If You Care About Battery Life, You Will Want The iPhone 6 Plus

Apple’s iPhone devices have been praised worldwide for their smooth performance, stunning visuals, and user-friendly design. However, one criticism that has been frequently leveled against them is their battery life. While not bad by all means, comparing to some Android competitors in the same price range, iPhone’s battery life often leaves a lot to be desired.

For example, the iPhone 5S, a once-flagship phone, delivers about 10 hours of battery life. This is enough for an average day, but for power users who use their phone heavily, such battery life can feel insufficient. If you are continuously using your phone for a range of tasks – perhaps making video calls, gaming, or streaming movies – you might need to recharge halfway through the day. However, Apple maintained the same battery life in their more recent iPhone 6 model.

For users who prioritize battery life, the iPhone 6 Plus is a step up from its predecessors. Representing a significant paradigm shift for Apple, the iPhone 6 Plus is Apple’s first foray into the world of larger, 5.5-inch iPhones, popularly known as “phablets”. Along with the increased size comes an increase in battery life – the iPhone 6 Plus offers an impressive 16 hours of usage. That’s an additional six hours from the regular iPhone 6, which could be precious for power users or during long trips when you might not have ready access to charging sources.

While Android competitors offer comparable or even better battery life, if you’re preferential to the iOS ecosystem or simply like something about iPhones that you don’t get elsewhere, the iPhone 6 Plus’s longer battery life could be significant for you.

It’s worth noting that as of 2025, we’re well beyond the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. While those models offered incremental improvements in various areas – including battery life – future iPhone models have continued this trend, and the current iPhone model unquestionably has a superior battery life compared to older versions. The debate over iPhone’s battery life compared to its Android competitors is less about raw battery longevity and more about overall user experience, which includes factors like how optimized the operating system is, what power-saving features the device comes with, and more.

Nonetheless, the iPhone 6 Plus marked an important stage in iPhone’s journey of improving its battery life, owing to its larger form factor and increased battery capacity.

*This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.*