Life

The New Apple Update Will Be GREAT For Selfies

by Eliza Castile

Each and every time Apple releases a new update, the Internet explodes with articles explaining the new features, tech blogs complaining about the minute changes, and that random Android user in every comments section who takes the opportunity to complain about Apple's very existence. Despite the plethora of coverage, though, one crucial aspect often goes ignored: ways the new iPhone 6S will affect your selfie game.

How does such an essential — nay, critical and all-important part of the updates fly under the radar? I'm no scientist, but if I had to hazard a guess, I would say it has to do with the fear of feeding our worldwide obsession with selfies, which are often held up as the epitome of our collective narcissism. (Unless, of course, it's a beloved public figure doing the selfie-taking. In that case, we just can't get enough.)

On the other hand, selfies clearly aren't going anywhere, so we might as well embrace them. When our generation is old and creaky, do you really think we're going to sit in the retirement home, regretting all the selfies we took when we were young and healthy? Heck no! I, for one, plan on carrying around an album stuffed with of all my post-workout selfies for maximum bragging capability.

The creators of the new iPhone 6S clearly understand this, because hot damn, the Apple update is going to be great for all your seflie-taking needs. Let's take a look at some of the new features.

1. A Selfie Shortcut (!!!)

In certain selfie-taking situations, time is of the essence. What if your "woke up like this" hair falls into not-so-cute disarray before you finish opening the camera? With the iPhone 6S, you can go straight from the Home screen to the front-facing camera with just the press of a button. Easy peasy!

2. More Powerful Cameras

The iPhone 6S comes with a 12 megapixel and five megapixel camera, up from eight and 1.2 megapixels in the iPhone 6. This is somewhat of a double-edged sword, since more powerful cameras mean your period pimple will show up in crystal-clear HD. On the other hand, so will your cat's adorable nose freckles! You win some, you lose some.

3. Live Photos

Similar to the little-used Zoe on HTC phones, Live Photos capture a few seconds of video before and after your photo is taken. It's not ideal for makeup selfies, but think how cute the group selfies will be.

4. Faster Internet Connections

"A9, Apple’s third-generation 64-bit chip powers these innovations with 70 percent faster CPU and 90 percent faster GPU performance," Apple wrote in a press release. That's going to be awesome for all kinds of reasons, but the most important aspect is obviously the capacity for quicker selfie-posting.

5. Quicker Access to Instagram

With 3D Touch, lightly pressing the Instagram icon brings up a mini-menu that easily leads to your news feed. With all the selfies on your Instagram feed staring you in the face, you'll be inspired to up your own selfie game.

6. More Durable Body and Screen

The days of awkwardly explaining to the guy at the Mac store that you cracked your screen after your phone was cruelly knocked from your hand trying to take a selfie at a One Direction concert. The new iPhone has a stronger aluminum frame and more durable screens, although as someone whose last three phones have suffered premature deaths, I'm reserving judgment on this one.

Images: Giphy (3)