Apple just announced the iPhone 6 and we have a fresh galler of pictures from Apple that show us all of the phone's features, and it's beautiful new design. You'll not the metal body, the thinner and more compact industrial build, the revised camera with its seemingly-instrusive camera ring, the antenna bands running around the device (likely to support VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling) and more. The iPhone 6 will be available for pre-order on Friday and ships September 19.
Optical Image Stabilization
This is the biggie. Along with a brand new sensor (with 1.5-micron pixels), the iPhone 6 Plus features OIS, which promises to compensate for your shaky hand. Apple says OIS will work in conjunction with the phone's A8 chip, gyroscope and M8 motion coprocessor to provide the best possible images. It extends well beyond that; Plus users will also be able to capture 1080p HD at 60 fps, or 240-fps slow-mo, which will be familiar to iPhone 5s users. The aperture is stopped all the way down to f/2.2, while Apple has a ton of new software to help improve your shots. The company talked about something it's calling "Focus Pixels," which should provide you with much faster auto focus.
Sharper Screen
This will be something Android users scoff at, but the iPhone 6 Plus features a Full HD display (401) ppi. That doesn't quite match up to the sharpest displays out there, but it's still pretty darn sharp; the Galaxy S5 has 432 pip across a 5.1-inch display, while the HTC One (M8) has 441 pip across a 5-inch screen. Retina displays already looked pretty terrific, but Apple is finally increasing the resolution to match the larger display
Screen isn't just sharper. Apple also carefully designed the display for higher contrast and better viewing outdoors. Just under the screen there's an improved polarizer, which Apple sas will make the display more visible in the sun or werever else light is blindingly bright while wearing sunglasses. Seeing your screen has always been frustrating in bright and light, and Apple promises that will no longer be an issue.
Screen isn't just sharper. Apple also carefully designed the display for higher contrast and better viewing outdoors. Just under the screen there's an improved polarizer, which Apple sas will make the display more visible in the sun or werever else light is blindingly bright while wearing sunglasses. Seeing your screen has always been frustrating in bright and light, and Apple promises that will no longer be an issue.
iOS 8 Tweaks
Apple didn’t just cram iOS 8 onto the iPhone 6 Plus. The company tweaked the mobile experience to make it more compatible and easier to use over the larger canvas. It would be akin to what you’d use with an iPad mini; flipping to landscape will show more content, and even the homescreen will flip. In messages, you’ll be able to see a list of your messages and a message’s content at the same time; same goes for Calendar, Mail and more.
In classic Apple form, there’s a “reachability” feature the company says makes the larger screens much easier to navigate and use. If you do something like double touch the Home button, the entire screen will shift down closer to your thumb, making it easier to easily use Safari and Mail. Jumping up from 4-inches is certainly a significant jump, and it’s great to see Apple tailoring the software to ease people into the transition.
In classic Apple form, there’s a “reachability” feature the company says makes the larger screens much easier to navigate and use. If you do something like double touch the Home button, the entire screen will shift down closer to your thumb, making it easier to easily use Safari and Mail. Jumping up from 4-inches is certainly a significant jump, and it’s great to see Apple tailoring the software to ease people into the transition.
Design
The design wasn’t exactly a secret, so there weren’t really any surprises here. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus look nearly identical, though the Plus model obviously has a larger 5.5-inch screen. It looks beautiful, as expected, and features rounded edges, with a screen that slopes subtly toward the edges. the power button is now on the right side for better accessibility, while the volume buttons are now elongated.
Here’s Apple’s description of the new design:
The cover glass curves down around the sides to meet the anodized aluminum enclosure in a remarkable, simplified design. There are no distinct edges. No gaps. Just a smooth, seamless bond of metal and glass that feels like one continuous surface.
The 5.5-inch model is just 7.1mm thin, but over 6-inches tall, which is a pretty huge leap over Apple’s current phone lineup. But the market demands large phones, and that’s what Apple fans are finally getting.
Here’s Apple’s description of the new design:
The cover glass curves down around the sides to meet the anodized aluminum enclosure in a remarkable, simplified design. There are no distinct edges. No gaps. Just a smooth, seamless bond of metal and glass that feels like one continuous surface.
The 5.5-inch model is just 7.1mm thin, but over 6-inches tall, which is a pretty huge leap over Apple’s current phone lineup. But the market demands large phones, and that’s what Apple fans are finally getting.
Mobile Payments
Mobile payments might finally become a thing. We knew this feature was going to be announced, and Apple delivered what might finally take the wallet-less future mainstream. When Apple Pay launches next month (in an iOS 8 update), users will be able to pay for goods by just holding their device near a contactless reader while their finger is over Touch ID. The payment should go through instantly without you ever needing your wallet.
The feature works by allowing you to input your banking information into Passbook, where Apple says everything is secure. When you add a card, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in a chip inside the iPhone. When purchases are made, neither Apple nor the merchant will know your information, instead using the Device Account Number alongside a transaction-specific dynamic security code.
Visa, MasterCard and American Express are all onboard, as are a number of banks; retailers such as Macy’s, McDonalds, Nike, Disney and many more will support Apple’s payment system when it goes live next month, so you’ll be able to start paying all across the globe with ease. Mobile payments has never really been a thing, but Apple appears to have cracked the code, gently ushering us toward a much more convenient future.
The feature works by allowing you to input your banking information into Passbook, where Apple says everything is secure. When you add a card, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in a chip inside the iPhone. When purchases are made, neither Apple nor the merchant will know your information, instead using the Device Account Number alongside a transaction-specific dynamic security code.
Visa, MasterCard and American Express are all onboard, as are a number of banks; retailers such as Macy’s, McDonalds, Nike, Disney and many more will support Apple’s payment system when it goes live next month, so you’ll be able to start paying all across the globe with ease. Mobile payments has never really been a thing, but Apple appears to have cracked the code, gently ushering us toward a much more convenient future.
Wrap-Up
There’s a lot to mull over here. We knew it was coming, but it’s an odd thing to accept that Apple finally has a really large phone of its own. 5.5-inches is a drastic jump over the current 4-inch iPhone 5s, and still much larger than the 4.7-inch iPhone 6. It looks massive, but sports some really cool additions that make it the more attractive purchase over Apple’s smaller iPhone 6.
The device, however, demands a more premium price, while it might be difficult for people to get used to that larger size. Big screens have become the norm in the industry, so it really shouldn’t be an issue at all.
The device, however, demands a more premium price, while it might be difficult for people to get used to that larger size. Big screens have become the norm in the industry, so it really shouldn’t be an issue at all.