Apple iPhone 6 Plus

After years of maintaining the same screen size for their smartphones, Apple has decided change their strategy with the release of the iPhone 6 Plus. Measuring in at 6.2 x 3.1 inches, the iPhone 6 Plus is not a small phone by any means and yet it is incredibly slim at only 0.3 inches. Like its predecessors the 6 Plus sports an aluminum body and glass front. Instead of keeping the rigid lines of the iPhone 5s Apple opted for rounded edges instead. Due to its sheer size, reviewers did find the device difficult to use one-handed and a little too slippery. Gizmodo notes, “…there’s just no comfortable place for your fingers to grip.” While Apple did include a new piece of software called Reachability that brings the top half of the screen closer to bottom, experts describe the initial interface as clunky and practically useless.

Of course the 5.5-inch display is the reason that the 6 Plus is so much larger than previous iPhones. It boasts a 1080p Full HD experience, which translates to a stunning 401ppi pixel density. Although on paper it still isn’t as detailed as a quadHD display, experts describe the display as crisp and detailed. Beyond the resolution, experts describe the panel as “brilliantly bright” and “stunning” with excellent viewing angles and color contrast. When compared to Android devices, critics note that colors aren’t as vivid as the Samsung Galaxy S5 nor is it as clear as the LG G3. Still, Techradar states, “…the iPhone 5 Plus still has a very, very good display.”

Inside the iPhone 6 Plus is a 1.4GHz Arm8 processor. In benchmark tests it consistently outperformed previous generation by 10 to 20 percent. In hands-on tests, reviewers were generally happy with its snappy performance scrolling through the home screen and playing graphically intensive games. They did notice occasional pauses when loading apps, but not to the extent that it became an issue. In order to keep the huge phone running, Apple invested in huge battery life. Experts’ real life testing drained the battery in a little less than two days. While a longer lasting battery is a welcome surprise, they were mainly thrilled by the quick charge time for the 6 Plus. According to their tests, they were able to get a 10 percent charge in only 10 minutes and a full charge in just two hours. Of course, charging the phone requires the necessary Lightning cable.

Last but not least, the 6 Plus offers an 8MP rear-facing camera with the same autofocus technology found on the iPhone 6 but adds in optical image stabilization (OIS) to the mix. The OIS technology works with the processor, gyroscope and M8 motion coprocessor to reduce shaky hand problems. While not new in smartphones, the 6 Plus is the first iPhone to feature OIS. Due to this new feature, reviewers noticed that the 6 Plus’ shutter speed was slightly slower than the 6. However, they mention that it produced crisp and detailed images in both bright and low light situations.

While not perfect, reviewers enthusiastically recommend the iPhone 6 Plus for people who want to bridge the gap between phone and tablet. Phone Arena states, “…it’s a fantastic phone that earns high marks in a variety of categories…” ZDNet adds, “Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus is not perfect…But it’s as close as it gets in my view.”