I just upgraded to the iPhone 6 Plus. Even though I have been accused of such, I’m not a technology junkie. I don’t camp out overnight like a pimply pubescent with nothing better to do every time Apple releases a new phone. I toted my iPhone 4s for years, opting out of the upgrade frenzy to the iPhone 5. It just wasn’t different enough. However, the iPhone 6 is a game changer for me. Admittedly, some of the features I’ll describe were available in the iPhone 5s and are a result of iOS8.

But the question is, Is the iPhone 6 Plus better than older iPhones for travel? Yes. Here’s why…

Longer Battery Life

Even after using my phone for email, reading, and photography, I’m left with 50% battery life at the end of the day! That never happened with my iPhone 4s. In fact, during a media fam trip to Hong Kong, my phone was the first to die among my Android-carrying colleagues. Up to 24 hours of talk time and 16 days of standby time (though I’m skeptical of this figure) is the biggest and best improvement. If you’re debating between buying the 6 and 6 Plus, go with the Plus for significantly longer talk time, standby time, Internet use, video playback, and audio playback time.

Better Camera

As I’ve written before, the best camera is the one you’re carrying. Like pretty much every blogger/photographer, I lug a heavy DSLR with an even heavier lens. Sometimes it’s so heavy, I have to hand it to my guide when I’m hiking, say, a volcano in the Philippines and about to pass out dead. Times like that, I wish my phone camera would suffice. Enter the iPhone 6 Plus. First of all, because the screen is bigger, it’s easier to see what you’re photographing. Secondly, the aperture is f/2.2 vs. f/2.4, which isn’t much, but can help create even more bokeh and depth of field.

Slo-Mo & Time-Lapse Video

Take your videos to the next level without expensive gear or software. I’m definitely going to use this for travel photography.

Self-Timer

Someone at Apple finally realized #selfies are here to stay. iPhone 6 has a 3- and 10-second timer.

Bigger Screen

I’m tempted to leave my iPad behind now that I have this ginormous screen to work with. It’s great for business and blogging, as well as photo and video editing in iMovie. The 5.5-inch screen is also great for watching movies while traveling. I’m always trying to travel lighter, so carrying one less device definitely helps.

Touch ID Security

Fingerprint identity may be a ’90s spy movie concept, but it’s finally arrived in the palm of your hand (pun intended). Simply press your thumb on the home button repeatedly until your device reads your print. From now on, you don’t have to enter your security code to unlock your phone. This is a major plus for security while traveling.

What’s Wrong with the iPhone 6

Every rose has its thorn. The biggest problem with both iPhone 6 models is the low headset volume. Even with the volume all the way up, it’s not nearly as loud as it should be during phone calls. All the other sounds are just fine — speaker, music, etc. Tens of thousands of users have complained on the Apple forum, but the company hasn’t offered any solution yet.

Compare models yourself.

Recommended iPhone 6 Plus Cases

Talk to Me

Have any of you already upgraded to the iPhone 6 Plus?