iPhone 6 Edges Out The Samsung Galaxy S6

In the market for a Samsung (NASDAQ Other:SSNLF) Galaxy S6. I don't intend to replace my iPhone 6 with it, mind you, but I've been itching to get some extended hands-on time with an S6 to get a sense of how it compares with the iPhone 6 in the real world.

In an attempt to get an S6 for cheaper than what Verizon will sell me one for, I bid on a new 32GB Galaxy S6 on eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY). I was able to get one for $560 plus approximately $10 in shipping costs.

According to Verizon's website, the full retail cost of a S6 straight from the company is $599 after a $50 mail-in-rebate debit card, meaning I saved a cool $30.

Now, out of curiosity, I looked at how much Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 6 models go for on eBay and noticed something interesting -- and positive -- for Apple shareholders.

On eBay I followed two iPhones: a "factory sealed" 16GB silver iPhone 6 and a used 16GB silver iPhone 6. The used one sold for $560 plus $11.55 for expedited shipping for a total cost of $571.55 -- just a smidge more than the $570 total I paid for a new Galaxy S6.The new iPhone 6 that I watched sold for $600 with free shipping.

Why is this good news for Apple stockholders?

The iPhone 6 launched back in September, meaning that it's about eight months old now, with a replacement likely to be due in about four months or so. In contrast, the Galaxy S6 is barely a month old, and it still sold for less than the older iPhone 6 on eBay.

There's something unique happening here. The Galaxy S6 touts a lot of higher-end specs that the iPhone 6 simply doesn't have, like a higher-resolution display, more storage, and a whole other host of bells and whistles that the iPhone 6 doesn't have. However, people are still willing to pay more on the open market for an iPhone 6 than for a Galaxy S6. In other words, the iPhone 6 appears to be worth more to customers.

So, about those 70 million unit shipments ...
Even before the Galaxy S6 came out, there was a lot of chatter about how the S6 had received "20 million pre-orders." One Samsung executive reportedly said that it expects combined sales of the S6 and the S6 edge to exceed 70 million units.

Only time will tell how the S6 will ultimately fare in the marketplace, but The Korea Herald reports that Samsung sold 10 million phones about a month after launch. And, as Gordon Kelly, writing for Forbes, points out, this initial sales figure means that Samsung's chances of selling 70 million S6 units during 2015 -- without substantial price reductions, mind you -- are pretty slim.

The S6 might not be enough to save Samsung's high-end business
When Samsung reports its financial results in a few months, we'll get a good sense of how the Galaxy S6 fared in turning around the company's fortunes at the high end of the market. That said, given the signs I've mentioned, my suspicion is that Samsung is going to continue having a difficult time trying to grab high-end smartphone share back from Apple.

Apparently, Slickwraps is now offering a premium-looking “Hero Series” of wraps and skins for the Apple iPhone 6 and the bigger sibling iPhone 6 Plus. With the help of this wrap, any color configuration of the iPhone 6 series of handsets can be converted into an Iron Man-themed smartphone, says Phone Arena. The red-and-gold-hued Iron Man-themed wrap is available for just $24.95. On the other hand, Apple's charger docking station wrap can also be purchased with the Iron Man theme on board for an additional $4 for the iPhone 6.

Samsung has reportedly introduced two killer color-themed Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge versions in the U.S. Apparently, the flagship Galaxy S6 comes in the stunning blue topaz color exclusively. The Galaxy S6 Edge, on the other hand, sports a striking emerald green. Both the Galaxy models come equipped with 32 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB of storage space, according to Samsung Tomorrow.

iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S6

The best of Android vs the best of Apple: we compare the specs to see how the Samsung Galaxy S6 compares against the iPhone 6 in this review.

The best of Android vs the best of Apple: we compare the specs to see how the Samsung Galaxy S6 compares against the iPhone 6. Updated on 26/5/15. Also see: best smartphones 2015 and best new phones coming in 2015. Samung Galaxy S6 UK release date, price and specs and Where to buy the Galaxy S6 and the best deals.

iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S6: Price & availability

Let's start by taking a look at where you can buy these smartphones and how much they're going to cost you. For the Samsung Galaxy S6, you're looking at a price of £599 SIM-free with 32GB storage, or £660 with 64GB. Pricing for the 128GB model is £720.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 6 comes in with similar prices tags. The 16GB model (which Samsung doesn't offer), is £539. There's no 32GB model – Apple instead skips straight to the 64GB model, which costs £619 so £60 less than the Samsung equivalent. The 128GB model is also slightly cheaper at £699, a £20 saving. Of course, Samsung's smartphone has a larger screen at 5.1in so the additional cost is not surprising. If you opt for Apple's larger 5.5in iPhone 6 Plus, you're looking at a starting price of £619 for the 16GB model right up to £789 for the 128GB model.

Availability for both of these smartphones in the UK is pretty straightforward: both are out now and both are available from most phone shops and carriers. The iPhone 6 is a bit older, first launched in September 2014, while the Samsung Galaxy S6 was unveiled at MWC in March of this year. This does mean that the iPhone 6 will be replaced by a newer smartphone sooner than the S6 – the next iPhone (iPhone 6S, iPhone 7?) is expected in September.



iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S6: Design

The S6 retains the style of a Galaxy S flagship, but Samsung has tackled plastic build quality complaints head on with a new metal chassis and Gorilla Glass 4 front and back. You could even argue that this Samsung smartphone looks a teeny weeny bit like an iPhone 6.

Indeed, the bottom of the Galaxy S6 is very similar to the iPhone 6 with drilled holes for the speaker, a central USB port and the headphone jack. Samsung claims that its flagship is ever so slightly thinner, though - just 6.8mm against the iPhone's 6.9mm. However, when we measured it we found that it was 7.1mm. Funnily enough, Samsung made a few jibes at Apple at its launch event, pointing out that this super-thin phone won't bend (see our sister title Macworld's article on the iPhone 6 Plus Bendgate if you're not sure what Samsung was referring to there). The S6 is also 9g heavier than the iPhone 6, but you're unlikely to notice that.

The iPhone 6 is available in three colours: Silver, Gold or Space Grey, all of which are anodised aluminium and super-stylish. The S6, on the other hand, comes in Blue Topaz, White Pearl, Gold Platinum and Black Sapphire. The Blue Topaz and Gold Platinum are an acquired taste with a garish shiny mirror finish but we love the white and black options.The Samsung Galaxy S6 also uses a new Apple-style touch- rather than swipe style fingerprint scanner, also built into the home button, and loses its waterproofing credentials. As before you'll find a heart-rate scanner on the rear.

In terms of dimensions, there's little difference.The Galaxy S6 is a little bigger becuase of the larger screen but both are just under 7mm thick. The iPhone 6 is marginally lighter at 129g compared to 138g.

One more design element that carries across both the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6 is the protruding camera. We'll talk more about the camera's specs below, but both of these smartphones have cameras that stick out on the rear, meaning that they'll rock when placed on a desk.

iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S6: Hardware

Screen

This is where the major differences between the iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 start to become clear. The Samsung Galaxy S6 has an amazing screen, and while the iPhone 6's Retina display is no dud, it's completely blown out of the water by Samsung's flagship.

First let's take a look at the screen sizes: The iPhone 6 has a 4.7in display, while the Samsung Galaxy S6's display is slightly bigger at 5.1in. We think both of these phones are manageable in size, any bigger or smaller and we start to complain about the lack of screen estate or the inability to squeeze into a pocket.

When it comes to the resolution, the iPhone 6 offers a Full HD display at 750x1334 pixels, equating to 326ppi. The Samsung Galaxy S6, however, has an incredible Quad HD (1440x2560) Super AMOLED panel with a staggering 577ppi pixel density.

Although AMOLED isn't for everyone, we certainly prefer the Galaxy S6 to the iPhone 6 in this area with that extra space and unbelievable crispness.

Whereas Apple also offers a larger version (the iPhone 6 Plus), Samsung's variant is a dual-curved-edge smartphone known as the Galaxy S6 Edge. We're awaiting more details on the possibility of a forthcoming Galaxy S6 mini and Galaxy S6 Active.

Processor and memory

As we suspected, Samsung ditched the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 in favour of its own Exynos 64-bit octa-core chip, which has four cores running at 2.5GHz and four at 2.1GHz, with one geared toward efficiency and the other performance.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 6 uses Apple's own A8 processor, a 1.4GHz 64-bit dual-core chip. This it pairs with 1GB of RAM, whereas Samsung specifies a whopping 3GB. Before you assume the Samsung will leave the iPhone in its wake, remember that these two phones run different software - the iPhone 6 is very fast.

As you can see in the benchmark results, the older iPhone takes 3 out of 4, partly because of the lower resolution screen but the Galaxy S6 is still mightily impressive. They are both top-notch in the performance stakes so look elsewhere to split them.

Storage

Samsung is now more closely mirroring Apple's storage options for the iPhone 6 with the Galaxy S6 available in 32-, 64- and 128GB capacities (the iPhone 6 comes in 16-, 64- and 128GB). And Samsung has removed the microSD card slot - once a killer feature of the Galaxy S-series over Apple's iPhones.

The main difference here is the way the cheapest (entry-level) model comes with twice the amount of storage on the Galaxy S6 which is reflected in the price.

Cameras

Over the years Apple has proven that megapixels aren't everything. The iPhone 6 still offers 8Mp, which is the same resolution available on some budget phones these days. However, the quality is far superior to those cheap handsets with tech such as a BSI sensor and Focus Pixels.

Samsung has a history of producing excellent cameras in the Galaxy S range. It retains the 16Mp camera found on the S5, but upgrades it with smart optical image stabilisation and an f/1.9 wide-angle lens that should help it fare better in low light. There's an IR sensor for automatic white balance adjustment, and the camera is always-on in the background meaning you can pick it up and take a photo within 0.7 seconds, according to the company (double tap the home button to launch).

In video recording the iPhone 6 doesn't have optical image stabilisation but does offer 240fps slo-mo and time-lapse and maxes out at Full HD 1080p. The Galaxy S6 offers up to 4K resolution.

Samsung has also upgraded its front camera to a 5Mp model with real-time HDR, while Apple uses a 1.2Mp FaceTime HD camera at the front.

While the iPhone 6 has a decent, camera the Galaxy S6 is the best you'll find on a smartphone at the moment (along with the LG G4). Find out why in our in-depth best camera phone 2015 comparison.



Other hardware

Beyond the normal set of hardware which any smartphone offers, manufacturers needs to make phones stand out from the crowd with additional features. The iPhone 6 offers the latest wireless including 11.ac Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth 4.0 – and it's no surprose that Samsung specifies the same.

While the iPhone 6 has NFC for its Apple Pay service, Samsung now offers its own rival Samsung Pay service. Neither are available in the UK just yet.

Both have a fingerprint scanner which simply requires a touch (rather than a swipe as found on the Galaxy S5) but the Galaxy S6 also has an IR blaster for controlling gadgets like your TV and a heart rate monitor (which can also be used as a shutter for the camera).

iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S6: Software

It's a given that software will be a major difference between these two heavy weight smartphones with Apple running its own iOS (currently iOS 8.3 but the iPhone 6 will get upgraded to iOS 9 later this year). Samsung uses Google's Android OS and the Galaxy S6 is preloaded with version 5.0 Lollipop.

Samsung overlays Android with is TouchWiz user interface and the latest version is better than ever before. It has a lighter feel and looks closer to stock Android using the card style recent apps. There are fewer pre-installed apps and some handy extra features as usual such as Multi-Window for running two apps side-by-side.

iOS 8 is fluid, simple and easy to use with the same layout as always. Homescreens are simply for displaying app icons rather than widgets but newer features such as the control center make things a little more modern providing quick access to features such as Wi-Fi and screen brightness.

iBattz Mojo Refuel Invictus: The Best iPhone 6 Charging Case

To charge the case you use a standard micro-USB cable and one is included in the box. A full charge can take a couple of hours, even from the mains and as usual, the case will allow the iPhone to be charged first before tapping into the full power to boost its own battery. nearly a dozen iPhone 6 battery cases since the launch of Apple's latest smartphone duo - the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, back in September. They’ve varied quite a bit but few have disappointed with most offering more than double the capacity of the iPhone 6′s internal battery.

This is great news as it also more than doubles the effective battery life and increased the time between charges – welcome in anyone’s books. However, they’re mostly quite bulky and once their internal batteries are depleted, you’ll be reaching for a wall socket again. Thankfully, iBattz has an answer to both of those questions with its new Mojo Refuel Invictus battery charging case.

The most exciting feature is that it uses removable batteries and these are readily available as they’re actually the N9005 model that’s used by Samsung’s Galaxy Note III. As you can easily remove it – even while the iPhone 6 is installed, this means you can carry several with you, changing them when needed. This gives you essentially unlimited battery life – the batteries are the same size as a credit card and only a few millimeters thick so carrying half a dozen with you is no hardship at all.

In fact, you could quite easily carry dozens and have enough power on hand to keep your iPhone running for a month or more. That’s a pretty extreme example, but I’ve seen plenty of non-Apple handset owners carrying around spare batteries for their handsets – of course many other handsets sport user-removeable batteries and while its possible to remove the iPhone 6′s battery, it’s not something you can do quickly or easily – at least not for battery life purposes.



The battery’s capacity is 3,200mAh, equating to around 120% of the standard iPhone battery, so you can recharge a flat iPhone 6 to full, with a good 10-20% left over for another blip. A separate product is available that comes equipped with another battery and a USB-powered charger so you can top up your depleted batteries once your iPhone 6 has sucked them dry.

The case itself is quite possibly my favourite iPhone 6 charging case yet. It’s a few millimetres thinner than all other cases I’ve tested and it’s noticeable too. It’s also a few grams lighter. This is mostly due to the fact that the proective lip that usually protects the screen all the way round, allowing the case to take the hit in case of a drop, isn’t actually present all the way round.Instead, two protrusions at the top will prevent the iPhone’s screen taking the brunt of any face-down impacts.

 Despite its smaller size, the case sports the same battery capacity as other I’ve looked at and also has an enlarged headphone jack, which should allow nearly all 3.5mm minijacks to fit in without needing to use the included adaptor.

iPhone 7 UK release date, specs, new features

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus arrived in September, but now that we're well into 2015 it's no surprise that chatter about what's next for Apple's smartphone is getting louder and clearer. Here's everything we know about the iPhone 7 release date, specs, new features and design rumours and bring you the latest iPhone 7 speculation to help you stay up-to-date with the latest iPhone 7 news, rumours and leaks. When is the iPhone 7 coming out? Updated 29/5/15.

iPhone 7 rumours: Isn't it going to be the iPhone 6S?

Some of you might be thinking, isn't it going to be called the iPhone 6S next? After all, Apple has released an iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S and now iPhone 6 (alongside the iPhone 6 Plus). So if history repeats itself, it's likely that the next iPhone will be called the iPhone 6S rather than the iPhone 7. See also: iPhone 5S vs iPhone 6 comparison

However, Apple has surprised us somewhat over the past two years, releasing an iPhone 5C alongside the iPhone 5S in 2013, and an iPhone 6 Plus alongside the iPhone 6 in 2014. We're wondering whether Apple might soon decide to ditch the numbers completely and stick with iPhone, iPhone Plus and iPhone C, perhaps. Or, simply ditch the 'S' models and launch an iPhone 7.

In fact, reports that emerged in mid April suggest that the next iPhone is going to be so significantly different to and better than the iPhone 6 that Apple has decided the iPhone 6S name doesn't fit, and instead will launch an iPhone 7 this autumn.

No one knows for sure yet though, so you'll see both terms used within this article, although primarily iPhone 7 to keep things simple.




Latest iPhone 7 rumours: Force Touch display

Those aforementioned reports come from well-respected and previously accurate analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities, who says that the biggest difference between Apple's iPhone 6 and the next iPhone is that it'll have a Force Touch display. Apple currently uses Force Touch in the Apple Watch and its new MacBook, but Kuo thinks it'll use different technology that, instead of actually measuring the pressure that you put on the screen to determine whether you're tapping or pressing, will detect the contact area of your finger to make the distinction.

After some reports that suggested Force Touch would only come to the display of the larger iPhone this year, new claims from Economic Daily News say that both will get the technology after all. That's according to a supply chain source, who says that Apple had originally planned to limit Force Touch to the 5.5in iPhone before settling on the final decision to implement it in both.

iPhone 7 release date rumours: When is the new iPhone 7 coming out?

Looking back over the recent history of Apple's iPhone launches, it's likely that the iPhone 7 will be unveiled at a special event in September 2015. It will be a little while until invites are sent out, though.

Our current prediction is 8 September. Why? Well, it's a complete guess, but it's an informed one. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were unveiled on 9 September, iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S were unveiled on 10 September, and iPhone 5 was on 12 September. Apple goes for Tuesday or Wednesday launches (more often Tuesdays) so Tuesday 8 September 2015 is our iPhone 7 prediction.

However, the most recent rumours to hit the web suggest that the iPhone 7 could actually arrive in August, a few weeks earlier than expected. The Economic Daily News has cited supply-chain sources who allegedly say that the iPhone 7 is in production already, and will launch a month earlier than we first thought.

We're taking this rumour with a pinch of salt for now, unless any further evidence emerges. And of course, if it does we'll update you right here.

The unveiling of iOS 9 and the launch of the developer preview on 8 June at WWDC 2015 could offer some further clues to the features we can expect in the next iPhone model. Find out more about what to expect from iOS 9 here.

iPhone 7 rumours: Design

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus represent a big design change from their predecessor, the iPhone 5S, so it's likely that Apple won't make such significant design changes to the next generation of iPhone. Traditionally, with Apple's 'S' models, the design is almost identical to the previous iPhone's design.

So, we can expect the iPhone 7 to have a 4.7in screen (and the iPhone 7 Plus should Apple decide to launch one to have a 5.5in display), a rounded, aluminium chassis and a very slim profile. It's also likely that it'll be available in Silver, Gold and Slate Grey.

Apple could make the iPhone 7 lighter, though, thanks to the use of the stronger sapphire glass and more durable liquidmetal materials, both of which Apple is believed to be working with. Stronger materials mean Apple could use less metal and glass in the device, making lighter overall.

One design rumour we've been hearing recently is that Apple may decide to introduce a fourth colour option, this one with a rose gold finish like the Apple Watch Edition. Those rumours came from The Wall Street Journal, and designer Martin Hajek quickly came up with realistic concept images to show what a rose gold iPhone 7 might look like.Not everyone is convinced that Apple won't change the design of the iPhone 7, though. According to MacX.cn, Apple's next iPhone will have a 5in, OLED display with a 400ppi resolution.

In March, a new patent revealed that Apple is investigating ways to make future iPhones waterproof without needing to compromise on the design. Instead of adding armour to the outside of the iPhone to protect it from water, the method would coat electronic components found inside the iPhone in a protective waterproof material that would prevent them from getting damaged should water find its way in. 

iPhone 6 stunning 60 fps video quality

Clear, high definition video is all about a frame rate of 60 frames per second (fps).Luckily, your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus can shoot in this high-speed format that will smooth out your videos as well as make the results of your slo-motion editing a much more watchable experience.
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus and swipe down to the Photos & Camera section. Tap there, and then swipe down past the Slideshow section to Camera.

You’ll see toggle switches for the Grid, which helps you with the rule of thirds when shooting still photos or video, and Record Video at 60 FPS. Toggle this latter one to ON, and now you’ll see the “60 FPS” indicator when you shoot video with your iPhone.

Be sure to keep an eye on your onboard storage, as the higher-definition video will take up much more space on your iPhone than the standard 30 fps video your iPhone defaults to.
Enjoy capturing your adventures with the crisp, clear, and smooth visual stylings of 60 fps, right on your iPhone. Here are the results when a professional videographer gets a hold of this technology.

Every year, Apple releases a new iPhone. This time around, the company is rumored to have an iPhone 6s up its sleeve to replace the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus from last year. iPhone 6s rumors have been rampant for several months now and they’ve picked up a ton of steam in May.

iPhone 6s rumors have hinted at the iPhone 6s release date, iPhone 6s specs and even the iOS 9 update that’s expected to arrive at WWDC 2015 in June. We’re starting to get a pretty good read on the iPhone 6s and we’re also starting to get a good read on its competition.

Every year, Samsung releases a new Galaxy Note. In 2015, it’s rumored to have a Galaxy Note 5 in development, a device that will almost certainly replace the Galaxy Note 4 from last year. Like iPhone 6s rumors, Galaxy Note 5 rumors have been swirling around this month hinting at everything from the Galaxy Note 5 release date to the Galaxy Note 5 specs.

We’ve spoken to a number of people who are interested in both of these phones. And while neither of them is official, we’ve come out of May with some solid information and leads. With that in mind, we present the five biggest iPhone 6s vs Galaxy Note 5 takeaways from this past month.

iPhone 6C Highlight Smartphone’s Huge Potentials

There are two major rumors going around these days regarding the next flagship smartphones of Apple.

The first rumor states that the American tech giant would be releasing the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus come September, which is normally the month when Apple launches its latest smartphones. The other rumor indicates that Apple would be launching three flagship smartphones including the iPhone 6S, the iPhone 6S Plus, and the iPhone 6C.

With last week’s very revealing leaks on the iPhone 6C, it looks like the second rumor that the American tech company will be launching three smartphones instead of two is becoming more feasible now.

However, until Apple makes an official announcement or statement, which seems unlikely, these are still mere speculations at this time.Three form factors

Trip Chowdry, analyst of Global Equities Research, cannot confirm whether the latest leak on the iPhone 6C is an actual handset or just a mere concept, but he believes that Apple’s next iPhones may come in three forms – small, medium, and large, details Benzinga.

He disclosed that it is likely that Apple is now doing away with its older and smaller iPhones but it is likely that the company would now be focusing on a new trio of devices.

Chowdry said that the current flagship smartphones of Apple, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus are classified as the medium and large handsets. Thus it is likely that when the company launches its new flagship smartphones around September this year, there will be three devices.

Although Chowdry did not specifically said it, it could be that the large would be the iPhone 6S Plus, the medium with be the iPhone 6S, and the small would be the iPhone 6C.He did say however that the small smartphone should be about ¾ the size of the iPhone 6, which is actually the dimension of the leaked iPhone 6C.

Huge potentials

Niles Lawrence, president of stock analysis site Vuru, believes that assuming that the iPhone 6C is an actual handset in development, the smartphone could really have huge potentials if it would be retailed at a competitive price point.

He explained that Apple has become a luxury brand so whatever product comes from the company, it would surely generate positive impact on the market and get good patronage, citing the Apple Watch as a perfect example.

Incidentally, the Apple Watch comes in three versions, which may indicate some form of consistency if the company also launches three variants of its next flagship smartphone.The first leak about the iPhone 6C came out in March when one website called Future Supplier, got hold of an iPhone 6C with rear housing and it subsequently compared it to the iPhone 5C just to show the differences in size and also the input and output holes of the device, particularly on the back and on the lower side.

iPhone 6s vs. iPhone 6

In May, we’ve started to see iPhone 6s rumors emerge at a breakneck pace teasing smartphone enthusiasts and smartphone buyers. With the month coming to a close, we want to take a look at the five most important things you need to know about the inevitable iPhone 6s vs iPhone 6 matchup.

Apple’s 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is still one of the top smartphones on the market thanks to its impressive array of features. And it will remain one of the market’s top smartphones for much of 2015 because Apple still isn’t ready to unleash a successor for it or the iPhone 6 Plus.

As we’ve moved deeper into the year, we’ve started to hear more about iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus successors and what the company has in store for the iPhone in 2015. iPhone 6s rumors are rampant in the build up to WWDC 2015 though the company isn’t expected to announce new phones there.
Apple’s new iPhone isn’t confirmed but thanks to these rumors and leaks, we have a pretty good read on what to expect months ahead of the device’s launch date. Nothing is confirmed until Apple takes the stage but we have enough to start making some early comparisons.

This comparison focuses on the most important things to know about how the current iPhone 6s rumors compare to the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6s vs iPhone 6 matchup isn’t set in stone but this quick outline of what we’ve seen in May will help set your expectations as we push deeper into the year towards a iPhone 6s release.



It's May and you're interested to hear how the iPhone 6s is stacking up with the iPhone 6 so far. Well, the first thing that we'll tell you is that we still have a long way to go before the iPhone 6s rumor cycle matures and a long way to go before the iPhone 6s is announced. It's still early.

Apple hasn't announced anything yet but it's clear that WWDC will be about products not called iPhone. iOS 9, iOS 8.4, a new Apple TV, and a new Apple Music streaming service are all but confirmed for Apple's June 8th keynote and there's virtually no chance that we'll see the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus arrive there.

Instead, May iPhone 6s release rumors have pointed to an arrival later this year, probably in the fall alongside iOS 9.One rumor comes from the very credible KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who claims that iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus production will start in mid-to-late August.Kuo believes that Apple will announce the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models in August and that they will arrive on store shelves in September. Not everyone agrees though. 9to5Mac claims that there is no truth to the August rumors. 

Get an iPhone 6 for $450

Earlier this week we told you about two great deals for smartphone shoppers who were more interested in saving money than having the latest and greatest gear. For these consumers, the prospect of a modern phone for $250 off contract or even an older handset for just $20 may be too good to pass up.

But there is another group of consumers that wasn’t addressed by these deals. These shoppers want the latest and greatest smartphones, but they don’t want to pay top dollar to get them.
Those of you who are looking to score one of the latest new handsets and are willing to buy a refurbished model in order to save some money will be happy to learn that a top used gadget reseller is currently offering a great deal for a limited time.

To celebrate college graduations around the country, Gazelle is offering 10% off any gear on its website using the coupon code GRADS2015.With iPhone 6 models normally starting at $499, that means you can pick up a refurbished iPhone 6 right now in good condition starting at just $450.

That’s a full $200 off the list price of a new model.

Gazelle’s 10% off deal can be used on all iPhone, iPad and Android models, and it expires on May 31st.

2015’s new iPhone isn’t confirmed but thanks to these rumors and leaks, we have a pretty good read on what to expect months ahead of the device’s launch date. Nothing is confirmed until Apple takes the stage but we have enough to start making some early comparisons.

This comparison focuses on the most important things to know about how the current iPhone 6s rumors compare to the iPhone 6 Plus. The iPhone 6s vs iPhone 6 Plus matchup isn’t set in stone but this quick outline of what we’ve seen in May will help set your expectations as we push deeper into the year towards an inevitable iPhone 6s release.

Olloclip unveils new iPhone 6/6 Plus Active Lens, an ultra-wide + 2x optical zoom

Shortly after announcing its lens accessory-compatible Ollocase for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the popular Olloclip lens maker is out with a new Action Lens for the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones. Olloclip Action Lens combines an ultra-wide lens for capturing action shots with a telephoto lens that adds 2x optical zoom to the iPhone camera. Using Action Lens with an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, you can create shots like these.

This sample photo from Olloclip shows a pilot in flight shot with the ultra-wide lens found on Action Lens using the iPhone. Notice how the super wide shot captures both the cockpit and view outside without the stitching effect Panorama shots can sometimes produce. The ultra-wide lens is also compatible with the front-facing camera for taking group selfies without excluding anyone or having to rely on something like a selfie stick.




Action Lens is available in black and works with both iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. An included attachment accessory allows you to clip Action Lens to your bag or lanyard while Action Lens easily attaches and detaches from the piece for quick use. Action Lens is also compatible with the upcoming Ollocase for iPhone 6 or 6 Plus so you can use the accessory while protecting your iPhone.

You can pre-order Action Lens with its combo ultra-wide and telephoto lens add-ons for $99 from Olloclip. The latest Olloclip joins a lineup of excellent lens accessories for the iPhone 4 through iPhone 6 Plus (many of the shots captured for my Apple Watch review earlier this week were shot using the iPhone 6 and this macro lens). 

Android die-hard never looking back after switch to iPhone 6

Earlier this week, we told you about an Android fan who went running back to Google after spending just two weeks with an iPhone. Both platforms are very mature and capable at this point, but sometimes it’s hard to give up an operating system you’ve grown accustomed to in favor of something new and different.

Of course, there are also plenty of times when a user jumps from one platform to the other and loves the new software so much, he wonders how he ever went so long without switching.

While pundits continued to argue over whether or not Apple was too late in launching the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus with larger displays, Apple was busy smashing its iPhone sales record in the holiday quarter last year. In fact, Apple would go on to record the most profitable quarter any company has ever managed.

A large portion of Apple’s iPhone sales over the past eight months have been made to former Android users. Now that there are finally iPhones with larger displays — and even a phablet-sized iPhone — people who had previously jumped ship could move back to iOS, and people who never tried an iPhone because of the display size limitation no longer had that barrier standing in the way.

But a larger display is hardly the iPhone 6’s only attraction.

Reddit user Sheehan7 recently took to the site with a brief post regarding his switch from Android phones to the iPhone 6. He describes himself as an “Android-only” user in the past, but he has now been using an iPhone for two months after his last Android phone malfunctioned.

“I went with the 16GB iPhone 6 and over the past 2 months I have fallen in love,” Sheehan7 said in his post. “The operating system is just so [fluid] and reliable and the designs are sleek (I REALLY love the menu when in a call, the cool transparent background with the circular buttons really gives it a modern tech look). I never even thought I would use Siri but I haven’t actually dialed a number in a month I just tell her who I want to call or even sometimes text it’s so cool!”

As far as Android has come in recent years, the platform still can’t match the fluidity afforded by iOS on Apple’s iPhones. And while Material Design is a huge improvement for Google’s mobile OS, the varying experiences afforded by third-party developers and even Google’s Android vendor partners leaves the platform trailing Apple in terms of simplicity and design. In fact, this particular Redditor says he has “literally no complaints at all,” even after testing his parents’ new Galaxy S6.

A big iPhone 6 Plus

There's no doubt about the fact that many people love the iPhone 6 Plus. Since it's release it's become one of Apple's hottest products ever. But as popular as the iPhone 6 Plus is, it might not be the right smartphone for everybody. Some users just can't adjust to a phablet when coming from smaller phones.

A recent thread on Reddit underscored just how hard it can be for some users to get used to the 5.5-inch size screen of the iPhone 6 Plus. One redditor even stuck with the iPhone 6 Plus for six weeks, and ended up very unhappy.

I have an iPhone 6 Plus, and I'll share my thoughts about using it below. But first check out the thread on Reddit to see just why the iPhone 6 Plus might be too big for some users.

TeslaModelE shared his difficulty adjusting to the iPhone 6 Plus:

After 6 weeks with the iPhone 6 Plus, I can say I've made a terrible mistake......I Should have gotten the 6.

As much as I love this phone it's always awkward to hold. No way to use one handed. I got it because I thought it would be great to watch movies and TV Shows on but I found out I hate watching video on this "tiny" screen. I prefer the full sized iPad.

I'm 6'0 tall and have HUGE hands and I miss being able to comfortably type in landscape. I'll be getting a 6 probably whenever I can afford to buy both the phone and the full sized iPad. I'll withhold judgement on an iPad Pro until I see and use such a device.

Phablets like the iPhone 6 Plus require a different mentality

One of the biggest problem for some users is that they approach phablets like the iPhone 6 Plus with the same mentality and usage habits that they had with their smaller phone. And it just doesn't work most of the time because phablets require certain adjustments by the user for successful use.

For example, take one-handed use. You can actually hold an iPhone 6 Plus with one hand and use it for certain things. I do it all the time while reading in Alien Blue or the Kindle app. But most people cannot do all the things with one hand that they did with their smaller phones, it just doesn't work with a screen as large as 5.5 inches.

I suspect that some of the folks who dumped the iPhone 6 Plus just couldn't adjust to using it in a way that is different from smaller phones. That's very unfortunate since the iPhone 6 Plus has some real advantages over smaller phones.

So if you're considering getting an iPhone 6 Plus, or any other phablet, make sure that you understand in advance that you will have to change how you do things on a smartphone. If you can make the adjustment, you might be very happy with your new phablet.

I got the iPhone 6 Plus shortly after it was released. The first day I had it I immediately realized I was not going to be able to use it the same way I used my iPhone 5. My hands aren't all that big, and even if they had been larger, I still had to adjust how I held the phone and how I used various applications.

It took me about four or five days to fully adjust to the iPhone 6 Plus. If I'd given up before then I probably would have returned it and gotten the iPhone 6 instead. But I'm glad I stuck it out and stayed with the 6 Plus.

Games, for example, are an absolute delight on the iPhone 6 Plus screen. If you've ever played games like Sonic Racing Transformed, Marvel Pinball or Marvel's Contest of Champions then you know what I mean. Games look amazing on the iPhone 6 Plus screen, and it's hard to envision playing them on the screen of a smaller phone.

Netflix videos also look superb on the iPhone 6 Plus. I can comfortably view a series like Supernatural on my iPhone 6 Plus, and it looks and sounds terrific. The viewing experience is significantly better than on my old iPhone 5, and I wouldn't want to go back to that size phone again.

Reading ebooks is also a much more pleasant experience on the iPhone 6 Plus screen than on any of the smaller iPhones. You get more text on each page, and it's quite comfortable to hold the iPhone 6 Plus with one hand while turning a page.

I also do some journaling and other writing on my iPhone 6 Plus. The bigger screen makes it easier to see what I'm writing. The only problem I've noticed with writing on the iPhone 6 Plus is the lack of a split-screen keyboard and that's Apple's fault. The company should have already provided a split-screen keyboard for landscape mode on the iPhone 6 Plus, but for some reason it still hasn't done so.

Overall, my experience with the iPhone 6 Plus has been terrific. I don't even use a case for it any more, I prefer toting it around without one (and no it has never been bent or otherwise damaged). It has literally become my little mobile computer, and I can do almost everything on it in a way that I couldn't with a smaller phone. So I'm very glad I made the jump to the iPhone 6 Plus.

The iPhone 6 Plus is not too big. In fact, I'd actually argue that a 6.5-inch screen might be even better than the current 5.5-inch one on the iPhone 6 Plus. I know that that might freak some people out, but if you're going to use a phablet, you might as well get the biggest screen possible on it and I would love a slightly bigger iPhone.

But I totally respect the feelings of those who have returned the iPhone 6 Plus, or who have opted out of buying it altogether. One size definitely does not fit all when it comes to smartphones. So the real answer to the question of whether or not the iPhone 6 Plus is too big is this: it very much depends on the user and what they want for a phone.

For some of us phablets like the iPhone 6 Plus add an enormous amount of value to our mobile computing experience. We need or want the bigger screen, and the bigger battery that goes along with it. And some of us cannot imagine going back to a smaller phone after using the iPhone 6 Plus.

For others, however, a smaller phone is a much better option. And that's why Apple has wisely offered two different sizes in the iPhone 6. Nobody is forced to use the iPhone 6 Plus, it's very much an opt-in kind of situation for those who want the iOS phablet experience.

Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus U.S. Penetration

New numbers show that the Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have achieved significant penetration into the U.S. market.According to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), there are approximately 94 million total iPhones in the United States. Of those 94 million, CIRP found 25 million iPhone 6 and 13 million iPhone 6 Plus models, equating to a 40 percent penetration rate.

It wasn't too long ago that Apple CEO Tim Cook declared during an investor call that there was still a significant amount of consumers who hadn't upgraded to the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus. According to CIRP numbers, there are still 56 million potential upgrades, a number that is surely to dwindle as more make the switch in the coming months. Around 8 million are still using the much older iPhone 4S and 26 million are using the 18-month-old iPhone 5S.

"We're seeing a higher rate of people switching to iPhone than we've experienced in previous cycles," Apple CEO Tim Cook said of the March quarterly results. "We're off to an exciting start to the June quarter with the launch of Apple Watch."

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus helped rejuvenate Apple in a smartphone playing field where many were beginning to criticize the company for stagnating. With larger screens and rounder design, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus provided Apple with a significant boost, instantly becoming a hit and helping iOS surge against Android. According to CIRP, Apple sold around 38 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus units between the flagships' launch in September 2014 and March 31, 2015. Compare that with the 18-million iPhone 5S unit sales during the same period.



Apple recently reported a favorable March quarter, posting earnings of $13.6 billion, or $2.33 per share and a revenue of $58 billion. The figures represent a 33 percent increase from the same time period last year. Apple also revealed that it shipped 61 million smartphones during the quarter, translating to 40 percent more than the 43.7 million it reported for last year's second quarter.

In other Apple news, the company has finally released a dock for devices with a Lightning port, which means iPhone 5 and up owners finally have a piece. Why Apple waited a few years before releasing a Lightning dock? Nobody knows, but the simply designed piece retails for $40 in the United States, although prices do vary by country.

iPhone 6s vs. iPhone 6 Plus: 5 Things

In May, we’ve started to see iPhone 6s rumors emerge at a breakneck pace teasing smartphone enthusiasts and smartphone buyers. With the month coming to a close, we want to take a look at the five most important things you need to know about the inevitable iPhone 6s vs iPhone 6 Plus matchup.

Apple’s 5.5-inch iPhone 6 is still one of the top smartphones on the market thanks to its impressive array of features. And it will remain one of the market’s top smartphones for much of 2015 because Apple still isn’t ready to unleash a successor for it or the iPhone 6.

As we’ve pushed deeper into the year, we’ve started to hear more about iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus successors and what the company has in store for the iPhone in 2015. iPhone 6s rumors are rampant in the build up to WWDC 2015 though the company isn’t expected to reveal any new phones there.

2015’s new iPhone isn’t confirmed but thanks to these rumors and leaks, we have a pretty good read on what to expect months ahead of the device’s launch date. Nothing is confirmed until Apple takes the stage but we have enough to start making some early comparisons.

This comparison focuses on the most important things to know about how the current iPhone 6s rumors compare to the iPhone 6 Plus. The iPhone 6s vs iPhone 6 Plus matchup isn’t set in stone but this quick outline of what we’ve seen in May will help set your expectations as we push deeper into the year towards an inevitable iPhone 6s release.It's May and you're interested to hear how the iPhone 6s is stacking up with the iPhone 6 Plus so far. Well, the first thing that we'll tell you is that we still have a long way to go before the iPhone 6s rumor cycle matures and a long way to go before the iPhone 6s is announced. It's still early and things can change.

iPhone 6s rumors point to the arrival of two brand new iPhone 6s models, a 4.7-inch iPhone 6s and a 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus. This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise given how well both models have sold since September. Apple recently posted record Q2 sales figures.

We're still not sure if there will be any differences beyond the screen size. The iPhone 6 Plus arrived with a 1080p resolution and Optical Image Stabilization, two features that the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 does not have on board.

Either way, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus rumors have been emerging together and it's pretty clear, at least from where we're sitting, that Apple will once again release its iPhone in two different sizes giving users two significantly different options. 

Apple debuts Lightning Dock for iPhone 6, 6 Plus

Apple finally gets around to bringing out its own Lightning Dock for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
The company, on the heels of unveiling a new 15-inch MacBook Pro and cheaper iMac with Retina 5K display, also quietly put up a new dock connector on the Apple store. It costs $39.

The dock comes nine months after the debut of Apple's latest iPhones, and enters a crowded market that already includes multiple third-party docks.Unlike previous docks, this new version has a raised bump and flat surface to accommodate both models of the new iPhone. The raised bump should allow you to easily place dock your iPhone even if it has a case. It has a lightning port for a connection to an outlet, as well as an audio line-out port for headphones.

Google has an ambitious plan for the future: help nearly anyone with a smartphone to experience virtual reality.The technology industry is preparing for an onslaught of new devices that mount on your head, immersing you in computer-generated worlds ranging from space battles to Spanish villas.

The trend is called virtual reality, or VR, and the technology is moving from science fiction to store shelves within the next year. Once thought of as a gimmick from the early '90s, VR is now one of the hottest markets in the tech industry as low-cost components and powerful software have made replicating the real world easier and more lifelike.

The search giant will do this with a product called Cardboard, a simple device made from Velcro, a button, some lenses and folded cardboard. The project was first announced at the company's I/O developer conference last year, but Google returned to this year's show with an updated version that works with devices whose screens measure up to six inches diagonally. Google also showed off a new version of its Cardboard smartphone app. Perhaps the biggest change: Cardboard and its apps will work with the iPhone, in addition to Android devices.

The takeaway: Cardboard may sound cheap, but it's a powerful play for getting VR out to everyone and their mother.


VR for the masses

All told, the device costs less than $20, a fraction of the $350 or more that most high-end headsets are expected to command. The trick: Your smartphone is both the engine and the display, sliding easily into the front of the contraption and viewable through a pair of off-the-shelf lenses.

For Google, this is business as usual. The search company has made its name by offering technology and software broadly and at little or no cost, inspiring millions of people to flock to its products. It's how the company helped make its Android software for mobile phones the most popular in the world. And for the broader industry, Google's Cardboard could be the device that introduces VR to people from rural India to downtown San Francisco, all while companies like Facebook-owned Oculus, Sony, and others design expensive headsets requiring powerful hardware to generate 3D images.

"In many ways what's going on in VR is similar to what happened in mobile seven years ago," said Andrey Doronichev, product manager for VR apps at Google, referring to the earliest days of Android. Google hopes Cardboard will do what low-cost Android smartphones did back then: quickly make technology available to billions of people.

With Cardboard, Google can "introduce an incredible amount of people to VR in a relatively inexpensive way," he said.Yet critics of Cardboard say it could undermine the industry's attempts to attract the broader public. Since the last major attempts to sell VR almost two decades ago, enthusiasts have warned against overhyping the technology and selling it before it's ready.

iPhone 6 Makes Apple Top Smartphone Seller In China

Apple is now tops in China. Leveraging its image as a status symbol for the country's growing class of urban professionals, the iPhone maker was the No. 1 smartphone vendor in the People's Republic in the first quarter, according to numbers released Wednesday by Gartner. It's the first time Apple has held the top spot in the country, surpassing indigenous vendors such as Xiaomi, Lenovo and Huawei. It also beat out global rival Samsung in the Chinese market.

In China, iPhone sales were up 72.5 percent in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the same period in the previous year, the research firm said. Greater China also became Apple’s largest volume market during the quarter, topping North American iPhone sales. Globally, Apple maintained a 17.9 percent market share, with 60.1 million units sold.

Apple's growth in China has largely been driven by its perception as an "aspirational brand" in the country as well the move to larger displays with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, said Roberta Cozza, research director at Gartner. "Part of the growth also comes from switchers from Android, as some Android players failed to impress users."



Samsung held on to its top spot globally with 24.2 percent of smartphone sales in the first quarter. However, Apple’s strong showing in Asian markets as well as the rise of Chinese smartphone vendors continued to eat away at Samsung's overall share. In the same period last year, there was a gap of more than 40 million units between Samsung and Apple. That difference was halved to just over 20 million units, according to Anshul Gupta, research director at Gartner. With the release of the Galaxy S6, Samsung is expected to partially stanch and slow its bleeding in the second quarter.

Overall, the smartphone market continued to grow in the first quarter, reaching 336 million units, an increase of 19.3 percent from the same period in the previous year. Among the fastest-growing regions were emerging markets, including the Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Excluding China, emerging markets saw sales increase 40 percent during the first quarter.

China is of big interest to Apple, accounting for $16.8 billion, or 29 percent, of Apple’s revenue in the quarter ending in March. The company has rapidly expanded its physical presence in the country with 21 stores and plans for 40 by mid-2016, Apple CEO Tim Cook said in March.

Software

    

The iPhone 6 line ships pre-loaded with iOS 8, while the iPhone 5S shipped pre-loaded with iOS 7. Apps are able to take advantage of the increased screen size in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus to display more information on-screen; for example, the Mail app uses a dual-pane layout similar to its iPad version when the device is in landscape mode on the iPhone 6 Plus. As it uses an identical aspect ratio, apps designed for the iPhone 5, 5C, and 5S can be upscaled for use on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. To improve the usability of the devices' larger screens, an additional "Reachability" gesture was added; double-touching the Home button will slide the top half of the screen's contents down to the bottom half of the screen. This function allows users to reach buttons located near the top of the screen, such as a "Back" button in the top-left corner.

Both iPhone 6 models have received generally positive reviews. Re/code called it "the best smartphone you can buy". TechRadar praised the iPhone 6's "brilliant" design, improved battery life over the 5S, iOS 8 for being "smarter and more intuitive than ever", along with the quality of its camera. However, the plastic antenna strips on the rear of the phone were criticized for resulting in poor aesthetics, the display for having lower resolution and pixel density in comparison to other recent smartphones - including those with the same physical screen size as the iPhone 6, such as the HTC One, and for not having a sufficient justification for its significantly higher price in comparison to similar devices running Android or Windows Phone.

The Verge considered the iPhone 6 to be "simply and cleanly designed" in comparison to the 5S, noting that the phone still felt usable despite its larger size, but criticized the antenna plastic, the protruding camera lens (which prevents the device from sitting flat without a case), and the lack of additional optimization in the operating system for the bigger screen. Improvements such as performance, battery life, VoLTE support, and other tweaks were also noted. In conclusion, the iPhone 6 was considered "good, even great, but there’s little about it that’s truly ambitious or truly moving the needle. It’s just a refinement of a lot of existing ideas into a much more pleasant package".

In regards to the 6 Plus, Engadget panned the device's design for feeling uncomfortable to hold and harder to grip in comparison to other devices such as the Galaxy Note 3 and LG G3, but praised its inclusion of optical image stabilization and slightly better battery life than the 6.

Chassis bending

Shortly after its public release, it was reported that the iPhone 6 Plus chassis was susceptible to bending under pressure, such as when carried tightly in a user's pocket. While such issues are not exclusive to the iPhone 6 Plus, the design flaw came to be known among social media users as "bendgate." A study by Consumer Reports found the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were slightly more durable than the HTC One, but considerably less durable than the other phones tested.
Apple responded to the bending allegations, stating that they had only received nine complaints of bent devices, and that the damage occurring due to regular use is "extremely rare." The company maintained that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus went through durability testing to ensure they would stand up to daily use.The company offered to replace phones that were bent, if it is determined that the bending was unintentional.

On October 1, 2014, it was reported by Axel Telzerowm, editor-in-chief of the German technology magazine Computer Bild, that following the posting of a video where a presenter was able to bend an iPhone 6 Plus, an Apple Germany representative informed the publication that it had been banned from future Apple events and that it would no longer receive devices directly from Apple for testing. Telzerowm responded by saying that "we congratulate you to your fine new generation of iPhones, even if one of them has a minor weakness with its casing. But we are deeply disappointed about the lack of respect of your company."

Hair ripping

On October 3, 2014 9to5Mac released a post claiming that certain iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users complained on social networking sites that the phone ripped off their hair when they held the phone close to their ears when making a call or taking a call.This second design flaw was given the term "hairgate." Twitter users claimed that the seam between the glass screen and aluminium back of the iPhone 6 is to blame, with hair becoming caught within it.

Flash storage performance

Some users reported that 64 and 128 GB iPhone 6 models had experienced performance issues, and that some 128 GB iPhone 6 Plus models would, in rare cases, randomly crash and reboot. Business Korea reported that the issues were connected to the triple-layer cell NAND storage of the affected models. Triple-layer cells can store three bits of data per cell of flash, and are cheaper than dual-layer cell solutions, but at the cost of performance. It was reported that Apple had planned to switch the affected model lines back to multi-layer cell flash, and address the performance issues on existing devices in a future iOS update.

Optical image stabilization issues

It was reported that the optical image stabilization systems on some iPhone 6 Plus models were faulty, failing to properly stabilize when the phone is being held perfectly still, leading to blurry photos and "wavy"-looking videos.The optical image stabilization system was also found to have been affected by accessories that use magnets, such as third-party lens attachments; Apple issued advisories to users and its licensed accessory makers, warning that magnetic or metallic accessories can cause the OIS system to malfunction.

Sales

Apple Inc. announced that within 24 hours of availability, over 4 million pre-orders of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were made, exceeding the supply available. More than 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices were sold in the first three days.

Specifications

The design of the iPhone 6 line is influenced by that of the iPad Air, with a glass front that is curved around the edges of the display, and an aluminium rear that contains two plastic strips for the antenna.Both models come in gold, silver, and "space gray" finishes. The iPhone 6 has a thickness of 6.9 millimetres (0.27 in), while the iPhone 6 Plus is 7.1 mm (0.28 in) in thickness; both are thinner than the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, with the iPhone 6 being Apple's thinnest phone to date.

The most significant changes to the iPhone 6 line are its displays; both branded as "Retina HD Display" and "ion-strengthened", the iPhone 6 display is 4.7 inches in size with a 16:9 resolution of 1334x750 (326 PPI, minus one row of pixels), while the iPhone 6 Plus includes a 5.5-inch 1920x1080 (1080p) display (401 PPI). The displays use a multiple-domain LCD panel, dubbed "dual-domain pixels"; the RGB pixels themselves are skewed in pattern, so that every pixel is seen from a different angle. This technique helps improve the viewing angles of the display.

To accommodate the larger physical size of the iPhone 6 line, the power button was moved to the side of the phone instead of the top to improve its accessibility.The iPhone 6 features a 1810 mAh battery, while the iPhone 6 Plus features a 2915 mAh battery. Unlike the previous model, the rear-facing camera is not flush with the rear of the device, and has a slight "bulge" around the lens. It has a Dual-core 1.4 GHz Cyclone Processor (ARM v8-based).

Both models include an Apple A8 system-on-chip, and an M8 motion co-processor—an update of the M7 chip from the iPhone 5S. The main difference between the M8 and the original M7 coprocessor is that the M8 also includes a barometer to measure altitude changes. Phil Schiller touted that the A8 chip would provide, in comparison to the 5S, a 25% increase in CPU performance, a 50% increase in graphics performance, and less heat output. Early hands-on reports suggested that the A8's GPU performance might indeed break away from previous generations doubling of performance at each yearly release, scoring 21204.26 in Basemark X compared to 20253.80, 10973.36 and 5034.75 on respectively the 5S, 5 and 4S.

LTE support is expanded on the iPhone 6 line, with support for over 20 LTE bands (7 more than the iPhone 5S),up to 150 Mbit/s download speed, and VoLTE support. Wi-Fi performance has been improved with support for 802.11ac specifications, providing speeds up to 433 Mbit/s—which is up to 3 times faster than 802.11n,along with Wi-Fi Calling support where available. The iPhone 6 line adds support for near-field communications (NFC), which is used exclusively for Apple Pay—a new mobile payments system which will allow users to store their credit cards in Passbook for use with online payments and retail purchases over NFC.NFC support is restricted to Apple Pay only, and cannot be used for any other purposes (such as sharing content with other iPhone users).

While still 8 megapixels in size, the iPhone 6's rear-facing camera includes a new sensor which, like the camera in the iPhone 5S, has 1.5 micron pixels, an f/2.2 aperture lens, and the ability to shoot 1080p video at either 30 or 60 frames per second. The camera also includes phase detection autofocus.It can also record slow-motion video at either 120 or 240 frames per second. The iPhone 6 Plus camera is nearly identical, but also includes optical image stabilization.The front-facing camera was also updated with a new sensor and f/2.2 aperture, along with support for burst and HDR modes.

iPhone 6

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are smartphones running iOS developed by Apple Inc. The devices are part of the iPhone series and were unveiled on 9 September 2014 and released on September 19, 2014. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus jointly serve as successors to the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus include a number of changes over its predecessor, including models with larger 4.7 and 5.5 inches (120 and 140 mm) displays, a faster processor, upgraded cameras, improved LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity, and support for a near-field communications-based mobile payments offering.

Pre-orders of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus exceeded four million within its first 24 hours of availability—an Apple record.More than ten million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices were sold in the first three days, another Apple record.

Centered around the device's size; the majority of iPhone models have used 3.5-inch displays—which are smaller than screens used by flagship phones from competitors. The last change in size for the iPhone series came with the iPhone 5 (continued with the iPhone 5C and 5S), which featured a display that was taller, but the same width as prior models, measuring at 4 inches diagonally.

Following Apple's loss in smartphone market share to companies producing phones with larger displays reports as early as January 2014 suggested that Apple was preparing to launch new iPhone models with larger, 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays. Providing a larger screen is a strategic move from Apple to win over Chinese customers who favor bigger screen, especially because it offers a better reading comfort of the Chinese writing system.

Reports prior to its unveiling also speculated the possibility that Apple would use a new iPhone model to introduce a mobile payments platform using near-field communications—a technology that has been incorporated into many Android phones, but has experienced a low adoption rate among users.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were officially unveiled during a press event at the Flint Center for Performing Arts in Cupertino, California on September 9, 2014. The event featured other previously-rumored product announcements by Apple alongside the new iPhone models, including the Apple Pay mobile payment platform, and the company's entry into the wearable computing market with the Apple Watch smartwatch.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were unveiled on 9 September 2014 and released on September 19, 2014; pre-orders began on September 12, 2014.In China, where the iPhone 5S and 5C were the first models in the iPhone series to be released in the country on the same day as their international launch, Apple notified local wireless carriers that it would be unable to release the iPhone 6 line in China on the 19th because there were "details which are not ready"; local media reported that the devices had not yet been approved by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and earlier in the year, a news report by state broadcaster China Central Television alleged that iPhone devices were a threat to national security because iOS 7's "frequent locations" function could expose "state secrets."