iPhone 6 Plus

473 'iPhone 6 Plus' stories September 2014 - December 2014

The iPhone 6 Plus ($299 and up from the Apple Store) is Apple’s flagship phone, and one of its most popular products, period. Equipped with a 5.5″ Retina HD display, the iPhone 6 Plus boasts full 1080p HD resolution (1920 x 1080) at 401 PPI, the sharpest-looking screen on any Apple device. It’s also color-accurate, with a full sRGB color gamut and a wider viewing angle than prior screens. Three capacities (16/64/128GB) and three colors (gold/silver/space gray) are available.

Due to its larger screen, the iPhone 6 Plus has the ability to display the Home screen in landscape mode for the first time. It also has the best virtual keyboard yet offered in an iPhone, making accurate typing a lot easier for people with larger hands. Video viewing is dramatically better than older iPhones, as well.

Apple has upgraded the 6 Plus with a second-generation 64-bit A8 chip, delivering 25% faster CPU performance and up to 50% faster graphics than the iPhone 5s. Despite the superior processing and thinner body, 6 Plus blows away other iPhones in battery life, typically running for at least a full day without requiring a recharge. iPhone 6 Plus includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi support, Voice over LTE with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others abroad, and Wi-Fi calling using T-Mobile in the US. It also has a Touch ID sensor with full support for secure Apple Pay transactions, both in retail stores and online.

The 8MP iSight camera has been improved. Although the 1.5µ pixels and ƒ/2.2 aperture aren’t hugely different from before, there’s an all-new sensor that improves focus, face detection, and image stabilization. The iPhone 6 Plus also includes an “optical image stabilization” feature that isn’t present on the iPhone 6. Video can be recorded in 1080p at 30 or 60fps, with slo-mo video at 120 or 240 fps. Small hardware improvements to the front-facing camera come from a new sensor and a larger ƒ/2.2 aperture, as well as H.265 video support for much smoother FaceTime calls.

Even with a big screen and improved hardware, the iPhone 6 Plus measures only 7.1mm thick, versus the iPhone 5s’s 7.5mm. The only question is whether it will fit in your pocket or purse. If it will, go with the Plus, which is our top iPhone pick.

Russian Apple Online Store returns … with iPhone 6 prices now 35% higher compared to a week ago

Benjamin Mayo Dec 22 2014 - 6:59 am PT

11 Comments

After a week of being inactive, the Russian Apple Online Store is now back online with customers freely able to purchase products from the site once again. Apple abruptly stopped trading in the region last week due to significant currency exchange rate fluctuations that meant the company had to readjust prices.

Apple has indeed raised prices significantly. The iPhone 6 now costs 53,990 Rubles for a 16 GB base model. This is a 35% increase in the Russian sales price; the model cost 39 990 Rubles last week. 53,990 Rubles is approximately worth $980 dollars. The 16 GB iPhone 6 lists for $649, excluding taxes.

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Review: Just Mobile’s TopGum adds glam + a magnetic charging base to a 6,000mAh battery

Jeremy Horwitz Dec 22 2014 - 5:26 am PT

0 Comments

The secret to understanding USB battery pricing is that you tend to get what you pay for: cheap batteries lose their charges faster and can bulge and leak over time. Other companies specialize in selling atypically nice batteries that last longer and work better. Just Mobile is a leader in quality batteries: for the past six years, its Gum series (shown below) has spanned every Apple device type, size, and speed, but it has never built a Lightning cable into a battery before. That changes with the January release of TopGum ($80), which advances the company’s prior state-of-the-art Gum++ model in two ways: an authentic Lightning cable’s integrated into the battery’s left edge, and a matching magnetic battery charging dock is included.

Of course, these features – and a choice of gold or gray metal exteriors – come at a premium over typical all-plastic batteries, so if you don’t need the cable or dock, you’ll be equally well-served with the company’s earlier batteries. Read on for the full story.

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Apple Pay claimed 1% of November’s digital payment dollars, new report says

Mike Beasley Dec 19 2014 - 3:27 pm PT

34 Comments

A new report from ITG has revealed that Apple Pay was responsible for 1% of the total digital payment dollars spent in November. The study also found that 60% of new Apple Pay customers used the service multiple times throughout the month, while competing services like PayPal see only 20% of customers do the same.

Additionally, the research found that shoppers who took advantage of Apple Pay used the service for around 5.3% of their future credit card transactions, accounting for about 2.3% of the total dollars spent on their credit cards.

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Savage Interactive debuts Procreate Pocket, bringing iPad illustration tools to larger-screened iPhones

Jeremy Horwitz Dec 19 2014 - 9:50 am PT

6 Comments

Demonstrating the types of apps that will increasingly migrate from Apple’s tablets to its larger iPhone 6 models, Savage Interactive has released Procreate Pocket ($3), a shrunken-down version of its signature iPad app Procreate. Widely admired for its professional-grade drawing tools, Procreate previously enabled tablet users to compose multi-layer illustrations using numerous brushes and a mistake-friendly, multi-layer Undo tool.
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Review: Imation’s Link Power Drive adds 16/32/64GB of storage to a compact 3,000mAh Lightning battery pack

Jeremy Horwitz Dec 19 2014 - 9:08 am PT

0 Comments

There wasn’t really a market for hybrid batteries and external flash drives until this year, when Mophie’s Space Pack seemingly came out of nowhere, impressively nestling 16 or 32GB of additional flash storage inside a 1700mAh iPhone 5/5s battery case. But having demonstrated the value of combining these features together, Mophie’s $150 to $180 asking prices were high enough to keep some people away, and the requirement of an iPhone 5 or 5s was similarly somewhat limiting.

Imation is trying something different with its Link Power Drive, a small plastic box with a silver top and white base. There are 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models, each equipped with a 3000mAh battery, a Lightning cable, and a USB cable. The MSRP of the 16GB unit is less than any Space Pack, and the 64GB model has twice Mophie’s top capacity for the same MSRP — except Imation’s street pricing is much lower. Better yet, every model works with whatever Lightning-equipped iOS device you might have, and there’s enough battery power to completely recharge any iPhone except the iPhone 6 Plus. All you need to do is carry the accessory around separately, attaching it when needed.

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Review: MOTA’s new Battery Case for iPhone 6 Plus shows what 4000mAh can – and can’t – do for Apple’s big iPhone

Jeremy Horwitz Dec 19 2014 - 6:38 am PT

16 Comments

I have to give MOTA a pat on the back for what it has achieved with the Battery Case for iPhone 6 Plus, the first such accessory we’ve tested for Apple’s largest iPhone. Despite its generic name, the Battery Case is handsome, well-built, and at $90, a steal relative to the lower-capacity $100 and up versions we’ve seen for the iPhone 5 and 5s. Critically, despite a 4000mAh rechargeable cell inside, it’s also surprisingly easy to hold and pocket, even though it adds thickness to the already-too-large iPhone 6 Plus.

But there are a couple of caveats, too. The case isn’t Apple-licensed, so there’s always the risk that it might have some iOS compatibility issues down the line — this would be a bigger issue if there weren’t also problems with cases Apple formally approved. And you’ll probably need the headphone port adapter MOTA includes in the package. More on that, below.

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9to5’s Last Minute Apple Gift Guide

Jeremy Horwitz Dec 17 2014 - 11:46 am PT

1 Comment

Christmas and the end of Hanukkah are only a week away. You’re looking for a last-minute gift that’s guaranteed to arrive in time for the holidays. We’re here to help with a collection of top picks for Apple fans, all at great prices.

Welcome to 9to5’s Last Minute Apple Gift Guide!

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Orlando Magic teams up w/ Chase for special promos for Apple Pay launch this Friday

Jordan Kahn Dec 17 2014 - 8:35 am PT

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We heard earlier this week that the Orlando Magic would become the first NBA team to offer Apple Pay to fans through a partnership with Chase. Today we get the official announcement from the team confirming an Apple Pay launch at the Amway Center for this Friday, Dec. 19 and some other details regarding special promos:
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Review: Twelve South’s BookBook is the best iPhone 6 / Plus flip case, while Tech21’s Classic Frame and Shells absorb shocks

Jeremy Horwitz Dec 17 2014 - 7:32 am PT

12 Comments

Personal preferences differ enough that there’s no single style of iPhone case that’s “right” for every person. Some people prefer “playthrough” cases that always expose the iPhone’s screen; others like flip-style cases with lids that open like books. Today, we’re looking at two cases of each type for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus: Twelve South’s latest BookBook and Tech21’s Classic Shell with Cover are flip-style designs, while Tech21’s Classic Frame and Classic Shell are playthrough cases.

One of these is the best case of its type that we’ve ever seen, while the others are all good.

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Google’s Photo Sphere Camera app adds library privacy tabs, improved image capture for iPhone 6/6 Plus, more

Zac Hall Dec 16 2014 - 9:54 am PT

0 Comments

Google released its Photo Sphere Camera app for iPhone users a few months back with the ability to capture 360º images right from your device and share them over social media or even Google Maps.

Photo Sphere Camera can also be used without ever publishing images anywhere or sharing photo spheres with anyone, so today Google added tabs to the app’s library separating public and private photos.
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Review: Tylt’s Alin Glass and Tech21’s Impact Shield make fancy screen protector alignment easier

Jeremy Horwitz Dec 16 2014 - 7:37 am PT

3 Comments

If your iPhone often shares a pocket or purse with keys, coins, or other metal objects, you know the very real risk of scratching or chipping the beautiful glass screen. Screen protectors solve this problem, and some are able to absorb the damage if your iPhone drops face-down towards the ground. Today, we’re looking at rival iPhone 6 screen protectors called Alin Glass from Tylt ($30) and Impact Shield from Tech21 ($35). (Alin Glass and Impact Shield are also available for the iPhone 5/5s.)

Both of these accessories have been designed to tackle inaccurate alignment, one of the biggest issues when installing screen protectors, while offering atypically strong anti-scratch coverage for the iPhone’s often bare face. And they each command premiums over generic alternatives.

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Honor among thieves? Huawei calls its new smartphone the 6 Plus

Jordan Kahn Dec 16 2014 - 7:10 am PT

38 Comments

Huawei today unveiled its latest smartphone at an event in Beijing and naturally the company named the follow up to its previous generation Honor 6 device, the Honor 6 Plus. Creative.

Apart from the name there aren’t many other similarities between the Android-powered Honor 6 Plus and Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus. That is, however, other than the same size 5.5-inch display and the exact same color options (as pictured above). The previous generation Honor 6 sported a 5-inch display.
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Apple charting in Google’s 2014 trending searches, for both the right and wrong reasons

Ben Lovejoy Dec 16 2014 - 4:44 am PT

2 Comments

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVwHCGAr_OE]

Google has put together its annual inspirational Year in Search video, and shared some of the trending searches across the year – with Apple making the charts for both the right and wrong reasons.

On the plus side, Apple took the #1 slot in consumer electronics searches, with the iPhone 6 ahead of rival smartphones from Samsung, Google, Motorola, LG and Nokia. Apple was also the only company to make three of the top-ten searches, with the Apple Watch at #8 and iPad Air at #10 …
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BlackBerry rolling out redesigned BBM for iPhone 6/6 Plus

Zac Hall Dec 12 2014 - 12:48 pm PT

5 Comments

Previous BBM design (left) and refreshed BBM design (right)

Better late than never, BlackBerry showed off a redesigned version of its BBM app with native resolution support for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus which should be rolling out to users soon.

The update also includes some design adjustments, BlackBerry says, adding to the “fresh new look and feel” of the updated version for iOS 8 and the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. A preview screenshot of the new version of BlackBerry Messenger for iPhone (seen above on the right) shows the user interface refinements coming to the messaging app.

BBM for iPhone, which first hit iOS just over a year ago with regular updates, is available for free on the App Store. The updated version should be out for users shortly.

Holiday Gift Guide: Health gadgets — get a healthy start for 2015

Sarah Guarino Dec 12 2014 - 10:00 am PT

5 Comments

When the new year rolls around, a lot of us have New Year’s resolutions to become a healthier person and plan to exercise more. Last year I set my New Year’s resolution to do just that. However, last year was the first year I really used technology and wearables to help me with my journey, and I successfully lost sixty pounds. These gadgets helped me with my weight loss journey. They can keep you focused, inspire you, motivate you, and carry your gear.

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Twelve South launches BookBook for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Mike Beasley Dec 11 2014 - 5:13 pm PT

22 Comments

Apple accessory maker Twelve South has debuted an updated version of its popular BookBook iPhone case for the latest models of the iconic smartphone. The new BookBook for iPhone 6 (and iPhone 6 Plus) is available now from the company’s website.

The BookBook combines a protective smartphone cover with a hand-distressed leather wallet for storing your cash, credit cards, and IDs, and puts it all inside a case designed to look like a book.

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Financial Times names Tim Cook ‘Person of the Year’

Zac Hall Dec 11 2014 - 8:33 am PT

5 Comments

Tim Cook might have gotten snubbed for Time’s Person of the Year recognition after being nominated as a finalist for 2014, but the Apple CEO did get the coveted title from the Financial Times this year. The FT cited both Cook’s financial decisions for the company and social decisions including publishing the essay on his sexuality:

Financial success and dazzling new technology alone might have been enough to earn Apple’s steely chief executive the FT’s vote as the 2014 Person of the Year, but Mr Cook’s brave exposition of his values also sets him apart.

This was never more powerful than when he talked publicly for the first time about his sexuality.

FT also nodded to Cook hiring Angela Ahrendts to run Apple’s retail channels, luring her to Apple from her role as CEO of Burberry, as well as Apple buying Beats for $3 billion this year and launching the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, Apple Pay, showing off the Apple Watch, and Apple’s market capitalization setting a record for US companies hitting $700 billion. You can read the full piece here.

United Airlines buys iPhone 6 Plus for all its flight attendants to handle payments, manuals & more

Zac Hall Dec 10 2014 - 1:08 pm PT

15 Comments

United Airlines announced today that its more than 23,000 flight attendants will soon be carrying the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus for company use and servicing customers. The airline says it will be rolling out Apple’s phablet to its flight attendants starting next year during the second quarter and be used for onboard retail transactions, accessing company email and the airline’s website and internal network, and viewing airline manuals for policies and procedures.
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Snapchat finally updated with iPhone 6/6 Plus support

9to5 Staff Dec 9 2014 - 7:52 pm PT

3 Comments

While the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were released nearly three months ago, some high-profile developers have taken incredibly long to update their apps with native resolution for the larger screens. Look no further than Snapchat, which has finally been updated with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus support in an update released today.

The latest version of the popular ephemeral messaging app, in which users can share photos, videos and instant messages with others that disappear after a customizable length of time, also received enhancements in other areas, including improved captions, the ability to change the color of, pinch to resize and drag around special text and stacked filters.
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Review: Seek Thermal Camera for iOS gives your iPhone Predator vision, Seek XR adds manual focus

Jeremy Horwitz Dec 9 2014 - 2:50 pm PT

9 Comments

Update 3/3/15: We’ve added the new Seek Thermal XR to the bottom of this review.

The evolution of Apple’s iOS cameras has been fairly linear: Apple improved their image quality, added video recording capabilities, and dropped in a small collection of filters, but otherwise hasn’t radically changed their features.

Just in time for the holidays, Seek Thermal Inc.’s new Seek Thermal Camera for iOS ($199) is offering a fundamentally different type of camera for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Using a Lightning connector, the Seek Thermal Camera adds affordable thermal photography and videography features to any late-2012 or newer iOS device – the heat-sensitive sort of vision best-known from the Predator movies. While it’s not case-compatible, this accessory is otherwise the most practical thermal camera currently available for iOS devices. (An Android version is also available.)

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Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides for iOS add new editing features, enhanced iPhone 6/6 Plus support

Jordan Kahn Dec 8 2014 - 1:07 pm PT

0 Comments

Google announced today that it’s rolling out updates to its Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides iOS apps that add a few new editing features and enhanced iPhone 6 and 6 Plus support.

Support for viewing and editing text in tables in the Docs app
Ability to insert, move, resize and rotate text boxes, shapes and lines in the Slides app
Enhanced support for iPhone 6/6+ (all apps)
General fixes and performance improvements (all apps)

All of the updates are available from the App Store now for the iOS versions of Docs, Slides, and Sheets (links below). In addition to support for vieing and editing text in tables, the Docs app also adds several new accessibility features.

A full list of new features for each app below:

Google Docs version 1.1.6:

* Support for viewing and editing text in tables
* Revamped accessibility support to use system standard text editing controls.
* Enhanced support for reading and editing when using Braille displays.
* Enhanced VoiceOver support when using Bluetooth keyboards.
* Enhanced support for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
* Bug fixes and performance improvements

Google Slides version 1.0.5:

* Insert, move, resize and rotate textboxes, shapes and lines
* Enhanced support for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
* Bug fixes and performance improvements

Google Sheets version 1.1.5:

* Enhanced support for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
* Bug fixes and performance improvementss

Jeremy’s holiday gift guide: Mac, iPhone & iPad gear you can trust

Jeremy Horwitz Dec 8 2014 - 12:26 pm PT

8 Comments

My first post for 9to5Mac is on a topic near and dear to my heart: best-of-breed Apple products and accessories. Why should you trust me? I’ve been a professional product reviewer for 23 years and an Apple user for 28 years. Last week, I finished an 11-year stint running the editorial side of iLounge, the leading Apple product review site, where I tested literally thousands of Apple accessories from every major company on the planet. Readers have praised my reviews as accurate and insightful, and I always put my readers’ needs first when testing new products.

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Gift guide: The best leather cases & wallets for iPhone 6/6Plus

Jordan Kahn Dec 5 2014 - 12:47 pm PT

23 Comments

I prefer leather, wallet-style iPhone cases, and if you’re reading this you’re likely on the hunt for one as well. I’ve had a lot of cases arriving for review this time of the year following the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launch, so below I’ve put together my thoughts on the best leather wallet cases around (and in some cases vegan leather), to guide you through your purchase and show you some of my favorites after going hands-on.
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Must-have iPhone, iPad, & Apple Pay apps for holiday gift shopping this year

Zac Hall Dec 5 2014 - 9:35 am PT

2 Comments

Shopping this year through iPhone and iPad apps is significantly more convenient thanks to Apple Pay and Touch ID. The latest iPhones and iPads allow you to avoid the arduous process of re-entering your credit card information each time at checkout and instead pay for your purchase with the touch of your finger.

Hopefully our holiday gift guides are steering you in the right direction for what to buy this year, especially with guides focused on using your iPhone and iPad in the car, making music with Apple devices, outfitting your home with connected smart devices, and more, and these shopping apps should continue to help you along the way.
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