iPhone 6(S)/Plus Get an 8 or whatever the next one after it is or XS (small).

[tigress666]

Ok, I have an iphone 6 right now. I haven't been paying attention to the new iphones for a long time (why make myself jealous when I'm not going to get one. I just can't justify that much money until I need a new phone and honestly Apple hasn't put anything out that really screamed I really want it. Some stuff I was jealous of like waterproof and the full screen). Well, it's finally time that I can justify a new phone (my 6 is starting to have issues, it already broke but my resourceful husband fixed it but now it's acting weird about battery but I don't think the problem is the battery. Add in they are not going to support it for iOS13 and I've managed to keep it 5 years and I think I'm due for an upgrade. Just glad my 6 has lasted me this long with no problems... just hte usual slow down as it got older and really it's only now starting to be a little annoying about being slow.

Anyways... I've always liked the full screen phones. But I don't want anything bigger than my 6 (seriously, my 6 is a little bigger than I like honestly but it's tolerable). I'm a small female and we get small pockets and I want the phone to be easily pocketable.

I'm eying the XS small version and getting over the it's way way way more expensive than I want (but if I'm giong to buy a new phone I want it to last another 5 years so might as well get what I want).

Things I'm hesitant about is I much prefer fingerprint ID (I was holding out until they had one that had fingerprint ID but it looks like that's not happening anytime soon). I just read on some other thread the XS's have worse reception (would I notice this coming from a 6?) Is that true? Also, the XS is still slightly bigger than my 6 (grumble... I was kinda hoping last year the rumor about an SE with full screen was true but it seems from what I've seen that isn't coming to be either).

And I'm kinda hesitant about OLED screens (seems LED is more reliable... no burn in, no mura effect, I'm reading some people saying the OLEDs on apples give eye strain/headache?). Sure it might be nicer but honestly I don't think I'd care as long as I'm not looking at it side to side with an LED (I know on my Vita I'd give the OLED up in a heartbeat for the standard plug the newer Vita has. Sure, it looks better but I've seen them side to side, I'd easily get over it).

To be honest though I really don't want to go to yet another phone that looks like mine and has nothing really standing out about it other than faster (which I admit would be nice to have a faster phone).

So, am I making the right choice by going to an XS or should I get over that it won't feel like much of an upgrade and get an 8 (and to be honest I'd probably still get an XS but it's good to hear opinions on it even if I already strongly feel one way).

 

[valinda]

While others have had reception issues with their XS, I have not. The best thing for you to do if possible is buy your phone from an Apple store near you or Apple online. That way you can make sure you like it. You have the 14 day grace period.

 

[now i see it]

I have a 6+. When it dies I'll get an 8+ even if it's no longer in production. I don't like the new phone designs.

 

[Jack Neill]

I went from an 8 to a XS, I really liked the 8 alot, it was that designs final iteration of perfection. I was content to keep it until my daughters 7 died so I gave her my 8 and got a 256 XS. Aside from not liking FaceID, I am very happy with the XS. I use a 8 as business phone and it feels so small now compared to the XS but the phone itself is basically the same size.

 

[hancuriang]

I bought an XS three days ago but returned it. It's smaller than my 5.5 chinful and foreheadful Android... I am 5'6 and have small hands for my height. I can operate it in one hand though not as easy as my ex-5s. I always put my phone in my back pocket when my pants don't have/have small side pockets. Xs should fit there. About the screen, I've never seen OLED screen but it's really warm and I'm kinda underwhelming to be honest... Now, I want an XR instead bc it's cheaper and has the color I want that won't be available in the next XR. But I haven't bought the XR.

What about the regular X?

 

[eyoungren]

just hte usual slow down as it got older and really it's only now starting to be a little annoying about being slow.

I have a 6s+ on iOS 9.0.2. It'll be four years old in late September.

Not slow at all.

I'm guessing you've updated your 6.

 

[Jack Neill]

I have a 6 with 12.3.1 and find it every bit as fast as iOS 10. I also had the battery replaced before the 29$ deal ended. That made a big difference honestly. With iOS 11 it was painful.

 

[1BadManVan]

I have a 6s+ on iOS 9.0.2. It'll be four years old in late September.

Not slow at all.

I'm guessing you've updated your 6.

The 6 to 6s was one of the biggest speed jumps year over year. 6s + even runs great on iOS 12 (have one as a back up)

So it doesn’t surprise me the 6 is getting slow, it’s quite a bit slower than a 6s

 

[Jack Neill]

I bought an XS three days ago but returned it. It's smaller than my 5.5 chinful and foreheadful Android... I am 5'6 and have small hands for my height. I can operate it in one hand though not as easy as my ex-5s. I always put my phone in my back pocket when my pants don't have/have small side pockets. Xs should fit there. About the screen, I've never seen OLED screen but it's really warm and I'm kinda underwhelming to be honest... Now, I want an XR instead bc it's cheaper and has the color I want that won't be available in the next XR. But I haven't bought the XR.

What about the regular X?

X and XS are the same size the XR is even bigger. It's a shame they haven't done another SE version for people that prefer that form factor.

 

[a-m-k]

I love my 6s. The only thing I don't like about it is if I play a video or one of the annimojis that the sender can record their voice on the play button is right smack dab in the middle of the annimoji being sent.

 

[Ladybug]

I have an 8, great phone but mine is almost 2 yrs. old now. If I was buying today I'd probably get an XS because it’s the latest and I wouldn’t want to buy something that’s already 2 years old. Of course that means a larger phone than I personally want but I'd just have to learn to deal with the size. It’s a shame Apple doesn’t make smaller phones anymore.

 

[timeconsumer]

Ok, I have an iphone 6 right now. I haven't been paying attention to the new iphones for a long time (why make myself jealous when I'm not going to get one. I just can't justify that much money until I need a new phone and honestly Apple hasn't put anything out that really screamed I really want it. Some stuff I was jealous of like waterproof and the full screen). Well, it's finally time that I can justify a new phone (my 6 is starting to have issues, it already broke but my resourceful husband fixed it but now it's acting weird about battery but I don't think the problem is the battery. Add in they are not going to support it for iOS13 and I've managed to keep it 5 years and I think I'm due for an upgrade. Just glad my 6 has lasted me this long with no problems... just hte usual slow down as it got older and really it's only now starting to be a little annoying about being slow.

Anyways... I've always liked the full screen phones. But I don't want anything bigger than my 6 (seriously, my 6 is a little bigger than I like honestly but it's tolerable). I'm a small female and we get small pockets and I want the phone to be easily pocketable.

I'm eying the XS small version and getting over the it's way way way more expensive than I want (but if I'm giong to buy a new phone I want it to last another 5 years so might as well get what I want).

Things I'm hesitant about is I much prefer fingerprint ID (I was holding out until they had one that had fingerprint ID but it looks like that's not happening anytime soon). I just read on some other thread the XS's have worse reception (would I notice this coming from a 6?) Is that true? Also, the XS is still slightly bigger than my 6 (grumble... I was kinda hoping last year the rumor about an SE with full screen was true but it seems from what I've seen that isn't coming to be either).

And I'm kinda hesitant about OLED screens (seems LED is more reliable... no burn in, no mura effect, I'm reading some people saying the OLEDs on apples give eye strain/headache?). Sure it might be nicer but honestly I don't think I'd care as long as I'm not looking at it side to side with an LED (I know on my Vita I'd give the OLED up in a heartbeat for the standard plug the newer Vita has. Sure, it looks better but I've seen them side to side, I'd easily get over it).

To be honest though I really don't want to go to yet another phone that looks like mine and has nothing really standing out about it other than faster (which I admit would be nice to have a faster phone).

So, am I making the right choice by going to an XS or should I get over that it won't feel like much of an upgrade and get an 8 (and to be honest I'd probably still get an XS but it's good to hear opinions on it even if I already strongly feel one way).

You're definitely in a tough spot here. The next rumored re-design is fall 2020 and possibly a SE2 in March 2020 which I've read could be in the 8 form factor. I get that you don't want one that looks the same as what you currently have as that's where I'm at as well. I tried the XR and XS but ended up returning for an 8. The XS gave me headaches/eye strain and the XR just felt like a brick to me. The 8 is the classic design with somewhat upgraded internals and wireless charging. However, it's almost 2 years old which means that it probably will only get 3-4 more years of iOS updates so the 8 wouldn't last you another 5 years.

Since you keep your phones for a long time and you want something different than what you currently have I'd recommend the following: if you can wait until Sept/Oct then pick up the next version of the XS on Day 1. If you can't wait that long, then try to find the XS on sale.

 

[tigress666]

You're definitely in a tough spot here. The next rumored re-design is fall 2020 and possibly a SE2 in March 2020 which I've read could be in the 8 form factor. I get that you don't want one that looks the same as what you currently have as that's where I'm at as well. I tried the XR and XS but ended up returning for an 8. The XS gave me headaches/eye strain and the XR just felt like a brick to me. The 8 is the classic design with somewhat upgraded internals and wireless charging. However, it's almost 2 years old which means that it probably will only get 3-4 more years of iOS updates so the 8 wouldn't last you another 5 years.

Since you keep your phones for a long time and you want something different than what you currently have I'd recommend the following: if you can wait until Sept/Oct then pick up the next version of the XS on Day 1. If you can't wait that long, then try to find the XS on sale.

Thanks. I was planning on waiting til September as the current phones are almost a year old now and yeah, when I plan on keeping it that long I’d like new tech. My phone is still usable, just annoying and I do want some features of iOS 13.
[doublepost=1560712528][/doublepost]

I love my 6s. The only thing I don't like about it is if I play a video or one of the annimojis that the sender can record their voice on the play button is right smack dab in the middle of the annimoji being sent.

Uh, I’m not trading my 6 for a 6s. Especially as the 6s is in the same boat as my 6, not being supported by the next iOS.

 

[SalisburySam]

Interesting thread @tigress666, thanks for starting. I too had an iPhone6 until just recently. Even with replacing the $29 battery by Apple last year, it was definitely starting to show its age with blips, glitches, the occasional: “oh, it’s never done that before,” and so on. So I went to my local AT&T company store (not an authorized dealer but a real AT&T store), and wanted a 6s. They had them and it was $450. So I asked about a 7. They had those too, for $450. So I asked the obvious question, what discount is there on the 6s? Er, none. So I got the 7. I use over-the-ears headphones occasionally so I wanted the headphone jack with the 6s but the pricing is absurd for such an old device. At least with the 7 I got the converter cable from headphone jack to lighting port so while there is no charging and headphone listening at the same time, I’ve still got the jack...sort of. The other key difference is the TouchID. The Home button is no longer a button but a sensor that vibrates the phone a little (called “haptic” feedback for some odd reason). It is a step backwards for me from the absolutely reliable button on the previous phone.

More and more I find myself needing less and less from a smartphone. I use an iPadPro for viewing almost everything, an iMac for heavier-duty and larger screen stuff, and the iPhone is relegated to 3 use cases: email/messaging, unlocking/locking/operating my car, and...wait for it...making/receiving phone calls. I know, who knew, right? Given that the expensive X-series holds few features I need or even want, and the speed increases are not necessary for my uses, the 7, for now, is my sweet spot at a physical size I can hold and stuff into pockets easily.

Good luck with your decision, whatever it may be.

 

[magicMac]

i have an iPhone 8, I suppose I just stopped caring too much what my mobile phone looked like. Functions very well on iOS 12 besides in white/silver with a glass screen protector and a transparent rubber case I think it's a nice bright fun look and it's iconic iPhone and might be one of the last with this classic design with evenly sized forehead and chin as people call it.

 

[jagolden]

[QUOTE="SalisburySam, post: 27465785, member: 1176967]for now, is my sweet spot at a physical size I can hold and stuff into pockets easily.

Good luck with your decision, whatever it may be.[/QUOTE]

As a point of reference, my Xs Max is only slightly larger than my previous 6S+ and I carry it in my pocket.

Looks like your best bet will be an X. As to the OS, the most important thing is the security updates it provides as opposed to a lot of new features. But they should support the 8 for a couple of years.

It all depends on what you are using it for.

Phones have become so much more than just phones. They truly are a pocket computer for many, hence the move to larger screens. Contacts, quality photography (especially with 3rd part lenses), spreadsheets, password and other important documents vault, photo manipulation (and I’m not talking about some cute filters applied), drawing, news, web browsing, banking, shopping, etc.
I have a 12.9 IPP, use it extensively. Have a 27" iMac, use that extensively too. But on the fly the larger phone screen makes for better, quick photo edits, shopping, directions, spreadsheets, and word processing.

I do understand your need and want. Unfortunately it seems at least for the immediate future, there are few smaller phones if you want to stay in the Apple ecosystem.

 

[tigress666]

Interesting thread @tigress666, thanks for starting. I too had an iPhone6 until just recently. Even with replacing the $29 battery by Apple last year, it was definitely starting to show its age with blips, glitches, the occasional: “oh, it’s never done that before,” and so on. So I went to my local AT&T company store (not an authorized dealer but a real AT&T store), and wanted a 6s. They had them and it was $450. So I asked about a 7. They had those too, for $450. So I asked the obvious question, what discount is there on the 6s? Er, none. So I got the 7. I use over-the-ears headphones occasionally so I wanted the headphone jack with the 6s but the pricing is absurd for such an old device. At least with the 7 I got the converter cable from headphone jack to lighting port so while there is no charging and headphone listening at the same time, I’ve still got the jack...sort of. The other key difference is the TouchID. The Home button is no longer a button but a sensor that vibrates the phone a little (called “haptic” feedback for some odd reason). It is a step backwards for me from the absolutely reliable button on the previous phone.

More and more I find myself needing less and less from a smartphone. I use an iPadPro for viewing almost everything, an iMac for heavier-duty and larger screen stuff, and the iPhone is relegated to 3 use cases: email/messaging, unlocking/locking/operating my car, and...wait for it...making/receiving phone calls. I know, who knew, right? Given that the expensive X-series holds few features I need or even want, and the speed increases are not necessary for my uses, the 7, for now, is my sweet spot at a physical size I can hold and stuff into pockets easily.

Good luck with your decision, whatever it may be.

On the topic of the button, I absolutely don’t see the button as reliable ever since I had one that the button broke before the year warranty. Ever since I use the on screen button from the accessability options to make my button last longer.

i have an iPhone 8, I suppose I just stopped caring too much what my mobile phone looked like. Functions very well on iOS 12 besides in white/silver with a glass screen protector and a transparent rubber case I think it's a nice bright fun look and it's iconic iPhone and might be one of the last with this classic design with evenly sized forehead and chin as people call it.

It’s not just looks but new feature (bigger screen without much bigger size).

 

[a-m-k]

Thanks. I was planning on waiting til September as the current phones are almost a year old now and yeah, when I plan on keeping it that long I’d like new tech. My phone is still usable, just annoying and I do want some features of iOS 13.
[doublepost=1560712528][/doublepost]

Uh, I’m not trading my 6 for a 6s. Especially as the 6s is in the same boat as my 6, not being supported by the next iOS.

I know, I was just saying....

 

[hancuriang]

X and XS are the same size the XR is even bigger. It's a shame they haven't done another SE version for people that prefer that form factor.

Oh yeah i was merely suggesting the X instead of Xs since op said XS is way too expensive...

 

[Paddle1]

Uh, I’m not trading my 6 for a 6s. Especially as the 6s is in the same boat as my 6, not being supported by the next iOS.

The 6s actually is supported, but yeah I'd still recommend something newer than that since you don't want to upgrade again for a while.

 

[Reno Raines]

I went from a XR to an 8+. I prefer the Touch ID. Great phone and plenty fast.

 

[magicMac]

On the topic of the button, I absolutely don’t see the button as reliable ever since I had one that the button broke before the year warranty. Ever since I use the on screen button from the accessability options to make my button last longer.



It’s not just looks but new feature (bigger screen without much bigger size).

I guess I must have stopped caring too much about that as well !

 

[44267547]

I went from a XR to an 8+. I prefer the Touch ID. Great phone and plenty fast.

That’s an interesting transition that you made. Usually it’s the opposite, most will upgrade from something from touch ID to face ID. But I do agree, I also prefer touch ID, even though face ID has some really useful security features, One specifically being that it will mask your notification/messages on your lock screen until you look at the phone.

 

[tigress666]

That’s an interesting transition that you made. Usually it’s the opposite, most will upgrade from something from touch ID to face ID. But I do agree, I also prefer touch ID, even though face ID has some really useful security features, One specifically being that it will mask your notification/messages on your lock screen until you look at the phone.

I prefer touch ID mainly cause it would be too easy for some one to force you to unlock your phone with face ID (push hand holding phone to face or even put phone to face which is even easier).
[doublepost=1560772246][/doublepost]

Oh yeah i was merely suggesting the X instead of Xs since op said XS is way too expensive...

Ah, I already made my peace with the expense of the new phone. But I'll tell you phones not being subsidized is one reason that helped me stay with my 6 so long (before that I'd upgrade every 2 years). Along with some other factors (also finally getting an up to date game console meant I didn't care about gaming on my phone as I was using it in place of a new game console. After getting the game console the phone become more just a phone and portable web browser).

 

[bambooshots]

I have a 6s+ on iOS 9.0.2. It'll be four years old in late September.

Not slow at all.

I'm guessing you've updated your 6.

Yeah, but how useful is it on iOS 9?

I have a jail broken iPad still on 9.0.2 and the number of apps that support it has been dwindling. Just off the top of my head the Apple Store app, Best Buy, and Fandango had to be deleted off my iPad.