iPhone 6 Plus: How I learned to love this handful

iPhone 6 Plus: How I learned to love this handful

Summary: The iPhone 6 Plus is an awesome smartphone, but getting used to its 5.5-inch display took time. Here are some practical steps that helped make the iPhone 6 Plus a workable part of my daily life.

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iPhone 6 Plus
(Image: Apple)

The iPhone 6 Plus is an awesome smartphone, but getting used to a device that has a 5.5-inch display after years with iPhones with screens ranging from 3.5-inch to 4-inch took time. In fact, initially I thought that the 5.5-inch display was too big.

But I realized that a lot of my problems were down to how I was using the hardware, and with a few tweaks I dramatically improved my user experience.

Here are some practical steps that I took to make the iPhone 6 Plus a workable part of my daily life.

1: Get a case

While Apple seems to put a lot of thought into making stylish devices, I don't think that ergonomics and robustness are as high up on the priorities list.

A good case for the iPhone 6 Plus solves two problems. First, it adds much-needed robustness. The display on the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is unquestionably stronger than the displays on earlier models, but a drop can still destroy your expensive device and put a crimp in both your day and your wallet.

Secondly, a good case makes the iPhone 6 Plus much easier to hold. Smooth, chamfered corners might look good, but they give the hand little to grab onto. A few corners and edges make a huge difference in how easy it is to manipulate the smartphone.

2: Rearrange apps

For some reason I'd arranged my apps on the iPhone so the most used ones were at the top of the screen and I kept things like the Phone app and Music app in the dock.

I'm not sure why they ended up this way, but I see a lot of other people doing the same thing.

Since getting the iPhone 6 Plus I've reorganized my app layout to put the ones I use the most near the bottom of the display, and instead of putting apps that I think should be in the dock, I've examined my usage of apps to make a more informed judgment of what should take the best spot. I know that Apple has developed a gesture that brings the top of the screen down – a light double-tap on the Home button – but this is an awkward move to carry out when holding such a big slab of glass and metal.

3: Check out newer apps

If you're using apps that, for whatever reason, haven't seen an update in over six months then it might be a good idea to see if there are newer apps you could use that have been developed and designed with the larger display of the iPhone 6 Plus in mind.

The difference between an older app and a new one can be like night and day, so spending some money on new apps can help you get the most from your hardware. 

4: Pocket carry is best

For years I've carried the iPhone in a belt pouch – I don't care if you judge me – because it kept my screen safe and left my pockets free for other junk. I experimented with different pockets, but found that the front pocket of jeans or an inside jacket pocket worked best for me.

Has my iPhone bent from being carried in a pocket? Not at all.

5: Use it horizontally

A lot of apps respond to the iPhone 6 Plus being held horizontally – or landscape, if you prefer – and many actually work better this way. Muscle memory wanted me to carry on using the iPhone "how I'd always used it," but after a few days of consciously using it horizontally, my productivity went through the roof.

6: Stop using cabled headphones

They're just too cumbersome. Time to move to Bluetooth headphones.

Bottom line

The bottom line is don't buy new hardware and expect to get the most out of it by using it just like the old hardware. A few tweaks to the way you work can help you get a lot more from your investment.

See also:

Topics: Hardware, iPhone, Smartphones

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48 comments
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  • About preferring bluetooth headphones...

    If clarity and quality are both priorities, it's best to stick to wired headphones. Voice-activated assistants, in particular, will understand you better with a wired headset.
    waqqas31
  • Jaybird BlueBuds

    I use these wireless earbuds with my iPhone 6 Plus and they are great. Got them on Amazon.
    JamesKendrick
  • Me too

    Your working scheme for the iPhone 6 Plus mimics what I do exactly. It's no secret how well it works for me.
    JamesKendrick
  • Ranging from?

    "...ranging from 3.5-inch to 4-inch..."

    as in 3.5" and 4"?
    ye
    • inch is a perfectly acceptable long form

      of expression imperial measurements.
      Mac_PC_FenceSitter
      • You missed his point

        3.5" and 4" are two discreet sizes. Apple did not introduce a "range" of sizes. As an Apple user, you put up with whatever the overloads deign for you.
        os2baba
        • If you're going to be pedantic...

          Learn the difference between 'discreet' and 'discrete.'
          msalzberg
          • LOL

            True :-)
            os2baba
          • And...

            The difference between "overloads" and "overlords"! ;)
            MajorlyCool
        • Screen sizes...

          iPhone 1-4s = 3.5" Screen
          iPhone 5-5s = 4" Screen

          Try and keep up.
          Chopper9
          • That's not a range

            Those are exactly TWO different sizes. To qualify as a "range" there needs to be at least a third size in between the two. Now with the iPhone 6 & 6+, you can properly use range as in "range from 3.5" to 5.5", "in the 3.5" to 5.5" range", "ranging from 3.5 inches to 5.5 inches"
            romad@...
    • Symantics

      When he said "...ranging from 3.5-inch to 4-inch...," he's talking about owning more than two phones over time, not simply two distinct sizes. In that context, "ranging from" makes sense.

      Regarding the article, I gave up holsters back in the Palm Pilot era. As soon as devices became slim enough to easily fit in my front pocket, that's where they went. It's pretty rare to see somebody using a holster these days. As for the Bluetooth headphones, they are basically a necessity now, thanks to Apple moving the headphone jack to the bottom edge of the phone. That and the power button on the side are a bit annoying to me. I'm sure I'll get over it, though.
      BillDem
    • Picky

      Is that all you can come up with? Doesn't matter if there's only two data points. it's still a range even if empty between the bookends.
      ripfree
  • LOL

    >> The bottom line is don't buy new hardware and expect to get >> the most out of it by using it just like the old hardware.

    Classic. Just Classic. But it's okay to be judging Android on how your iPhones behaves. IMO good looking, but poor UX in workflow efficiency.
    os2baba
  • Adrian, I want a belt holster

    I confess I am waiting for T'Mobile to release the iPhone 6+ in December -- but, as an experienced belt-holster user, I'm watching Amazon.com and other outlets for what I consider a good belt-holster for the 6+. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, why did you abandon the belt-holster? Could you just not find one that met your needs? I've used one since my Blackberry 8300 days, and for me, that is an critical accessory. YOUR THOUGHTS?
    websquad
    • Iphone 6p

      has been on t-mobile from the day the phone was released
      Lior Paster
      • ... has been on t-mobile from the day the phone was released

        A few weeks after deliveries started the "bending" case issue was raised. Apparently, shortly thereafter t-mobile stopped the 6+ in the pipeline (for them only, of course) and decided to wait until mod was released in early December. So I decided to wait also ...
        websquad
    • belt holster

      Might as well carry it in your pocket. A belt case for a phone this big will be in the way of the pocket anyway. Besides, why buy a stylish phone and then carry it in a totally non-stylish way????
      ripfree
  • Try a Pebble Smartwatch Too

    With the larger iPhone 6 Plus, it is really handy to have notifications come to a Pebble smartwatch so you can avoid dragging it out every time you get an email, text, or call. I get a solid 4 days battery life on mine and it's a pretty good watch to boot.
    dksmidtx
  • To each their own

    If it works for you, great.
    If not, find something that does.
    It amazes me the lengths some folks will go to in order to make something "fit" into their world.
    rhonin