I could tell my iPhone 5s was ready to die. The signs were there. The screen was beginning to fade. It would shut down or close programs intermittently, and the battery life decreased to only four hours a charge.
Because I had waited too long to replace my dying iPad, I had to start from a dated backup when I replaced the completely nonresponsive old model. I didn't want to take any chances this time. I did a full backup and drove over to my neighborhood Verizon store.
I decided to upgrade to the iPhone 6 primarily because I had heard the battery life was longer and the camera was better. I chose the smaller version, as I wanted to be able to hold my phone easily in one hand.
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Before I could try it out, the new phone took more than 24 hours to restore my data. I waited patiently, though, and have now had a full four days of use.
Here's what I've found:
• Thee iPhone 6 is thinner but wider than the 5s, so it's a little less comfortable to hold.
&bull ; The sleep button is on the side, not on the top. It's not a big deal, but it takes getting used to.
• There are new apps I haven't learned how to use yet, including Podcasts, GarageBand, iMovie, iTunesU, Keynote, Numbers and Pages. (I tried Pages. It's essentially a very basic Word app.)
• The battery life is longer. I can actively use my phone all day without additional charging.
I haven't been anywhere that inspired a well-composed photo. Thus, I can't say whether the camera is better than the one on my old phone. One of my friends pointed out that the HDR setting does not require a steady hand. That could make a big difference.
Is the iPhone 6 a huge improvement over the 5? I don't think so. To me, the best parts are the longer battery life and the fact that it uses the same plug as the old one!
