Whose in....no 2 GB RAM, no 6s?

[sunking101]

I hope its realized that each device that is mentioned has a custom OS written for the hardware which also includes drivers, and that applies to iPad Air 2 as well. My contention is that memory allocation will be handled differently if the device is different because the software is different.

So the proof is to find a process that allocates/demands more memory than available. I am approaching this problem like any engineer would.

I'm an end user and my device should just work. I shouldn't have to find any processes and even if I did, I couldn't then fix the reloading. It would just be to prove something I experience daily to someone on the internet.
Really though, 1GB of RAM for a premium smartphone released late 2014? The same amount of RAM as the two years older iPhone 5? What makes this even worse it that the iPhone 5 was 32Bit so it actually has *more* (available) RAM than the newer iPhones. That's indefensible in my eyes.

 

[spacemnspiff]

I'm an end user and my device should just work. I shouldn't have to find any processes and even if I did, I couldn't then fix the reloading. It would just be to prove something I experience daily to someone on the internet.
Really though, 1GB of RAM for a premium smartphone released late 2014? The same amount of RAM as the two years older iPhone 5? What makes this even worse it that the iPhone 5 was 32Bit so it actually has *more* (available) RAM than the newer iPhones. That's indefensible in my eyes.

The problem with that argument is that, there is no device that will satisfy every user's need perfectly, regardless of the cost of the device.

The ground reality is that there are phones with 4 times the RAM as the iPhone 6 and they still have some of the anecdotal issues. I think this completes a full circle in that the software issues are showing up regardless of the RAM. Going by the RAM rhetoric, I don't know if any amount of RAM going to be enough. Just increasing the RAM would not be an engineering approach, because the solution doesn't solve the problem that lies elsewhere.

 

[sunking101]

The problem with that argument is that, there is no device that will satisfy every user's need perfectly, regardless of the cost of the device.

The ground reality is that there are phones with 4 times the RAM as the iPhone 6 and they still have some of the anecdotal issues. I think this completes a full circle in that the software issues are showing up regardless of the RAM. Going by the RAM rhetoric, I don't know if any amount of RAM going to be enough. Just increasing the RAM would not be an engineering approach, because the solution doesn't solve the problem that lies elsewhere.

Well my 6+ reloads WAY more readily than my old iPhone 5 and worse than that, my 6+ can't be relied upon to multitask in any capacity. It's hit and miss (mainly miss) if the last app I was in reloads or not. So whatever the problem is, be it software and RAM or just RAM, Apple should fix it and they shouldn't have released a phone that performs this badly in this regard.

Rather than messing about with proof and logic, it is my contention that 1GB of RAM is simply not enough. The iPhone 5 got away with it but that was released almost three years ago! All iPhones since have been 64Bit and with ever more demanding hardware. The Air2 reloads much less thanks to its 2GB of RAM with no software fixes having been employed.

 

[nordique]

The problem with that argument is that, there is no device that will satisfy every user's need perfectly, regardless of the cost of the device.

The ground reality is that there are phones with 4 times the RAM as the iPhone 6 and they still have some of the anecdotal issues. I think this completes a full circle in that the software issues are showing up regardless of the RAM. Going by the RAM rhetoric, I don't know if any amount of RAM going to be enough. Just increasing the RAM would not be an engineering approach, because the solution doesn't solve the problem that lies elsewhere.

While that is all true, and I don't disagree with what you said,

Looking specifically at iOS and apple devices - going to 2GB of ram on the iPad Air 2 did wonders for multitasking on the device.

I've found that it is really a night and day difference from the the original Air.

So for those users who are finding restraints with the current generation of iPhones, it's very understandable how even a simple doubling of ram could change some of the issues some people run into.

It doesn't happen to everyone, and as you stated in the end no one will truly be satisfied (come launch day I bet we will see countless threads with speculation on how the 2016 iPhone will utilize 3GB or 4GB of ram....) but if the Air 2 is any indication of what we can expect from an iPhone with increased memory, hopefully those clamouring for more ram will indeed end up satisfied (for the time being) with the product.

 

[C DM]

So much essentially inconsequential back and forth on all kinds of tangents, when the simple reality is that a RAM increase is just due after what is now about 3 years worth of progress and upgrades to practically all other hardware with every release (including fundamental architecture changes in both hardware and software levels in that time).

 

[bhayes444]

The problem with that argument is that, there is no device that will satisfy every user's need perfectly, regardless of the cost of the device.

The ground reality is that there are phones with 4 times the RAM as the iPhone 6 and they still have some of the anecdotal issues. I think this completes a full circle in that the software issues are showing up regardless of the RAM. Going by the RAM rhetoric, I don't know if any amount of RAM going to be enough. Just increasing the RAM would not be an engineering approach, because the solution doesn't solve the problem that lies elsewhere.

Well I feel the main sticking point to the argument is that since it is a software issue, where memory is being purged at a very aggressive rate, then adding more RAM would alleviate the problem a bit as there is more RAM available for the system to work with. It's like driving aggressively causing you to have poor fuel economy and not being able to get to your destination without having to stop and fill up. 1 possible solution is that you add a larger fuel tank so that your overall range is higher. It doesn't solve anything really as you still get poor fuel economy, but you can get places without having to stop as frequently. Unless Apple decides to address the issue in iOS 9 then adding RAM really will be the only solution.

 

[spacemnspiff]

Well my 6+ reloads WAY more readily than my old iPhone 5 and worse than that, my 6+ can't be relied upon to multitask in any capacity. It's hit and miss (mainly miss) if the last app I was in reloads or not. So whatever the problem is, be it software and RAM or just RAM, Apple should fix it and they shouldn't have released a phone that performs this badly in this regard.

Rather than messing about with proof and logic, it is my contention that 1GB of RAM is simply not enough. The iPhone 5 got away with it but that was released almost three years ago! All iPhones since have been 64Bit and with ever more demanding hardware. The Air2 reloads much less thanks to its 2GB of RAM with no software fixes having been employed.

It's your prerogative to have your opinion. I think I have addressed your concerns in the previous posts, I don't see the benefit in restating the same.

Well I feel the main sticking point to the argument is that since it is a software issue, where memory is being purged at a very aggressive rate, then adding more RAM would alleviate the problem a bit as there is more RAM available for the system to work with. It's like driving aggressively causing you to have poor fuel economy and not being able to get to your destination without having to stop and fill up. 1 possible solution is that you add a larger fuel tank so that your overall range is higher. It doesn't solve anything really as you still get poor fuel economy, but you can get places without having to stop as frequently. Unless Apple decides to address the issue in iOS 9 then adding RAM really will be the only solution.

If Apple can see the benefits of increasing the RAM while trading off everything else associated with it, then by all means they should implement it. If they are going to support older hardware with less RAM, then Apple still needs to have a better software solution than what exists and provide good user experience. Hypothetically, in doing that maybe Apple realizes that there is no real benefit to user experience with more RAM, if the software is optimized then adding RAM is causing more harm(economically or performance wise) than desired.

Hypothetically speaking - power consumption being one factor, iPad has a larger battery than an iPhone, so iPad is less sensitive to higher power consumption than the iPhone, so can get away with more RAM. But then to be realistic, I dont really know what the impact of adding RAM is on power consumption. I don't know how simple changes like that cascades into affecting the system performance.

 

[sunking101]

It's your prerogative to have your opinion. I think I have addressed your concerns in the previous posts, I don't see the benefit in restating the same.

If Apple can see the benefits of increasing the RAM while trading off everything else associated with it, then by all means they should implement it. If they are going to support older hardware with less RAM, then Apple still needs to have a better software solution than what exists and provide good user experience. Hypothetically, in doing that maybe Apple realizes that there is no real benefit to user experience with more RAM, if the software is optimized then adding RAM is causing more harm(economically or performance wise) than desired.

Hypothetically speaking - power consumption being one factor, iPad has a larger battery than an iPhone, so iPad is less sensitive to higher power consumption than the iPhone, so can get away with more RAM. But then to be realistic, I dont really know what the impact of adding RAM is on power consumption. I don't know how simple changes like that cascades into affecting the system performance.

Well I'm more concerned with how my latest model iPhone performs for *me*, not how someone's 4S performs. If Apple are limiting my experience due to this supporting of older hardware then perhaps Apple isn't the company for me. I pay through the nose for the latest tech and want it to perform thus.

 

[Merkie]

Lmfao this is the worst argument so far, first off why would you assume any of us are American?
I don't know about the rest of the people who argue against you, but I sure as hell am not.
The iPhone is an expensive device regardless of where you purchase the device, this doesn't mean you're entitled to anything. You choose to buy a device which is according to you lacking in RAM, and not performing as it should.
Seriously, it's making you look childish and spoiled. As soon as you found out that the device wasn't functioning as desired. You could have brought it back, waited for the next iPhone 6S and you wouldn't be out of £699 for a device you're not satisfied with. Don't buy something, sit on it and complain about the money when you could of easily have gotten your money back, that's literally your own fault.

It is a very good argument. The more you pay, the higher your expectations are.

You're trying to make up excuses for the lack of RAM. It is very obvious that more RAM will increase performance and reduce reloading. It can be logically deduced, and the reasoning is valid.

 

[Serelus]

It is a very good argument. The more you pay, the higher your expectations are.

Seriously? You're not special for paying more than others. Expecting more of a device just because you paid more is preposterous. Any product on the planet has these kinds of issues, especially when they are manufactured in the millions. However, that doesn't make any of these issues at hand, any less circumstantial.

You're trying to make up excuses for the lack of RAM. It is very obvious that more RAM will increase performance and reduce reloading. It can be logically deduced, and the reasoning is valid.

First off it's not that "obvious", if it was the problem wouldn't be reduced to a tiny community on macrumors, but rather to the scale of the iMessaging problem we had not to long ago. See when an actual problem is perceived across all devices, people take notice. Your circumstantial problems can't be passed off as facts.

Second no one is making excuses, several times already, I've mentioned the cause of the problems in earlier posts. As opposed to your unsubstantiated opinion, the things I've said are facts. Nothing you said can be "logically deduced." because they are factually wrong.

I'd like to ask anyone in this thread a question spacemnspiff already inquired earlier, does anybody have any substantial proof their RAM is the culprit?

Well I'm more concerned with how my latest model iPhone performs for *me*, not how someone's 4S performs. If Apple are limiting my experience due to this supporting of older hardware then perhaps Apple isn't the company for me. I pay through the nose for the latest tech and want it to perform thus.

This is very sensible and valid complaint.

 

[oldmacs]

Well I'm more concerned with how my latest model iPhone performs for *me*, not how someone's 4S performs. If Apple are limiting my experience due to this supporting of older hardware then perhaps Apple isn't the company for me. I pay through the nose for the latest tech and want it to perform thus.

The 4S is running a special version of iOS 9 for A5 devices. The iPhone 6 is running a 64 bit version so supporting the 4S shouldn't make a difference.

4S owners also paid through the nose for their phones.

Its obvious the 6 should have had more ram. Even more obvious now that it won't support multitasking.

This is Apple penny-pinching. Nothing more and nothing less.

Apple needs to get iOS running better on devices with less ram plus add more ram, as doing one or the other is just a band aid solution.

 

[Jsameds]

Can't wait to hear what all you deniers will say when all the problems disappear on the 6S.

Bet you'll put it down to the A9 or something lol.

 

[HuberDe]

Please delete

 

[Merkie]

Seriously? You're not special for paying more than others. Expecting more of a device just because you paid more is preposterous. Any product on the planet has these kinds of issues, especially when they are manufactured in the millions. However, that doesn't make any of these issues at hand, any less circumstantial.

It is not circumstanstial. That's the whole point. Every iPhone 6 performs worse on multitasking than an iPhone 5.

First off it's not that "obvious", if it was the problem wouldn't be reduced to a tiny community on macrumors, but rather to the scale of the iMessaging problem we had not to long ago. See when an actual problem is perceived across all devices, people take notice. Your circumstantial problems can't be passed off as facts.

It is obvious.

Fact 1: iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 have a 64 bit CPU.
Fact 2: 64 bit CPU's require more RAM than their 32 bit counterparts.
Fact 3: iPhone 5S and 6 have the same amount of RAM as the 32 bit iPhone 5

Conclusion: The iPhone 5S and 6 have less available RAM than the 5 in comparable situations.

Please tell me where this reasoning fails.

Second, ofcourse I expect more from more expensive products! If I buy a $10 t-shirt, I won't blink twice if rips after only a few months or if the finishing isn't perfect. However, if I buy a $100 t-shirt I definitely will be annoyed and go back to the store. How you can argue that the price of the product does not matter is beyond me. Apparently you have all the money in the world. I do not.

It is simple: I don't want to buy a $1000 device that performs worse than my 2+ years old iPhone 5 on multitasking.

Second no one is making excuses, several times already, I've mentioned the cause of the problems in earlier posts. As opposed to your unsubstantiated opinion, the things I've said are facts. Nothing you said can be "logically deduced." because they are factually wrong.

I'd like to ask anyone in this thread a question spacemnspiff already inquired earlier, does anybody have any substantial proof their RAM is the culprit?



This is very sensible and valid complaint.

It's hard to come up with proof because the iPhone is pretty locked down. Also, I don't have an iPhone 6.

 

[Serelus]

It is not circumstanstial. That's the whole point. Every iPhone 6 performs worse on multitasking than an iPhone 5.It is obvious.

Last time I checked, bobby and me didn't have this problem, my iPhone 6 outperforms my 5 on every front.
But I guess the issue is fact only when you say it is, and you don't even own an iPhone 6 that's hilarious.

Fact 1: iPhone 5S and iPhone 5 have a 64 bit CPU.

incorrect only the iPhone 5S does. I am just going to assume you meant the iPhone 6 instead of 5.

Fact 2: 64 bit CPU's require more RAM than their 32 bit counterparts.

incorrect their software counterparts might need more RAM, although not even that is guaranteed.

Fact 3: iPhone 5S and 6 have the same amount of RAM as the 32 bit iPhone 5

So what?

Conclusion: The iPhone 5S and 6 have less available RAM than the 5 in comparable situations.

So then it doesn't have enough RAM by default? This ad consequentiam argument is incorrect. Yes, generally 64-bit architectures use more RAM, but this amount is very negligible in terms of applications on mobile smartphones. It's not the type of difference that's causing these issues. Unless you're talking about having 300 to 400 applications open. Again, if the problem was as widespread as you say, then it should be easily replicable which it is not.

There's so much more at play when it comes to allocating/purging the right amount of RAM, that just adding 1GB is not going to solve anything rather than giving developers more room to be lazy.

Second, ofcourse I expect more from more expensive products! If I buy a $10 t-shirt, I won't blink twice if rips after only a few months or if the finishing isn't perfect. However, if I buy a $100 t-shirt I definitely will be annoyed and go back to the store. How you can argue that the price of the product does not matter is beyond me. Apparently you have all the money in the world. I do not.

First off, according to your original post on the iPhone's price. You claimed because you paid more than others. You had the right to demand more from the phone which is ludicrous because all iPhones are created equally, just because you paid more for it based on where you're from, doesn't mean you can demand more from apple than others. Also, 700$ is alot of money no matter where you're from.

Second I think there are plenty of real world examples where money doesn't always give you the best product, nor in quality or in luxury. Especially in the case of hardware/software. No matter how much money you throw at it. It isn't going to magically make your product superior, you might have a sense of luxury added to the product sure, but assuming it will effectively work better than other devices is flat out delusional. Because it won't. They can spend MILLIONS on the developers working on iOS and it's performance would still be limited by the capabilities of the developers.

I am sure you understand the difference between a luxurious product and a functional product, and the expectations you can have of both right? A t-shirt is not comparable to an iPhone because an iPhone has alot more room for things to go wrong.

It is simple: I don't want to buy a $1000 device that performs worse than my 2+ years old iPhone 5 on multitasking.

You don't have to, that's choice as far as I am concerned.

It's hard to come up with proof because the iPhone is pretty locked down. Also, I don't have an iPhone 6.

I am not sure how to respond to this, not only does this mean you are not effectively sure it's the RAM that's the problem, it also means your points are moot, because you don't even own an iPhone 6.

 

[soupcan]

2GB may be enough these days but it isn't future proof. 3GB minimum.

 

[terraphantm]

I hope its realized that each device that is mentioned has a custom OS written for the hardware, which also includes drivers, and that applies to iPad Air 2 as well. My contention is that memory allocation will be handled differently if the device is different because the software is different.

So the proof is to find a process that allocates/demands more memory than available. I am approaching this problem like any engineer would.

Thing is, the differences in software don't magically cause all the various apps to use less memory. There is always a compromise, and in this case, the differences in memory handling results in the reloading. The memory purging is how the OS deals with a lack of available memory.

The next iPhone will probably have 2GB at minimum (though I refuse to buy until it's confirmed). Like the iPad Air 2, it will be able to do more without reloading. This will be because the system can afford to allow apps to continue using memory.

 

[Merkie]

Last time I checked, bobby and me didn't have this problem, my iPhone 6 outperforms my 5 on every front.
But I guess the issue is fact only when you say it is, and you don't even own an iPhone 6 that's hilarious.


incorrect only the iPhone 5S does. I am just going to assume you meant the iPhone 6 instead of 5.

Typo, fixed it.

incorrect their software counterparts might need more RAM, although not even that is guaranteed.

That's what I meant.

So then it doesn't have enough RAM by default? This ad consequentiam argument is incorrect. Yes, generally 64-bit architectures use more RAM, but this amount is very negligible in terms of applications on mobile smartphones. It's not the type of difference that's causing these issues. Unless you're talking about having 300 to 400 applications open. Again, if the problem was as widespread as you say, then it should be easily replicable which it is not.

Depends on your definition of "not enough". For me, enough is at least the same amount of available RAM as my previous phone. Therefore the iPhone 6 has not enough RAM for me.

There's so much more at play when it comes to allocating/purging the right amount of RAM, that just adding 1GB is not going to solve anything rather than giving developers more room to be lazy.

Adding 1GB is going to solve a lot. iPad Air 2 has much less problems with reloading in Safari than the Air 1. Again, anecdotal evidence and not very scientific, but I'm not in the position to do scientific research on RAM.

First off, according to your original post on the iPhone's price. You claimed because you paid more than others. You had the right to demand more from the phone which is ludicrous because all iPhones are created equally, just because you paid more for it based on where you're from, doesn't mean you can demand more from apple than others. Also, 700$ is alot of money no matter where you're from.

I don't care how much it costs elsewhere. I only know what I have to pay and have paid. The only thing that is ludicrous is that Apple ships an extremely expensive phone with the same amount of RAM as two generations before that phone. And the iPhone 6 is closer to $1000 than to $700 for Europeans (like me).

Second I think there are plenty of real world examples where money doesn't always give you the best product, nor in quality or in luxury. Especially in the case of hardware/software. No matter how much money you throw at it. It isn't going to magically make your product superior, you might have a sense of luxury added to the product sure, but assuming it will effectively work better than other devices is flat out delusional. Because it won't. They can spend MILLIONS on the developers working on iOS and it's performance would still be limited by the capabilities of the developers.

The more I pay, the more I expect from the product. If you disagree then you're weird.

I am sure you understand the difference between a luxurious product and a functional product, and the expectations you can have of both right? A t-shirt is not comparable to an iPhone because an iPhone has alot more room for things to go wrong.

Yeah, that's why an iPhone is $1000 and a tshirt is usually in the <$30 range for me. Weird comparison.

You don't have to, that's choice as far as I am concerned.

Ofcourse we have a choice. The whole point of this discussion that we will be making the choice not to buy the 6S if it still has 1GB RAM.

I am not sure how to respond to this, not only does this mean you are not effectively sure it's the RAM that's the problem, it also means your points are moot, because you don't even own an iPhone 6.

I didn't buy the 6 because I don't want my phone to perform worse than my 5 (which still works perfectly fine). Also, this thread is about the 6S, not the 6.

What's your problem? Why are you so agressively defending Apple for cheaping out? Same amount of RAM three years in a row for a $1000 phone. Please go buy a 512MB phone as RAM simply doesn't matter for you apparently.

 

[C DM]

And the beating around the bush of irrelevant technicalities continues.

 

[sunking101]

Last time I checked, bobby and me didn't have this problem, my iPhone 6 outperforms my 5 on every front.

Unless you're talking about having 300 to 400 applications open. Again, if the problem was as widespread as you say, then it should be easily replicable which it is not.

The iPhone 5 is by far the more capable phone. The iPhone 6+ has a bigger screen, much better battery life, incremental speed increases here and there, and a much better loudspeaker. It also has Touch ID and Apple Pay, but none of those things are more important than the ability to multitask on a smartphone. The i5 can keep two or three apps in memory, and two or three browser tabs. All day long. Sadly the 6+ cannot be relied upon to keep one app and one browser tab in memory without reloading at some point when you switch between them.
I will add that the i5 doesn't get those infuriating 'the website had to close due to an error' crashes that the 6+ does, and it also never experiences a daily springboard crash. It's just a much more capable and pleasant to use device.

I hear it time and time again on these forums that people don't care about RAM and don't experience problems relating to insufficient RAM. Well check out some of the App Store reviews for the Ebay and Tumblr apps for instance. People who have no idea about RAM are writing reviews complaining that the apps refresh/reload when they go back into them. It seems to me that people experience the issues relating to insufficient RAM but they think it's the fault of the app...

 

[mickeydean]

The 6 plus has a nice screen, LTE, and iOS 8 but this is the first iPhone I haven't been satisfied with.

3GS, 4S, and 5 all felt powerful and snappy from the first day till they were 2 generations old (at least).

The 6 plus felt laggy (ever so slightly) but it was otherwise fine. Until I opened more than 1 tab or more than 1 app and expected to be able to go back to what I was doing before. Nope, refresh. Refresh.

Unless Apple stores decide to blanket every city with free WIFI or Apple decides that they'll push the networks to give unlimited data...it is costing me (and I guess the rest of you) money. More videos and high resolution images than ever. It reloads every time.

Apple had been forward-thinking. 802.11N seemed available on macbooks years before PCs. Retina display.

Lately I feel Apple has been playing catch up but in the case of 6 plus, it let out a product that in testing should have brought up the need for more RAM. Which shouldn't dent a company's profits when they made huge outlays for cheaper DRAM prices. Apple skimping on RAM for their most expensive iPhone is quite deplorable. I like Apple but now for the first time in a while, I am hoping the rest finally do produce an iPhone killer (currently I still don't think there is one).

I think they still do the Macbook Pro's rather well. Super fast SSD PCI-E. Thunderbolt 2. Now go back to making truly premium products. iPhone 6 plus is still only a premium development prototype.

 

[nviz22]

I think 2GB of RAM makes or breaks my 6S/6S+ purchase because there won't be enough to make an upgrade worth it for $200-$300 on top of selling my 6+. I would wait for the 7 if that were the case. Keep in mind, software is key. Without iOS optimization, our iPhones would suffer more with a Touchwiz or LG OS skins. Samsung's hardware is scary good, but their software is a B+ player at best due to the constant hiccups and limitations of Touchwiz.

 

[Serelus]

Typo, fixed it.

That's what I meant.


Depends on your definition of "not enough". For me, enough is at least the same amount of available RAM as my previous phone. Therefore the iPhone 6 has not enough RAM for me.

Adding 1GB is going to solve a lot. iPad Air 2 has much less problems with reloading in Safari than the Air 1. Again, anecdotal evidence and not very scientific, but I'm not in the position to do scientific research on RAM.



I don't care how much it costs elsewhere. I only know what I have to pay and have paid. The only thing that is ludicrous is that Apple ships an extremely expensive phone with the same amount of RAM as two generations before that phone. And the iPhone 6 is closer to $1000 than to $700 for Europeans (like me).
The more I pay, the more I expect from the product. If you disagree then you're weird.

Yeah, that's why an iPhone is $1000 and a tshirt is usually in the <$30 range for me. Weird comparison.

Ofcourse we have a choice. The whole point of this discussion that we will be making the choice not to buy the 6S if it still has 1GB RAM.


I didn't buy the 6 because I don't want my phone to perform worse than my 5 (which still works perfectly fine). Also, this thread is about the 6S, not the 6.

What's your problem? Why are you so agressively defending Apple for cheaping out? Same amount of RAM three years in a row for a $1000 phone. Please go buy a 512MB phone as RAM simply doesn't matter for you apparently.

My problem is that people make claims to know that a supposed device is insufficiently built because of a problem they are experiencing as a minority. And literally have no evidence to back up that claim, i'd suggest making a video like bobby did, because this is pointless. I test iOS environments with loads of apps opened in the background everyday. It's neat to know how certain apps respond to certain circumstances. I say iPhone 6 and 6+ have sufficient RAM, my devices are working accordingly. You say that you're experiencing differently. Fine, the burder of proof is not with me in this case. But please don't claim it's a universal thing. Because it's not it's not happening to everyone.

The iPhone 5 is by far the more capable phone. The iPhone 6+ has a bigger screen, much better battery life, incremental speed increases here and there, and a much better loudspeaker. It also has Touch ID and Apple Pay, but none of those things are more important than the ability to multitask on a smartphone. The i5 can keep two or three apps in memory, and two or three browser tabs. All day long. Sadly the 6+ cannot be relied upon to keep one app and one browser tab in memory without reloading at some point when you switch between them.
I will add that the i5 doesn't get those infuriating 'the website had to close due to an error' crashes that the 6+ does, and it also never experiences a daily springboard crash. It's just a much more capable and pleasant to use device.

I hear it time and time again on these forums that people don't care about RAM and don't experience problems relating to insufficient RAM. Well check out some of the App Store reviews for the Ebay and Tumblr apps for instance. People who have no idea about RAM are writing reviews complaining that the apps refresh/reload when they go back into them. It seems to me that people experience the issues relating to insufficient RAM but they think it's the fault of the app...

Can you like make a video or something, I don't feel like explaining it again. This is your situation and those of the people in the Ebay and Tumbler sections of the app store, I think it says more about the apps than the actual phone/RAM it is running on.

 

[Applefan4]

The iPhone 6+ is a one task device at this point. It reloads tabs, crashes on media rich sites, reloads the same page even before its finished loading. Forget about actually trying to switch between different apps without losing all your data.

This will be the first iPhone that I replace after just one year of usage, simply due to inability to manage multiple apps and constant web page crashing. I wish Apple would just give us 3-4gb of RAM to accomodate the heavy users. I'd be willing to pay for it.

 

[Che Castro]

From this point on Don't buy anymore iPhones or iPads with less than 2gb of ram
The iPad Air 2 split view proves iOS 9 & 10 will need 2gb or more of ram to run new heavy task features