I recently switched from the standard-sized iPhone 7 to the Plus size and these are my thoughts.
Firstly, the reason I switched is because I sold my laptop and don't own any other computer, device (iPad) or TV so the phone is my only source of entertainment. Until recently I thought I'd never get a Plus-sized phone but since selling the laptop I started to become increasingly curious about the Plus size. I like to watch videos on the phone, particularly in bed and I felt that I was missing out on a lot of video quality because of the iPhone 7's just better than 720p resolution. I then did a quick calculation and found out the Plus phone has (just) over twice the number of pixels of the 7. That's a lot.
After a week of so of use my thoughts on the Plus size are mixed and less than I hoped and perhaps even disappointing, even considering the much boosted resolution for video and here's why.
The Plus size is far to big to use single-handedly. The standard size is about the upper limit of comfortable single-handed use. As a result, I found myself using the phone far less when out and about. Previously I would often use the phone when carrying a coffee or shopping bag and now I can't. This sux and represents a regression in functionality as far as I'm concerned.
Secondly, there are many apps and games that have become harder to use and now require two hands or are just generally more fatiguing.
I don't really take photos so the telephoto lens is kind of meaningless to me.
I've found my right hand and arm becoming fatigued and strained from using the larger screen.
It's not all bad. I will say the bigger screen is better for videos (TV and movies). Browsing the web is also nicer, when I can devote two hands to holding the phone that is. But I'm not feeling that the advantages are worth the added size and cost of the Plus model. I didn't realise how much I used the phone single-handedly and how much harder it was going to be with the Plus size. These are things I needed to experience first-hand to find out I guess, but at least now I know.
I now feel I should've kept the standard size and got a cheap second-hand iPad for home use instead. I kind of didn't want to have multiple iOS devices though so I wanted to test if a Plus-size phone would fill the niche of a phone and tablet but in my opinion it doesn't. It's a limited phone because of its size (too big) and a limited tablet because of it's size (too small).
I will probably keep it for now (haven't decided yet) but I'll definitely switch back to the smaller size when the iPhone 8 comes out. My hope is that the 8 manages to reconcile some of the advantages of a larger, higher-resolution screen with the smaller form-factor of the standard-sized iPhone. Rumours suggest it'll do exactly that.
So I wanted to share my thoughts for anyone else considering the switch.
What are your experiences regarding the two sizes and does anyone else feel the same as me?
Firstly, the reason I switched is because I sold my laptop and don't own any other computer, device (iPad) or TV so the phone is my only source of entertainment. Until recently I thought I'd never get a Plus-sized phone but since selling the laptop I started to become increasingly curious about the Plus size. I like to watch videos on the phone, particularly in bed and I felt that I was missing out on a lot of video quality because of the iPhone 7's just better than 720p resolution. I then did a quick calculation and found out the Plus phone has (just) over twice the number of pixels of the 7. That's a lot.
After a week of so of use my thoughts on the Plus size are mixed and less than I hoped and perhaps even disappointing, even considering the much boosted resolution for video and here's why.
The Plus size is far to big to use single-handedly. The standard size is about the upper limit of comfortable single-handed use. As a result, I found myself using the phone far less when out and about. Previously I would often use the phone when carrying a coffee or shopping bag and now I can't. This sux and represents a regression in functionality as far as I'm concerned.
Secondly, there are many apps and games that have become harder to use and now require two hands or are just generally more fatiguing.
I don't really take photos so the telephoto lens is kind of meaningless to me.
I've found my right hand and arm becoming fatigued and strained from using the larger screen.
It's not all bad. I will say the bigger screen is better for videos (TV and movies). Browsing the web is also nicer, when I can devote two hands to holding the phone that is. But I'm not feeling that the advantages are worth the added size and cost of the Plus model. I didn't realise how much I used the phone single-handedly and how much harder it was going to be with the Plus size. These are things I needed to experience first-hand to find out I guess, but at least now I know.
I now feel I should've kept the standard size and got a cheap second-hand iPad for home use instead. I kind of didn't want to have multiple iOS devices though so I wanted to test if a Plus-size phone would fill the niche of a phone and tablet but in my opinion it doesn't. It's a limited phone because of its size (too big) and a limited tablet because of it's size (too small).
I will probably keep it for now (haven't decided yet) but I'll definitely switch back to the smaller size when the iPhone 8 comes out. My hope is that the 8 manages to reconcile some of the advantages of a larger, higher-resolution screen with the smaller form-factor of the standard-sized iPhone. Rumours suggest it'll do exactly that.
So I wanted to share my thoughts for anyone else considering the switch.
What are your experiences regarding the two sizes and does anyone else feel the same as me?
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