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Anyone sticking with their 5s for the long haul until this big phone fad goes away?
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I have the 6, and although I've gotten used to it, using a 5s remains a more pleasant experience. I'd go back to that size in a heartbeat if they offered that size with comparable hardware next time around.
Funny... I spent a lot of energy arguing against the bigger phones. I swore that there was no need for anything bigger than the iPhone 5/5S... but after I tried the 6 Plus, I was hooked... and as I get older, the eyesight is not what it used to be, so the larger screen is the only way to go, now.
I don't see it as a fad at all. In fact, my wife (barely 5' with tiny hands) openly ridiculed me and my 6 Plus when I first got it. After using it a time or two, she wanted one. We sold her 6 and got her the 6 Plus and she is very happy with it.
Anyone sticking with their 5s for the long haul until this big phone fad goes away?
Apple provides hardware service for any product up to 5 years of it being discontinued from production... so you figure that the iPhone 5s will be able to get battery replacements as needed any time at least until until Sept 2019 (maybe even 2020).
Perhaps the big phone fad will have started to fade by then?
are you waiting for the 3.5 inch screen to come back?
I mean, what can you do on an iPhone 6S+ that you can't do on an iPhone 5? Not talking about gimmicky things like force touch or finger print ID. I mean, your post implies that the iPhone 5, 4, etc. aren't mini computers.
What integral, core function can an iPhone 6S+ perform that an iPhone 5 can't?
texting, phone calls, application access, gps? Music, videos, camera? I'm confused here. Unless you plan on watching your movies and TV shows on your phone all the time (which you might as well get a tablet at the very least if you're mobile) I don't see why someone can't live with an iPhone 5 in terms of specs, and size...
It's not a "fad" per se, but everyone's getting bigger phones because that's all that's available. If, somehow, you could get all of the 6S+ specs into an iPhone 4 or a 5, I think people would opt for smaller sizes.
We're moving in a direction where we're basically all on a "technological hamster wheel" where it's spinning faster and faster and we're expected to toss out perfectly functional, high grade products for new ones.
What makes more sense to you? Holding on to a state of the art iPhone 5 that still works brilliantly? Or unquestionably succumbing to Apple's completely baseless "new phone every 1 year" model and feeling pressure to upgrade a phone every year, or every 2 years? The only reason people upgrade every year or two years is because:
1.) Apple releases a new phone every year (which prompted other smart phone manufacturers to do the same)
2.) Telecom mobile companies locked people into two year contracts
Maybe in like, say, 2007 or 2008 it would have made sense to upgrade your phone every year, every two years, etc. But in today's world it doesn't make sense, really. The changes to smart phones on a year-by-year basis are increasingly incremental and smaller.
Like you said, phones are like computers -- ask yourself this: do you upgrade your computer every year? Every two years?
I always hear this argument. But by the same logic. If you were using a 6S+ for a year, got used to it. Then went back to an iPhone 5, sure it'd feel small at first. But if you used the iPhone 5 for a year again, and went back to the 6S+, it would feel "too big" again.
"Too big" or "too small" isn't really objective. I guess it could be relative, but still, I don't think so. People complained about the iPhone 5 being "too tall" when it came out. Those same people think it's too small today after handling 6+ for a year.
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Fad! LOL!Anyone sticking with their 5s for the long haul until this big phone fad goes away?
Apple provides hardware service for any product up to 5 years of it being discontinued from production... so you figure that the iPhone 5s will be able to get battery replacements as needed any time at least until until Sept 2019 (maybe even 2020).
Perhaps the big phone fad will have started to fade by then?
I've used the 5S for almost a year now, and I have not gotten used to it. Every time I pick up my iPhone 4, I long for how well it fits in my hand. The 5S is just a little too tall still, and there's a balance issue when using it one-handed, but I'm certainly much happier with it than the 6.
It's by no means a fad considering large Android phones have been around for quite some time. I don't see Apple ever going back to smaller sized phones especially as long as Android phones are available in large sizes. Personally I don't see the point as the 6/6S and 6 Plus/6S Plus are the perfect size in my opinion.
Unfortunately for those who desire a smaller iPhone than the 6S, I don't see Apple ever going back to a 4" screened phone again.
So I can't believe I'm saying this, since I was a staunch supporter of "bigger is not better". Really enjoying my 6S and find the size increment over the 5S to be a non-issue. When I handle a 5S now, it seems so small and constrained. 
The "plus models" are definitely too big for me, but I've grown accustomed to the larger size. The one drawback is my finger memory on the keyboard is horrible and while I never quite got used to the 5S I can't type for anything on the 6S.
The "plus models" are definitely too big for me, but I've grown accustomed to the larger size. The one drawback is my finger memory on the keyboard is horrible and while I never quite got used to the 5S I can't type for anything on the 6S.
They don't have to. The alternative is to keep the 4.7" screen and reduce the size of the phone around it. There's plenty of room for Apple to shrink the current bezel around the display.
So I can't believe I'm saying this, since I was a staunch supporter of "bigger is not better". Really enjoying my 6S and find the size increment over the 5S to be a non-issue. When I handle a 5S now, it seems so small and constrained.
Making the same argument applies to you as well ... maybe if you use the 6S Plus, you'll get used to it too and find the size to be a non-issue -- the 6S will seem small and constrained by comparison. That's essentially what you're suggesting to others who prefer the 5S size.
Oh, I couldn't agree with you more. As a matter of fact I have stated the same thing about Apple reducing the size of the iPhones bezel before in a few threads. Take the Note 5 for example. Almost the same size as the iPhone 6S Plus, but yet it is nicer in the hand and appears smaller to look at as well. That is because Samsung cut the bezel down and rounded off the edges on the side of the Note 5. If Apple were to do the same thing with the iPhone 7 they would without a doubt in my mind have yet another smash hit on their hands.
Obviously you can do the same things. However because of the bigger screen, it is easier to see things. Editing documents is definitely easier because of the increase screen real estate. Watching movies is possible.
You can't tell me a bigger screen doesn't make those things easier to do. The iPhone 6+ in a lot of ways had replaced my iPad.
Bigger screens make productivity task easier.
Yeah Apple needs to put those bezels on a diet. I don't know why they have kept those fat bezels on the phone for so long.
You're Apple's worst nightmare, and likely the reason they held off on competing with Samsung on the phablet for so long. It's a good thing they did or they might not have your money for that iPad you bought. ;-)
Why not just carry an LTE iPad, and use a Google Voice number over LTE? That's your ultimate productivity tool with a much bigger screen! Why would you ever carry anything smaller?
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Different strokes for different folks. Again, like I said. If I'm editing a document or a research paper I'm working on - definitely would be doing that on my Macbook Pro (or even my iPad with a keyboard attached) before I ever thought about doing it on my phone. The only thing I'd be editing on my phone would be text messages.
Why watch movies on your phone? I can't think of a scenario where it'd be more convenient for me to watch movies on my phone than on my iPad. Trains? Bus? Plane? iPad works for all of these. If bigger screen + media is your main concern, you'd most likely go for a tablet. I guess it's only for people who don't want to carry around two devices. But, for me, if there's a movie I want to watch, I'll usually save it for the big screen TV, with a bowl of popcorn and cuddling with the girlfriend. Again, different strokes for different folks. I still can't imagine a majority of consumers editing documents or papers, on their phones.
The bigger phone doesn't necessarily make them "easier" to do (maybe by a minuscule amount). But the amount of productivity you're gaining for the amount of comfort and convenience you're losing seems ridiculous.
Apple's in a situation where they can't tell if people are buying their big phones (that they only did to steal Samsung customers) because they're "Apple" - and old Apple customers most likely wouldn't switch over (since every other manufacture worth buying ie. Samsung, don't make small phones for them to switch over to) or if people are buying their big phones because they actually prefer them. Again, if you're someone who lives on your phone (meaning get a majority of your work done) then I guess it'd suit you. But in the real world, people are still using their TVs to watch movies and TV shows most of the time. They're still using their laptops to get school work done, edit videos, and edit photos. It's only small tasks where screen real estate doesn't make a huge deal (texting, calling, quick YouTube videos, apps like Facebook, Twitter, etc.).
I got used to my 6S Plus in about 15 minutes, after that my 5S felt tiny, and not in a good way. I do have fairly big hands, but I doubt I'll ever want a screen as small as that of the 5S again.
Touch ID.
3D Touch
Slo-Mo
Time lapse
Live Photos
SplitView in some Apps.
But mainly Speed of the phone is so ludicrous.