My iPhone 6 Opinion

[Nick A]

Hey guys, so the reason why I'm posting this here is because I'm going to be talking about Android a bit too. You could probably care less about my opinion but I have some free time and figured I'd share and see if anyone else feels the same way.

I've used just about every iPhone since the 3G to my last iPhone, the 5. I'm a tech-guy, I like to build my own computers and keep up to date with all the latest technology, I'm also studying computer forensics in college. Because of my interest, I figured I would try Android to see what it was all about. I decided to buy the Galaxy S4 when it first came out. I quickly realized at the time how ahead Google was compared to Apple.

Since then I bought an HTC One M8 and love this damn phone. The thing is great! Forget the endless customization options with Android, compared to iOS 7/8, it opens apps and does any action faster, I feel as though the animations introduced in iOS 7 make it seems much slower than it could be. I never imagined even comparing the 5S to any Android flagship for the small screen alone.

However, this changed when the iPhone 6 came out. My girlfriend really wanted one so I surprised her for her birthday with a new iPhone 6. Of course this led to me playing with it for hours testing everything out. And I have to say, the larger screen really improves the experience.

Although, it's still not a compelling package. I love using my Moto 360 and it seems as though the Apple Watch just isn't as stylish or functional(I guess time will tell). So using an Android Wear watch is one reason, but in general I simply feel that iOS is still not as advanced as Android.

Apple stepped their hardware game up but even so I still can't help but feel Apple used the "People will buy anything we make so lets try to save as much money as possible" tactic. For example, instead of making the IP6 so much thinner, why didn't they just keep the thickness of the 5S and make the phone stronger(no bending) and improve battery life? Was it to save money on excess metal and bigger batteries? I really don't know.

I feel as though Apple isn't the company it once was a few years ago with Steve Jobs. I would love to see them come back and CRUSH Android with killer features, great customization, and Apple fluidity that it's known for. I'm not a fan boy for either side, I'll simply buy whatever I believe is best at the time. It's also great when companies have competition because we as consumers in the end always win.

But it just feels as though people buying iPhones now are buying simply because:

A: They're used to it
B: Their friends/family use iPhones
C: They are simply Apple fans

I really can't see anyone buying the iPhone 6 and truly believing it's the best experience that's currently available...

I'll add more thoughts as I think of them, but what do you guys think?

 

[HiDEF]

Hey guys, so the reason why I'm posting this here is because I'm going to be talking about Android a bit too. You could probably care less about my opinion but I have some free time and figured I'd share and see if anyone else feels the same way.

I've used just about every iPhone since the 3G to my last iPhone, the 5. I'm a tech-guy, I like to build my own computers and keep up to date with all the latest technology, I'm also studying computer forensics in college. Because of my interest, I figured I would try Android to see what it was all about. I decided to buy the Galaxy S4 when it first came out. I quickly realized at the time how ahead Google was compared to Apple.

Since then I bought an HTC One M8 and love this damn phone. The thing is great! Forget the endless customization options with Android, compared to iOS 7/8, it opens apps and does any action faster, I feel as though the animations introduced in iOS 7 make it seems much slower than it could be. I never imagined even comparing the 5S to any Android flagship for the small screen alone.

However, this changed when the iPhone 6 came out. My girlfriend really wanted one so I surprised her for her birthday with a new iPhone 6. Of course this led to me playing with it for hours testing everything out. And I have to say, the larger screen really improves the experience.

Although, it's still not a compelling package. I love using my Moto 360 and it seems as though the Apple Watch just isn't as stylish or functional(I guess time will tell). So using an Android Wear watch is one reason, but in general I simply feel that iOS is still not as advanced as Android.

Apple stepped their hardware game up but even so I still can't help but feel Apple used the "People will buy anything we make so lets try to save as much money as possible" tactic. For example, instead of making the IP6 so much thinner, why didn't they just keep the thickness of the 5S and make the phone stronger(no bending) and improve battery life? Was it to save money on excess metal and bigger batteries? I really don't know.

I feel as though Apple isn't the company it once was a few years ago with Steve Jobs. I would love to see them come back and CRUSH Android with killer features, great customization, and Apple fluidity that it's known for. I'm not a fan boy for either side, I'll simply buy whatever I believe is best at the time. It's also great when companies have competition because we as consumers in the end always win.

But it just feels as though people buying iPhones now are buying simply because:

A: They're used to it
B: Their friends/family use iPhones
C: They are simply Apple fans

I really can't see anyone buying the iPhone 6 and truly believing it's the best experience that's currently available...

I'll add more thoughts as I think of them, but what do you guys think?

This is one of the main reason why I haven't returned the iP6+.

 

[Fireblade]

Nice read, agree with you.
Looking forward to read more.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

For example, instead of making the IP6 so much thinner, why didn't they just keep the thickness of the 5S and make the phone stronger(no bending) and improve battery life? Was it to save money on excess metal and bigger batteries? I really don't know.

Keeping the thickness of the 5S would have been a huge fail.

 

[Milese3]

Regarding customisation: I think iOS 8 took a lot of hints from Android, but made the experience it's own. I think iOS 9 will take the experience a whole lot further and really change iOS. Apple knows how threatening Android is to it's sales. The bigger screen and better hardware was the first step, software must be the next.

 

[dojoman]

You have it backward. It's not cheaper to make it thinner. There are a lot of hardware engineering to make it thinner, it cost more R&D resources. If Apple was lazy and cheap they would've gone with same thickness as 5s.

 

[pedromcm.pm]

I find a lot of problems with your post.

For starters, you praised the HTC one while saying that Apple failed in making a phone that doesn't bend and has better battery life. I could post a link of a random Youtube guy "proving" that you might be right, but instead I will advise you to read the latest and greatest from Consumer Reports:

Both new iPhones devices are tougher than the HTC One, especially in all sort of bending tests.

Then, regarding battery life, like me call BS on your "findings" from a few hands on hours: Both iPhone models have fantastic battery life. Just test all phones on the same conditions, doing the same tasks, and you will find that the iPhone is just better than almost every single phone on the market today. Read Anandtech's review, if you wish.

Going "thinner" while making something "better" (faster, more battery life, more of everything) is an engineering challenge. You can only get good battery life because people demand thinness. Thinness phones = more density in batteries = better battery life for thicker phones, otherwise battery tech would advance even more slowly.

Apple was conservative and hit all the right spots, and consumers are reacting accordingly. Personally, Apple is better than ever, and I find it amusing when people somehow "demand" Apple to have something that no one is expecting because, well, Apple.

It's not Apple's job to do it. It's HTC's job. Motorola's Job. Blackberrie's job. etc., the list is long. Those are dying companies. Even Samsung is declining at an alarming rate, so instead of stupid prototypes (note edge) and refining existent ideas (like Apple does, but the difference is that Apple is going up and being rewarded for making some great things against everybody else) they should do something more? Food for thought.

Anyway, enjoy your device. That's what matters, after all.

 

[HiDEF]

::sigh:: some posters just. need.to.go.away.

 

[jamezr]

::sigh:: some posters just. need.to.go.away.

agreed.......we all have our preferences. But some refuse to see any POV but their own.......

 

[Nick A]

I enjoy hearing everyone's opinions so keep posting!

Something else I would like to add, does anyone else feel like Apple purposely slows down older devices as an incentive to upgrade?

For example, I read a chart somewhere a few days ago that said the iPhone 4S was ~ .2-1 second slower in every app/task it did in iOS 8 compared to iOS 7. I don't see why when iOS 8 only introduced a few new features (that you actually see anyway).

 

[HiDEF]

I enjoy hearing everyone's opinions so keep posting!

Something else I would like to add, does anyone else feel like Apple purposely slows down older devices as an incentive to upgrade?

For example, I read a chart somewhere a few days ago that said the iPhone 4S was ~ .2-1 second slower in every app/task it did in iOS 8 compared to iOS 7. I don't see why when iOS 8 only introduced a few new features (that you actually see anyway).

BLASPHEMY!!!

 

[jamezr]

I enjoy hearing everyone's opinions so keep posting!

Something else I would like to add, does anyone else feel like Apple purposely slows down older devices as an incentive to upgrade?

For example, I read a chart somewhere a few days ago that said the iPhone 4S was ~ .2-1 second slower in every app/task it did in iOS 8 compared to iOS 7. I don't see why when iOS 8 only introduced a few new features (that you actually see anyway).

I have heard and seen people post charts and comparisons before. I guess it comes down (IMHO) older hardware running newer software. I think you might see the same thing with all older hardware running a newer software versions.
Especially if they are several revision between them.

 

[tbayrgs]

I enjoy hearing everyone's opinions so keep posting!

Something else I would like to add, does anyone else feel like Apple purposely slows down older devices as an incentive to upgrade?

For example, I read a chart somewhere a few days ago that said the iPhone 4S was ~ .2-1 second slower in every app/task it did in iOS 8 compared to iOS 7. I don't see why when iOS 8 only introduced a few new features (that you actually see anyway).

How about something as simple as the 4S is 3 yr old hardware with a 3 yr old CPU. It's no different than putting Android L on a Galaxy Nexus, which by the way, won't even be possible.

You really think all they did to make iOS 8 was stick a few lines of code on iOS 7 to add a couple of features and call it a day?

 

[Nick A]

How about something as simple as the 4S is 3 yr old hardware with a 3 yr old CPU. It's no different than putting Android L on a Galaxy Nexus, which by the way, won't even be possible.

You really think all they did to make iOS 8 was stick a few lines of code on iOS 7 to add a couple of features and call it a day?

The Galaxy S3 runs stock Android 4.4.x better then it ran 4.1/4.2.

iOS 8 introduced no new features that were more demanding on the CPU/GPU.

 

[tbayrgs]

The Galaxy S3 runs stock Android 4.4.x better then it ran 4.1/4.2.

But how does it run stock Android compared to a current model? Guarantee it's significantly slower, just as the 4S is slower than a 5S or 6. And if you're running stock Android, it means your using a custom ROM. What is the last version of Android Samsung put on the device and how was its performance compared its original performance and to new devices?

----------

The Galaxy S3 runs stock Android 4.4.x better then it ran 4.1/4.2.

iOS 8 introduced no new features that were more demanding on the CPU/GPU.

Care to show some quantitative proof of this please? Or is this just another opinion, like everything else?

 

[Nick A]

But how does it run stock Android compared to a current model? Guarantee if significantly slower, just as the 4S is slower than a 5S or 6. And if you're running stock Android, it means your using a custom ROM. What is the last version of Android Samsung put on the device and how was it's performance compared to new devices?

Well slower of course, new processors have come out in that time. The point I'm trying to make is not comparing the iPhone 4S running iOS 5 to a new iPhone 6, of course the 6 will be a better performer. But if you compare an iPhone 4S running iOS 7 and iOS 8 it's noticeably slower for no apparent reason.

I THINK Samsung actually just gave the S3 4.4.4 but I'm not totally sure. Either way Touchwiz is bloated on every device.

I don't think it's possible to prove really but iOS 8 didn't introduce any new animations or anything. I can't see why it would be more demanding.

 

[tbayrgs]

Well slower of course, new processors have come out in that time. The point I'm trying to make is not comparing the iPhone 4S running iOS 5 to a new iPhone 6, of course the 6 will be a better performer. But if you compare an iPhone 4S running iOS 7 and iOS 8 it's noticeably slower for no apparent reason.

I THINK Samsung actually just gave the S3 4.4.4 but I'm not totally sure. Either way Touchwiz is bloated on every device.

I don't think it's possible to prove really but iOS 8 didn't introduce any new animations or anything. I can't see why it would be more demanding.

Well, no apparent reason to you but clearly iOS 8 is more demanding. If ability to processing animations was the sole determining factor, the very first iPhone should've had no problems running iOS 6, because visually it was nearly the same as IPhone OS 1.

KitKat visually looks pretty much the same as Jellybean--why can't the Galaxy Nexus run KK, being only 2 yrs old at KK's release? Because of hardware limitations.

It's no different from what's been going on for decades with computers. At some point the hardware in not capable of running an OS. Three years is nearly an eternity in mobile tech these days.

 

[Zwhaler]

Something else I would like to add, does anyone else feel like Apple purposely slows down older devices as an incentive to upgrade?

To the extent that Apple purposely releases operating system updates that older hardware cannot handle without slowing down, yes.

 

[flybub]

Some good info here. Good to see civilized discussion (although it's only page 1). Anyway I'm eligible for an upgrade and haven't decided what I'm doing yet. My first smartphone was an HTC incredible, probably my favorite phone of all time. Then I bought and iPhone 4 and switched back and forth. A short stint with the 4s then to the Galaxy S4 and Moto X. I never really delved into the Apple ecosystem even with my iPhones, I've always been deep with Google services and really have never had a problem. Recently I bought a MacBook Pro w/retina after many years of using Windows machines and I am very impressed. I feel as though I'm almost missing out by keeping everything Google and not venturing out. Some don't like it but I have really enjoyed using iWork on my Mac instead of Google tools. So I'm tempted to go iPhone 6 but then I miss out on what Google and other oems are doing. Note 4 looks really good and we still don't know what Google has in store for the Nexus 6. But I also probably don't utilize everything android offers so that too is another thing. Android and their oems have made these devices capable of so many things that myself along with others probably don't even know about. I see apps on people's home screen pics and think "what in the world is that for and how come I've never heard of it", lol.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I really can't see anyone buying the iPhone 6 and truly believing it's the best experience that's currently available...

The evidence of a closed mind right here.

 

[Nick A]

The evidence of a closed mind right here.

Trust me I'm not closed minded. I just truly believe that at this time right now, the iPhone is not the best experience possible. No one is forcing me to use Android or favor one side, based on what I've observed and in my opinion, that's what I believe. If the next iPhone is amazing and iOS 9 is "open" then my next phone might be the 6S!

 

[The Game 161]

I personally don't think the new iphone is on the level of the new samsung note in terms of what it does and what a smart phone should do but thats just personal opinion on how I use my phone

for millions the iphone does all it needs to do. To some they buy it because everybody else does while others think it is the best phone out there. At the end of the day we all have different usage patterns. Alot like to tie it in with other apple products and would never leave that.

 

[tech4all]

Keeping the thickness of the 5S would have been a huge fail.

Why would it be a "huge fail?"

IMO the whole "thinner" thing is a gimmick and it's getting old. Every year the iPhone gets thinner. It's nothing new and not a good reason to buy the iPhone over any other phone. And when you put a case on it, the whole "thinnest iPhone ever" becomes moot.

 

[McGiord]

Can you please elaborate on what are those reasons why you think Android is superior?

I agree that Apple's obsession to have a thinner device is ludicrous, specially when the Watch seem to be bulkier and contrary to what you will normally expect from them.

 

[Nick A]

Can you please elaborate on what are those reasons why you think Android is superior?

I agree that Apple's obsession to have a thinner device is ludicrous, specially when the Watch seem to be bulkier and contrary to what you will normally expect from them.

Just off the top of my head:

1. Tons of more features like NFC, IR Blasters, and more

2. Complete customization of the OS, If I spend $650 or more on a phone I'd rather the company not tell me which browser, messaging, or camera app I have to use. If I don't like one that comes stock on Android, I default another one. Same goes for launchers and themes.

3. Kind of falls under customization as well but anything is changeable or downloadable. Whether it be a widget or a lock-screen, anything.

4. It's SUPER smooth. The animations introduced in iOS 7 personally kill me inside! On Android you can adjust any animations you'd like down to the exact speed, or disable them entirely.

5. If I want to download a song, file, app, anything, I don't have to do it through iTunes or Apple's stores. I can basically use my phone as a flash drive if I wanted to, it's that easy.

I can start getting into phone specific features like expandable storage, better speakers, displays, and things like that but that's a debate for another day.

This is just off the top of my head of why I enjoy Android so much..