The release of the iPhone 6 (and 6 Plus) was a big moment in Apple’s conquest of the high-end smartphone market.

Released in September 2014, these phones were Apple’s response to repeated calls for larger screens, which at the time were only available on Android phones.

The iPhone 6 came with a 4.7” retina display (5.5” on the 6 Plus), which was a big jump over the 4” screen on the iPhone 5S.

In the first 3 months, Apple sold 74 million devices, more than 40% more than the iPhone 5S!

That’s enough to make the 6 Apple’s best-selling device ever (well not quite, the iPhone 6S just barely outsold it, but we’ll call it a draw).

So not surprisingly, you can still find plenty of used iPhone 6’s for sale online, including at marketplaces like Orchard.

As a 5 year old device, you stand to save a ton versus buying a new iPhone. But the question is – will the iPhone 6 stand the test of time?

Why is the iPhone 6 Still a Good Phone?

Screen Size

This is a touchy subject, but we’re confident saying that the 4.7” screen on this model is the perfect screen size.

Apple kept this screen size for a record four generations (iPhone 6, 6S, 7 and 8) so clearly it was something their customers loved!

Being the oldest of those phones, the 6 is the most affordable device with that 4.7” screen.

It can handle all of your day-to-day needs

The 6 was released with the A8 chip, which is 25% faster than the A7 chip used in the 5S, while using half of the power.

That means the iPhone 6 will breeze through smartphone basics like calling, texting, emails, browsing the internet, or FaceTime.

Pictures and video

The camera is one feature that smartphone manufacturers have kept improving over the years.

That being said, the iPhone 6 camera’s specs are nothing to scoff at. An 8-megapixel iSight back camera that delivers sharper images and better low-light performance than the camera on the iPhone 5S.

When it comes to video, the iPhone 6 offers 240 frame-per-second (FPS) super Slo-mo shooting at 720 pixels. That’s double the FPS on the iPhone 5S!

The front-facing (selfie) camera has the same 1.2 megapixel front camera, but aperture all the way down to f/2.2 for better low light performance.

This camera isn’t going to knock anyone’s socks off, but you’ll be able to snap photos that you won’t hesitate to share with your friends.

All the apps you could ever want

Apple likes to say “There’s an app for that” and it’s true. There seems to be an app for everything and anything that you could dream up.

And the iPhone 6 has them all.

The only limitations that you’ll run into in terms of apps is that the hardcore gaming apps could overwhelm that A7 chip. Otherwise, you have nothing to worry about.

Downsides of Using an iPhone 6 in 2019

No more iOS updates

Apple *just* announced the models of phones that will run iOS 13, and unfortunately the 6 was left off the list.

There are a few ways that will affect iPhone 6 owners.

First, the new privacy and organization features in iOS 13 will not be available for iPhone 6 users.

Second, since iOS updates occasionally include security fixes, 6’s could be more vulnerable than other phones.

Finally, over the next couple years, some apps may stop supporting the iPhone 6.

It’s complicated and the timelines are a bit unpredictable, but we expect the 6 to be supported by *almost all* apps at least until late-2020, if not well into 2021.

Limited features

The 6 has most of the great features Apple customers are used to. But there are a few that are missing:

• 3D Touch (introduced with the iPhone 6S)
• Water resistance (introduced with the iPhone 7)
• Wireless charging (introduced with the iPhone 8)
• Face ID (introduced with the iPhone X)

We don’t consider any of these features essential, but if you do, then perhaps consider buying a more recent device.

The Verdict: iPhone 6 is Still a Great Device

If screen size and price matter to you, the 6 is probably the best phone for you. You can’t get that 4.7” screen for less.

You also won’t be giving up much in the way of speed, unless you’re planning on doing some pretty heavy-duty gaming on the device.

All told, this device offers *great* value in 2019.

So what are you waiting for? Pick one up for as low as $155 at Orchard.