'If Taylor Swift was left-handed would the iPhone 6s be so hard to use?': Angry lefties slam Apple for favouring right-handed users

  • Apple launched its iPhone 6s and 6s Plus last week with iOS 9 pre-installed
  • 6s Plus users have noticed the dock is on the right in Landscape mode
  • This is difficult for left-handed people to use and is leading to complaints
  • Meanwhile, other lefties have taken to Twitter to praise the phone 

Ever since the iPhone 4 dropped signal when held in a left hand, Apple has come under fire for not doing more to support its left-handed users. 

Following on from the launch of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus on Friday, this issue has reared its ugly head again as annoyed lefties have taken to Twitter to complain.

Some bemoan the fact the phones don't have a mirroring tool, while others criticise the location of the dock in Landscape mode.

Following on from the launch of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, left-handed users have been complaining on Twitter about the fact the phones don't have a mirroring tool to suit their needs. Others have criticised the location of the dock when the larger models are orientated in Landscape mode 

Following on from the launch of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, left-handed users have been complaining on Twitter about the fact the phones don't have a mirroring tool to suit their needs. Others have criticised the location of the dock when the larger models are orientated in Landscape mode 

The issue was first spotted by Sophie Kleeman at news site Mic.

One of her colleagues noticed that when the larger Plus model is turned on its side, and Landscape mode is enabled, the side dock sits next to the home button.

This means that a left-handed user holding the phone in their dominant hand has to control this dock with their weaker hand.

ARE APPLE'S iPHONES SECRETLY WATERPROOF? 

Following on from last year's 'bendgate' fiasco surrounding the iPhone 6 Plus, Apple has seemingly taken the criticism on board.

During 'torture tests' of the new iPhone 6s, 6s Plus and rival Samsung's Galaxy Note 5, the new handsets are less bendy, can withstand extreme temperatures and even survive being submerged in water.

The latter is particularly interesting because Apple has not made any specific mention of the handsets being waterproof.

 During each 'dunking', the phones were submerged completely while music was playing.

All three continued to work after being removed from the water, but the iPhones lost volume temporarily while underwater.

This waterproof nature of the iPhones was also recently put to the test by YouTube user Zach Straley.

He submerged both handsets in a bowl of water for 30 minutes and both were still working a day later. 

Other left-handed users are also having problems with the devices and are complaining about them on Twitter.

One tweeted: 'Shouldn't my iPhone have user settings for us left-handed people? #feelingleftout', while another added 'Woah woah... What if I'm left handed? The new multitasking doesn't work so well, I should be able to switch it.'

A third user even posted: 'If Taylor Swift were left-handed, would iPhone 6S dock be so hard to reach for lefties in landscape mode? I rest my case.' 

This makes reference to the public spat between the singer and the tech firm which resulted in Apple changing its policy for paying artists during the free Apple Music trial.  

Apple's Accessibility menu has various options to help people use their iPhones if they have limited mobility, for example, or need speech-to-text controls.

However, there is no way of enabling a left-handed mode that mirrors the features exactly while making them more accessible from the left-hand of the screen.  

But not all left-handed users are complaining about the phones and software. 

One user tweeted: 'I’m glad to be a left-handed iPhone user. The swipe gesture to go back a page is easy and will still be easy no matter the screen size. 

Another said: 'The new way to clear out apps is left-handed friendly and I LOVE it.'

When the larger Plus model is turned on its side, and Landscape mode is enabled, the side dock sits next to the home button on the right (pictured). This means that a left-handed user holding the phone in their dominant hand has to control this dock with their weaker hand

When the larger Plus model is turned on its side, and Landscape mode is enabled, the side dock sits next to the home button on the right (pictured). This means that a left-handed user holding the phone in their dominant hand has to control this dock with their weaker hand

One user tweeted: 'Shouldn't my iPhone have user settings for us left-handed people?', while another said 'Woah woah... What if I'm left handed? The new multitasking doesn't work so well, I should be able to switch it.' A third posted: 'If Taylor Swift were left-handed, would iPhone 6S dock be so hard to reach for lefties?' 

In iOS 9 Apple changed how apps appear when the home button is pressed twice in quick succession. 

The apps used to appear side-by-side with the most recently used app in the centre of the screen. 

As part of the recent software update, the most recently used app moves to the right of the screen and the other apps are positioned overlapping each other to the left. 

This makes it easier to swipe up and clear the apps from the list with a left hand.

Not all left-handed users are complaining about the phone, though. One user tweeted: 'I’m glad to be a left-handed iPhone user. The swipe gesture to go back a page is easy and will still be easy no matter the screen size. Another said: 'The new way to clear out apps is left-handed friendly and I LOVE it'

In iOS 9 Apple changed how apps appear when the home button is pressed twice in quick succession (pictured left) which makes it easier to swipe up and clear the apps from the list with a left hand. Elsewhere, when switching between apps the option to return to the previous app is situated in the top left-hand corner (right)

Elsewhere, when switching between apps the option to return to the previous app is situated in the top left-hand corner. 

Apple also added Reachability to iOS 8 that lets people double tap the home button to bring the top of the screen further down the screen, making it easier to reach. 

This doesn't help left-handed users if the app itself, rather than Apple's software, places options in along the right-hand side though. 

Apple has not yet responded to MailOnline's request for comment.

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