The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will finally be available to the public this Friday, September 19th, but early reviews of the two new devices have gone live this evening from several publications. The iPhone 6 is the biggest iPhone yet, coming in with a 4.7-inch display, while the iPhone 6 Plus packs an even larger 5.5-inch panel. Both of the models feature “Retina HD” displays. The internals of the devices have also been upgraded to include a new second generation 64-bit A8 chip that Apple claims is 25% faster CPU-wise than ever before and 50% faster graphically.
Both models of the new iPhone went up for pre-order this past Friday and Apple says the devices set an all-time pre-order sales record. You can read our round-up of all the product reviews below:
Walt Mossberg & Lauren Goode – Re/Code
On the iPhone 6 display (Walt Mossberg):
So the iPhone 6’s 4.7-inch screen is a catch-up feature. But it’s very well done. It has the same 326 pixels per inch as the 5s, and a higher resolution that allows it to display 720p high-definition video (Apple now calls it the “Retina HD Display”). In my tests, text, photos and videos appeared clear, sharp and vivid, with great color that avoids the oversaturation I have found in some Samsung models.
And, despite the larger screen, all my apps — by Apple and third parties — just worked. None that I tested looked distorted or blurry. Apple says its App Store now offers 1.3 million apps, a new high.
The iPhone 6 screen is still smaller than the display on the latest Galaxy, which measures 5.1 inches, but the new Apple is narrower, and substantially thinner and lighter, even though it’s made of metal, and not the plastic used by Samsung, which to me feels cheap.
On the iPhone 6 Plus display (Lauren Goode):
The iPhone 6 Plus’s Retina-display resolution is actually not as high, nor its pixel density as great, as some of its competitors. But the display still looks clear and bright. (I’m not convinced that the average human eyeball can really detect much of a difference in PPI past a certain point.)
It didn’t fit well in pockets. And it was too big to hold in my hand, or even wear on my arm, during fitness activities. This is key for me. Stylus or not, some other jumbo phones have felt like plastic toys to me. Apple has designed a giant phone that offers a few key large-screen features without overwhelming the senses, and it has a pretty good camera, to boot.
Tim Stevens & Scott Stein – CNET
On iPhone 6 battery life (Scott Stein):
In the quest to create a super-thin iPhone, maybe Apple should have thought about a thicker iPhone with better battery life instead. Apple’s claims are about an hour more Wi-Fi and LTE Web browsing, an hour more video playback, 4 hours more talk time, and 10 hours more audio playback than the iPhone 5S. Our CNET video-loop battery test, which tests playback of a CNET video with Airplane mode on and screen set to half brightness, lasted 10 hours and 38 minutes, versus 11 hours on the iPhone 5S (running iOS 7). We’ll be running that test a few more times, so stay tuned for a final battery score. My casual use, doing downloads, heavy Web browsing, endless social media checks, photos, video streaming, and all the stuff I normally do on my iPhone, showed the same type of battery drain I’ve gotten used to on the iPhone 5S. It’s enough to hang in for a chunk of the day, but it’s not the all-day-plus battery life I wanted on a new iPhone.
On iPhone 6 Plus battery life (Tim Stevens):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nhhM47O3I8
One place you will certainly notice a huge difference between the 6 Plus and the iPhone 5s, and indeed the iPhone 6, is battery life. The iPhone 6 Plus managed a solid 13 hours and 16 minutes in our battery rundown test. It backed that up with impressive real-world performance, easily and repeatedly making it through a full day of heavy use (constant Web surfing, gaming, video streaming, and GPS navigation), often lasting well into a second day before needing a charge.
Sadly, charging still requires that you fish out a Lightning cable. While the Apple Watch will offer wireless charging, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus still make do without.
Nilay Patel & David Pierce – The Verge
On the iPhone 6 camera (David Pierce):
There’s one feature that stands out, though, the one that most strongly makes the iPhone 6’s case as the best smartphone on the planet: the camera. It still shoots 8-megapixel images, but this time does so with a new sensor. It also uses what Apple calls “focus pixels” to achieve phase-detect autofocus, which is just astonishingly fast on the iPhone 6. I move the phone around and it never appears to be focusing, yet everything is always crisp and ready. There’s some manual control available like exposure lock, and I still tap to focus sometimes, but it’s never been faster to just whip the phone out of my pocket and fire.
The iPhone 6 takes panoramas in higher resolution now, and in general takes better pictures than any smartphone I’ve ever used. But shooting video is where this iPhone feels most improved. You can shoot 1080p video at 60 frames per second, which is cool, but I spent way more time shooting at 240 frames per second. Slow-motion video is awesome (and available on a handful of Android phones too), and at 240 fps even the most mundane activity becomes awesomely cinematic. Everything looks cool slowed down that much. Everything.
Everything also looks better thanks to the new Cinematic Stabilization, which does an impressive job steadying my shaky hands. I can film while walking, or out the window of a bumpy taxi, and the video comes out smooth and jitter-free. The picture warps and bends ever so slightly as it processes and compensates, but it’s well worth the tradeoff for video that won’t make you vomit. Like the slow-motion video and the time-lapses, this stabilization makes anything look better. I’ve already shot and shared far more video on the iPhone 6 than on any smartphone I’ve ever used.
On the iPhone 6 Plus camera (Nilay Patel):
The iPhone 6 Plus camera is the best smartphone camera I’ve ever used. Apple’s holding firm at 8 megapixels while everyone else is racing to put ever-bigger numbers on spec sheets, and it feels like the right decision: the iPhone 6 Plus focuses faster, works better in low light, and generally produces the best photos I’ve ever seen from a phone. The 6 Plus has the same basic shooter as the iPhone 6, but it adds optical image stabilization to the mix, which improves low-light performance even more. It’s not going to help you when you’re shooting anything that moves, like people, but for sunsets and skylines, it’s clutch. It basically lets the camera hold the shutter open a little bit longer than it otherwise could without causing a blurry image, so more light hits the sensor.
If you’re like me and you mostly find yourself taking photos at dusk and in dark rooms, you’ll end up with many more usable shots. Until you take too many shots and everything gets blurry regardless. The iOS 8 Camera app is also much improved; I love the feature that lets you instantly adjust exposure by dragging up and down on the screen. And the new time-lapse and 240fps slow-mo modes are pretty fun — slow-mo works really well, and while the time-lapse mode isn’t quite as good as Instagram’s Hyperlapse app, it’s still pretty good. There’s also a new feature called Cinematic Stabilization which does an impressive job of smoothing out unwanted motion in video clips; it’s strong enough to make a meaningful difference but subtle enough that you won’t notice the effect until you’re looking for it.
David Pogue – Yahoo!
On Apple Pay:
The iPhone 6 models have an NFC chip inside (near-field communications), just like Android phones. That makes them work on those same contactless terminals, of which there are 220,000 across the United States. But you won’t have to turn on your iPhone, open an app, or fool around with credit cards. You just hold your phone (screen still asleep) near the terminal with your finger on the Home button. The screen lights up, shows your preferred credit card, sends you a receipt, and the deal is done.
The Home button, of course, is also a fingerprint reader; no bad guy can steal your phone and then start buying stuff, unless he also chops off your thumb. There’s more security stuff, too; you can read about it here.
Nobody can try out Apple Pay yet, though, because Apple won’t be turning it on until October; at that point, we’ll get an iOS 8 software update that includes Apple Pay features. (One important one: You’ll be able to store your credit card details in the Passbook app just by taking a picture of your physical cards — no typing.)
Stuart Miles – Pocket-lint
On the design:
Immaculately crafted, the iPhone 6 shows that you can create a device that blows everything else out of the water when it comes to design. That might sound like an Apple fanboy cliché, but we’ve put the iPhone 6 in the hands of ardent Android fans and they agree: the iPhone 6 sets a new standard for smartphone design. We’ve habitually been reaching to the top for the power button – something you’ll adjust to with use – but its position on the side is better for those who don’t have big enough hands or fingers to reach on this new larger frame. Overall, we’re mightily impressed with the iPhone 6’s design and build. It’s very much a phone we’d recommend you go and touch, because it’s likely to make a number of manufacturers take a second look at their own premium portfolio. Importantly, however, it feels like a big upgrade over the iPhone 5S, something that iPhone owners are going to want to upgrade to.
Brad Molen – Engadget
On performance:
Another interesting side effect of the size difference is how they manage thermal heat dissipation. Since it’s the smaller of the two, the iPhone 6 got noticeably toastier than the Plus when playing games — in fact, I rarely had any problem with the Plus getting warm.
But tests are tests: Real-world performance is where it’s at. And this is where the Plus truly shines. In my usage tests, I do a little bit of everything on the phone: calls, games, email, social networking, e-book reading, the works. After all that, I got through a full 17-hour workday with just 3 or 4 percent battery life remaining. On the 6, I managed to squeak out around 13 hours. With moderate to light usage, you should expect to see the Plus get roughly a day and a half, if not more.
Jim Dalyrmple – The Loop
Wrap-up:
There is no doubt in my mind that iPhone 6 Plus will be hugely successful, because clearly there are people out there that want a larger screen device. There are markets in the world where people like to use only one device and having a phone this large is a benefit.
For me, I think the iPhone 6 will be the perfect upgrade for people in the U.S. that haven’t embraced larger screen devices yet. It’s the perfect size for almost any hand.
Both devices are very fast and with the help of Apple’s iCloud services, they can be setup and ready to use in under two minutes.
I found nothing significant in my week of use with either iPhone 6 model that would lead me to any other conclusion than to recommend both. Choose the one that fits your lifestyle the best and be happy.
On iOS 8:
The keyboards are just one example of how apps can now integrate and talk to Apple’s hardware and software. Even the iPhone’s Touch ID thumbprint reader now talks with other apps. I tested a beta version of my favorite password manager, Dashlane, that can use my thumbprint as a master password and fills in usernames and passwords in the mobile Web browser automatically.
The operating system’s organization feels stale. The information and apps I need the most are buried. While the Today screen will soon support third-party widgets, I wasn’t able to test it and besides, it feels a little out of the way. There’s no easy way to just peek into an app from the home screen, or personalize a device, a la Android and Windows Phone.
I’ll probably always have gripes, but iOS 8 pulls out ahead of the competition by leveraging the greatest strengths of the iPhone: its apps and ecosystem. After you tap the Update button, those small perks and fixes will make the most difference.
Joshua Topolsky – BusinessWeek
On which model to choose & wrap-up:
While consumers are already clamoring for the larger of the two phones, I found the iPhone 6 Plus too large and unwieldy to use as my daily driver. It does offer better battery life and an improved camera stabilizer compared with the iPhone 6, but its size proved to be more than I wanted to grapple with on a regular basis. Think of it this way: The iPhone 6 Plus is only slightly smaller than an iPad Mini, which means one-handed use is messy even with Reachability, and holding it up to a normal-size head looks slightly absurd. Maybe there are legions of Galaxy Note fans in the world just waiting for Apple’s take on the phablet, but I’m not one of those people.
On the other hand, the iPhone 6 feels like the perfect phone in my hand. Not too big and not too small. Its thin frame still makes the device seem compact, but the added display real estate is a breath of fresh air if you’re coming from an earlier model. Yes, this is an iPhone 6 in my pocket. And yes, I am happy to see you.
With the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple has proven that not only can it make a bigger phone, but it can make a bigger phone better than anyone else in the marketplace. Between the slick software, killer hardware, and deep integration into Apple’s amazing ecosystem, the iPhone is back in the spotlight.
https://twitter.com/michaelsteeber/status/512052346361487360
https://twitter.com/markgurman/status/512051955049701376
And the rest:
- Daring Fireball
- Engadget
- Re/code iPhone 6
- Re/code iPhone 6 Plus
- The Loop
- The Verge iPhone 6
- The Verge iPhone 6 Plus
- Yahoo Tech
- TechCrunch iPhone 6
- TechCrunch iPhone 6 Plus
- Pocket-lint iPhone 6
- Pocket-lint iPhone 6 Plus
- TechRadar iPhone 6
- TechRadar iPhone 6 Plus
- The Wall Street Journal
- NY Times
- USA Today
- Businessweek
- Fast Company
- Mashable iPhone 6
- Mashable iPhone 6 Plus
- The Guardian iPhone 6
- The Guardian iPhone 6 Plus
- The Independent iPhone 6
- The Independent iPhone 6 Plus
- T3 iPhone 6
- T3 iPhone 6 Plus
- Macworld
- SlashGear
- SixColors
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
I fail to see how the larger screens on iPhones are “catch up” features. Just because other junk products have larger screens…that apparently a few people purchased that one time…does not mean these products were over due in anyway.
I never use this phrase, but it does apply here: I’m pretty sure if Steve were alive, he’d be in Mossberg’s ear over that comment something fierce.
I am so tired of reading this to. They act as if Apple couldn’t have made a larger iPhone until now. I am confident Apple knows what they are doing unlike Google/Samsung who throw stuff against the wall to see what sticks.
Tim Cook said in an interview with Charlie Ross that Apple could she easily made a larger phone years ago. They just didn’t want to because they believed that a bigger phone isn’t better. I think the 5.5″ model is too big, but the 4.7″ is perfect. I believe it should be the largest the iPhone will ever get but, it just depends on what you use it for.
I’m perfectly happy with the size of my iPhone 4 but I am glad to see an iPhone with a bigger screen. I’ll be buying this iPhone.
Yea, because Apple bullies journalists who don’t do its bidding.
Disgusting.
But it’s all that Apple has.
Everything it says is new is available on competing devices.
If no one gives a rip about “competing” devices, they’re not really all that competitive, are they?
Except that the other 80%+ of the world does give a crap. Oh, but it’s because they’re just too poor to go Apple that’s right I forgot.
50 manufacturers combined are outselling iPhone Derpie!
and YES that “%80” would quickly jump on an iPhone if they could afford one. Anyone who prefers a knockoff is a real moron.
And yet if they hadn’t released a phone with a larger screen(s), EVERYONE would’ve thrown up their arms and asked, “WTfriggidyF, Apple???”
Alas, they did. So let the shaft stroking and ball coddling begin.
Do you think the landscape mode could come for normal iPhone 6? Technical/marketing possible?
I don’t think there would be enough real estate in that orientation, which is why it was not included from the start.
There is absolutely no technical hurdle for this that you seek. I have installed tablet OS on smartphones and yes the buttons get small but everything works just the same. But Apple won’t unlock that capabiity I’m sure.
“Yes the buttons are small/Apple won’t unlock” –
1. Apple has a thing called an HIG. One would do well to read it.
1a. As a Nexus 5 Owner, I’m glad to say Google Proper has yet to do this because it would be stupid to make harder-to-tap elements
2. Apple doesn’t have to “unlock” this; developers can build this into their own apps if they wish to on the 6 and even the 5-series. We, devs, people that actually write software for these things as opposed to armchairing on web forums, learned of these capabilities and how to implement them back in *June*…sheesh.It isn’t “locked” at the OS level…Apple simply chose to not do this for *their* apps.
Unlock was not a good word, Unleash is more what I meant, as in the potential is there but it would just have to be implemented by Apple and they won’t.
I’m sure the jailbreaking community will figure it out and unlock it to the 6. Speaking of, any word out there on a iOS8 JB?
Can the iPhone+ run iPad apps? If so, that would be a great reason to ditch the 5S and iPad Mini.
Of course not.
It definitely should be an option/feature, but no way they’ll do it and cannibalize iPad sales further. There are no technical hurdles at all, but it would be awkward. There would be serious letterboxing of course, since the iPad is 4:3, and a lot of apps will surely be a little harder to use with the tinier buttons. But this capability should definitely be made available at the 5.5″ size for those who can live with those minor drawbacks.
Incorrect replies from non-developers. A more nuanced reply…from an actual one:
It’s Developer’s choice, essentially. With the new tools, an iPad and an Plus can run the exact same stuff, same layout, etc,if they choose to build it this way. By default, projects are started as “universal” with a layout designed to adapt. the stuff we’ve built does exactly this and i suspect going forward most devs will take this same approach if they feel it doesn’t impact their particular product’s UX signifigantly towards the negative. There is no downside. it is a more…precise…version of what Android does so you can have a “custom” experience as opposed to a “phone” app that just spaces stuff out.
TL;DR – it is up to devs when they build their apps; they can chose to lock it to a particular “Interface Paradigm” or not. If the do, the store and hardware respects that choice.
Hope that helped,
-K
Why does the Verge have iPhone 6’s to review but dedicated and loyal sites like this do not? Where is the reciprocation? Where is the rewarding of patronage? This is disappointing to see. Sorry, 9to5 – you deserve better.
I read at least 5 reviews they all fail to mention call reception and call quality. There is also no mention of wifi is more reliable or stronger with the huge antenna gaps
Apple never mentioned a new antenna design something they always do(unless it was mentioned when the keynote was crewing up).
We now have these huge gaps especially the ones at the too and bottom contours of the phones. Yet there is no mention to why they are much larger or what benefits if any they bring. I have a feeling the iPhone 6S and 6S plus will have liquid metal were the too and bottom aluminum panels are now.
One of the things that makes me happy about life….I could not care less about the GIANT ANTENNA GAPS on the iPhone 6….just knowing there are people so bent out of shape about it makes me realize how well focused I am in life.
I just find it a giant step back from the iPhone 4/4s and 5/5s designs. I much prefer the ceramic for the silver and gold models and glass on the gray models.
First time I have wanted to hide an iPhone in a case. Last time I had a case was for my 3GS.
Your Walt Mossberg quote says:
“iPhone 6 has the same 326 pixels per inch as the 5s, and a higher resolution.”
How is this possible?
Pixel density and resolution are different, at least by convention.
A screen with a higher resolution and the same pixels per square inch implies a larger screen.
Bigger screen = higher resolution.
Higher screen size, higher resolution…same density.
Math.
To be very exact, by definition the resolution is the same and the pixel count is up.
The iPhone 6 Has a 1334×750 resolution with a 4.7″ diagonal. The iPhone 5/5S has a 1136×640 resolution. So they do not have the same resolution. However, if you multiply the resolution numbers, the iPhone 5 = 727,040 total pixels and the iPhone 6 has 1,000,500 pixels. Then you simply divide those total pixel counts by the number of square inches on the device, or the area of the screen. The iPhone 5 is a 3.5×1.94″ screen. So the area is 6.79″. So take 727,040/6.79=107,075 (that’s the squared value because we’re dealing with area–think of it like square footage in a house). Just take the square root of that and you’ll get 325.6 dpi. The iPhone 6 is 4.1×2.3=9.43. 1,000,500/9.43=106,097. Take the square root and you get 325.73. So the iPhone 6 has a slightly higher dpi. The reason Apple doesn’t feel the need to go higher than this is the “Retina” principle they introduced with the iPhone 4 screen. Your eyes can’t resolve the pixels after a certain dpi. So they preserve battery and processing power by keeping the screens at “optimal human levels,” if you will, while other less educated manufacturers pack as many pixels into their screens because they want to take advantage of spec-mongers who only want the “best” without understanding the science behind it. Anyone who debates dpi past 300 for an under 5″ screen is just crazy. Just go to this “Retina Calculator” (it’s for 4K TVs) and type in your phone’s screen size and how far you hold it from your face and you’ll see how absurd some screen sizes are. The iPhone 6 Plus is perfect at 1080P at a 2 foot viewing distance according to science. You eyes begin to perceive 1080P in 5.4″ screens at 2 feet. It’s science. http://referencehometheater.com/2013/commentary/4k-calculator/
the 6+ definitely needs an UI revamp to fully utilise the big screen, else it’s nothing than a bigger iphone
Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be?
Landscape mode’s different on the Plus – not thrilling but it’s exclusive to that phone..
It’s foolish to trust these early reviews.
Here’s why:
Reporters who are in the tank for Apple get early access. And that access is cut off if the reviews aren’t glowing enough.
Wait until some media have gone through the typical retail process and aren’t likely to kiss Apple a$$ to keep access.
Or you can continue the circle jerk-invading that empties your wallet and stifles innovation.
“Or you can continue the circle jerk-invading that empties your wallet and stifles innovation.”
Well, on the bright side, the circle jerk of Apple product releases is a lot more entertaining and relevant than your solo jerking all over every thread on this site. Loser.
What a douchebag this “reviewer” is for nonchalantly mentioning ONLY the subsidized prices with zero clarification. Many people now know that, in many cases, it is far preferable economically speaking to pay full price and then shop around for your service. Why won’t he tel the public that a fully loaded iPhone will easily clear $1,000 with taxes? Oh, because he knows that this is ridiculous in 2014 and would be a negative towards Apple.
Because most people buy phones on subsidy, clown. Virtually all top tier Android handsets off subsidy easily run over $600…the only good one that doesn’t is the Nexus 5 and even Google people (the one I know, that actually work for them, not…internet forum people) complain that it isn’t an overall quality device…because it was built to be “inexpensive” off subsidy.
A “fully loaded” iPhone is one of *6 options* in the new line and that fully loaded iPhone is not (clearly) intended for broke-ass people.
And the S5 unlocked? MSRP is $799. Cut rate, ~ $600. This is not new nor news. Stop it. You look silly and frothing-at-the -mouth.
Go to sleep :)
Most but not all these days….so it’s his JOB to provide the full story, not sugar coat things or cherry pick what’s Favorable, he could have at least said “on contract”, because no that is not a given anymore. And you simply named some other rip-off phones. Look at what’s going on outside the US where flagships that run rings around the iPhone spec-wise are going for a third of the price. That is in the very near future for the US. Apple’s $950 iPhone is at least 50% profit for Apple AT LEAST. But there’s a sucker born every minute and Apple thrives off of that.
Really positive reviews. Can’t wait to upgrade to iPhone 6 next week! Going to be a perfect replacement to my iPhone 5.
Another example of media failing:
USA Today touts the marquee keyboard auto – completion.
IT’S ALREADY AVAILABLE ON Galaxy S5!
losers.
Autocompletion has been available on iOS since the beginning. This implementation is new and it doesn’t matter if the Galaxy whatever has a feature if you are in the market for a *better iPhone*.
This seems to escape people. Your personal self-worth shouldn’t be tied into a platform choice. Of course if you can only afford one, and a cheap one at that, I suppose it makes a difference. The least expensive phone I’ve bought in years was like $400, is made of plastic and runs Pure Android…
-K
Everyone loves the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hehehehhe FUNNY
Apple! Jony!
Why, oh why, didn’t you put a few mm more on the 6 (4.7), allowing for a larger battery? I’m sure we’d all be happier with
“better battery life” (at last)
than
“still one of the slimmest smartphones”
I know almost nothing about the complexities of batteries. However, I’ve seen a lot of responses to similar questions and it would appear that that’s not how batteries “work”. An extra millimetre or two added to a battery’s size may not yield the improvements you (and I) would expect them to. Having said that, it’d also mean the camera wouldn’t have to protrude (which also doesn’t bother me).
“Sadly, charging still requires that you fish out a Lightning cable. While the Apple Watch will offer wireless charging, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus still make do without.”
>> Are they serious? You still need a cable for wireless charging, and its arguably worse because its more bulky and doesnt allow free movement when charging (unless its MagSafe ofcourse but the bulky cable problem isnt solved)
What a shock. Mossberg on his kneepads for yet another Apple product.
Lol. iSheep being fooled again with the same shit again and again. Enjoy your ”New” phones
Because the iPhoneys like Galaxy and Necus have changed so much since 2009.
I’m not buying until I hear from Consumer Reports. ;-)