iPhone 6: Bigger & better

A mix of all the right features makes this brilliant smartphone from Apple a coveted device

The iPhone 6 had taken a long time to come to India. And when it did, it had a reception like no other at its midnight launch, timed just before Diwali. Indians have always loved big screens and it was time we took a closer look at the handset.

If looks could kill

The iPhone 6 is an eye candy, and if I may say so, a tad vulnerable, due to its thin frame. Despite its enhanced dimensions, it fits comfortably in one hand. The phone's design cues seem closer to the iPad and the original curvy iPhone, than its predecessors. The phone feels nice but is slippery because of its rounded edges.

A thick bezel runs around the 4.7-inch screen, with the Touch ID home button below and the earpiece above the screen. We feel Apple could have shaved off a bit of the bezel for a more compact phone, or given us a bigger screen. The iPhone 6 is roughly the size of the Google Nexus 5, which has a five-inch screen. The power/lock button of the iPhone 6 has been moved to the right edge, just above the nanoSIM tray, from the top edge position in 5s. On the left edge are the volume keys.

Revving up

Our experience using Touch ID on the iPhone 6 was a much smoother one than on the 5s. It unlocked faster and there were rarely any misses. We liked another nifty feature: Tap twice on the Home button and the top half of the screen dropped to the middle.   

We didn't face any lags flipping through screens and overall the phone was very responsive. Using a 3G connection from Airtel, calls were of top quality with no call drops. 

The screen is brilliant with rich colours, though not in full HD. Colours are bright but the blacks are a bit underwhelming. Outdoors, the screen performs well under direct sunlight.

Full throttle on iOS 8

On iOS 8, one can just pull down the notification tab, see a notification and respond right from that tab, without the need to go into the individual app. Another big change is the ability to use third-party keyboards with iOS 8. Also, the iOS 8 keyboard comes with predictive text, a welcome addition.

Another nifty feature is the Battery Monitor, which gives you a heads-up on which apps are hogging the battery. Then there is Family Sharing, which lets members of a household share music, videos, books and apps. The Health app can store all of one's vitals. As for Apple Pay, we're still to see it in India. Games, especially ones made for iOS 8 such as Plunder Pirates and Asphalt 8: Airborne make use of the extended real estate and make for a gorgeous experience. And the Kindle app also excels on the iPhone 6, rendering crisp text.

Cruising on camera

Yes, the cameras on the iPhone 6 sport the same resolution as last year's. But that's just half the story. It takes great shots in low light; the front camera is great for selfies (now with different modes) and Facetime calls are much clearer than my fourth-generation iPad (my folks say so). The iSight camera captures great videos and slo-mo clips.

The battery life, while it may just about last a day with normal usage, could put you in trouble if you fall in love with the screen.

Choices, choices

The iPhone 6 is a step up over the 5s, especially in terms of the form factor and the software. Anyone looking to get an iPhone can choose between the 5s, the 6 and the 6 Plus. But iPhone 5s users can just upgrade the OS and they're good to go.

iPhone 6
Price: Rs 53,500 (16GB)
Dimensions: 138.1X67X6.9 mm
Display: 4.7"; 1,334X750 pixels (326 ppi)
OS: iOS 8
Processor: A8
Memory: 16/64/128GB
Camera (rear/front): 1.2MP/8MP