Right on schedule, Apple has carried out its annual iPhone refresh cycle. Dozens of leaks and endless reams of speculation proved mostly to be correct, as the devices unveiled at Apple's California event on Tuesday were not surprising at all. Still, Apple managed to keep most of the specifics about its hardware and software improvements under wraps. Here's all you need to know about what makes the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus special.
Key Features Of iPhone 6 Plus:
- Size: 158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1 mm
- Weight: 172g
- 5.5-inchRetina HD LCD LED-backlit display with 1920 x 1080 resolution (401ppi) with ion-strenthened glass and 185% more pixels than iPhone 5s
- 64-bit 20-nanometer Apple A8 processor (25% faster CPU, 50% faster graphics)
- second-generation M8 motion coprocessor
- 16/64/128GB of storage
- 8-megapixel camera with True Tone flash, 1.5micron pixels, f/2.2 aperture optical image stabilization, cinematic video stabilization and continuous autofocus video
- new 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera
- Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Wi-Fi calling
- 150Mbps LTE support (up to 20 LTE bands and VoLTE)
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor embedded in the Home button
- Battery life (80 hours of audio, 14 hours of video, 12 hours of Wi-Fi browsing, 12 days of standby)
- iOS 8 and Apple Pay
Build
The new iPhones are Apple's slimmest devices to date. The iPhone 6 measures 6.1in in girth, while the larger iPhone 6 Plus is a still-very-slim 7.1mm. That compares to a 7.6mm depth measurement on the previous generation iPhone 5S. The company talked up the strength of its new display, which apparently are based on "Ion-strengthened glass" and curve around the edges - good news for those of us who frequently smash our screens on boozy nights out.
Chipset
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus both have the new Apple A8 system-on-a-chip inside. This 64-bit chipset is has 2 billion transistors inside, up from 1 billion in the A7, and the A8 is 13% smaller than the A7 chip. Apple says this all adds up to 25% faster CPU performance and up to 50% faster graphics performance when compared with the 5s. The A8 is also promised to be 50% more energy efficient than the A7.
It’s So LIGHT!
Feeling burdened by that heavy Windows phone of yours? Well that’s because it’s 5.89 oz! You’re basically begging to tear your rotator cuff every time you answer the phone!The iPhone 6, on the other hand, is a lovely 4.55 oz, perfect for anyone whose robust social media presence has caused their muscles to almost completely atrophy.
Design
While the iPhone 6Plus is noticeably larger than its predecessors, the design is a subtle evolution of the sleek, minimalist look Apple’s been tweaking for years. Whereas the iPhone 5/5S opted for a a flat sides, the iPhone 6L has a more rounded design, with the pill-shaped volume buttons introduced on the iPad Air last year.The phone has a 1920 x 1080 display, which as Phil Schiller points out has 138 per cent more pixels than the iPhone 5S. With the new large phone Apple is taking advantage of the the real estate in apps with new split-screen modes in both apps and on the home screen. The home screen view in particular is very striking because we’re so used to that stubbornly vertical view of all of the generations that preceded it.
Display
The iPhone 6 will indeed arrive in two iterations - the 4.7in iPhone 6 and 5.5in iPhone 6 Plus model. That gives potential users a nice choice between sizes, but things get tricky it comes to pixel density. The larger iPhone 6 Plus has a Full HD screen (1080p), while its smaller sibling has a resolution of 1,334 x 750 pixel - 38 percent more than the 5S. Apple has dubbed its latest displays 'Retina HD' and they're based on LCD technology.
The Battery Life Is Nearly Awesome
Previous iPhones were only rated at 10 miniscule hours of continuous video playback (what are we, Luddites!). The new iPhone 6, however, has been rated for 11 HOURS of continuous video playback! That’s so many hours for activities!
iOS 8
Developers have had access to iOS 8 since Apple’s developer’s conference in June, and its major feature, other than a new keyboard, is continuity—the abilty to hand off tasks from iPhone, iPad or Mac. iOS 8 will be free to download starting September 17.
Apple Pay
If it works as advertised, and if it’s widely supported, and if it’s as secure as Apple promises, and if it gets as much attention and affection as it does in the US, then Apple’s wireless payment system could be a really big deal.
Camera
The iPhone has never boasted the most mind boggling camera specs on paper, at least compared to some competitor devices, like Nokia's 41-megapixel beast. However, photography enthusiasts know that these specs don't tell the whole story, and in my experience the iPhone has always had one of the best cameras out there for pure consistency of shooting (especially if you're an unsophisticated point-and-shooter like myself). This year, Apple changed that much - it's an 8-megapixel rear camera and f/2.2 aperture as with the 5S - but Apple's talking up its enhanced iSight sensor, faster autofocus, improved face detection. More intriguingly, the 6 Plus comes with optical image stabilisation (which helps adjust for shaky hands), while the 6 comes with 'digital image stabilisation'. In terms of video, we've moved up to 1080p capture at either 30fps or 60fps, plus slo-mo video at up to 240fps. The front-facing camera has also been updated with an eye to taking improved selfies.
Prices
Price tiers are the same for iPhone 6, but the storage capacity in the two higher price points have doubled.Two-year carrier contracts in the US: The iPhone 6 starts at $199 with 16 GB of storage, $299 for 64 GB, and $399 for 128 GB.The iPhone 6 Plus is, of course, more expensive. The 16GB model starts at $299, the 64GB model sells for $399 and the 128GB will fetch $499.
Release Info
So when you can finally get your hands on an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus? Soon. The device will be available on September 19, 2014 (in the US, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Australia), and you'll be able to preorder on Friday, September 12.
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