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Here's what our readers think of the iPhone 6 Plus

Though the iPhone has always been a good (if not great) product, one area where it was lacking was size. If you wanted a bigger screen, you had to pick up an Android device. And plenty of people did, which is why Apple finally entered the fray last year with the iPhone 6 Plus. We really liked its camera and its beautiful display, though we found that the larger size "can fatigue even the biggest of hands if you hold on long enough." But while we didn't find the iPhone 6 Plus groundbreaking, we did note it brought much-needed freshness to Apple's lineup. But how did the 6 Plus' larger dimensions and updated design fare with consumers? Our readers were ready to let us know, writing reviews on the 6 Plus' product page to show us how this 5.5-inch device felt in their own hands.

"Compared to other phablets, this thing is thin and easy to pocket."

The size is the first thing you notice about the 6 Plus, and JayCeeEm admits to having second thoughts when it first showed up, thinking the device looked "too big ... to be a daily carrier." But after a month he can't imagine going back to a smaller phone, and says the device is "quite light for how massive it is." It may be taller and wider than previous iPhone models, but it's also thinner, which helped aventine61 and jexner325 slip it into their pockets. Even if your pockets are still too small to comfortably fit the iPhone 6 Plus, sugakuu feels this shouldn't be a problem for women who carry purses.

The design also got a bit of a refresh on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which most users liked, though, a few weren't in love with it. Aventine61 isn't "the biggest fan of the antenna lines and camera that pokes out." But, while falleninsea isn't enamored of the lines either, he does at least enjoy the rounded corners and slim body. Ralphie thinks its dual-tone look and seamless design make the iPhone 6 Plus "the style icon of the mobile fraternity," while Texcess was a bit more effusive, calling designer Jony Ive "a genius" and the iPhone 6 Plus "the most beautiful handset on the market."

A larger phone isn't just about how it fits in your pocket, though. These days it means a bigger screen, and jexner325 says the display here is "phenomenal" and "truly remarkable." Dallara101 finds that "watching videos on it is fantastic" and undfeatable is happy to report that "I can see what I'm doing so much better." This is helped by the Retina HD display, which Ralphie notes has natural color representation and is "not oversaturated."

"I have larger-than-average hands and find holding it to be easy."

Sure, it looks great, but this is a touchscreen we're talking about. How did it feel to our users? Well, it's certainly going to take a bit of adjustment, as Dallara101 notes that "using it one-handed is pretty much impossible." Benjaminyu warns that you should "expect all the issues that come with carrying and using a small tablet." But plenty of users didn't find that to be a problem at all, with subotin calling it "much better than iPad mini or iPad Air." Undfeatable claims to have "never encountered a time where the device was too cumbersome" due to his larger-than-average hands, and sugakuu's wife simply switched to using both hands to type. Jexner325 actually found the size to be an advantage in this arena, as he prefers to use both thumbs anyway and "this makes typing 10 times easier in portrait."

If you're not into larger phones, there are a few other reasons to look at the iPhone 6 Plus. That big form factor means a larger battery, with Dallara101 finding it performed "way above average," while jexner325 thinks it's "truly amazing." Aventine61 says, "I use it a lot, all day, and always have 40%+ left."

The other big selling point for the 6 Plus is its camera, which we found to be better than the one on the 4.7-inch iPhone 6. Jexner325 definitely thought it was fantastic, but he also didn't see "a huge leap" over the iPhone 5s. Still, while RS4 feels that the "the megapixel count is low by today's standards," falleninsea thinks that "Apple really has done an amazing job of getting everything they could out of those 8 MP."

Ultimately, the iPhone 6 Plus proved to be a smart decision for a lot of people, and JayCeeEm "couldn't be happier" with his decision. Falleninsea admits that he wouldn't recommend it to friends and family as it's not for "everyone or even for most people, but for those that want the bigger phone it is a great choice." Jexner325 sums up that sentiment nicely: "If, however, you are a road warrior, need battery life, frequently email or message, and use your devices to the fullest extent, then this is the iPhone for you. It could easily have been called the iPhone 6 Pro."