It is September 2014, and Apple has finally entered the ‘Phablet’ arena with the iPhone 6 Plus. This is a massive 172g statement of intent, featuring a 5.5-inch screen that dwarfs every previous iPhone. It marks a total redesign, moving to a 7.1mm thin, rounded aluminium unibody that feels incredibly premium, even if the sheer size makes it a ‘two-handed’ device for most UK users. It is the first iPhone that feels like a legitimate alternative to a small tablet.
The technical headline is the 5.5-inch Retina HD display. With a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (401 PPI), it is the first 1080p screen Apple has ever produced for a phone. It uses ‘dual-domain pixels’ for superior viewing angles and a high contrast ratio. Powering the device is the 64-bit A8 chip and the M8 motion coprocessor, which now includes a barometer. On the imaging front, the 8-megapixel camera features a technical ‘first’ for the iPhone: Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS). This uses a floating lens to physically compensate for hand-shake, making it a far superior low-light performer and video camera than the standard iPhone 6.
Connectivity is top-tier with 150Mbps LTE and Wi-Fi ac. Because of its large footprint, Apple was able to pack in a massive 2915 mAh battery, which provides a true two-day life, a technical milestone for the brand. It also features an NFC chip for the debut of Apple Pay. Despite the ‘Bentgate’ controversy surrounding its thin aluminium frame, the iPhone 6 Plus is a landmark device that proved Apple could master the large-format smartphone without losing its signature polish.