I swapped my Android phone for an iPhone 6s Plus and here's what happened
The iPhone 6s Plus has arrived. It's been available in stores since Friday (September 24), but AndroidPIT got hold of the big luxury edition – with 128 GB – a day early. The iPhone users in the office were going nuts, but we made the conscious decision to push the 6S Plus on an editor who's never used an iPhone in his life. So what does long-time Android user Stephan Serowy have to say about the brand new Apple powerhouse? He's about to tell you.
Let me put my cards on the table: With the exception of a 2007 iPod Touch – which I only ever used as an MP3 player – I've never owned an iOS device, and I can't say I've ever felt the need to change that. However, as regular AndroidPIT readers might know, I'm still open to Apple products and the company (although I take exception to the quasi-religious sect it has become), and retained that open mind when I discovered the iPhone 6 Plus on my desk. I realised that even though I know a great deal about this trinket, actually using it is completely alien to me.
The iPhone 6s Plus at first glance
"A heavy duty monster – with the emphasis on heavy"
"Wow, this is one heavy beast!" I thought as I lifted the iPhone 6S Plus from its box. I still found it heavy after an hour, and when I picked it up the next morning, I was surprised by its weight once again. Nearly all my colleagues agreed: 192 g is just too heavy for a smartphone. Sorry, Apple.
"Just don't drop it!"
Knowing I had a US$949 phone in my hand was rather unnerving. How do Apple users cope with the pressure not to drop it every day? I've just bought an Honor 7 (which offers stronger specs but costs £249 in the UK – around US$377), so handling a device that costs more than two-and-a-half times that made me quite nervous.
"Do you seriously want me to bend it?!"
The iPhone 6s Plus is big. Its edges are pleasantly smooth, but it feels unnaturally thick in my hand, almost bulky. But of course, one has to consider the flip side to this.
Big and chunky, it may be, but these attributes often equate to robustness. And while I can't say that the iPhone 6S Plus feels more robust than the Honor 7, it does feel as though it could take a hit or two. Certainly moreso than the Galaxy S6 Edge+, with its rounded, more exposed display.
As robust as it may seem, I'd still handle this phone with immense care on account of its price – absurd for what is essentially an everyday tool. I had to overcome some major inner resistance when I was asked to test the phone's stability by trying to invoke a 'bendgate' moment. Luckily, the iPhone 6S Plus didn't show any signs of weakness when I sat down with force or physically tried to bend it.
I probably didn't try as hard as I possibly could to bend it, but that's not a real-life scenario and probably not a fair test. There are bloggers out there who were less scrupulous though, and YouTube videos that show them bending, but in this example, two people trying together really had to struggle to make that happen. It looks as though Apple's anti-bendgate measures (using the same aerospace metal alloy found on the S6 Edge+) are working.
"Fo' shizzle my bezel"
The iPhone 6s Plus' bezels, the edges around the display, really are quite wide. I like to have as large a display in as little space as possible, so for this reason, I don't find the iPhone 6S Plus appealing. Thick bezels make phones look dated, and 5.5-inch displays produce phones that are big enough as it is – there's no need to make them even bigger with wide bezels. And don't get me started on the issue of using it one-handed.
"So why all that hype?"
The biggest surprise so far, is arguably that the iPhone 6S Plus didn't really impress me that much with its aesthetics and its premium feel. I guess I've seen too many well-done copies, and used Android phones that were simply more exciting – the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is the first example that comes to mind.
- Apple iPhone 6s Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ comparison
- Apple iPhone 6s Plus vs Samsung Galaxy Note 5 comparison
After holding Samsung's finest phones, the 6s Plus' design seems almost modest. The iPhone is no longer without rivals as a design icon and during my initial moments with the 6s Plus, I never felt that sense that I had to have one. Meanwhile, in the back of my head, the number 'US$949', kept echoing around.
Initial verdict
I'll freely admit that I was expecting to be blown away by the iPhone 6S plus, but I just didn't experience that 'wow' factor, and not because I wasn't looking for it. But I'm yet to actually use the device, so let's turn this thing on and see if that changes anything or everything. I'll let you know in part two of my report, which will follow soon.
I Own an iPhone 6,but I am not interested in 6s range at all.I don't see enough improvements,and since I really care about design,I'd say the S6 Edge Plus is the clear winner and iPhone 6/6s have zero chance to compete with S6 Edge Plus in terms of design.
I will sell the iPhone 6 and buy an S6 Edge Plus in Gold.that phone is the most beautiful smart phobe inthis planet,no question.
I just wish if the S6 Edge Plus was the Note 5,in other words,if S6 Edge Plus had S-Pen.
I bought an iPhone 6s plus, coming from Android. Result: after 3 days with it I m selling it. Reasons: weight, just too heavy. Almost 200g of a smartphone, crazy stuff! Just for comparison, the edge + with a bigger screen weighs 150 grams..... But the biggest reason was about the software. I'm amazed how everybody says apps on iPhone are better than on Android. But when I started Facebook, and other "main" apps I realized how small the letters are. And worst, one can't increase them. Dynamic type can only be used for apples apps. What about that. Having a big screen smartphone and reading small letters on Facebook and others felt so stupid. Android let's you customize everything, text size and whatever, within any app. Changing from Android to iphone nowadays feels like going to pre historic times
Couldn't agree more with you. Had the same story,now happy with my Aplpha and S5.
Your last line ...going to pre historic time...is 100% correct and significant. If compared lot of advantage are missing in apple i phone breed. Pay double triple amount compared to other phone for a less facility phone is truly craziness and going to prehistoric age.
This is an interesting review. First he said too heavy, then he complained about too expensive, afterwards about too big ... Then tell me, do you even THINK before you drop your 900+ bucks on a device? If you cannot even do that, what kind of sense that you are making here? To prove your stupidity? Or you are bribed by Samsung to do viciously attacks here?
I'm sorry to say but he's right. He just posted his feelings as they came. And I completely agree that its expensive, heavy and big. Compare it with any other 5.5" devices and you'll see what is he talking about.
!!
I agree 100%
And how many bumper stickers does Apple send you a month for trolling on an Android site Ethan?
Last thanksgiving I was 1/2 asleep as my wife and daughter dragged me to Black Friday. So I see this shiny sleek IP6+ and think, well heck, let me try it. So, I go through the hassle of setting it up, etc. By Monday morning I could not wait to bring it back. I really tried to like it. To sum up why I didn't like it; I want to be able to do whatever I want with my phone and its Apple's way only. The other thing was I need a back arrow/button whatever, I never know where I'm going with the IP. My wife and daughter love there IP's, I will stick with My Nexus 6 and make it like I want it to be.
Sad day... really sad day for me... to read that a firm Android supporter and writer might be going over to the dark side. hahahaha just joking.
Hey Jacques, don't worry, I'm not quite there yet. There's still hope ;)
Apple is running out of ideas
I asked a close friend as to why she bought an iPhone 6 (64GB) instead of a Galaxy s6, one of the reasons she gave me was that "it just works. It always made the best photos, has the best quality (visual and reliability) apps, and always gets the new games and apps first and exclusive. And then there's iTunes." I don't fault her for saying so. I have a Note 3 (mulling a Note 4 refurb) and indeed, apps and utilities on the iPhone are way more polished, more complete, more consistent, more "It just works" than anything. Mind you, Material Design made Android apps legitimately competitive in style and function, but there definitely is the sense that what's on iphones are more polished and more thought out...
Still I don't think that "it just works" and "makes best photos" apply now. Apple has fallen behind quite a bit and Android has evolved dramatically therefore it also "just works" and many phones make better photos. But people will not change their phone even If there was 5x better Android smartphone because they're used to Apple's products and will always believe they are best even though they might not be anymore.
I have 10 app,e devices in my household and after every release im lucky if 5 actually work without issues..they have also lost their way with simplistic software as neither photos or music is as intuitive. Apple no longer just works its turned into a maintenace nightmare.. My xperia hasn't given me any issues...
Seems there is a iOS 9 exploit that may allow hackers access to data, photos etc. on the device, so I won't really agree that everything works on a apple iphone, and I guess that might not be the only problem. Also there seems to be a app slicing problem with iOS9, download and update problems etc.
r way more polished ? more complete ? more consistent ?new games and apps get first in there ? man,u have no idea of what r u talking about,no idea,first of all,all the inside hardware in an iPhone is outdated from long time ago,to say that apps and games r better than on an android device is like saying that MSDOS games and aplications r better than on windows,that they get it there first ? r u nuts? r 2 different OSes if u know what r those,that have nothing in comun, and r so many things that an iPhone will only going to dream about and r from some time on android devices,first of all on android devices r much more powerful CPU and GPU which iPhone lack of them badly so it's impossible to make that statement,it's absolutely useless and impossible to even try to make compares between iOS devices and Android devices,the difference between them is as i said be4,like MSDOS and Windows
Before you bitching like a mad dog here, I really advise you to check some reviews how iPhone6s two-cores performance smoke the 8-core Android counterparts... I don't even want to mention anything about single-core performance comparison, because that is simply insult to those manufacturers...
Before arguing further, let me remind you 99% of consumer Desktop grade Intel CPU is no more than 6 cores. There is only one 8-core Desktop CPU from Intel (consumer grade). Majority of Desktop application utilizes no more than 2-cores... I really have hard time to understand what the rest of 6 cores can do.... Simply let consumers to pay for their incapability of making single core faster?!
Well Apple used to make extraordinary devices. Now they're just sort of catching up to other manufacturers both in terms of hardware and software.