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Should you buy the Apple iPhone 6 Plus?

Apple's largest ever smartphone, the iPhone 6 Plus, is as big as many of the high-end Android smartphones. The new flagship handset continues Apple's commitment to outstanding design and superior user performance, in a bigger format.

Existing iPhone users may be shocked by the look and feel of the new 5.5" screen. Android users may be tempted to try out the 6 Plus to see what they have been missing. If you are used to, or prefer, a bigger screen the iPhone 6 Plus may be right for you. If however, you want an iPhone but find the 6 Plus too large to be practical, the iPhone 6 is better suited to your needs.

Reviewers liked

• The larger screen, with its improved viewing angles and crisp, sharp rendering of graphics and text.
• The optical image stabilisation which reduces camera shake when taking pictures and improves low-light efforts.
• The high-capacity battery which keeps the phone running all day long.
• The balance of screen size, weight and slimness that makes the 6 Plus lighter than most competing smartphones.

Reviewers disliked

• The size – a larger version of the iPhone is not to everyone's tastes and can be difficult to operate one-handed.
• The casing – although slim and well-constructed, not all reviewers were impressed, especially with the protruding camera lens.
• The cost – although top-of-the-range, the 128GB iPhone 6 Plus is undeniably expensive.

The Apple iPhone 6 Plus: in more detail

iOS 8

iOS 8 brings with it a number of new features that make the 6 Plus one of the most connected Apple devices to date. The Health Kit and Home Kit systems have both been improved to allow for collection of more health data and control of a wider range of "smart" devices. Using Siri, your smartphone can, for example, remotely turn on the lights at home.

The iPhone 6 Plus also contains a brand new NFC chip. Eventually this will be used by the new Apple Pay system, allowing you to make purchases by tapping your phone (instead of your contactless credit card) at the checkout. Apple Pay has only just arrived in the US however, so it may be some months before it is available in the UK.

The iPhone 6 Plus is also set to become a more business-friendly device with the introduction of Handoff. This function allows you to answer calls and send texts from any of your Apple devices. Even more useful is Continuity which gives you the ability to start a task on your iMac (like designing a Keynote presentation), and then completing it on your iPhone 6 Plus later – perfect for when you have to work on the move.

The iPhone 6 Plus also benefits from a new keyboard with built in navigation arrows and cut and paste function keys. The landscape screen mode offers new ways of working with the larger screen.

Processor

The iPhone 6 is equipped with an all-new, super-fast A8 processor backed by 1GB of RAM. The A8 and iOS 8 combine to make the iPhone 6 Plus quick, responsive and enjoyable to use. An M8 'motion coprocessor' assists with collecting data from the iPhone's sensors, including GPS, motion and a new barometer, allowing the main processor to focus on keeping apps running smoothly.

Casing

Although most reviewers were impressed by the materials used in the sleek, rounded case, many were less enthusiastic about the appearance of the rear surface."There are two unsightly lines that follow the upper and lower perimeter, and they stick out like a sore thumb", said Brad Molen of Engadget.

Display

The iPhone 6 Plus offers a staggering 88% increase in screen real estate over the 5s, allowing you to see and do a lot more. A zoomed display function also increases the size of text and icons, making it easier for people with poor eyesight to use the handset.

The 6 Plus is capable of displaying full HD content and operates well in bright sunlight. The iPhone 6 Plus also uses 'dual-domain pixels' that improve the viewing experience when you are not directly in front of the screen.

The new screen size means that many apps are not yet optimised for the increased resolution. As a result the upscaling means that some graphics and text are not as sharp as expected. "The app scaling also affects various apps differently, and most of them definitely need to be updated to look better", explains Nilay Patel in his review for The Verge.

Camera

Reviewers praise the 6 Plus camera which uses optical image stabilisation to reduce camera shake and boost performance in low-light conditions – a hardware feature only available on 6 Plus. A low-motion video recording function was also highly praised.

"The iPhone 6 Plus camera is the best smartphone camera I've ever used", proclaimed Nilay Patel in his review for The Verge. "Expect this device to become the new "must-have" among photographers who like travelling light", the Guardian's Charles Arthur claimed. There was one caveat to these glowing recommendations however. "Though the phones got thinner, the camera module did not; the result is a lens that sticks out from the rest of the chassis, which increases the likelihood of the casing and lens getting scratched", said Brad Molen of Engadget.

Security

The iPhone 6 Plus has a Touch ID fingerprint scanner built into the Home button like its predecessor, the iPhone 5s. The scanner allows you to store up to five fingerprints which can then be used instead of lock codes.

TouchID is even more important now that Apple Pay has gone live in the UK. The iPhone 6 Plus contains a new NFC chip that allows users to pay for goods and services by placing their phone on the card reader in shops – just as is already possible with contactless credit cards.

What the critics say (scores are out of 100)

100	IT PRO | Joe Curtis The iPhablet has a superb set of specifications with the display and battery life being the stand out features. Read full review
100	Expert Reviews | David Ludlow It's fair to say that the iPhone 6 Plus is still the best phablet overall thanks to everything you get. Read full review
100	Alphr | Sasha Muller The display is large and sharp enough to make web browsing a slick, pleasurable experience, and the stormingly quick hardware makes for a device that never once slows down or lags in everyday usage. Factor in the superb screen and camera, and in many ways the 6 Plus makes a great halfway house. Read full review
100	Recombu | Rory Reid All in all, the iPhone 6 Plus is a wonderful new handset. If your palms are large enough to handle such a beast, we can't recommend it highly enough. Read full review
100	The Guardian | Charles Arthur Choosing between the iPhone 6 Plus and the smaller iPhone 6 could be surprisingly difficult if your hand, and your wallet, is large enough. It is large, yet the extra screen space is a boon. But that also makes it unwieldy, and could increase the risk of dropping it. Read full review
100	The Telegraph | Matt Warman But with the 6 it's as close as the company has come to a flawless reinvention, and with the 6 Plus there's now, finally, an option that should satisfy those who hunger for more real estate. Read full review
100	T3 | Matt Hill The iPhone 6 Plus is a big departure for Apple - a BIG departure - and one initially we weren't onboard with, but its software stabilisers have helped us to stop worrying and learn to love the phablet. The full-HD screen (finally) is stunning, with so much display to get lost in, while the build tries its hardest to be as size-flattering as possible. Read full review
90	Gadgets Now | Anupam Saxena You won't really need an iPad if you invest in the iPhone 6 Plus ... but when it comes to premium phablets, Samsung's Galaxy Note still rules the segment with its set of differentiated features. Read full review
90	TechRadar | John McCann The iPhone 6 Plus is the best looking phablet around. Its specs don't match the Android power houses and it can be tricky to hold, but there's no denying Apple's beautiful (yet expensive) 5.5 incher is a winner. Read full review
90	Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman The iPhone 6 Plus is a monster. It's by far the most powerful smartphone Apple has ever made... It is among the thinnest and lightest big-screened phones out there, and the build quality is top notch... Perhaps the only core weakness is in the phone call department, which I'd rate as just below average. Read full review
90	Digital Trends | Malarie Gokey The battery life took a hit, but Apple's iPhone 6S Plus is the best iPhone to buy.... Although a pair of better cameras, a faster processor, and a cool new interface trick may not seem like much, these improvements really take the iPhone 6S Plus to the next level. Read full review
90	Trusted Reviews | Evan Kypreos The iPhone 6 Plus is a great phone if you can deal with its size and price. It's blisteringly fast, lasts for ages and comes with one of the best screens we've ever seen. The optical image stabilisation takes the good camera on the iPhone 6 and makes it even better. Read full review
90	phoneArena | John V No doubt, Apple is testing the waters with the iPhone 6 Plus. For the company, the move to compete in the phablet space is a logical one, since consumers are increasingly seeing the value of having a gigantic screen in a phone. Read full review
90	Pocket-lint | Stuart Miles The iPhone 6 Plus is certainly one for the power users and certainly one for those looking for a big screen experience. But with a bigger battery and a bigger display comes a device that for many will be just too big overall. Read full review
90	Mobile Choice For those who want a big iPhone, the 6 Plus is exactly that. We just wish Apple had done more to take advantage of the extra space and offered a truly unique product - not merely a larger one. Read full review
90	CNET UK | Tim Stevens The iPhone 6 Plus is too big for everyone to love it, but it's Apple's best phone this year. If your budget and your pocket can make room for it, give the iPhone 6 Plus serious consideration. Read full review
88	YourTechExplained | Ben Schoon When all is said and done, I personally think the iPhone 6 Plus is the best iPhone released yet. It's good in all the right ways and for me, the size is what I've always wanted. You cannot go wrong picking up the iPhone 6 Plus if you're interested in getting a new iPhone. It's a great phone and I highly recommend it. Read full review
88	Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader With improved battery life over the iPhone 6 and a camera experience unmatched by any Android or Windows Phone device, the choice of whether you buy an iPhone 6 Plus comes down to whether it fits your pocket -- and your budget. Read full review
88	pocketnow | Taylor Martin Still, if you're looking for something better suited for mobile gaming, more comfortable browsing or video playback, more spacious typing, and not all that different from the iPhone you've been carrying (or once carried) for years, the iPhone 6 Plus is a fantastic buy. And if you feel it might be a smidgen too large, Michael says the iPhone 6 isn't so bad either. Read full review
87	Engadget | Brad Molen The iPhone 6 Plus is difficult to use one-handed, not to mention more uncomfortable than similar-sized phones. In exchange, though, you get more of an iPad-like user experience on a much smaller device. It also has better battery life than the smaller iPhone 6, as well as a better camera. Read full review
87	The Verge | Nilay Patel There's nothing here that competitors aren't doing with their big phones - Samsung in particular is pushing the envelope with its S Pen stylus and multiple-app features - but the overall package is so good it's hard to ignore. Read full review
85	TechSpot | Shawn Knight Given the sheer number of great smartphones on the market today, it's hard to label any one device as the absolute best but I can say with confidence that the iPhone 6 Plus is the best iPhone Apple has released to date. Read full review
85	Brighthand | Dragan Petric The iPhone 6 Plus' massive display and slightly altered software makes it closer to a smaller iPad mini than an iPhone in practice. It's got the same stellar design language, camera, and overall performance of any other iPhone out there, and its display is a joy to behold, but unless you really need the extended battery life and bigger panel, you're probably better off sticking with the more restrained iPhone 6. Read full review
85	TechnoBuffalo | Todd Haselton The iPhone 6 Plus is more robust than any iPhone that came before it, with a faster A8 processor, an improved camera, stellar battery life, Wi-Fi and VoLTE calling support, a thinner and sleeker profile, the sharpest display yet and more. For iPhone fans, it's a win from every angle. Read full review
84	NotebookCheck | Daniel Schmidt We can recommend the device if you use a special case for the smartphone, do not intend to use the camera with a tripod, do not have a Bluetooth hands-free device, and have a lot of patience until Apple fixed all issues in iOS 8. Otherwise, there are many alternatives on the market, and they are also less expensive. Read full review
83	PC Pro | Sasha Muller Thus far, we haven't been universally won over by giant-sized smartphones, but with the iPhone 6 Plus we're steadily beginning to see the appeal. In situations where we'd normally have found ourselves swapping our smartphone for a tablet - on the sofa in the evening, say - we simply didn't feel the need with the iPhone 6 Plus. Read full review
82	OtherGadgetGuy | Leigh D. Stark Its aluminium body is excellent, and while we love the HTC One M8's use of aluminium and the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact's reliance on glass, the 6 Plus just leads with an almost perfect curvature of the screen to the body. Read full review
80	Macworld | Jason Snell As for the iPhone 6 Plus, it's a device that will undoubtedly find its adherents. Read full review
80	Know Your Mobile | RIchard Goodwin What this really comes down to is personal preference with design and price. If you like large phones –– and the iPhone 6 Plus is VERY large –– then you're looking at one of the best phablets on market... Because battery is by far and away the most important thing to me as a user, I am ALL ABOUT the iPhone 6 Plus. Read full review
80	PC Mag | Sascha Segan The iPhone 6 Plus is a extremely large iPhone, if you're into that sort of thing. It's an excellent device... The 6 Plus has better battery life, but that doesn't outweigh the lump in your pocket or the giant phone flipping out of your hand when you're also trying to hold onto a bag. Read full review
80	Tom's Guide | Michael Andronico The Apple iPhone 6 Plus packs a vibrant 5.5-inch display, fast processor and long battery life into its elegant metal design. Read full review
80	S21 The iPhone 6 Plus comes with a larger screen and stronger battery. It's a beautiful device, but super expensive. Read full review
80	The Gadget Show The iPhone 6s Plus takes the crown as the largest, fastest iPhone to date, but it's not a whole lot more improved over last year's model, and 3D Touch is yet to prove itself. The camera is stellar though, and with OIS included that works on video too, it may be worth opting for over its smaller sibling. Read full review
80	PC Advisor | Jim Martin One thing is for sure: the iPhone 6 Plus is still expensive. If you're keen to buy one right now, we'd recommend against the 16GB model. Read full review
80	Mashable | Lance Ulanoff If you want a phablet, the iPhone 6 Plus is a very good one. That big screen is especially well suited to movie watching and game playing, but also packs in a lot more info from web pages and emails than you'll get from the iPhone 6, 5S and other, smaller smartphones. Read full review
80	The Inquirer | Madeline Bennett The larger screen, long battery life and great performance make up for minor niggles like certain features not being available in the UK. While the iPhone 6 Plus isn't the cheapest smartphone out there, the pricing is comparable to other premium phablets from rivals and for Apple fans, you get the reliable and user-friendly iOS experience with a high-quality large display. Read full review
80	LAPTOP | Michael A. Propero While the large 5.5-inch display on the iPhone 6 Plus is its most defining feature, Apple's phablet has a lot more under the hood. Read full review
80	NDTV Gadgets | Jamshed Avari It's a great device if you're looking to replace your handheld gaming console, video camera, tablet and smartphone with a single unit, and in that sense, it's a more attractive product than the iPhone 6. However, you don't always want to carry all those things around, and the iPhone 6 Plus will make you feel as though you're doing exactly that. Read full review
80	ITProPortal | Sandra Vogel I was impressed with the iPhone 6, and I am again impressed with the iPhone 6 Plus which knocks the smaller phone into a cocked hat in terms of battery life. It is capable, beautifully made, and iOS 8 is a nice step forward. On the other hand, though, the 6 Plus is very expensive, and it suffers in my overall scoring from the lack of memory expansion as well as for being pricey. Read full review
80	What Hi-Fi? Big and beautiful, the iPhone 6 Plus is all set to take the fight to rival phablets. If only it sounded a little bit better... Read full review
80	Stuff | David Phelan Really, there's very little wrong with it beyond its size. But it is very big. Read full review
80	AnandTech | Joshua Ho 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. Read full review
75	Register Hardware | Adam Banks and Alan Stonebridge Apple's 5.5-inch, 1920 x 1080-pixel big screen smartie proves a very different animal to operate and involves some curious scaling tricks as it straddles previous iPhone/iPad formats. Be sure to try before you buy, because compared to any other iPhone it's a very different machine to own. Read full review
70	Australian PC World | Tony Ibrahim This is a niche smartphone intended for a tiny group of multimedia junkies. And even then, the smaller 4.7in iPhone 6 should appease even the most demanding content users. Read full review
70	BGR | Jonathan S. Geller The problem with the iPhone 6 Plus is that, while the landscape views are nice, and the bigger screen is great, there are still too many compromises for me. I don't want a device this big, one that barely fits in my pocket, one which is much heavier than a regular iPhone 6. Read full review

Compare Apple iPhone 6 Plus specs side-by-side with other phones COMPARE SPECS

Dimensions & Form	Form factor: Touchscreen bar Dimensions 158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1 mm (6.22 x 3.06 x 0.28 in) Weight: 172 g (6.07 oz)
Screen	Size: 5.5 inches diagonal Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels Screen Density: 401 ppi Screen-to-Body Ratio: 67.8 % Display Type: LED-backlit IPS LCD
Runs
Performance	Chipset: Apple A8 CPU: Dual-core 1.4 GHz Typhoon (ARM v8-based) GPU: PowerVR GX6450 (quad-core graphics) RAM: 1GB
Camera	Main Camera: 8 megapixels with 2 LED flash, f/2.2 aperture ,1080p video at 30 or 60fps Secondary Camera: FaceTime HD camera:1.2 megapixels with 720p video recording
Storage	Built-in Storage: 16GB, 64GB, 128GB Expandable Storage: Not Available
Battery & Charging	Capacity: 2915 mAh Removable Battery: No Wireless Charging: No Quick Charge: None
SIM standard	Nano SIM Compare SIM Only deals
Water & Dust Resistance	Not Available
Fingerprint Reader	Front
References & More info	Official website GSMArena specs page

Photos taken with the Apple iPhone 6 Plus

We've used Flickr to find a selection of pictures taken by the Apple iPhone 6 Plus camera. Here is a selection of photos taken by users from around the world so you can see what kind of picture quality you can expect from real-world use of the Apple iPhone 6 Plus.

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All images shown are used under the rights and terms specified by the Creative Commons.