First of all, getting the iPhone 6 was completely unexpected. I had planned to stick with my 5S until the 6S came out, but unfortunately, the 5S battery died. After getting a free battery replacement at the Genius Bar, I unexpectedly received a brand-new unit. So, I decided to sell it right away and upgraded to the 6. Fortunately, the 6/6+ is now fully in stock at the Apple Store, making it very convenient.

Let’s start with a comparison between the 5S and the 6:
If I were to replace my 5S, it would basically be due to dissatisfaction with the following three points:

• Battery: A new 5S battery lasts about 7 hours. If you keep location services on continuously (referring to apps like Moves for tracking or Baidu Cloud uploading in the background actually requesting location data, not just having the location toggle enabled), you lose another 20%-30%, leaving only about 5 hours. Over time (officially, after 500 charge cycles, the battery retains 80% capacity), for someone who charges twice a day, reaching this point in under a year is easy. Even without constant location tracking, usage drops to 5.5 hours; with it on, it’s down to 4.5 hours, which barely meets daily needs and necessitates carrying a power bank. As for the iPhone 6, based on my testing, under normal usage conditions, it lasts about 11-12 hours, which is more than enough for a full day.
• 4G: My 5S happens to be the most disappointing model in the entire lineup… Model 1528. Among all the various 5/5S/6/6+ models currently available in China, it is the only one that does not support China Unicom 4G…. Since China Unicom launched its 4G commercial service, 3G speeds have noticeably slowed down, and I frequently find myself with no network connection at all…
• Screen Size: Although I didn’t think the 4-inch screen was an issue when I only had the 5S, seeing everyone switch to the 6/6+ has shown me how much better it is to see more text and larger images—it really is much more enjoyable.

Comparison between 5S and 6:

• The 6 is larger than the 5S, weighing 17 grams more and being 0.7mm thinner.
• The 6 features a larger screen than the 5S, upgrading to 4.7 inches with a corresponding resolution increase to 1334*750. The screen contrast ratio has also improved from 800:1 to 1400:1.
• Processor upgrade: from A7 to A8, and the co-processor has been upgraded from M7 to M8.
• Camera improvements: enhanced image stabilization, facial recognition, and phase-detection autofocus. Slow-motion video now supports up to 240fps, and the front-facing camera aperture has been widened to f/2.2.
• Connectivity: Added support for 802.11ac and NFC (though NFC is limited to Apple Pay). A single device is now compatible with all networks—no more separate versions for Telecom or Unicom~~
• Added a barometer, capable of detecting elevation gain during climbs.
• Battery capacity increased from 1560mAh to 1810mAh.

Next, let’s talk about choosing between the 6 and the 6+:

For a moment, I did consider the 6+, and even tried a friend’s unit, but it was simply too big and heavy—so large that holding it felt uncomfortable. One-handed operation was completely impossible, so I gave up on it. However, compared to the 6, it does have some advantages:

• Resolution is 1920*1080; the native 414*736 resolution is rendered at 3x (1242*2208) and then downscaled to fit the screen. Honestly, I’m even a bit concerned about whether the CPU/GPU performance boost is sufficient, to the point where I wonder if the 5S might actually feel faster?
• Battery capacity increased from 1810mAh to 2915mAh; under normal usage, it should easily last two or even three days on a single charge.
• The camera now includes optical image stabilization.

Anyway… it’s best to try the actual device before making a decision..~~

Finally, let’s talk about Bluetooth earphones:
My need for Bluetooth earphones arose because wired headphones become incredibly cumbersome during workouts, whether cardio or strength training. Cardio isn’t too bad since you can at least place your phone on the machine, but road running becomes a hassle. As for strength training, it’s just frustrating, so I eventually stopped listening to music altogether during those sessions…

I always assumed there weren’t many compact Bluetooth earphone options due to battery limitations, but surprisingly, there are a few models available. Ultimately, I chose the Jaybird Bluebuds X based on a friend’s recommendation. After trying them out and finding them quite good, I decided to buy a pair.

Borrowing photos directly from the official website:

There’s quite a lot included in the box; both the ear tips and the Secure Fit Fins need to be installed by yourself:

Now let’s discuss this product. As a professional sports headset and the official earphone of USA Triathlon, it features numerous optimizations for athletic use. First off, it excels in sweat resistance and secure fit. Additionally, it offers two wearing styles:
The standard style for everyday use or non-intense exercise:

And another style that provides a more secure fit during intense workouts:

Since these earphones don’t utilize the lossless Apt-X codec via Bluetooth 4.0 and instead rely on Bluetooth 2.1 stereo transmission, the source audio quality isn’t high-fidelity to begin with. However, they employ their proprietary Shift technology to compensate. This technology processes the audio signal by reducing noise, enhancing bass, and clarifying sound. In a quiet environment, the limitations of the source quality are still quite noticeable, but in a noisy gym setting, it’s absolutely fine—at least significantly better than other unoptimized Bluetooth headsets. After all, functionality is the priority here, so you can’t compare its audio quality to wired earphones costing over a thousand yuan.

Signal strength is decent. I tested it at the gym today, and whether kept in my pocket or placed on equipment, there were no dropouts. During a full hour-and-a-half session, I experienced minor crackling only about twice.

The official battery life claim is 8 hours. Real-world usage might fall slightly short, but it’s close enough. After using them for 1.5 hours today, the battery indicator still showed plenty of charge remaining. Regardless, having wireless earphones makes such a huge difference—I can finally enjoy music throughout my entire workout~~~ Considering the price point of this product, I’d definitely recommend it~~~

Photos in this post are sourced from the Apple and Jaybird official websites, as well as shots taken with a Canon 50D + 50mm f/1.4 lens, post-processed in Lightroom.

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Ear-plug, iOS, iPhone