Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus specs review

Design

 The most visually noticeable change in the new iPhones is in their design. Gone are the times of sharp edges and flat sides - in the iPhone 6 versions Apple goes for an iPad mini-like style with a curved edge on both devices. The appearance has not changed drastically, but you can instantly note the evolution of design. Apple is still using the same quality materials: aluminum all around, with only a tiny flashes of plastic on the back of the phone for better reception. Both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus come with the fingerprint recognition courtesy of Touch ID, and both have now got their power/lock key on the right side so you can easily reach it. Volume buttons are on the left.

Display
The ‘bigger than bigger’ motto for the iPhone 6 Plus is a clear indication that times have changed at Apple: we now have a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and a 5.5-inch, phablet-sized iPhone 6 Plus.

The resolution has also changed, and Apple now claims both have ‘Retina HD’, but the actual resolutions differ: the iPhone 6 boasts a resolution of 750 x 1334 pixels, while the iPhone 6 has 1080 x 1920 pixels. The ‘Retina HD’ moniker is official even though the sharpness of the 4.7” iPhone has remained the same with a pixel density of 326ppi. The title is deserved for the iPhone 6 Plus with a higher, 401ppi pixel density.

Brightness comes in at 500 nits (typical), which is the same as with all previous iPhones, and should result in great outdoor visibility for both new handsets. Interestingly, Apple claims to have this new technology of “dual-domain pixels on the photo-aligned IPS display that give you a wider angle of view”. What is that and how does it work? We’re yet to find out.
Turning over to colors, Apple claims that both displays cover the full industry-standard sRGB color gamut, and that’s a good thing - Apple has so far shipped very well calibrated screen and we expect the trend to continue with the new iPhones.

Interface: iOS 8
There are no surprises with the interface the two new iPhones are running: it’s iOS 8. The new version of Apple’s operating system adds more under the hood than on the visual side, as it retains the novel flat and modern looks of iOS 7.

Of course, the new Health Hub and Passbook updated with Apple Pay capabilities are the biggest highlights of iOS 8. The Health Hub has already been talked about and it basically aggregates data about your vitals from various gadgets including the iPhone and Apple Watch, but what’s a bit less talked about is the new Apple Pay. Both iPhones now have an NFC chip, and that can be used neatly to replace your wallet. You can use this feature to pay in Starbucks, McDonalds, and many others.

Processor and Memory
The biggest highlight of the new iPhones is the new Apple A8 system chip. Apple revealed that it has successfully made the jump to 20nm manufacturing, and that alone is a huge boost in productivity and efficiency. Apple is one of the first to get 20nm chips in a mass produced devices.

The Apple A8 is also 25% smaller than the A7, yet at the same time it features over 2 billion transistors. In comparison, last year’s A7 had ‘more than 1 billion’, so we have nearly twice as many transistors, a huge jump in just one year.

Naturally, the new Apple A8 comes with a 64-bit-enabled system chip. The iPhone 5s started this, and with most top apps already running on 64-bits, the Apple ecosystem has already made the transition.

Apple breaks new ground when it comes to internal storage. The basic iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models start at 16GB, but rather than going to 32 gigs, the next version steps up directly to 64GB of internal storage. We now also have a third model with 128 gigs of included storage on both sizes of iPhone. Expandable storage via microSD cards is still nowhere to be found, though.

Camera
The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus both feature nearly identical cameras: 8-megapixel ones with 1.5µ pixels.

We’re glad to see Apple moving the conversation from megapixels to a more comprehensive one that includes pixel size. Comparatively speaking, many will be quick to point out that others have 13-megapixel and 16-megapixel cameras, and pixel peepers would say that this is an unambiguous advantage, but what this misses is the pixel size that makes a big difference when you go to those very small, 1.1µ pixels. Problem is that such tiny pixels are not particularly good in low-light capture, and it is one compromise that Apple does not want to make. Overall, the take-out is that we should not rush and oversimplify by saying ‘less megapixels means worse camera’. The new iPhones also come with new camera sensors. We don’t know whether those are necessarily larger (we’d guess so), though.

In terms of optics, we have the same five-element lens, but this time with a wider, f/2.2 aperture (older iPhones had an f/2.4 one) and a sapphire cover.

What’s notable, however, is far more than just the change in hardware. The new iPhone camera app gives you much better control over your images with exposure control, a new burst mode, and more. Take a look at the first camera samples below.

In terms of video, Apple continues supporting 1080p, so there is no 4K capture capability. However, you now also have the option to record 1080p at 60 frames per second in addition to the traditional 60fps option. A new slo-mo mode allows you to capture a twice the frame-rate for a twice more pronounced effect: 720p at 240fps.

Also, while being nearly identical, the iPhone 6 Plus has got the benefit of optical image stabilization, while the iPhone 6 will only have digital stabilization.

Battery
There is another important difference between the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus: the latter one has the larger battery that also lasts longer, but both have better battery longevity. Here is how battery life breaks down on paper:

iPhone 6 talk time | Internet use | Video playback: 14 hours on 3G | 10 hours | 11 hours iPhone 6 Plus talk time | Internet use | Video playback: 24 hours on 3G | 12 hours | 14 hours

Conclusion and expectations
All in all, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are huge upgrades that deliver on all fronts, and most importantly: they have indeed the larger screens that so many people have been wishing for. Not all people will like the gigantic, phablet-sized iPhone 6 Plus, but it’s clear that there are many, and the more universal, 4.7-inch iPhone 6 size will appeal to a broader category.

Apple is also on the forefront of technology in the new iPhones: it is one of the first companies to start selling phones with a 20nm Apple A8 chip and this alone will bring huge performance and battery improvements. The decision to stay at 8 megapixels in the iSight camera counters the market trends, but keeps pixel size reasonable, and the first camera samples speak admirable in favor of it.

With all those, and the new features like Apple Pay, the growing ecosystem with devices like the iWatch, and the new iOs 8, our expactations are for a head start for this two new iPhones and record-busting sales.



Source | Via iphone 6

iPhone 6 sapphire screen ultimate stress test (hint: it is not unbreakable)

The Apple iPhone 6 is expected to arrive with one fascinating new feature - a sapphire display. While nearly all current smartphones use reinforced Gorilla Glass to resist scratches and even drops, a sapphire screen is expected to be much less prone to damage and show much less damage after use.

How tough sapphire really is, though? Just a few days ago, YouTube’s favorite MKBHD uploaded what he called a ‘stress test’, but what seemed like mostly a very gentle, not-so-stressful pressure to the new sapphire display panel part that has leaked out.

It was interesting to watch, but we needed something much tougher to really put the screen to the test, and now we get it, courtesy of a Chinese tester ready to twist, bend, drop, run over and even put the alleged 4.7-inch iPhone 6 display on fire.

How does the new iPhone 6 sapphire display stand its ground? Take a look below.

 Source

Apple iPhone 6 leaks: 4.7” and 5.5” model mockups compared

The iPhone 6 is about to become one of the biggest upgrades in iPhone history, with expectations for not one, but two larger-screen models: a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 coming first in the fall, and a 5.5-inch model to arrive shortly after.

While we’re still months away from their official unveiling, Sonny Dickson, the Australian kid who made a name for himself last year, leaking pre-release images of the iPhone 5s and 5c, now strikes again with full mockups showing what the 4.7” and 5.5” iPhone 6 are very likely to look like.

Both models look stunningly thin, and also very similar in terms of design, adopting iPad mini-like aesthetics with curvier edges. The larger screens in both have forced some changes in terms of button layout - the lock key is no longer on top (where it’d be hard to reach), but has moved to the right side, closer to the thumb (if you’re right handed). On the back, Apple has reduced the antennas, leaving just small strips of plastic that almost do not interrupt the apparently aluminum matte back of the iPhone 6. Interestingly, Apple seems to have also ditched the pill-shape dual-tone flash in the iPhone 5s for a simpler, round one (a single one seemingly).

Up front, you can see how the 4.7-inch iPhone has a fairly sizeable bezel, while the 5.5-inch one, in contrast, has almost non-existent side bezel, and is very compact for its size. Pictures of these next iPhones come in white, gold, and gray, the already established iPhone color palette.

And while this is not the first iPhone 6 leak (Taiwanese pop star Jimmy Lin posed with an allegedly leaked iPhone 6 a few days ago), it looks like the most detailed one, coming from a proven source. We can imagine the secrecy-loving people at Apple are not very happy with this, but what we’re more curious about is your thoughts on this new design: do you like it or not?

Source | Via

Apple chooses Innolux as third iPhone 6 display maker

A Taiwanese news outlet reports that Apple has chosen display company Innolux to handle a third of the overall iPhone 6 screen panel production. Samsung, Innolux and Sharp were in the running to get the order from Apple, but reportedly the Cupertino execs chose Innolux.

Since Apple anticipates a great interest in the iPhone 6, it distributes the production of its display between three companies: Japan Display Corporation, LG Display and the third is Innolux. Samsung and Sharp were also competing to get a third of the iPhone 6 screen production.

However, Apple is considering Samsung as too much of a direct competitor so it dismissed it. Sharp didn't make the cut following reports of its fist batch of sample panel were experiencing issues.

Reportedly, Innolux remained the only option for Apple as the company has been one of the world's top touch panel makers ever since its start in 2003. It has been producing displays for TV, desktop monitors, notebooks and mobile devices ever since.

While Apple didn't choose Samsung for the production of a third of the iPhone 6 displays, the South Korean company made more than a half of the iPad 4 displays in Q1 this year, so the two company haven't completely drifted appart.

Plenty of iPhone 6 casings and dummies have surfaced stating that we should expect Apple to fit a 4.7" display.

Source | Via

Alleged iPhone 6 Dummy Video Tips 6.5mm Thickness and Single-LED Flash

After a number of leaks and rumours for the yet-to-be-announced next Apple iPhone, tipped as the iPhone 6, we now have another clear look at the alleged iPhone 6's dummy, courtesy a video from Vietnam.

The images show what seems to be the rumoured 5.5-inch screen-sized iPhone 6, which said to be similar in shape to the current generation iPod touch. Previously rumours also indicated the device has a current-generation iPod touch-like design because it is actually the next-generation iPod touch - though this seems a little unlikely. The grey coloured device seen in the video (via GSMArena) was found at Apple8, a Vietnamese store.

It has been reported that the handset might come with an aluminium body, and plastic lines on its back panel that are meant to separate the antenna elements. The iPhone 6 dummy was said to be lightweight, though of course, the weight of the dummy is not necessarily indicative of the weight of the actual iPhone 6.

While on Wednesday we saw some images giving a slight glimpse of what the dimensions for the next iPhone can be courtesy some leaked cases, from these latest images it has been understood that the dummy iPhone 6 measures roughly 6.5mm in thickness. There is still no word on the length and breadth of the actual device.

Furthermore, the back panel is said to sport a single-LED flash instead of dual-LED as seen on the Apple iPhone 5s. The website also mentions that the alleged iPhone 6 will be introduced officially in September.

A recent report also states that the Cupertino-based company is testing a higher screen resolution of 960x1740 pixels on at least one of the two iPhone models (5.5-inch and 4.7-inch screen variant) likely to debut this year. It has been also speculated that the next generation handset will come with a pixel-tripling (3X) mode.

Previously it was rumoured that the high-end 5.5-inch iPhone model would boast of a higher screen resolution at 1080x1920 pixels (full-HD), with a pixel density of 401ppi, while the 4.7-inch model is said to pack a lower resolution screen at 750x1334 pixels and might offer a pixel density of 326ppi.



Source: Zing

Apple iPhone 6 Pro concept includes heart rate monitor, iController and A9 processor

It is that time of the year when leaks about the next iteration of the Apple iPhone meld with concept designs for the device. We've seen our share of concept versions of the Apple iPhone 6, and this newest one might have some of the highest specs for both cameras and the processor. Of course, when you're dealing with a concept, you can almost make the components whatever you want them to be. And as you will see, you can also create an interesting accessory.

This concept device is titled the Apple iPhone 6 Pro, and features a 3MP front-facing HD camera. The phone is 7.2mm thin, which is slightly thinner than the 7.6mm thickness of the Apple iPhone 5s. A notification light is added to the device, but at the bottom of the unit instead of the top. And while Steve Jobs hated the stylus, perhaps he won't roll over too much in his grave when he sees the iStick. This accessory neatly slides into its home at the bottom of the model. On back, is a 16MP Ultra HD Camera. A heart rate monitor is on board.

This iPhone 6 concept slides into a separate device known as the iController, which looks like a game controller from one of today's consoles. Once your phone is docked inside, the iController projects games on the wall. We're not sure how many people would rather view a game on a wall when they can see it on an HD screen on their phone. What might be useful is the holographic QWERTY that is projected. That is something we've seen before in other iPhone concepts. The Apple iPhone 6 Pro is powered by an A9 processor and runs iOS 8. The size of that luscious edge-to-edge screen was not revealed.

Some concepts are developed around a large dose of reality, while others are way out there. This concept you can file in the latter folder.

iPhone 6 pro super slim concept bezel-free display

A new iPhone 6 concept design proposes an interesting wraparound display that would turn the left side of the handset into a tiny display ready to give users fast access to certain settings or apps including volume controls, flashlight, alarm, calculator, camera and music player controls. The overall design of this concept iPhone 6 is based on the current iPhone 5s model, although the device still proposes an interesting feature that could help Apple increase the size of the handset without modifying its overall size: a bezel-free display.

However, no matter how enticing such an iPhone 6 concept would look, it doesn’t mean it’s actually based on anything that Apple may be working right now — the concept belongs to Iskander Utebayev, a designer from Kazakhstan who posted it on Behance. In fact, considering that the sides of the iPhone also act as antennas, it seems highly unlikely for Apple to replace part of an antenna with a display in any future iPhone designs.

Recent reports suggest that the iPhone maker is working on bigger iPhone models, which should be unveiled at some point next year. Wraparound flexible displays have been shown in handset concepts before, although mobile device makers are yet to launch such smartphones. Apple’s rivals including Samsung and LG have already released smartphones that have curved displays, the Galaxy Round and G Flex, respectively, although they do not feature wraparound displays.

More images of this new iPhone 6 concept are available below.

Apple to unveil 4.7-inch iPhone 6 in August, 5.5-inch variant to follow

Apple plans to release its new iPhone in August, a month earlier than expected, after sales were hit by new big-screen models from its rivals, a major Taiwanese newspaper reported Friday, citing supply chain sources.

The Economic Daily News quoted unnamed sources as saying Apple had acquired parts from various Taiwanese suppliers such as wafer maker Visual Photonics Epitaxy Co and Largan Precision, a leading maker of lenses used in mobile phones, for the handset expected to be called iPhone 6.

Taiwanese electronics contract makers including Foxconn and Pegatron have also been notified by Apple to start their assembly lines for the new handsets likely around late June, said the mass-circulation national newspaper.

US-based Apple has decided to roll out the 4.7-inch screen version of the new model in August, a month early, as recent sales have been affected by the launch of bigger-screen phones from rivals such as South Korean giant Samsung and Taiwan's HTC, the report said.

A high-end variant of the iPhone 6 with a 5.5 or 5.6-inch screen will still be unveiled in September as previously planned, it said, adding that Apple expected total sales of 80 million units for both versions.

Japan's Nikkei business daily reported in March that Apple would release its next iPhone in September, its latest salvo in the smartphone wars where it has lost global market share to rivals such as Samsung.

Apple released its current iPhone 5 in September 2012 and newer versions in the series last year.

A number of top Taiwanese electronics companies have been behind the production of the iPhone series by supplying components or assembling the handsets.

The latest to come onboard is the world's biggest contract chip maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which reportedly started producing chips for the next iPhone in February.

That news fed rumours that Apple is reducing its reliance for parts on Samsung, its main competitor in the mobile phone market and a bitter rival with which it is contesting several copyright court battles globally.

The companies named in the Economic Daily News report declined to comment.

A 4.7 inch Apple iPhone 6 is compared size-wise with a current batch of heavyweight Android models

With speculation that Apple will be launching one, and possibly two, larger screened iPhone models this year, how would these phones stack up against today's top Andorid handsets? First, some background. Apple is expected to offer a 4.7 inch version of the Apple iPhone 6 with a 16:9 aspect ratio. And while there is a rumor about a 5.5 inch phablet sized iPhone, this device apparently is being delayed to 2015 as Apple cannot seem to find a supplier that can offer a 2mm thin battery for the larger phone.

So at the very least, it seems that Apple will release a 4.7 inch Apple iPhone 6 later this year. How would such a model stack up against current Android fare? A MacRumors forum member who goes under the handle deuxani, decided to create a picture of a 4.7 inch iPhone 6, and just as in a police line-up, let the witnesses decide if the phone is guilty.

The first line-up features the 4.7 inch iPhone against the similarly sized 4.7 inch Motorola Moto X and the 4.7 inch LG G2 mini. Despite the fact that all three phones have the same screen size, it is the Apple device that towers above the two Android handsets. A 4.7 inch Apple iPhone 6 would seem to match up better with a pair of LG made models: The 5 inch Nexus 5 and the 5.2 inch LG G2.

Lastly, a 4.7 inch Apple iPhone 6 would look puny in between the 5 inch HTC One (M8) and the 5.1 inch Samsung Galaxy S5. It will be interesting to see if Apple makes other adjustments (form factor, footprint, bezels) if it does introduce a larger screened Apple iPhone 6 later this year, as expected.

iPhone 6 rivals have wasted their chance to cut Apple off at the knees

Let me present you with a business scenario: you know what your biggest rival and industry leader is going to do. In fact you’ve had a good idea for the last few years. Do you:
a) Beat it to the punch with a top notch alternative to gain market share and damage its plans
b) Have a half hearted attempt at making a basic alternative and hope for the best

If you are logical, sensible and even remotely business savvy you opt for a). If you are Apple's AAPL -1.07% biggest rivals – Samsung, LG and HTC - you pick b). After all this is the only way to explain the completely pointless Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, LG G2 mini and HTC One Mini (below) as well as their imminent successors: the Galaxy S5 Mini, G3 mini and One M8 Mini.

Let’s fill in the gaps. The elephant in the room is Apple and what rivals have known for years is Apple is planning an iPhone with a larger screen. In fact for the last 12 months leaks have consistently revealed the iPhone 6 will have a 4.7 inch screen. That’s big for an iPhone, but ‘mini’ compared to the 5+ inch behemoths Apple rivals have at the top of their phone ranges.

So it presents a simple, but invaluable opportunity: make smaller versions of your flagship 5+inch devices to combat the impending iPhone
6. Given their names (S4/S5 Mini, G2/G3 Mini, One/One M8 Mini) and screen sizes (4.3in to 4.7in) Apple rivals appear to have done exactly that… but they haven’t.

 First released in 2013, these Minis (above) copied their big brothers’ designs and stole their names but they were cheap knock-offs. Disappointing lower-midrange handsets with their screens, chipsets and cameras all compromised but with exploitatively high price tags in excess of the superb Nexus 5. Not only did they not attract iPhone owners, but in being no better than other midrange handsets the manufacturers already had on sale, they risked diluting the brand image of their more illustrious namesakes.

One year and, despite lukewarm reviews and disappointing sales, lessons have still not been learnt. The heavily leaked S5 Mini, G3 Mini and One M8 Mini again all drastically cut the specifications from the recently released Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8 and (also heavily leaked) LG G3. They are destined for more lukewarm reviews and disappointing sales, will not attract iPhone owners and continue to risk diluting the brand image of their larger namesakes.

It is a terrible waste. The iPhone 6 will be the most significant form factor shift in iPhone history and with it comes a very real risk that Apple will not get either the hardware or software right. After all a major rethink of iOS could be on the cards, particularly with the back button currently positioned in what will be a hard-to-reach top left corner.

Z1 mini

What’s more it is extremely frustrating because one manufacturer with next to no traction is actually showing Apple’s biggest rivals how to do it right. The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact (above) is an exact copy of the 5in Xperia Z1 but with a 4.3in screen. Reviews have been superb and the company looks set to repeat the feat with the leaked Z2 Compact which follows on from the recently released Xperia Z2.

If only Sony were not trying to come from so far back. Having desperately tried to rebuild itself since its past collaboration with Ericsson hit the rocks, Sony still finds itself listed amongst ‘others’ in global smartphone sales. Motorola too offers hope with its well received and USA-built 4.7in Moto X, but its successor will be 5 to 5.2 inches and the company’s (admittedly excellent) 4.5in Moto G targets budget buyers.

All of which means Apple’s potentially divisive iPhone 6 is set to get a free run (and probably even two generations) to get things right when it launches in the next few months. Given the troubles Tim Cook has faced since he took over from Steve Jobs he won’t believe his luck. Meanwhile Apple’s biggest rivals should hang their heads in shame .