It's really not competitive with the Note (presumably the upcoming Note 4) or even the LG G3, which has the same size screen.
For some unknown reason Apple used a 5.5" 1080p screen instead of a 2560x1440 screen used by LG and Samsung. Also, both the LG and Samsung devices have 3GB of RAM and cost $600 (unsubsidized) while the 6plus only has 1GB of RAM and costs a minimum of $750. Also of note is that the LG G3 manages to fit a full 5.5" screen into a package that's about the same size as Apple's 4.7" iPhone 6.
Additionally, the changes in iOS 8 just don't stack up to the current version of Android KitKat, not even mentioning the upcoming Android "L" that's already been previewed.
Designwise, the iPhone 6 seems to be a step backwards for Apple. The iPhone 4 and 5 were much more striking as products.
Overall, I don't think another, "why everything Apple does is just peachy keen and oh so wonderful" article actually helps. They had an opportunity to jump ahead with the iPhone6, and they squandered it. The "inventors" of the retina display are now shipping phones with the LOWEST resolution on the market. They could have jumped ahead to 4k displays, created iPhones that could displaycast to 4k TVs and be used as workstations, and added some truly useful technology. Instead, as 2015 approaches, they jumped up to match the specs of 2013 Android flagships, and added useless "health" data collecting features that could only hurt the consumer if his insurance company ever got hold of it.
Apple isn't leading anymore, but that's not news, they haven't been leading for quite a while.

Re: Dave Weinstein
What is 2560 to 1920 if the higher resolution gives you a 25% battery penalty?
Furthermore, the 6 comes with a 2800mAh, which is beast. Suspect it will bring back the '4 days with moderate use' that people enjoyed back in the day.
Regarding the RAM discussion, people have gotten into the habit of thinking that more RAM is king. But in reality the only reason RAM exists is to buffer information while the processor is dealing with it. So to me, a phone with 3Gb of RAM just screams "RAM is cheaper then a decent processor" Its like boasting back in the day that you have a bigger swap file on your HDD than someone else. Anyone in the know would say your computer didn't have enough RAM.
But I'll acknowledge that the price is not reasonable. If it was not for my mobile provider absorbing most of the cost I would not be on an apple. And when I'm in the market for an upgrade to the 6 in ~6 months (IOS 8 should be mature by then), I will only do so if my provider absorbs it yet again.

Excellent initial write-up. The previous commenter seems as though he's never used an iPhone, and I can't figure out why anyone would post something so anti-Apple on a well-written article describing a new iPhone. Odd.

The iPhone 6 is a little-bitty tablet, but a great big clown phone. Like using a 10" tablet as a gigantic clown camera; Apple, why can't we use 10" iPads as gigantic clown phones?? There's the iPhone 6 killer!

5.5 inch 1080p Apple should have been a sale to me. But then I would have to spend $850 just to get in the front door. I don't quite understand why I can buy a 5inch 1080p Nexus 5 for $400, but have to double my money spent to get in the Apple club... There are likely many people on the fence that have been locked out by the brand pricing. When Apple eventually loses its market share because they have priced themselves out of the market, I wonder how many will realize this was the reason it tanked.

Apple is now copying what other smartphone manufacturers are doing. I picked up the new IPhone and I said to myself, it feels like a Samsung when holding it. The table has turned. Apple tends to control the user. This is why I don't like IOS and the way Apple architectures their products. I use both Apple and Android. Android works best for me. I noticed IOS crashes apps more than Android. It's not about the hardware anymore, it's about the OS. The Apple hype has gone. It was all about Steve not Apple

I remember when the Mac first came out. How the experts poured their vitriol on it. How they say that it was for simpletons who couldn't remember simple commands. How the dumbed-down interface actually makes users dumber.
All while they're busy copying the Mac.
Once they've launched their copy, they then strutted and boasted and bragged at how they were now the real innovators, and that the Mac is mere yesterday's news.

Screen quality is about more than just resolution. The 6 plus is 1080p and 401 ppi which seems like a decent choice.
The regular iPhone at 750 x 1334 and 326 ppi does seem like it lags a bit behind some other flagship phones.
I don't think 4k ever really belongs on a phone. In terms of gaming most high end PC's barely support 4K displays at a respectable frame rate and the next gen consoles (ps4/xbone) struggle just to run 1080p at 60Hz. I get that phones don't spend a lot of time rendering detailed games at the native resolution but it highlights how much harder it is to drive a display beyond where the resolution even matters.
A 4k display on a 5.5 inch screen would be 801 PPI. On a 4.7 inch screen it would be 937 PPI.

bah!! iphone was a revolution but that was old times. Now we have hundreds of options better, with improved performance, more comfortable design and CHEAPER . Now u pay to have a little apple figure over ur phone not for having a great device.

Hyopotron, I agree. Apple assumes too much control over the user. I miss the days before osx when things could be configured the way you want them. Get over yourselves Apple! You don't know how everyone wants their computer to behave. Oh yes, and the the macbook pro should still have an ethernet port and an optical drive. Forcing everyone to go wireless in so not cool. Newsflash- optical disks are not going away yet!