Review: Apple iPhone 6 Plus

Resistance is futile, at least when it comes to the ever increasing sizes of mobile phone screens. Or at least that’s what you might think, given Apple’s decision to release not one but two iPhones with larger displays.

The iPhone 6 Plus is the monster of the family, with a display that comes in at a massive 5.5 inches. It dwarfs the iPhone 5S and its four inch display. It makes the Galaxy S5’s 5.1 inch screen look like a tot. The iPhone 6 Plus falls into that category that has been dubbed “phablet”, and it’s not apologising for it.

And why should it, given that Apple has been criticised in the past for failing to keep up with the trend to supersize your screen? This could be pushing it a bit for some users though, in which case, the iPhone 6 is a compromise.

It’s not just about size for the iPhone Six plus though. Apple has wedged a few more upgrades in there, from the chip that has been bumped up to A8, to the camera, which now includes optical image stabilisation. Better power efficiency,

The good:

The most obviously improved feature of the iPhone 6 Plus is the screen. Not only is it huge – watching movies, playing games or even working on documents can be done comfortably without the need for a tablet – but it’s pinsharp. While Apple uses Retina to describe its displays, what it actually means in the case of the iPhone 6 Plus is that it has a resolution of 401 pixels per inch, compared with the 326ppi in the iPhone 5S. It’s sharp, it’s bright, and it

The camera is a noticeable improvement. In a side by side comparison with the iPhone 5S, low light images turned out far better on the iPhone 6 Plus, and that has been extended to the front facing camera. It’s particularly useful for FaceTime, as in our experience at least, the number of times you’ll have perfect lighting conditions suitable for FaceTime is far less than the ones where half your ace is in shadow, or you’re peering at a screen trying to make out who you’re talking to. It also helps that you have a massive display to

Focus Pixels, meanwhile, deliver faster autofocus. In theory, you should get better images, although there is only so much a bad photographer can blame on the phone.

You can also get timelapse video, and 240 frames per second slow motion video.

The bad:

While the size of the handset is being touted as a selling point, it may just be a step too far for some users. It may not be quite iPad Mini sized, but it’s still a little on the large side for throwing into your pocket. And you can’t quite shake the feeling that it looks a little ridiculous when you hold it up to your ear to make a call – at least, not for a little while anyway.

There’s also been some reports of handsets bending, which despite what you might think is not a design feature of the phone.

Eventually though, it all comes down to price. Along with that larger than average display is a larger than average price. At €799 Sim free and unlocked, the iPhone 6 plus may be too rich for many users’ blood; looking at the contracts on offer for the device, it’s still not going to be a cheap upgrade. Especially if you end up with a warped handset a few months later.

The rest:

Much has been made of the iPhone 6 Plus’s design, both its size and the modification to Apple’s now familiar design. But how does it actually feel to hold? Even if you aren’t equipped with larger than average mitts, the answer is: not as bad as you’d think. Sure, it can take a few minutes to get used to, and those with small hands may find it a touch more difficult to make the adjustment, but it’s not inconceivable that this device can be used by almost anyone.

But Apple has taken this into account and brought in something called Reachability for the phones. Double tapping the home key, rather than double pressing, will shorten the screen. So when web browsing, for example, double tap the home button lightly and the address bar will move down to the middle of the screen, making it perfectly reachable while using the phone with one hand. It also works in your music app, your camera, the iTunes store, even third party apps. That double tap will bring the top of the screen down to within reach, so you can cancel that order for the giant fake thumb you may have just placed.

Balancing the phone while you perform the maneuver may be a slightly more difficult task, however. A gentle suggestion: invest in a case, because it’s likely that you will drop the iPhone 6 Plus at some stage, and any damage will be glaringly obvious.

Another thing the iPhone 6 Plus has in its favour is the landscape mode. Turn your phone sideways and not only do apps rotate but so does your homescreen and your email. It’s very iPad-like, so your Mini’s days may be numbered.

Considering the screen size, you’d expect the battery life to be short, but it outlasted the comparison iPhone 5S, even with extensive use.

The verdict:

This super-sized smartphone is a compromise between phone and tablet; look past the figures to see its true potential.