As you may have known, Apple just released two new iPhones last week - both with larger screens. Apple made them very similar in specifications but what I wanted to know was what the differences were in order to help me decide which iPhone I should buy. So, let’s go over the differences.
The Screen
The main difference that you will see right away is the screen size. The iPhone 6 has a 4.7-inch display with a resolution of 1334 x 750, which makes the pixels per inch, or ppi, 326. The 6 Plus has a larger 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, with a ppi of 401. This means that the 6 Plus display will be a little bit better in terms of image quality, but not necessarily enough to notice a huge difference.
The Camera
Both of the new iPhones have the same 8-megapixel lens inside to give you a superior image, but only the 6 Plus has the ability for optical image stabilization. The iPhone 6 has software-assisted image stabilization which takes four photos at once and combines them into a single image to diminish motion or focus issues. The iPhone 6 Plus, however, uses motion data from the phones gyroscope and M8 motion co-processor to compensate for hand movement by adjusting the physical position of the lens, and then uses the same software-assisted image stabilization as the 6. You would notice the differences the most in low-light situations between the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus camera. Overall, the iPhone 6 Plus will take better looking photos than the 6, but not substantially so.
Landscape Mode
When you turn your phone sideways (just like on an iPad), the 6 Plus will turn the home screen sideways in a landscape view, but the iPhone 6 will not.
The Battery
In making the iPhone 6 Plus larger, Apple was able to put a larger, longer-lasting battery in the phone. With the larger battery, you will notice the biggest difference in “talk time on 3G,” with the 6 Plus lasting for 24 hours vs 14 hours on the 6. For Internet use, the 6 Plus will get 12 hours on LTE vs 10 hours, 14 hours of video playback vs 11 hours and 80 hours of audio playback vs 50 hours on the 6.
The Price
On a 2-year Contract, the iPhone 6 will cost you $199 (16GB), $299 (64GB) and $399 (128GB). TheiPhone 6 Plus with a 2-year contract starts at $299 (16GB), $399 (64GB), and $499 for the 128GB storage options. This is the first time that Apple has offered a 128GB storage option in a phone. It will be great for those users who run out of space on their phones.
The Verdict
When faced with the decision of buying the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, it is really going to come down to what is your preference of screen size, as that is the largest difference between the two phones. The battery life is another major point to consider - with the iPhone 6 Plus boasting a longer-lasting battery. As for the other features, there are not any drastic differences that should sway your desicion one way or the other. Both iPhone 6’s will be great phones when it is your time to upgrade.