So yes, the iPhone 6 Plus is legitimately a phablet. That's why there's a lot of noise regarding this year's release since Apple has resisted even going the way of major flagship device in the range of 4.7 to 5.0 inches, then suddenly they made a sizable shift to 5.5.

* Large full HD display; * Good performance; * Impressive camera performance; * Option for 128GB internal storage; * Touch ID and Fingerprint sensor

* Very expensive retail price; * Crippled NFC capability; * A bit unweildy to hold

Apple is taking the fight to Samsung with its first large screen smartphone, the inimitable iPhone 6 Plus. It brings Apple’s famed iOS 8 software to a vibrant 5.5-inch screen, but we fear somewhere along the way the iPhone lost its magic.

An iPhone that is uncomfortable to use contradicts what the iPhone is all about. This is a niche smartphone intended for a tiny group of multimedia junkies. And even then, the smaller 4.7in iPhone 6 should appease even the most demanding content users.

High resolution screen; Great software; Finger scanner; Strong battery performance;

Uncomfortable to hold and use daily; Apple's strict governance;

It's no easy task reviewing an iPhone. Apple isn't like other phone makers and doesn't create and launch several smartphone models throughout the year. Instead, once per annum, Apple announces the new devices that it's going to sell for the entire next 12 months. That's it.

That Apple makes superlative smartphones is nothing new; the Cupertino-based company has set the gold standard for mobile design ever since it debuted the iPhone in 2007. But in the iPhone 6 Plus, Apple is walking a path it's never trodden before.

This is the most capable iPhone ever made; It blew away the competition in our benchmark tests, its battery lasts forever, and its camera sets a new standard for excellence

Thanks to a thick bezel; the phone is bigger than other devices with comparable; 5.5-inch screens.

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

It is unusually big, but still an iPhone. We miss the familiar perfection of Apple in the case of the iPhone 6 Plus. The poor stability of the case is just one issue. You should not be able to twist the case when you buy a device that can cost up to 1,000 Euros (~$1250).

Great display; Very good battery runtimes; Great GPS module; Great performance; Decent camera; Very good voice quality; Good headphones; The display; the fast performance and the great GPS module collect a lot of points

NFC can only be used for Apple Pay, Complicated one-hand use, Flash overexposes pictures, Storage cannot be expanded, No LTE Cat; 6, Power adaptor too weak, Price, Mediocre case stability, OIS makes it hard to use the iPhone on a tripod, More stability! For the chassis, the OIS and the software

In the end, the iPhone 6 Plus is exactly what we imagined it would be – an oversized iPhone. And while Apple did little to take advantage of that extra space, it made up for it in other areas, like the speaker quality, battery life, and even performance.

 Fantastic build quality and in-hand feel; Above average camera performance;  Third-party support in iOS is refreshing;  Incredible battery life that should carry most into a second day;  iPhone app/accessory ecosystem still the strongest of all platforms

 iOS 8 comes with bugs and missing promised features;  Call quality took a backseat this year;  The slick build might prompt users to always use a case

Apple offers up another great iPhone but it falls short of surpassing Android handsets with poor iOS software, build quality and design

Battery; Display; LTE improvements

Software; Build Quality; Design

Apple has long held out against the trend of increasing screen sizes in smartphones, obstinately sticking to the belief that small is beautiful. The overwhelming tide of public opinion however has finally seen the iPhone maker give in - and in a big way.

While the iPhone 6 Plus isn't the cheapest smartphone out there, you get a high-quality large display, great battery life and speedy performance. But the large format won't suit all users.

Impressive battery life; high-quality and large display; user-friendly; speedy performance

Too large for typing and using one-handed; some key features not out in UK; quite pricey