Apple launched two new iPhones, the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, in September of 2014. Along with larger screens and a completely new iPad-style design with an ultra thin body and rounded corners, the two new phones offer faster processors, better cameras, and NFC for Apple's Apple Pay payment system.
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus originally came in Gold, Silver, and Space Gray in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities. The iPhone 6 pricing started at $199 on contract or $649 without contract, while the iPhone 6 Plus pricing started at $299 on contract or $749 without contract. With the release of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in September 2015, Apple reduced prices on the older iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models by $100 and eliminated Gold as a color option. Only Silver and Space Gray remain available.
While both models include the same 64-bit A8 chip and the same general design, there are several differences between the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The iPhone 6 measures in at 6.9mm, while the iPhone 6 Plus is slightly thicker at 7.1mm. Apple's iPhone 6 Plus also has three major differentiating factors: optical image stabilizationfor the camera, and a longer battery life, and an iPad-style landscape mode that displays more content on the screen.
Though the iPhone 6 Plus has optical image stabilization, both phones got some major camera improvements in form of sensor upgrades, improved tone mapping, better noise reduction, and new "Focus Pixel" technology, which improves the phone's ability to select autofocus points. For videos, there's a new240fps slo-mo option, along with support for shooting in 1080p at 60fps. The front-facing camera was also upgraded, with anf/2.2 aperture that lets in more light and new burst mode capabilities.
Both phones have an impressive "Retina HD Display," with the iPhone 6 featuring a resolution of 1334 x 750 (326 ppi) and the iPhone 6 Plus featuring a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (401 ppi).
Design wise, the phones more closely resemble the iPad and the iPod touch than the iPhone 5s. Both models have soft, rounded corners and a curved glass screen that melds smoothly into the thin metal body of the device. The volume buttons on the left side of the device are pill-shaped, and the power button is located on the right side of the device for easier one-handed use.
To further make its devices easier to use one-handed, Apple added in a double tap (not press) home button gesture called "Reachability," which moves items from the top of the screen to the bottom of the screen for quick access.
Other new features in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus included Wi-Fi calling support, faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and support for Voice over LTE (VoLTE).
How to Buy
The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus launched on September 19, 2014 in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, and Singapore, following pre-orders that began on Friday, September 12. On Friday, September 26, Apple expanded iPhone 6 and 6 Plus availability to more than 20 additional countries, including New Zealand, Italy, Denmark, and Taiwan, and on October 17, the two devices became available in China, India and Monaco. Later in the month of October, Apple expanded availability to 33 additional countries.
Apple sells the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus both online and in its retail stores, as well as through carrier partners and other resellers in countries around the world.
Since the launch of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the iPhone 6 is now available in the U.S. in 16, 64, and 128GB capacities, priced at $99, $199, and $299, respectively, with a two-year contract. The iPhone 6 Plus is available in 16, 64, and 128GB capacities and is priced $100 higher at $199, $299, and $399, respectively. Both the iPhone 6 and the 6 Plus are available in Space Gray and Silver, with a previous Gold option having been discontinued in September 2015.
IPHONE 6 VS. IPHONE 6S BUYER'S GUIDE
Planning to upgrade to an iPhone 6 or 6s and need help figuring out which model to buy?
Make sure to check out our iPhone 6 vs. iPhone 6s Buyer's Guide, which walks through all of the available features on each device and the differences between them. It'll help you choose the best iPhone, whether you're upgrading from an iPhone 5s or earlier or trying to decide whether to upgrade from an iPhone 6 to an iPhone 6s.
Issues
"BENDGATE"
Shortly after the iPhone 6 Plus was released on September 19, 2014, reports of the device bending when placed in a pocket began to surface. One user, for example, reported slight bending after the iPhone was in a pocket for approximately 18 hours, and after that, several other reports trickled in.
Inspired by the reports of bending, a YouTuber created a video depicting him bending the iPhone 6 Plus with his hands, causing significant damage to the device. The video went viral, and began people worrying about bending the iPhone 6 Plus in their pockets.
It is important to note when watching the video above that the amount of pressure placed on the device is unlikely to be replicated in daily usage. While images have depicted slight bending, there has been no extreme warpage in the casing due to carrying the device in a pocket.
Affected users have reported that Apple has replaced devices that have bent. As shown in another video, the iPhone 6 Plus is less vulnerable to bending when placed in a rigid case, and users can also avoid bending the iPhone by removing it from a pocket before sitting down.
A followup bending video featuring the iPhone 6 demonstrated that the smaller-screened device is much harder to bend and therefore likely less vulnerable to bending when placed inside of a pocket.
In response to all of the media attention that the iPhone 6 Plus bending issues garnered, Apple released a statement to several different sites saying that with normal use, bending in the iPhone is "extremely rare." The company said that only nine customers had complained about a bent iPhone 6 Plus.
In addition to releasing a statement, Apple also invited several reporters to visit its the facility where the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are subjected to several different tests to ensure strength and durability. As described in reports, the iPhones go through five different tests, including pressure point cycling, three-point bend tests, torsion testing, sit tests, and real-life testing scenarios where Apple employees use the devices.
In More Detail
DESIGN
Measuring in at 4.7 and 5.5-inches, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus dwarf earlier iPhone models, but at the same time, the two phones became Apple's thinnest yet, measuring in at 6.9 and 7.1mm, respectively. For comparison's sake, the iPhone 5s was 7.6mm thick.
According to Apple, the thinner profile was made possible by the company's "thinnest display yet," which is made of slightly curved glass designed to flow seamlessly into the body of the device to highlight the "Retina HD" screen of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Both devices include prominent antenna bands on the back enclosure, along with a protruding rear lens. The volume buttons are pill-shaped, much like the buttons on the iPad Air, and the power button has been relocated to the right side of the device.
The iPhone 6 measures in at 5.44 inches long and 2.64 inches wide, and weighs 4.55 ounces. The iPhone 6 measures in at 6.22 inches long and 3.06 wide, weighing 6.07 ounces. In comparison, the iPhone 5s is 4.87 inches long, 2.31 inches wide, and it weighs 3.95 ounces.
RETINA HD DISPLAY
iPhone 6 rumors largely suggested Apple would use a sapphire display cover in the device, but that turned out to be false. Instead, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus use "ion-strengthened" glass with animproved polarizer (for better outdoor viewing), a photo aligned IPS liquid crystal display, and a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.
The iPhone 6 has a 4.7-inch display with a "2x" resolution of 1334 x 740 (326 ppi) while the iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch "3x" resolution of 1920 x 1080 (401 ppi). Both phones are said to offer higher contrast, better brightness, and improved white balance.
According to a test conducted by DisplayMate, the iPhone 6 Plus display was the "best smartphone LCD ever tested" at the time. The iPhone 6 display also received high marks.
Apple has implemented several "Reachability" features in iOS to improve the viewing experience on its larger devices, including Display Zoom and landscape view (iPhone 6 Plus only). Display Zoom lets users zoom in to get a closer view at their apps, while standard zoom displays more content on the screen.
No comments:
Post a Comment