The iPhone 6 Review
by Joshua Ho, Brandon Chester, Chris Heinonen & Ryan Smith on September 30, 2014 8:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Apple
- Mobile
- iPhone 6
With every launch of the iPhone, Apple seems to have everything to lose and not much to gain. Apple’s iPhone line accounts for the majority of profits in the smartphone space, and as the smartphone market marches towards maturity it seems inevitable that companies like Xiaomi will be able to deliver largely similar experiences at much lower prices. The same once happened with Apple in the days of the PC industry where Apple approached irrelevance. Yet generation after generation, Apple seems to be able to hold on to a majority of profit share, and they’ve managed to tenaciously hold on to their first-mover advantage.
This brings us to the iPhone 6. This is now the eighth generation of the iPhone, and the fifth generation of the iPhone’s industrial and material design. We should note right now that this review is specifically for the iPhone 6; for the iPhone 6 Plus, please see our iPhone 6 Plus companion review. At this point, it’s not really possible to revolutionize the smartphone, and on the surface, the iPhone 6 seems to be directly inspired by the iPod Touch. However, instead of the chamfered edge where the display meets the metal unibody we see a continuous curve from the sloping glass to the metal unibody that looks and feels great. While the M8 was one of the best phones for in-hand feel, the iPhone 6 goes a step further due to the reduced weight and rounded side. I've always felt like the HTC 8X had one of the most compelling shapes for a phone, and the incredibly thin feel of the iPhone 6 definitely reminds me of that.
Along the left side, we see the standard volume buttons and mute switch that continue to have the same solid feel and clean clicking action. As I discuss in the iPhone 6 Plus review, going by Consumer Reports' data it seems that there is a weak point near the bottom of the volume rocker, although it's far less likely to be an issue on the iPhone 6 due to its smaller size. Along the top, there isn’t a power button because it’s been moved to the right side of the phone so there’s nothing notable on the top.
On the right side, we see the previously mentioned power button and also the SIM tray, which is ejected by inserting a pin into the eject hole. Similarly to the volume buttons, the power button has a solid feel that gives a distinct click when triggered and continues to be quite unique when compared to phones other than recent iPhones.
The bottom has the Lightning connector, speaker, a microphone, and 3.5mm headset jack. The placement and design of all these elements are largely similar if not shared directly with the iPod Touch.
The back of the phone continues to share elements from the iPod Touch. The camera, microphone, and LED flash are almost identical in their appearance, even down to the camera hump’s design. The LED flash does look different to accommodate the second amber flash, but the shape is identical. The only real difference is that the antennas of the iPhone 6 are the metal pieces on the top and bottom, with the associated plastic lines instead of a plastic RF window.
The front of the phone is decidedly more similar to the iPhone 5s though, with the Touch ID home button. While the earpiece hasn’t moved, it seems that the front facing camera has been moved back to the left side of the earpiece, and the sensors for light and proximity are now above the earpiece. For the most part, there’s not much to comment on here but after using the iPhone 6 for an extended amount of time I’m definitely sure that the home button is relatively closer to the surface of the display glass than before. In addition, the home button has a dramatically improved feel, with short travel, clean actuation, and a reassuring click in most cases.
Overall, while I was undecided at the launch of the iPhone 6 I definitely think the look of the new iPhone has grown on me. The camera hump’s accent serves as an interesting design touch, and the feel of the design is definitely much more comfortable and ergonomic than before. I’m not really sure that the extra reduction in thickness was necessary, but it does make for a better first impression. In the launch article I was a bit surprised that Apple chose to have a camera hump but given the fact that the iPod Touch has the same design it seems that there is precedent for such a move. I personally feel that the design wouldn’t be worse by increasing thickness to eliminate the hump and improve battery life as a result.
Apple has also introduced a new silicone case, which brings a lower price point than the leather cases. Surprisingly, this is a rather high quality case, and as far as I can tell it doesn’t carry any of the issues that silicone cases traditionally have. There’s a nice lip to make sure that the display glass doesn’t touch a surface if the phone is put face down, and the material doesn’t seem to stretch or attract pocket lint the way most silicone cases do.
There’s definitely a lot more to talk about though, and to get a sense of the major differences I’ve put together our usual spec table below.
| Apple iPhone 5s | Apple iPhone 6 | Apple iPhone 6 Plus | |
| SoC | Apple A7 | Apple A8 | Apple A8 |
| Display | 4-inch 1136 x 640 LCD | 4.7-inch 1334 x 750 LCD | 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LCD |
| WiFi | 2.4/5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n, BT 4.0 | 2.4/5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, single stream, BT 4.0, NFC | |
| Storage | 16GB/32GB/64GB | 16GB/64GB/128GB | 16GB/64GB/128GB |
| I/O | Lightning connector, 3.5mm headset | ||
| Size / Mass | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm, 112 grams | 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm, 129 grams | 158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1 mm, 172 grams |
| Camera |
8MP iSight with 1.5µm pixels Rear Facing + True Tone Flash 1.2MP f/2.4 Front Facing |
8MP iSight with 1.5µm pixels Rear Facing + True Tone Flash 1.2MP f/2.2 Front Facing |
8MP iSight with 1.5µm pixels Rear Facing + True Tone Flash + OIS 1.2MP f/2.2 Front Facing |
| Price | $99 (16GB), $149 (32GB) on 2 year contract | $199 (16GB), $299 (64GB), $399 (128GB) on 2 year contract | $299 (16GB), $399 (64GB), $499 (128GB) on 2 year contract |
As you can see, this is a major release even at a high level. While the design might take some inspiration from the iPod Touch, the hardware is a completely different beast. There’s a new SoC, the A8; the iPhone 6 also includes a bigger and better display, newer WiFi module, bigger battery, and a better camera. Of course, there’s a lot more to the story of the iPhone 6 than a spec sheet. The first major difference that we’ll talk about is the SoC.
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CalaverasGrande - Wednesday, October 1, 2014 - link
there is more than one iphone competitor with no micro SD.That is just a silly argument. But you are just arguing silly specs. Apple has always lagged behind the bleeding edge. Both on computers and IOS devices. They throw a few nice flourishes on top such as retina or touch ID, but the underlying tech has almost always lagged behind the bleed edge. As the author calls out.
dmacfour - Wednesday, October 1, 2014 - link
And it's only bad for people that have some sort of instinctual need to be on the bleeding edge.kidsafe - Thursday, October 2, 2014 - link
Are you done?TruthLoader - Thursday, October 2, 2014 - link
Did you really forget to mention one of Apple's new key features, introduced the first time with this new iPhone iteration, a capability prominently displayed by the newiPhone 6+ and best described by the words of Apple's CEO:
Dear iSheeps,
I am delighted you guys already noticed our brand-new "iBend" feature. We have intentionally kept quiet to preserve the big surprise now unveiled on behalf of our beloved
iSheep. Let me share the following core principles, which were of particular importance throughout the design and development process:
1) Enhance our iSheep's ability to enjoy a panoramic perspective, to be able to make "Panoramas" without moving the iPhone or needing any third party software.
2) We wanted to compete with curved screen models form LG, Motorola and Samsung, mainly offered in their domestic markets.
3) This is our answer to the curved screen displays offered by LG and Samsung, especially the new Samsung Galaxy Note Edge and the LG G Flex:
http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/3/6097297/samsung-g...
http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/27/5036288/lg-g-fl...
4) It is our firm belief and intention to surprise Samsung and LG by showing that we are capable of having an edged display in our phones without actually having one, all for
the purpose of trashing their new curved display phones and offering you a new, well hidden, feature.
5) Last but not the least, we want to sell more replacement screens (remember, screen replacement prices were already provided before our new iPhone launch event took place
(in anticipation of it:), of course that's a feature, feel free to exchange displays now:)).
I am sure some of you iTards might be aware of some articles stating that although our new phones cost about 200$ to 250$ to manufacture (now the old ones cost even less),
http://recode.net/2014/09/23/teardown-shows-apples...
http://news.investors.com/technology-click/092314-...
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/16347/20140926/i...
we are selling them at a huge premium, which means we make a lot of money and I get to enjoy a lot of additional bonifications (indeed, my 15th luxury home has an indoor pool filled
with 100$ bills, hence I'm able to take a bath without suffocating).
More money leads to more attractive innovations like this special iBend (Registered Trademark, Patend Pending) feature you guys will be blessed with, as usual.
Soon we will launch a new iDevice with an additional "S" in its name, it will offer a whole plethora of new features you will be able to make use of, like the possibility to to bend it back and forth to form an S shape. ("iS", Patend Pending)
I sincerely believe you iSheeps are happy with our new iBend 6 Plus, however please let me take the opportunity to thank you all for being such a giant hoard of ignorant,
blind and mindless suckers whose whole purpose in life consists of buying our new iDevice/iCrap (Registered Trademark, Patend Pending) for a very high premium while wasting
their valueless time waiting in the iQueue just to brag about which poor soul enriched me first.
Always remember and never forget, the only thing premium about apple is price, everything else pales in comparison.
We Own you.
Yours Sincerely
Tim Crook.
TruthLoader - Thursday, October 2, 2014 - link
I'm terribly sorry I did forget to correct some typos, nonetheless, here we go (corrected version):Did you really forget to mention one of Apple's new key features, introduced the first time with this new iPhone iteration, a capability prominently displayed by the new
iPhone 6+ and best described by the words of Apple's CEO:
Dear iSheep,
I am delighted you guys already noticed our brand-new "iBend" feature. We have intentionally kept quiet to preserve the big surprise now unveiled on behalf of our beloved
iSheep. Let me share the following core principles, which were of particular importance throughout the design and development process:
1) Enhance our iSheep's ability to enjoy a panoramic perspective, to be able to make "Panoramas" without moving the iPhone or needing any third party software.
2) We wanted to compete with curved screen models form LG, Motorola and Samsung, mainly offered in their domestic markets.
3) This is our answer to the curved screen displays offered by LG and Samsung, especially the new Samsung Galaxy Note Edge and the LG G Flex:
http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/3/6097297/samsung-g...
http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/27/5036288/lg-g-fl...
4) It is our firm belief and intention to surprise Samsung and LG by showing that we are capable of having an edged display in our phones without actually having one, all for
the purpose of trashing their new curved display phones and offering you a new, well hidden, feature.
5) Last but not the least, we want to sell more replacement screens (remember, screen replacement prices were already provided before our new iPhone launch event took place
(in anticipation of it:), of course that's a feature, feel free to exchange displays now:)).
I am sure some of you iTards might be aware of some articles stating that although our new phones cost about 200$ to 250$ to manufacture (now the old ones cost even less),
http://recode.net/2014/09/23/teardown-shows-apples...
http://news.investors.com/technology-click/092314-...
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/16347/20140926/i...
we are selling them at a huge premium, which means we make a lot of money and I get to enjoy a lot of additional bonifications (indeed, my 15th luxury home has an indoor pool filled
with 100$ bills, hence I'm able to take a bath without suffocating).
More money leads to more attractive innovations like this special iBend (Registered Trademark, Patent Pending) feature you guys will be blessed with, as usual.
Soon we will launch a new iDevice with an additional "S" in its name, it will offer a whole plethora of new features you will be able to make use of, like the possibility to to bend it back and forth to form an S shape. ("iS", Patent Pending)
I sincerely believe you iSheep are happy with our new iBend 6 Plus, however please let me take the opportunity to thank you all for being such a giant hoard of ignorant,
blind and mindless suckers whose whole purpose in life consists of buying our new iDevice/iCrap (Registered Trademark, Patent Pending) for a very high premium while wasting
their valueless time waiting in the iQueue just to brag about which poor soul enriched me first.
Always remember and never forget, the only thing premium about apple is price, everything else pales in comparison.
We Own you.
Yours Sincerely
Tim Crook
Kidster3001 - Thursday, October 2, 2014 - link
Wow, just wow. I agree with most of what you say but you are just going to start fights the way you put it all down. You're not helping.BTW, you mention iPhone Galaxy. I agree, the new iPhone resembles recent Galaxy phones very much in physical form. You should take a look at the Galaxy Alpha though. It looks almost identical to an iPhone 5 with the chamfered edges. pretty sad imo.
DudeDoe - Monday, October 13, 2014 - link
Not that everyone else have already call it.... But, plain and simple: No one is forced to buy A or B. If you don´t like it, or don´t have the means, don´t.Respect the decision and opinion of the others.
Or as someone else had pointed: A) The ones that have the means, they truly have the choice, they can either buy it (because they like the style, the tech, or simply because of the ´status factor´), or they can buy a ´dumb phone´ instead (because they don´t care, or don´t have the need).
B) The ones that don´t have the means. Well those don´t have much of a choice and have to live with what is possible... and accept that, and not coming after the others because "he/she can´t have what he/she really want"
Musikus - Monday, October 13, 2014 - link
Lots of words to say lots of lies. How much döes Samsung pay for these lies? Shame on you, you have no honour and no guts!Pandian - Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - link
Apple's hardware division - so well integrated with its software division that we do not distinguish the two as we would with most others - makes a strong profit on its devices. Starting with iPhones, iPads, iPods, etc., their profit margin on the hardware seems beyond reason, yet the plastic phones with equivalent or inferior build make MORE profit.None of these companies can make such quality devices without the WTO allowing slave labour in China, India, African nations, etc.,to compete at level terms with the labour force of the "developed" nations; the same WTO contract that USA, China, UK, Germany, India, Brazil, Australia and other nations from every dimension of the social or economic space signed!
That made the 19 year old, 16 hour/day worker from China/India/rest of Asia/Africa AT PAR with highly educated and qualified workers from Germany, UK, USA, India, China, Western European nations, etc., workers who work in less enslaving conditions! If the iPhone 4,5 & 6 series, as well as the HTC, Samsung and such companies' products, were made in Japan, Germany, USA, UK, France, etc., they will cost more than $9000 to $25000 to make! So, the going prices for the hardware, not just from Apple, but the entire spectrum, is a great deal for the consumer.
Apple's software make huge profit - brain power is tough to quantify!
The people who steal our money most are the service providing "middlemen"! That includes the companies that allow us to USE these toys! The phone plans, the billing of both parties for the same call - minutes are erased from the caller and the receiver in the USA for the same call! Not one PAC has been formed to fight this.
These non-producing middlemen include the telephone, cellphone and the CABLE companies! Add the satellite companies if their plans go thru'.
People drill liquid 1m or 2000m from the surface, refine and sell them for great profits, because the fluid powers ours locomotives. The same companies prevent alternate sources of fuel for the same use! We are so used to it that when the new set of companies do the same, we are numb to the stabs!
I pay $250 to $800 upfront for a device in the USA, and use it as long as possible, years! Much more of my money is taken from me in much smaller installments every month, adding up to $240+ per family per month, just for phones! Cable and broadband adds another $200+ in most households! THAT is a car payment!
While the newer smartphones allow me to do more - play more games, be entertained with video of various forms such as games, stupid cats, etc. (paying more there), enjoy the social behaviour of human collective without being social by just staring into a 4-6 inch screen, the phones are much smaller and better than the first simple cellphones! Their primary function is still to be able to make quality phone calls! And, texts, when important. Their super-smart powers are seen when used at trade (stocks), hospitals, and now 24/7 health monitoring! Same device - simple or complex use, still cheap at the physical level; buy it cheaper with a plan that does not suit you, you are shredding your cash.
So, Apple or Samsung can gouge me for 100% profit on their quality hardware! I am bleeding into a shock state from the "nickel and dime" hemorrhaging of my other services - the phone plans, the contracts, the over the limits, etc.! The cable companies lay down the hardware still poorly to supply broadband, and channel programs that they do not create! There goes my money!
MacDaddy100 - Saturday, October 18, 2014 - link
It's obvious you don't have much experience in technology, you can tell you've been sucked into the Android/ Samsung marketing telling you what you need in a phone.It seems you sold on specs and specs only, It's sad that Android phone have to put such large specs, faster GHZ, More RAM just to keep up with the iPhone, depending on which benchmarks you read, at times the iPhone is faster, at times Android is faster, but overall pretty even, that just shows how inefficient Android is, Needs double the specs to keep up.
You obviously like car analogies, Its like you think a 1000hp Ford Focus will out race a 500hp Porsche 911 on a race track, just cramming horsepower doesn't make it a all-around better.
Its amazing how much Android keeps copying iPhone features every single year, And Android profits keep sinking FAST, just look at Samsung's recent quarter, complete backslide.
Why is Android flagship phones still using 20 year old 32 bit technology?
Its amusing to watch Fandroids brag about their pretty dancing wallpapers, can't you see that Googles precious Green Robot and Samsung marketing machine has you sucked in.