I'm guessing that it was easier/possible to put these "updated" specs in a larger phone because there's more space to work with. I'm guessing the OIS camera is slightly thicker than what the 6 would allow. Also, the increased batt life can be chalked up to having a bigger space to put the battery. While I have always thought the previous iPhones were close to ideal in size and chuckled at the thought of a "phablet," I took a shot with the plus. The larger screen will hopefully be easier for me to read (it sucks getting old). I made cardboard mock-ups of the phones, and the 6plus wasn't as large as I thought it would be. It didn't feel completely unwieldy in my hands, and it still fits in my pockets. We'll see if that holds true when the actual device arrives.