The iPhone 6 Plus Mini-Review: Apple's First Phablet
by Joshua Ho on September 30, 2014 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Apple
- Mobile
- iOS
- iPhone 6 Plus
Software
For the most part, the iOS 8 experience on the iPhone 6 Plus is functionally identical to what you get on the iPhone 6. However, some aspects of the iPad software are also present. For example, it’s possible to rotate the home screen in any direction desired, so it’s fully possible to navigate between home screens with the phone upside down. While not quite like the iPad, there are split views in certain applications and I’m sure that this view will become common as applications are optimized for the iPhone 6 Plus. For the most part, this really helps with taking advantage of the larger screen real estate. This difference also helps make the iPhone 6 Plus feel like the combination of a tablet and phone that it should be. While Reachability is a great feature to have in a pinch, it's really not a replacement for a proper phone if one is looking for easy one-handed use most of the time.
The one issue that I found was that the stock keyboard was ergonomically difficult to use when in landscape, as seen below. While it may be simpler for first time users, I suspect much less frustration would result if all of the extra functions were moved to the center of the keyboard and a split layout was used for the main keys, similar to the iPad.
However, outside of these dedicated applications the iPhone 6 Plus is really does provide a better experience. All of the advantages that come with a tablet such as improved video, photo, and web experiences along with easier content sharing are present in the larger 6 Plus as it sits right around the point where these benefits are clearly tangible. This becomes a major selling point of the device. While the software differences are definitely smaller than what we see on the Galaxy Note line, Apple has managed to do enough that most won't notice a significant difference one way or another.
Final Words
I started this review by listing the differences that the iPhone 6 Plus has when compared to the iPhone 6, and those are really the key points so it's worth going over again. I'm starting to sound like a broken record on this, but for the areas shared with the iPhone 6 it's critical to go back to the iPhone 6 review to understand things like the A8 SoC, performance, and display.
The first key point is the display size. This is fundamentally the most important difference between the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6. While there are other differences, none of them matter when compared to size. I personally found the iPhone 6 to be right around the ideal balance between screen size and one-handed usability. If you're looking for that combination, then the iPhone 6 is really the better choice, even if it doesn't get everything that the iPhone 6 Plus has. However, those that don't care about using their phone with one hand on a regular basis may find the iPhone 6 Plus starts to be a much more appealing choice.
There are really a few key advantages of the iPhone 6 Plus over the iPhone 6 once the size issue is settled. The first is the camera. While rarely active, optical image stabilization has made it possible to achieve far better photos in almost any situation where longer shutter speeds can be used. Apple has really made it painless to take long exposures, as even a quarter of a second doesn't incur significant motion blur due to the multiple exposures combined for each photo. Even though this seems to be the only application of OIS, Apple has managed to make the overall camera experience better in a way that no other OEM has.
The next advantage is battery life. While the iPhone 6 has competitive battery life, the iPhone 6 Plus manages to extend Apple's lead while also maintaining the same thin and light profile that we see on the iPhone 6. The difference in battery life can be quite significant, especially in compute-bound cases where battery life scales mostly linearly with battery size.
The final advantage is resolution. While the iPhone 6 Plus does have a bigger display and all the advantages that come with the bigger screen, Apple has also provided an even higher pixel density than before with the iPhone 6 Plus. It's certainly not as incredibly high as what we see in phones like the LG G3, but the improved pixel density is clearly visible. There are performance trade-offs in GPU-based benchmarks, but otherwise Apple has managed to make this bump in resolution compromise-free. I definitely notice the improved resolution, but this is a mostly subjective area that requires personal experience to judge whether the higher resolution has value.
Overall, the iPhone 6 Plus is a great phone that builds on the foundation of the iPhone 6. Whether it's right for you will be based primarily on whether you want the larger display or not. Once again, it's pretty easy to see the strength of Apple's integrated hardware and software approach as it's only a matter of time before most applications take advantage of the iPhone 6 Plus' additional screen size. However, comparisons between the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are mostly pointless as they fall into distinctly different categories with different target audiences. There's also relatively little value to testing the iPhone 6 Plus against the Note 3 as this would give the iPhone 6 Plus a massive lead due to differences in time of launch. The iPhone 6 Plus must be compared to the Galaxy Note 4, which looms large on the horizon as Samsung has consistently succeeded in holding on to their first-mover advantage in the phablet market. If you have to buy a phablet now though, the iPhone 6 Plus is the best one available.
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KuyaMarkEduard - Monday, October 13, 2014 - link
Hello Sir Golfmann. before you conclude that this site is, and will still offer the fairest, and the most unbiased review when it comes to Apple, you may want to take a look at this, and then, decide, if you can still, make this a trustworthy website, if it pertains to Apple's product:AnandTech founder Anand Shimpi joins Apple:
The founder of one of the most in-depth mobile and computer tech sites, Anand Shimpi, is hanging up the tech journalism gloves as he joins Apple.
Founded in 1997, AnandTech is widely renowned for its technical analysis of personal computers and, more recently, mobile phones.
Shimpi posted his retirement from tech writing on a post on his site over the weekend, but did not mention joining Apple at that time. Since then, the Cupertino company has confirmed that the he will be joining the Apple fold. Specifics as to what his actual position will be are still unclear, but it is known that he will be joining former AnandTech senior smartphone reviewer Brian Klug, who also left for Apple back in February.
Anand Shimpi has built gradually a reputation as one of mobile tech’s most authoritative figures, and has even consulted with manufacturers to improve hardware products like solid state drives. It’s expected that his extensive knowledge of device engineering and industry connections are what made him an attractive hire for Apple, where he will likely contribute to the improvement of iPhone and, potentially, wearables.
Now what do you think? Can you still, boldly say that this, is a "Great review, as always! Anand was telling the truth! This is still a trustworthy website."?
krbrownin - Friday, October 3, 2014 - link
Geeze after an Apple review the haters sure come out in force. I have a iPhone 5s, and a Samsung Galaxy S4. I think the 6+ is gonna be awesome.Both my S4 and 5s are great phones- just different. The S4 is my work phone and was issued to me by my employer. It has higher resolution, and a faster proc. But you know what? You cant tell. Side by side screen comparisons of the same app or website or photo (and I've done it many times at work during just such arguments like all these posts here) you really cant tell a difference. OK maybe a slight difference sometimes, but not that much. In fact sometimes the 5s even looks crisper or sharper. Its hard to explain but it does. On a 24" IPS monitor, the difference in resolution would be much more noticeable, but on a device that you hold in the palm of your hand...not so much. Come on, the 5s's display is freaking awesome so the 6 and 6+ are going to look great. Don't focus so much on "oh the + is only 1920x1080" - who cares. Also I've never had any crashes or problems on my iPhone 5s. Ever. I carry it all the time everyday even if I probably use my S4 a little more for calls. The 5s is my personal phone so family/friends call me on it. The S4 however, has locked up on me, crashed, and I've had several other issues. But I still love it mind you, and it looks like I will be getting an S5 shortly here at work.
But everyone should stop being such a fanboy. Get the phone you want. Don't try and slam the iPhone as being buggy and not as good as Android based phones. It just simply isn't true. And you cant hardly call me an Apple fanboy either, I'm using my S4 right now.
KuyaMarkEduard - Friday, October 3, 2014 - link
Yeah sure! @krbrownin: the real battle here is not between iPhone and Android, but for sure, it is only between the American Apple, and the South Korean Samsung! All others are excluded!KuyaMarkEduard - Monday, October 13, 2014 - link
want to see and read the fairest, and the most unbiased reviews? Click:http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_6_plus-review...
and
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_4-revi...
at least there, what you are getting is just the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the TRUTH!, whether it is gonna be Apple or Samsung!
Yaru - Wednesday, October 8, 2014 - link
Just registered to say that I love Gundam Dynames too. I was surprised to see a Gunpla it in the review of the 6 Plus.JimmiG - Wednesday, October 8, 2014 - link
Bezel like it's 2007!I thought huge bezels were a sign of a cheap phone.
Seriously if it had the bezels from the G3 they could probably squeeze a 6.2" display in there, maybe larger.
mpfjelsted - Thursday, October 16, 2014 - link
Em, check your math.kopuschen - Sunday, October 12, 2014 - link
It's amazing to see so many Apple vs Android again.I think one just need to be aware the business model of each and everything follows that.
Android profits from ads, that's it. Which means your personal information is collected by Google for its giant network of search and ads. Their CEO once publicly said when asked about concerns that Google gives away Android for free, he said "we swamped the market with so many devices and you think we can't think of a way make money out of it?"
If you are comfortable with that (Google scan every piece of your personal information), then Google platform is a great choice. It's nothing to do with security, your phone can be really secure for others but Google is still reading it.
In comparison, Apple has no motivation to read your email scan your typed keywords etc. because it's profit model is simply selling devices.
In this world business model follows where money follows. For Apple users are consumers, for Android users are products. Think about it, all we are debating to death are result of that root cause.
ccd1 - Thursday, October 16, 2014 - link
Here is my take on it.1) Arguing over specs is a waste of time. In terms of performance, both get the job done for the vast majority of users.
2) The Plus is one of the best phablets out there. If we were talking about any company other than Apple, this would be considered a great achievement for a first try. However, the Plus is an Apple product where we expect Apple to come late into the game, but totally change the market. Thus viewed the Plus is a fail because it is a very good phone, but not a game changer as past Apple products have been.
3) The choice comes down to two things: the operating system and the stylus. IOW, do you prefer the integration and user friendly interface of iOS or the customization of android? Do you need the stylus or not. Answer these two questions and you probably know which device is best for you.
ccd1 - Thursday, October 16, 2014 - link
Forgot to add that the fight between Android/Note 4 and the Plus overlooks the other announcement this week that Google will be introducing the Nexus 6 which will be a premium phone this time around. It could be a game changer, though I doubt it. More likely, it will be a platform to show off Android L and will be a good or very good phone. The smartphone market may now be so mature that there are no big surprises left.