The iPhone 6 has already sold 20 million units in its two guises. However, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) expecting a further 60 million sales of its flagship smartphone, there are plenty of potential iPhone 6 users who have yet to purchase the device.
With the iPhone 6 coming in two distinct models, any new purchaser of the Apple device will have a decision to make. Should they stick with the classic iPhone 6, or opt for the more phablet-sized iPhone 6 Plus? Here are some of the factors that you might wish to take into consideration.
iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus: Design, size and build quality
Apple is of course renowned for the quality of design and build which it incorporates into its products, and the iPhone 6 is no exception to this rule. In all honesty, there is not a huge amount of difference between the two, except for the sheer scale of the iPhone 6 Plus. Whether or not you consider this to be a plus point or a negative would depend on your personal perspective.
Of course, a bigger phone with a larger screen size can be attractive for viewing photographs and videos. But if you have small hands, you may find that the iPhone 6 Plus does not fit easily within your palm. Try before you buy could be a useful motto. Some people also feel that the larger size iPhone 6 Plus is a little ungainly in comparison to the classic iPhone 6.
Bending
Additionally, it is just worth mentioning the supposed tendency of the iPhone 6 Plus to bend when put under pressure. It all honesty, despite the hullabaloo that has been created in relation to this issue, it is not a massive problem and not something that should really form part of your decision-making process.
Weight and dimensions
The two iPhone 6 devices measure up in size and weight terms as follows:
iPhone 6: 138.1mm (height) x 67mm (width) x 6.9mm (depth). Weight: 129g
iPhone 6 Plus: 158.1mm (height) x 77.8mm (width) x 7.1mm (depth). Weight: 172g
Many users might find carrying around a heavier device to be irritating, and would therefore opt for the iPhone 6 over the iPhone 6 Plus.
Display
The downsides of the iPhone 6 Plus are tolerated partly due to the quality of its screen. The iPhone 6 Plus has a large 5.5-inch screen which is capable of producing full HD images. This means that it has a superior resolution to its companion device – 1,920 x 1,080 for the iPhone 6 Plus, as opposed to 1,334 x 750 for the smaller iPhone 6. However, the iPhone 6 performs pretty well with its lesser resolution given its smaller 4.7-inch display size, and although the iPhone 6 Plus should theoretically outperform its cousin in this department, the difference isn’t quite so clear in practical terms.
Speed and performance
Apple has ensured that both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are fitted with similar internal components. Both models feature the new A8 processor chip, together with its M8 motion co-processor. This means that despite some other spec alterations, overall there is a negligible difference between the two in terms of both speed and performance.
Camera
This is an area where if you are a serious photographer, or simply take a lot of pictures, that the iPhone 6 Plus might be the device for you. Although both models ostensibly have the same camera, and 8-megapixel iSight snapper, the larger of the two iPhone 6 devices also incorporates optical image stabilization, as opposed to the auto image stabilization available for the iPhone 6. This means that the iPhone 6 Plus delivers better results in this department.
Battery life
This has been a perennial bugbear in Apple devices for quite some time. Critics of the iPhone range have suggested that its battery life is extremely poor. In this respect, the iPhone 6 Plus definitely comes out on top, with tests showing that it is capable of around 20 percent longer battery life than its smaller companion device.
Price and value for money
It pretty much goes without saying that the iPhone 6 Plus is the more expensive of the two devices given that it is bigger and packed with superior functionality. However, the concept of value for money is obviously a more nebulous notion, and one that is pretty difficult to assess. Given the extra features crammed into the iPhone 6 Plus, the relatively small amount of extra money that it costs suggests that the office superior value for money.
However, for many users the iPhone 6 is actually preferable in some departments, and also cheaper, so it would therefore be extremely difficult to argue against the notion for these users that the smaller iPhone 6 offers better value.
Verdict
Prolific picture takers will certainly want to opt for the iPhone 6 Plus. While those who want a truly mobile device which still has excellent spec will doubtless find favour with the smaller iPhone 6.
