With less than three days until the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launch at Apple Stores in the United States and several other countries worldwide, the decision to choose between the 4.7-inch model and 5.5-inch model is getting closer. If you are still undecided, let us help you choose which smartphone to purchase based on some useful tips ahead.
Whether you should get the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus comes down to how you plan on using your smartphone. If you are still going to be heavily using your iPad or Mac as supplementary devices to your iPhone, then the iPhone 6 is probably the ideal choice for you. If you want an all-in-one productivity machine, I suggest going with iPhone 6 Plus.
Based on early reviews of the two smartphones by major tech publications, along with information provided during the Apple keynote last week, I have provided some of the key benefits of both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Hopefully, it makes your decision just a little bit easier.
Let’s start with the iPhone 6.
iPhone 6
Ever since my brother purchased an original HTC One early last year, it has been my opinion that a 4.7-inch display is the perfect screen size for a modern smartphone. The taller 4-inch screen on the iPhone was a welcomed change over the 3.5-inch screen on the iPhone 4S and earlier models, but a 4.7-inch display is truly the sweet spot.
The extra screen space on the iPhone 6 makes the smartphone bigger and better in almost every manner. For watching Netflix or YouTube on the go, your viewing experience just got better. For using Mail and Messages, early reviews claim that the extra space makes typing modestly easier and faster. For Maps, it means less swiping and panning.
The most important thing is that all of these improvements are made without compromising the one-handed nature of an iPhone. I will have to a wait another few days to get a true feel for the smartphone, but early pictures of the iPhone 6 make it appear practical for day-to-day use like holding the device up to your ear to make a phone call.
In terms of hardware specifications and software capabilities, the iPhone 6 is essentially on par with the iPhone 6 Plus. The core features that are missing include optical image stabilization, landscape mode and longer battery life, the latter of which is possible since the iPhone 6 Plus has more internal space to fit a larger lithium-ion battery pack.
The starting price is also cheaper than the iPhone 6 Plus at $199 on a new two-year contract. Overall, I personally recommend the iPhone 6 to most casual users that continue to use an iPad or Mac alongside their device and can survive with an hour less battery life here and there.
iPhone 6 Plus
Nearly everything I said about the iPhone 6 is true about the iPhone 6 Plus as well. You are getting an even larger screen at 5.5-inches, which to me is a little over the top. I’ve personally used a Galaxy Note with a nearly identical screen size, and holding it in my hands was a little awkward and uncomfortable. Then again, I have quite small hands.
At the same time, forking over an additional 100 dollars does get you some benefits on the iPhone 6. You get a longer-lasting battery life, which was the number one requested feature in a survey leading up to the iPhone 6 launch. If you want to have battery life for the entire day and then some, the iPhone 6 Plus is definitely your best bet.
Apple also exclusively added optical image stabilization to the iPhone 6 Plus, meaning that the camera takes incredibly still photos and videos. That is on top of the already several new features packed into the improved 8-megapixel iSight camera on both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. All in all, this is the best smartphone camera you can find.
My recommendation for the iPhone 6 Plus goes out to power users. You can accomplish a lot on the larger 5.5-inch screen, and the landscape mode that has been added to the Home screen and certain third-party apps is a nice added touch. If your main goal of using an iPhone is to be productive, then consider this a hybrid iPhone and iPad mini.
Wrap up
Ultimately, the decision to choose the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus comes down to personal preference. But if you are a casual user that generally had few complaints about the iPhone 5s screen size, but perhaps would like a little extra screen real estate, then the iPhone 6 will suit your needs perfectly.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 6 Plus is designed for the power user that wants an all-in-one device capable of tasks that would normally be completed on an iPad or Mac. iPhone 6 Plus is also a must for those that sim
