted an entire sentence instead of a few words. The bugginess was inconsistent, and didn't seem to be affected by the number of apps that were open in the background. Sometimes letters also lagged and took a while to appear on screen. This might just have been a problem with the keyboard that came with my review unit. Regardless, it made an otherwise pleaaaasant experience into a needlessly frustrating one. On the other hand, our CNET Espanol reviewer didn't have this issue.

Heck yeah, Google

The Pixel C runs the latest version of Android Marshmallow 6.0. The interface revolves around Google apps and, as a heavy user of those services, I found it very convenient.

Unsurprisingly, the tablet works seamlessly with the OK Google voice search. The top of the tablet's edge houses four microphones -- that's three more than most tablets. This makes it easy for the Pixel C to hear you say "OK Google" even if it isn't in your hands at the time.

New to Android is the On Tap feature. It's activated by long-pressing the home button (the circle in the center of the tablet's bottom black bar) and it flashes a white border around the screen, as if you just took a screenshot. After it's surveyed what's on the screen, it displays a list of search results based on what you've been doing. For example, if you just read an article about dinosaurs and use On Tap, it'll bring up search results for specific species mentioned in the text or a link to a website where you can learn more.

I found that the combination of OK Google and On Tap made it a breeze to research anything. It's scarily easy. The need to think or do your own Google search is replaced by literally asking the tablet a question or pressing a button for a few seconds.

Dare to compare

It's hard to place the Pixel C on the spectrum of today's tablets, but not because it's not a good tablet. It's a great tablet -- one of the best -- it just lands somewhere in-between the casual coolness of the iPad Air 2 and the work-hard-play-hard seriousness of the Surface 3. While you can definitely use it to write an essay, you won't be able to use it quite like a laptop.

The Google Pixel C's limitations aren't due to its hardware. It's limited because the Google App Store, as much as it has improved over the last few years, still can't match iOS in breadth and depth. And unless an app launches on both OSes simultaneously, popular apps still typically launch on iOS first.

The Surface 3, which costs $500 in the US, and iPad Air 2, which can currently be found for as low as $445, are both similarly swift in performance, portable and stylish in their own way. You can't go wrong if you're choosing between these two and the Pixel C, but it all depends on what you're looking for. The Surface 3 will give you the full Windows 10 experience, the iPad Air 2 benefits from the Apple App Store's selection and variety, and the Pixel C offers Android's signature ability to customize the interface in ways that best suit you.

The Pixel C's top-shelf specs and sleek aluminum Bluetooth keyboard seem to put it in the same class as work-focused heavy-hitters like the Apple iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface Pro 4. But it's important to note that they're actually not that similar, especially in terms of price. The artistically inclined iPad Pro and Surface Pro 4 powerhouse will set you back $900 in the US. Unlike these two, the Google tablet doesn't aim to replace or one-up your laptop.

Should I buy it?

The desire for an ultraportable laptop has been around for a long time. (Anyone remember netbooks?) The Pixel C will satisfy this need, but only for a select few.

A student or writer who only needs something for study and writing purposes should consider getting the Google Pixel C with its keyboard. It's an affordable laptop alternative and the combination of Google voice search and On Tap makes it easy to research online. The tablet-only configuration also makes it multipurpose -- it can work just as well for catching up on favorite TV shows or gaming.

If all I needed was a portable device for getting writing done anywhere (that also allowed me the Internet indulgences that I love, like Spotify and Netflix) I'd snag the Pixel C and its cool keyboard in a heartbeat. I need to use apps, however, that aren't available in the Google Play store. To be sure, Microsoft, Adobe and Google office apps are available on Android, but the big-name apps and games tend to debut on iOS first.

That being said, I haven't seen an Android tablet this great since, well, Google's last model. The Pixel C continues to raise the bar by setting new performance and design standards that give Apple a serious run for its money. As Android plays catch-up to iOS in app availability and popularity, the Pixel C is already on par with the iPad in good looks and desirability. I really think we could have an iPad killer on our hands, but we'll have to wait and see if anyone cares enough to notice.

Apple iPhone 6S review

When I showed the iPhone 6S to one of my wife's friends, she got nostalgic. She waxed emotional about its predecessor, the iPhone 6 . It changed her life. Bigger screen, better camera, and Apple Pay. Everyone wanted these things. It was as close to a perfect phone as I've ever seen. All it ever really lacked was a better battery (Plus notwithstanding).
I showed her 3D Touch, Apple's newest technology on these iPhones. She pressed on the hypnotically-animated lock screen, a swimming fish. She watched it dance under her finger. And yes, she was impressed. But when I showed her everything else 3D Touch does, she said, "I'm not sure I'd really use this."
This year's follow-up iPhone, the iPhone 6S, doesn't improve on that battery. And its newest features aren't as instantly game-changing, at least not on the surface. That's obvious: it's an S-year iPhone, and Apple always uses these subtle every-other-year S upgrades to tweak design and ramp up processor speeds. It's the phone for people who didn't get the iPhone 6 last year. And for the past few years, S phones have introduced evolutionary changes that seriously evolved the phone; the iPhone 4S added Siri, and the iPhone 5S debuted the Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

The new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus look the same (except for the metallic-pink rose gold model) as last year's iPhones. In a lot of ways they also feel the same. But there are hidden advantages at play. The newest, boldest tech is a new pressure-sensitive touchscreen technology called 3D Touch. There are lots of other improvements, too: better cameras. Better overall system speed. And always-on (and I mean always-on -- unless you turn it off) Siri. And, something I didn't even get a chance to test fully: a completely redesigned construction with a reinforced glass screen, which Apple promises is sturdier all-around. We'll get to that in the next few weeks, but that alone could make a difference for a lot of would-be buyers.
3D Touch might be the "Next Big Idea" in touchscreens and interfaces. But does it make these new iPhones must-haves for that reason alone? I think it will, down the road, when more apps are here. But right now, its software advantages are subtle.
I spent a week with the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus (in rose gold and gold, respectively), taking them everywhere I went, from farmer's markets in New Jersey to tailgating at a New York Jets game, to commuting on New Jersey Transit through the Meadowlands and to my kid's meet-the-teacher night. I showed them to my friends, my family, anyone I met and got their opinions, too. (For on-the-fly impressions, check out my weekend diary.)
I might take the miracle of tiny, powerful smartphones for granted, but I can't shake the feeling that the iPhone 6S doesn't, at this moment, have the "one big thing" to make people want to upgrade from the 6. That doesn't mean it's not a better phone, of course it is. Right now, however, it's a promising upgrade from the iPhone 6, not a revolution.
But if you've been holding off on getting an iPhone for a while, don't wait anymore. Get this one (or its big-screen sibling, the 6S Plus). Just make sure you don't buy the 16GB model.

3D Touch: Amazing hardware needs killer software
Press in on the iPhone 6S screen and new fascinating things happen. A pop-out window emerges. Little menus appear. You feel a buzz, or a light click. Much like the Apple Watch , these iPhones let you push in on the screen to accomplish small tasks. Apple calls this 3D Touch. And it's the boldest new tech on these iPhones by a mile.
It's a cool idea, but as I've discovered showing it to my family and friends, it's not entirely intuitive at first. Yes, its promises could be vast. But 3D Touch ends up being used very tentatively in the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus software at the current moment: it mostly adds either pop-up "quick action" menus from apps on the home screen, or adds "peek" and "pop" to apps, expanding links or messages into previews that you can then open up fully, or tuck back away by lifting your finger. Some apps do a lot with these new ideas, especially Mail.

Peeking-and-filing emails can transform how that app is used. But a lot of people who try it for the first time don't realize how to take advantage of 3D Touch. There's no tutorial. And for the most part, 3D Touch isn't essential yet. Until it starts to be incorporated into more apps -- and in a more useful fashion -- I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people forget that it even exists.
I like using 3D Touch to preview links, or to pop-up related apps. When I hold an app and see a menu of extra options under my thumb, it feels almost like a computer, not a phone (the latest MacBooks, which utilize a similar but less sensor-studded trackpad technology Apple calls Force Touch, have pop-up previews in Safari, too). Apple's building a common language, and evolving what your phone-sized computer can do.
Pop-out previews are a really clever idea; links within Safari preview Web pages without any actual clicks. The ability to pull up menus in the iPhone almost feels like right-clicking on a computer and getting a contextual menu. It's helpful, and surprisingly utilitarian. But you don't need to use it, you can always do things the same old way as always, with regular touch controls. You can even turn 3D Touch off. And, those menus that pop up don't offer all the options I'd want. They're not all that customizable, either: what 3D Touch does, or doesn't, do is mostly up to app developers. A good handful of apps have emerged to take advantage of 3D Touch, but it's going to take a while before it feels widespread.

Maybe that's why 3D Touch doesn't feel essential yet in iOS. But the apps that are emerging to take advantage of it are slowly coming, and those could get really interesting. Imagine pressure-sensitive music apps. Art apps. Games. Remotes -- controlling a drone with 3D Touch toggles to gently control directions, for instance. You could press down to change brush strokes when painting (the new Notes app already allows this). You could press down harder on virtual piano keys (Smule's Magic Piano app added this function already). Racing games can get analog gas pedals (AG Racer added this, and it's one of the best demonstrations of 3D Touch). I could see it working as a virtual dimmer for smart home remotes.
I want more. I've started 3D touching every icon, every menu; I want 3D Touch in all my apps, everywhere. It's weird when it isn't. I want smarter 3D Touch menus, smarter extra features. It's legitimately better to have it than not have it, but I don't expect its killer apps to emerge for at least a couple of months. And iOS could use splashier ways of taking advantage of it, too, like that animated lock screen. What if I could push through folders, or push-to-magnify, dipping in and out of views?

3D Touch turns the keyboard into a trackpad.

It's not a really matter of whether 3D Touch is worth upgrading to now. You'll upgrade to it sooner or later. Your phone will eventually have it. Do you want it later, or now? Down the road this is going to enable major, major changes in how iPhones and iOS work. Right now, it's a subtle thing.

What my family and friends thought

Most of my friends and family didn't necessarily care about the iPhone's new features. My wife is long overdue for an upgrade from the iPhone 4S, but she didn't care about 3D Touch. Or Live Photos, for that matter. She's considering buying an iPhone 6. My brother-in-law just wanted Live Photos to help him go back and pick better photos, like Burst Mode. My mom already has an iPhone 6, and other than needing more storage for her photos she didn't see anything new she needed, either. My kids thought Live Photos were cool, but didn't recognize the difference between those and videos (down the road, I think that'll be true for most people, and that's probably the point).

What I think
If I were to buy a new phone now and didn't get an iPhone 6, I'd buy this, easily. In 64GB or 128GB -- never a 16GB (those smaller sizes barely hold enough photos and videos to get by if you're the type of person who doesn't delete). If I had an iPhone 6, I'd wait until next year...or, find a way to sell my phone and trade up without it costing me quite so much.
I think Apple, and the whole phone industry, are trying to change the "Should I upgrade?" question bit by bit. They're trying to make it an "every year" thing, not an "every two years" or "Should I buy something new?" thing. Phone plans like AT&T Next, or Apple's own yearly plan, are almost like leases. You can trade in your old ride and seamlessly move to a new one.
The 6S fits that model well; it's enhanced and improved. Is it shockingly new or a vault forward? No...except for the concept of 3D Touch, which is brilliant hardware still in need of software which will make it truly shine. That software, from iOS itself and apps, will come, but maybe not right away. 3D Touch could build a new style of touchscreen app design, bleeding into iPads, the Apple Watch and maybe influencing the rest of the industry. Right now, just a week in, it's still baby steps.
This iPhone is built for the future, but in the present it's mostly a nicely improved iPhone 6.

A deeper look at the iPhone 6S
As we said, 3D Touch isn't the only thing that's new on the iPhone 6S. Here are more in-depth looks at the camera improvements, and the speedier internal processor and fingerprint sensor. Also, a look at how Apple's smaller 4.7-inch iPhone model differs from its larger sibling, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6S Plus (it's a bigger difference than last year). And finally, thanks to the major changes in how phones are sold (in the US, at least), we look at how the buying -- or leasing -- calculations change the purchase decision on these new iPhones, too.

The improved camera: Live Photos, 4K video recording and more

What do Live Photos do? Apple's new camera innovation records a second and a half before, and a second and a half after you snap any shot on your phone, with front or rear cameras. I took a bunch of photos, and then forgot about it. Later on, I realized that all my photos had bits of video and audio attached. Press down, and I could see the photos become little videos, of sorts. Or animated GIFs with audio.

They don't look like normal videos, exactly: they're more like time lapses. The images skip a bit, like a flipbook. It has a bit of a magical, distancing feel. These end up seeming like little mementos.

If I forget to take a video one day, which I often do, these could act as substitutes. But where do I share them, how do I collate them? Apple is opening up ways to let these Live Photos be seen elsewhere. Right now you can send them to other iPhone users, make them your lock screen wallpaper, or send them to the Apple Watch. I want them on Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat. I want these to be instant GIFs. Then I'd love them. They'll come, eventually. (Facebook, Getty Images and Weibo are three apps that should support them soon) Right now, I feel like I wouldn't really use them much; on the other hand, I could see a whole new subgenre of pet and kid photos -- again, once the sharing problem gets resolved. But they might make me stop wanting to take so many short videos.

4K video recording doesn't make a huge impact on your phone or when watching on most TVs. That's because most people don't have 4K televisions -- yet. Thankfully, PC monitors do support 4K and so does YouTube. And adding the ultra high-def video format to the new iPhones puts them on better footing with GoPro cameras. That added 4K, and new extremely smooth wobble-free optical image stabilization for video (on the 6S Plus model only), push this iPhone's video chops up another notch. The only trade-off is space: as with Live Photos, 4K video will take up more precious room on the phone's internal storage. Yet another reason to avoid that too-small 16GB entry-level model.

The rear camera takes better photos, but I didn't always appreciate much of a difference in everyday casual use. The front-facing camera, however, is miles better. Pictures are crisp! You can take flash selfies that really work, and don't blind you!

Selfie in complete darkness worked like a charm.

Optical image stabilization on the 6S Plus, both for photos and videos, isn't needed for normal everyday use. But it makes zoomed-in or dimly-lit photos crisper, and it keeps active videos moving a lot more smoothly. For pro use, or those who don't own any other camera other than their iPhone, I'd get the 6S Plus. Most people would be fine with the 6S.

For lots more in-depth deep dives with the iPhone 6S Plus cameras, check out Andrew Hoyle's selfie shoot-out, low-light camera test and outdoor camera test, where you can see more examples of how the 6S Plus camera fares. The 6S Plus front-facing FaceTime camera is identical to the 6S: the rear iSight camera looks a little better in low-light conditions.

Team speed

The S stands for speed, as has been the case for years. The 6S does it several ways: a faster A9 processor, double the RAM, speedier wireless via improved Wi-Fi antennas and access to faster LTE data networks (LTE Advanced), and quicker Touch ID sensors on the home button.

Unlocking the iPhone from Touch ID is now so fast that I barely saw the lock screen at all. One click, you're in. And if you're running multiple apps at once, like I usually am, these new phones handle app-switching a lot more smoothly...while "remembering" your previous app's status better. Jumping between Netflix, Geometry Wars 3 and Safari was a piece of cake.

Like many other years, these speed boosts mean the phone feels snappier. iOS 9 sometimes feels a tad un-snappy on the iPhone 6, while it runs buttery-smooth on the 6S. In terms of raw benchmarks, these iPhones are blazing fast: they're faster than last year's iPad Air 2. But of course, you're using that power on a smaller screen, and with no true split-screen multitasking.

Battery life: Same as last year

One thing that really hasn't changed is one something I've wanted more of for years...battery. The batteries are actually smaller in this year's 6S and 6S Plus phones, but deliver similar battery life over a regular day of use. I needed to top off my iPhone before night on the 6S when using it heavily (and with a Jawbone Up3and Apple Watch paired to it), just like I did with the iPhone 6. The 6S Plus can handle a whole day, and a bit more.

We ran our standard lab video-playback test, putting the iPhone 6S in Airplane mode, and got 10.5 hours of battery life. That's not what you'll use your iPhone for, but it shows that the basic battery potential lands similarly to last year's iPhone 6 using iOS 8. On our iOS 9 battery tests across devices, we didn't find that the OS upgrade affected the standard lab-based battery playback test. Its impact comes into play over everyday use.

There are new power-saving modes in iOS 9 that can eke out more use at the end of the day, and I found those to eke out a bit more of what I needed. Still, I found myself having to conserve by the time the sun set. Next year, I'd love to see batteries get a bit bigger...not the other way around.

Editor's note: This year's iPhone 6S A9 processor is made by two different manufacturers, and your phone either has one or the other. According to Apple, battery performance between the two variants (TSMC and Samsung) only varies by around 2 to 3 percent. We are doing our own testing, and will update this when we have definitive answers. Our review iPhones had processors made by TSMC, and didn't exhibit any performance issues.