Apple iPhone 6 Plus

After the design revolution that was the iPhone 4, the much-anticipated iPhone 5 disappointed some with its modest visual update. People craved a handset with looks significantly different than what had come before, and so those expectations shifted to the iPhone 6.

Available in the US on two-year contracts from AT&T, Sprint and Verizon, the 16GB version will set you back $299, with 64GB at $399 and the top-end 128GB costing $499.

Design

In the grand scheme of phone dimensions, the 6 Plus is on the large side, measuring 6.22 inches high by 3.06 inches wide (158.1mm by 77.8mm), nearly a half-inch (12mm) taller than the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, though slightly narrower. At 6.07 ounces (172 grams) it does come in just a touch lighter, and it's noticeably thinner -- just 7.1mm in thickness, compared with the Note 3's 9.6mm. However, the newer Note 4 is closer in most dimensions, with its 6.04 x 3.09 inch span (153.5mm by 78.6mm), and at 8.5mm thick.

Plus point: The bigger battery means great battery life, and the 5.5-inch screen is not only big but bright and high-contrast. Optical image stabilization improves low-light photography.

Minus point: The big footprint of the iPhone 6 Plus is not for everybody, and it's less visually distinctive in overall design than previous iPhones. Also, apps that haven't been optimized yet look blurry and have big keyboards.