Is Apple's first step into the phablet fray a success? Let's find out. We've already covered iOS 8 in its own review here , and having the same A8 and M8 processors as the iPhone 6 means performance from the Plus is pretty much identical.

Premium look and feel; Gorgeous display; Fast and powerful

Very big and sometimes difficult to hold; iOS 8 does little to take advantage of extra space; Expensive; No stylus support

You wait a year for a new iPhone and then two come along at once. A surprise to many, Apple released not only the iPhone 6 but also the iPhone 6 Plus, a monster of a phone that comes with a 5.5-inch display, higher screen resolution, a larger battery, and optical image stabilisation.

Big screen; optical image stabilisation; design; landscape mode; battery

So big; no stylus support

People want bigger phones, all that extra screen opens up a raft of new possibilities. Don't believe me? Check out the excellent Samsung Galaxy Note 4 that has seen plenty of success. It took Apple a while, but it finally got there.

Fantastic 5.5-inch screen; Superb battery life; Great camera with OIS; Excellent gaming performance

Bigger than similar rivals; Very expensive

After years of maintaining the same screen size for their smartphones, Apple has decided change their strategy with the release of the iPhone 6 Plus . Measuring in at 6.2 x 3.1 inches, the iPhone 6 Plus is not a small phone by any means and yet it is incredibly slim at only 0.3 inches.

Stunning and sharp display; Optical image stabilization solves shaky cam issues; Excellent battery life

Difficult to grip; Not as sharp as quadHD displays; Some slight pauses when launching apps

Even with a slightly larger screen, the iPhone remains comfortable to hold. With fast performance, a great display, an elegant new design and a much-needed software update, it's one of the best smartphones you can buy right now.

Sleek new design; Great display; Comfortable to hold; Fast performance; Generally good camera; Large; beautiful display; Great camera with optical image stabilization; Long battery life; Fast performance

Battery life could be better; Lacks optical image stabilization; NFC can only be used for mobile payments; One-handed use is frustrating and uncomfortable; NFC can only be used for mobile payments

Update: We have revisited the iPhone 6 Plus almost three years after its launch. It's now packed with iOS 10 and our fully updated review reflects the new features that are packed inside the newest operating system.

To plagiarise our own introduction to this review, the new iPhones are Apple's finest achievement as a smartphone maker, elegantly proving less really can be so much more in a cramped room of clones. But it comes at a price.

iPhone 6 and 6 Plus: Beautiful design; excellent performance; iOS 8 increases flexibility; unmatched industrial design; best rear-facing cameras on the market iPhone 6 Plus only: Optical image stabilisation; large and Full HD screen makes a big difference

iPhone 6 and 6 Plus: Expensive iPhone 6 Plus only: Identical GPU means higher-resolution 3D games may run at lower frame rates than iPhone 6

Good phone

Non

5s had one year now, the iPhone 6 plus applicable tlfn is really great sometimes get hurt in the hand; ( Everything else exactly the same as other models battery life is definitely better than 5s Changed my mind a little but hope I will get used to it soon to a large mobile

Editors' note: On September 7, 2016, Apple debuted the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and discontinued the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus remain available, however, and Apple has increased the storage capacity of the entry-level models to 32GB and lowered prices to $549 and $649, respectively. The full iPhone 6 Plus review, first published in September 2014 and updated in June 2015, follows.

The iPhone 6 Plus is an outstanding choice for those with big budgets and big pockets, but power users seeking even more flexibility should audition the Galaxy Note 4 as well.

The big battery provides long life, and the 5.5-inch screen is not only big but bright and high-contrast; Optical image stabilization improves low-light photography.

The big footprint may not be for everybody; and the overall design is less distinctive than previous iPhones.