Does the 6+ serve its theoretical purpose?

[dagdagdag234]

I was holding both phones today at Target. (I have a 6 on order.)

I know this might only get "to each his own" comments, or possibly slightly more hostile -- but I couldn't help but feel as if the 6+ is an odd size. I know people seem to love it so I was curious as to why.... My take is:

A 6 seems a nice size, the bigger iPhone most wanted, but still one handed.

An Ipad mini is a small mobile device, that can be used for light typing etc

A 6+ seems only slightly easier to do work on than a 6 but a little clunkier to manipulate. And much smaller than a mini.

Would it have made more sense for Apple to say "Here's an iPhone 6 and also here's an iPad mini with a cellular antenna in it to make calls, for those who don't care about the one-handed thing but want a mini-work station?"

Or maybe the 6+ is just a phone/viewing device with a larger screen? Is that why some people seem to love it/

 

[myscrnnm]

I think all of the points you bring up aren't exclusive to the iPhone 6 Plus, but to phablets in general. And in that sense, yes, it has succeeded. Phablets aren't for everyone, but are essentially a class of smartphone that's basically as large as it can be, while still being able to fit in a pants pocket.

 

[bpeeps]

Here we go again! Strange how your needs might differ from someone else's needs. Strange that you might find the Plus clunky to manipulate, but someone else might not. Strange that an iPhone 6 and an iPad mini might suit your needs, and a Plus might suit someone else's.

SUCH STRANGE. MUCH WONDER.

 

[mentaluproar]

Why the hostility, bpeeps?

 

[Ramio]

A 6 is perfect for you. For me the 6 plus is perfect. I don't want to use a mini so the plus Is the best of both worlds.

 

[rkuo]

The bigger screen makes a huge difference in extended use. I no longer carry my iPad Mini with me as religiously. I may even sell it.

Apple fell down a bit on the overall optimization of software for the iPhone 6 Plus, the 1GB of RAM, and the unusually large bezels. But the bottom line is that if you can fit this in your pocket and you are a heavy web browser / messenging / e-mail addict, you'll want it.

 

[Ramio]

The bigger screen makes a huge difference in extended use. I no longer carry my iPad Mini with me as religiously. I may even sell it.

Apple fell down a bit on the overall optimization of software for the iPhone 6 Plus, the 1GB of RAM, and the unusually large bezels. But the bottom line is that if you can fit this in your pocket and you are a heavy web browser / messenging / e-mail addict, you'll want it.

Just sold my mini recently as the plus suffices

 

[JoeG4]

Ok good sir! You've convinced me! I'm stupid to have purchased a 6+! I should have gotten a 6!

Wow. Totally right. Man I was so wrong.

 

[dagdagdag234]

I knew no matter how politely and even handedly I approached the subject there would be a freak out or two. People seem to get real defensive when you ask them why they want such a big phone.

To reiterate my main point, I get why a big phone is handy, it just seems most phablets including the 6+ are actually not big enough -- and yet also too big. Wouldn't it make more sense to forgo any illusions of being pocketable and just make iPad mini size tablet that's a phone?

Okay, you can go back to yelling now

 

[Gryfter]

different strokes for different folks...

as another poster explained, I, myself held off getting a tablet for the iPhone 6+... its the perfect medium for me as I only want to carry 1 device on me that'll serve everything I want/need and the 6+ does just that...

 

[Satori]

I think it depends what you get used to.

I went from an iphone 5 to 6+. I thought I was probably going to go for the 6 but when I saw the screen on the plus in the apple store my brain just went 'got to have that'.

I'm still adjusting to the 6+ but it is much better for emailing, typing notes, reading kindle books and surfing the web. I think it will get better as more apps are adapted to make better use of the larger screen. So far I have found any apps apart from the apple ones that have been customised for the plus.

 

[dagdagdag234]

Gryfter and other poster- that is an interesting take on it -- In between phone and tablet- truly the definition of phablet. So it's a little trade off with each device but one less thing to carry around.

I get that. See? I'm not a monster. I simply had a question

 

[rkuo]

I knew no matter how politely and even handedly I approached the subject there would be a freak out or two. People seem to get real defensive when you ask them why they want such a big phone.

To reiterate my main point, I get why a big phone is handy, it just seems most phablets including the 6+ are actually not big enough -- and yet also too big. Wouldn't it make more sense to forgo any illusions of being pocketable and just make iPad mini size tablet that's a phone?

Okay, you can go back to yelling now

The key is being pocketable. There is no "illusion of being pocketable" around the iPhone 6 Plus. I pocket it. It's right on the edge, but it fits.

In return, I carry around one device, I don't need a jacket to put my mini in, etc.

 

[dagdagdag234]

I wonder if people will start using Bluetooth keyboards with 6+. Or (gasp) a stylus?

 

[mcdj]

Why the hostility, bpeeps?

kneejerk hostility is far easier than a reasoned reply.

My understanding of the purpose of the 6+ was never about work; it was always about content. Big content.

----------

Ok good sir! You've convinced me! I'm stupid to have purchased a 6+! I should have gotten a 6!

Wow. Totally right. Man I was so wrong.

oh relax nancy.

 

[bhags8]

I bought a 6 plus because I watch hockey games and tv shows at work all night. That is why I wanted a bigger screen. To each their own.

 

[frozentoast]

I wonder if people will start using Bluetooth keyboards with 6+. Or (gasp) a stylus?

FWIW: Both the Cosmonaut and Pencil work great on the 6 Plus.

 

[justindavis098]

So much angst. So much anger.

 

[Xultar]

When I got my plus initially I thought it was too big. Now after 4 weeks it seems perfectly normal.

You spent only a few moments with the device. It's fifferrnt to make the switch on a longer term basis. The 6 plus is fantastic.

 

[NellSounz]

To each his own. I have the 6 plus and I'm satisfied

 

[MacinJosh]

Physically the iPhone 6+ serves its purpose. It's up to the developers to actually make it what is intended to be. So far they are very lazy in supporting the unique features of the 6+.

 

[mightyjabba]

When I got my plus initially I thought it was too big. Now after 4 weeks it seems perfectly normal.

You spent only a few moments with the device. It's fifferrnt to make the switch on a longer term basis. The 6 plus is fantastic.

This is certainly true. I think a lot of people might find that they liked the device if they used it for a while (like a week or two). But of course it's perfectly fine if people don't like it or don't want to give it that chance, especially now that we have the very nicely sized iPhone 6 as an option. I just find the "I just tried it out in the store and..." variety of criticism to be a little tiresome. Of course it's going to seem too big if you're used to the iPhone 4 or 5 and just try it out for 5 minutes in a store. It is going to be an adjustment.

For me, it wasn't as if I had some burning need for a bigger screen per se, but the more I used my iPad mini, the more the screen on my iPhone 5 seemed tiny. And when you consider what I use my phone for (web browsing, taking and looking at photos and video, and listening to music) most of those would certainly benefit from a larger screen -- at least up to a point. Photos in particular look fantastic on the screen, and after taking a LOT of photos in the last few days I've come to realize how valuable having a very large screen/viewfinder connected to a very good camera really is.

Would it have made more sense for Apple to say "Here's an iPhone 6 and also here's an iPad mini with a cellular antenna in it to make calls, for those who don't care about the one-handed thing but want a mini-work station?"

The entire point of a phone for me is that it fits in my pocket and can therefore go with me everywhere. I would have little interest in an iPad + phone combination.

 

[hers]

It looks like a kids toy to me and I'm kind of embarrassed to use it in public but for long journeys it's epic. Better battery bigger screen still easy to carry.

 

[From A Buick 8]

I was holding both phones today at Target. (I have a 6 on order.)

I know this might only get "to each his own" comments, or possibly slightly more hostile -- but I couldn't help but feel as if the 6+ is an odd size. I know people seem to love it so I was curious as to why.... My take is:

A 6 seems a nice size, the bigger iPhone most wanted, but still one handed.

An Ipad mini is a small mobile device, that can be used for light typing etc

A 6+ seems only slightly easier to do work on than a 6 but a little clunkier to manipulate. And much smaller than a mini.

Would it have made more sense for Apple to say "Here's an iPhone 6 and also here's an iPad mini with a cellular antenna in it to make calls, for those who don't care about the one-handed thing but want a mini-work station?"

Or maybe the 6+ is just a phone/viewing device with a larger screen? Is that why some people seem to love it/

I could go into why i have the 6 Plus, but TBH it has already been said (and sang)

I'm on my way, I'm making it
I've got to make it show, yeah
So much larger than life
I'm going to watch it growing

The place where I come from is a small town
They think so small
They use small words
But not me
I'm smarter than that
I worked it out
I've been stretching my mouth
To let those big words come right out

I've had enough, I'm getting out
To the city, the big big city
I'll be a big noise with all the big boys
There's so much stuff I will own
And I will pray to a big god
As I kneel in the big church

Big time
I'm on my way-I'm making it
Big time big time
I've got to make it show yeah
Big time big time
So much larger than life
Big time
I'm going to watch it growing
Big time

My parties all have big names
And I greet them with the widest smile
Tell them how my life is one big adventure
And always they're amazed
When I show them 'round my house, to my bed
I had it made like a mountain range
With a snow-white pillow for my big fat head
And my heaven will be a big heaven
And I will walk through the front door

Big time
I'm on my way-I'm making it
Big time big time
I've got to make it show-yeah
Big time big time
So much larger than life
I'm going to watch it growing
Big time big time
My car is getting bigger
Big time
My house is getting bigger
Big time
My eyes are getting bigger
Big time
And my mouth
Big time
My belly is getting bigger
Big time
And my bank account
Big time
Look at my circumstance
Big time
And the bulge in my big big big big big big big

 

[Cloudsurfer]

I don't know why people have so much of a problem with the size of the 6+.. Honestly I don't think it's big at all. I use it with one hand 95% (90% if I don't count in the reach ability feature) and its been fine. And I have small hands.

I just hope developers will use the big screen to make their apps lean more towards the iPad version instead of the mobile version.. Facebook and Instagram and Twitter for example are just bigger versions of the mobile apps and that is a waste of screen estate IMO.