iPhone 6

Bigger, better, sleeker and faster than the iPhone 5S

OS: iOS 8 | Screen size: 4.7-inch | Resolution: 1334 x 750 | Memory: 1GB |Storage:16GB/64GB/128GB | Battery: 1,810mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 1.2MP

The iPhone 6 - a real step forward for Apple and a phone that's a real joy to use, hold and feel. It's got all the same ingredients that make iPhones special: while it doesn't excel in any given part of the smartphone recipe, it just works, promoting simplicity over fiddly menus..

The camera has a lower megapixel count than others, but it's fast, bright and easy to use. The screen is too low-res compared to the phones around it, but pops and fizzes with colour and brightness. And that design - we have to keep coming back to it as it feels beautiful in the hand.

The sticking point is it's still one of the most expensive phones on the market, and spec-fiends will note it's not quite got the technology inside to truly back up the cost.

But don't let that put you off: if you're in the market for a handset from Apple, or just been tempted by one in the past: buy the iPhone 6. It's excellent, a pure joy to use.

iPhone 6, 128 GB

Pros: Fast, gorgeous, great size

Cons: A little too thin, battery life could be better, easy to damage

I am an original iPhone adopter; I had the iPhone 1, 3G, 3GS, and 4. After the 4 (which I loved) I decided to run with Android for a bit. I owned a Motorola Atrix, Nexus 4, and Galaxy Note 3 (and tried a Galaxy S4 and S5 for a while). Of all my Android phones I loved the Galaxy Note 3 the best. It was fast, sleek, great battery life, and very open.

That said, I was very interested to try out a larger iPhone. I felt the 5.5" Note 3 was a bit too big so I opted for the regular 4.7" iPhone 6. It feels truly fantastic. The aluminum body feels sleek and is like a throwback to the original iPhone design. I do feel it's a bit too thin though. I'm not even concerned about bending, I just feel like it will be easy to drop, so I'm going to be sure to get a case that adds some bulk to it. It also does get a bit warm after extended use, but your battery life will be a bigger concern at that point.

Battery is good, but I wish it was a little better. With normal usage I end the day at about 35%; if I forgot to charge at night I'd probably have about 25% remaining. Maybe that will improve as I stop using it so much, but for now it's decent. I don't think I have to worry about not getting through an entire day.

I do not love that the camera bulges, but it is something I lived with on my Note 3 and after my case arrives it will be flush anyway. The camera quality, though, is quite impressive. The pictures it takes are about the same quality as the best pictures I could get with my Note 3, but it takes great pictures much more easily. The slow-motion 240fps video is also an insanely awesome feature.

The screen is nice; the colors are vivid without being overly saturated. I see a bit of backlight bleed when it's completely black, but it's not too bad. At first I was disappointed that it wouldn't have a full HD displayed, but I can't really see a difference in quality between my 1080P 5.5" Note 3 screen so I'm happy with it.

Recommendation

Apple iPhone 6, Gold, 128 GB (Unlocked)

Apple iPhone 6, Silver, 128 GB (Unlocked)

Apple iPhone 6, Space Gray, 128 GB (Unlocked)