Apple iphone 6 plus review

CNET REVIEW

In 2014, Apple forked its iPhone product line, simultaneously introducing the next generation of its flagship model -- the iPhone 6 -- and debuting its super-sized sibling, the iPhone 6 Plus. The iPhone 6 is an exceptional phone in nearly every way but for its good-but-not-great battery life. The iPhone 6 Plus is also impressive; larger and thinner than other iPhone models, and with the capacity for far more endurance on a single charge than most comparably-sized and smaller competitors.

As great a phone as it is, the iPhone 6 Plus isn't for everybody. Its defining characteristic is its size, which occupies a nice middle ground between the 4-inch iPhone 5S and the 7.9-inch iPad Mini . While the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is considerably more portable, the 6 Plus will hit the sweet spot for those who want a bigger display on their smartphone (and prefer iOS to Android).

And remember: a 5.5-inch screen may feel gigantic at first, but it may end up feeling just right in no time.

Editors' note: This review was updated June 15, 2015 with new comparisons to more current phones, and other reflections on the 2015 smartphone and iPhone marketplace.

Review update: Summer 2015

If Apple sticks to the same mid-September release calendar it's followed for the past several years, we are just a few short months away from the next version of the iPhone. And if Cupertino follows the same upgrade plan -- big redesigns for even numbered years, internal specs updates for odd ones -- we can likely expect something a bit less radical than the big-screen makeover the iPhone got in 2014. (You can read our predictions of what to expect from the next iPhone here ).

At its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple introduced the next edition of its mobile operating system, iOS 9 . Apple promised a stronger, more "proactive" version of Siri, the personal assistant; an upgraded maps app and a new news app; as well as, importantly for iPhone users, improved battery life (plus a new low-power mode for even longer performance). For now, iOS 9 is available only to developers; the rest of us can sign up for the public beta in July.

Those looking to purchase an iPhone this summer are advised that Apple also still sells the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C -- both of which, in what are likely to be their waning days on store shelves, constitute an excellent value. If you're looking to buy a larger phone or phablet, the iPhone 6 Plus , with its elegant design, fantastic camera, and user-friendly OS, certainly remains among our favorites. That noted, you might also consider theGalaxy Note 4 , an Android-based device with an appealing design, powerful performance, a great suite of native productivity tools, expandable storage and swappable battery, and a useful S Pen stylus.

Availability

1. The iPhone 6 Plus's larger profile comes with a higher price tag. The device is available in the US with a two-year contract from AT&T, Sprint and Verizon; the 16GB version will set you back $299, with 64GB at $349 and the top-end 128GB costing $449. Contract-free on T-Mobile, it costs $749, $849 or $949 respectively. You can find a more detailed rundown of US carrier plans here.