This is it, the Apple iPhone 6 and the larger iPhone 6 Plus. Officially unveiled today at an event in Cupertino, California, the latest editions of Apple’s flagship phone confirmed what we’ve known for months: this would be the biggest iPhone to date. Apple CEO Tim Cook gave hands-on demonstrations of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, both running an A8 chip that’s said to be about 25 percent faster than the outgoing A7. Both also feature a new generation of display, one that Apple calls Retina HD. The 1334 x 750 4.7-inch screen packs 38-percent more pixels, while the 5.5-inch 1080p display offers enough real estate to accommodate split-screen modes in both apps and on the home screen.
Both are housed in bodies with rounded edges, with the fingerprint scanner on the home button carried over from the 5s. The iSight camera is stuck at eight megapixels, but there’s a next-gen sensor for easier auto-focus and a new imaging chip with better noise reduction and improved color tones, plus optical image stabilization on the iPhone 6 Plus.
Under the hood is the aforementioned A8 chip, with its 25 percent faster CPU and 50 percent faster graphics. Additionally, the A8 is up to 50 percent more power-efficient, sustaining power-intensive tasks for longer periods while generating less heat. There’s also the M8, the newest version of Apple’s Motion Processor, which supports voice-over LTE, as well as Wi-FI calling when you’re in range and your carrier signal cuts out. A next-gen gyroscope will enable fitness apps and games to deliver more accurate results, and a built-in short-range NFC feature will deliver mobile payments at retail stores using Apple Pay.
Additional improvements include an upgraded LTE modem that supports up to 20 LTE bands (more than any other phone) and promises faster upload and download speeds. The new LTE technology accommodates VoLTE and 802.11ac Wi-Fi, reportedly three times faster than the previous generation. Battery life, meanwhile, is nominally improved from the previous generation of iPhones, supporting 14 hours of 3G talk time.
The iPhone 6 will come in 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB versions available for $300, $400, and $500. The 6 Plus will cost $299, $399 and $499 for the 16GB, 64GB and 128GB models. Both are available in gold, silver and space grey, with pre-order beginning September 12 and an official release following on September 19.
