Apple’s new flagship bigger and shinier but not a necessity

On Sept. 19, Apple released the iPhone 6 worldwide — the company’s newest product in its “making things bigger and smaller and bigger again but not that big” progression.

Despite Apple’s new upgrades, it has too many drawbacks to be worth the $300 for 16GB.

The overall design is the most obvious upgrade with rounded edges, lighter weight, thinner dimensions and a larger screen — 4.7” for 6 and 5.5” for 6 Plus compared to the 4” of iPhone 5. The power button has been moved to the side, and the volume and silence controls are a little smaller. All in all, Android has already covered the phablet (phone-tablet) market, and if you wanted the only other change, the rounded edges, for comfort, you might as well have kept your older model.

“I was going to buy the iPhone 6 plus, but I already have a flat screen TV,” TV host Conan O’Brien said about the newest addition to the phablet market.

In terms of software, iOS8 debuted alongside the iPhone 6, and includes features such as a broader search for Spotlight, keyboard prediction and push-to-talk for Messages, pay with your phone, more photo editing options, hands-free voice control and — surprisingly for Apple — the capability to be edited by third-party groups.

Adding to the 5.8 GB of phone storage needed for the software update   huge increase in space compared to the iOS 7, which required 750 MB — customers have to deal with apps crashing, battery life dropping and an inability to enable location services on a regular basis.

One of us  recently upgraded her iPhone 5 to the new iOS on its release date. A few days after the download, Internet access disappeared despite the phone having data and wifi. It became impossible to reply to her text messages. Frustrated that her phone became useless, she contacted Apple’s Help Line for feedback.

The Apple consultant told her that it was not a good time to upgrade to the new iOS and that she should refrain from downloading the newer update of the software, version 8.0.2.

Although this latest edition was Apple’s attempt at fixing the flaws from the original release, the update has only worsened these problems, creating even more crashes and discrepancies.

Adding to the frustration, the iPhone 6, with its gargantuan size, is almost unfitting for jean pockets, presenting an advantage for pickpockets. Clothing companies such as American Eagle, J. Crew, L.L. Bean, Lee Jeans and Levi’s have all considered altering their jean pockets to accommodate this large phone; the side pockets would become considerably deeper. We appreciate the gesture, though, since women’s tiny pockets have always been ridiculously useless.  

Either way, neither the iPhone 6 nor the iOS8 is an immediate necessity. Save yourself $300 and stick to your still perfectly effective model.