Forbes’ long-term iPhone 6 Plus review: ‘This beautiful freak is the iPhone’s future’

12 years ago

“The iPhone 6 Plus has already plotted an incredible journey,” Gordon Kelly writes for Forbes. “When the first leaks appeared back in June it was something of a laughing stock. Few believed was real and less could understand why Apple would do such a thing. But since launch it has been a different story. The iPhone 6 Plus has full blown iPad-itus and even Apple appears to have underestimated its popularity. So as the dust settles more than a month later which vision of the iPhone 6 Plus is right: is it an overblown freak or the ingenious future of the iPhone Interestingly having now used the phablet for almost a month I’ve found the answer to be both.”

“Where my form factor issues lie are in Apple’s refusal to adapt the design of the iPhone 6 Plus for its increased size. Big phones are harder to grip than small ones so most phablets have either a curved rear, a textured finish or both. The new iPhones have neither,” Kelly writes. “This hits the iPhone 6 Plus particularly hard. The phablet is so wide (77.8mm/3.06in) your fingers can barely meet when wrapped around it and the flat back means you have no point of contact with the rear of the phone for extra grip – all force is on the sides. This becomes uncomfortable quickly and the super smooth finish means any reduction of pressure on the sides and the phablet can slip out your hands. The end result: I’ve already dropped the iPhone 6 Plus four times (more in the next section) and I haven’t dropped any phone in a long time… Apple has forgotten about the ergonomics of the human hand. Without a case, the iPhone 6 Plus will drive you mad.”

“So while I have my reservations about the practicality of the iPhone 6 Plus design, does the impact of Apple’s big new display pay off? Without question. Simply put: the iPhone 6 Plus has one of the best displays I’ve ever seen in a smartphone or phablet. Apple continues to eschew the more flashy AMOLED technology long used by Samsung in its premium Galaxy lines, but its IPS-based screen remains jaw droppingly bright with rich and vivid colours. Furthermore side-by-side with the iPhone 6 it is clearly the superior screen and guarantees bragging rights.,” Kelly writes. “There is no denying that the iPhone 6 Plus is the better of the new iPhones. Screen, camera and battery life are all big wins and its new iPad-esque approach to iOS 8 means it can develop major usage benefits compared to the iPhone 6. If you are buying a new iPhone I would therefore urge you to look at whether it is remotely feasible to crowbar the iPhone 6 Plus into your life. ”

Much more – performance, camera, and more – in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Unsurprisingly, we have both the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus (both in Apple iPhone 6/Plus Leather Cases, so grip is not an issue). The iPhone 6 is a beautiful phone. It’s the second best smartphone in the world, in fact. But, lay them both on our desk and we’ll grab the Plus when heading out every time. We can simply get more done with it, the battery lasts far longer, and the camera is superior. Also, as someone here at MacDailyNews likes to say (here’s a quote you won’t be seeing on the big screen during Apple’s next keynote): “Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus is the ultimate fuck you phone.”

All other so-called smartphones pale in comparison to Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus.