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
Video Quality
At a high level, video recording seems to be mostly similar. Both the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 continue to rely on EIS for video stabilization, both seem to use somewhat similar optics and sensors, and both can only shoot 1080p video. However, the details are really where we see improvements in the iPhone 6. For starters, the iPhone 6 now has 1080p60 video support, which is definitely helpful for improving spatial resolution and general performance. There's also 720p240 slow motion video, which is an addition to the 720p120 video that we saw in the iPhone 5s.
| Video Encode Settings (Approx.) | ||||||
| iPhone 5s | iPhone 6 | |||||
| 1080p30 | 17 Mbps High Profile H.264 | 17 Mbps High Profile H.264 | ||||
| 1080p60 | - | 27 Mbps High Profile H.264 | ||||
| 720p120 | 27 Mbps High Profile H.264 | 31 Mbps High Profile H.264 | ||||
| 720p240 | - | 42 Mbps High Profile H.264 | ||||
As you can see, there's really not a massive difference in encoding bitrate, at least for the standard video record settings. However, even casual examination shows just how big a difference there is when comparing video from the iPhone 5s to video from the iPhone 6.
While the YouTube compression is likely to make it hard to see whether the iPhone 6 really has better video quality, when viewed at full resolution with Quicktime it seems that there is some level of improvement, but this could be due to the smaller field of view that is used when compared to the iPhone 5s. This tighter FOV also seems to be part of the reason why the stabilization is more effective than before. At various points in the video, it's quite obvious that the iPhone 6 is also benefiting greatly from PDAF as we see seamless transitions throughout the video and consistently better focus while the iPhone 5s is locked from the start and would require multiple taps to refocus the video.
1080p60 brings significant improvements to temporal quality, as capturing fast motion is noticeably more fluid when compared to 1080p30. Video stabilization is also retained, which makes 1080p60 an easy choice when capturing fast-moving objects.
As with the iPhone 5s, the original video on NAND is saved to play back at either 120 or 240 fps, but on the phone and when uploaded to social media the slow motion versions play back certain parts at 30 fps. As far as I can tell, there's relatively little difference in the image quality between the two modes, but this advantage is unlikely to hold when in lower light situations as the frame rate inherently caps the exposure time.
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name99 - Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - link
Well that certainly added substantially to the discussion.robbie rob - Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - link
Hey Apple craipple, you only prove what we know - Some Android fanatics are much worse then anybody. You make fun of people who buy a product while You display unstable emotion over a product you don't buy. To go to a site and troll - writing such a long worthless post - as you did.. For a product you don't buy. Any people here are technology lovers. People will buy what they want. It doesn't even matter what you post.robbie rob - Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - link
Apple didn't copy anything. They still use LCD.. Androids use Amoled - both have their strengths and downs. Apple doesn't just own their SOC - they have a hand in its design and Apples SOC is better overall as it outperforms in most areas despite a lower clock speed. Apple didn't copy going to higher Megapixels on their camera for marketing purposes like the Korean and Chinese phone makers. Guess what happens when you view a 13Mp picture on your smartphone? You view a 2Mp picture because that's all your screen can display - and people like you swear they can tell the difference! Haha. The best screen in the world - a 4k screen only displays at 8 Mp by the way. Apple spent more time making their camera sensor better - which is more important. Apple could've easily upped Megapixels to appease the psuedo intellects who think it matters. I suppose if your print posters all day- but your be using a professional camera not a smartphone.Scannall - Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - link
I suggest you stop reading articles about Apple products. They seem to make you irrational and angry.Gonemad - Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - link
You forgot to say it bends and stays bent.TLDR - Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - link
tldrichimp - Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - link
Calm down dear - it's a phone review - save your energy for something important!am71ap1 - Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - link
I would like to subscribe to your newsletter. Would read again, thanks!baozebub - Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - link
After the first couple of paragraphs, I couldn't bear to read any further. Your obsessive hatred of Apple is driven by some sort of religious zeal. It's like some girl cheated on you with a guy who works at Apple.I can't understand this level of hate. But after buying my first Apple product with the iPhone 3GS, I've slowly seen this in people who otherwise seemed normal. And because of the fierce resistance in me to those who are so forceful in their opinions of what others must think and do that is why I stick with Apple and won't consider Android. Ever.
ozzymustaine - Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - link
Nice trolling.How's living on your mom's basement?