Not just an improved version of the iPhone 5

Oct 17, 2014 15:01 GMT  ·  By

You could state with confidence that Apple launches a new iPhone every year, but that’s not entirely true. Of the 10 different models released so far, half of them are actually all-new iPhones. The rest are just spinoffs.

The iPhone 6 is hardly just an improved version of the iPhone 5. Despite retaining a thick display bezel and the radio “windows” on the back, this one is its own game.

First new design in years

While it’s true that every iPhone has its own design, few of the new iterations are unique compared to their predecessors. In spite of retaining some key elements from previous iPhones, the iPhone 6 feels like the first true redesign in years. You won’t see the differences from afar, but grab one and your nerves will instantly convey the novelty to your brain.

iPhone 6 is the first Apple smartphone to feature a tapered display. There’s no functional purpose to this. At least not a major one. It’s just there to complete the outline of a seamless slab of metal and glass that houses some truly advanced electronics inside. It’s the exact opposite of the iPhone 5/5s with its thick, edgy chassis that now looks outdated by more than one generation somehow.

It’s insanely thin! The first time you grasp it it’s with fear that it will bend, or shatter if it slips out of your hand. After using it for a while, you realize it’s sturdier than any other iPhone before it. It’s not easy to bend it, despite widespread reports claiming otherwise, but it might be the most slippery iPhone so far. I normally don’t experience such accidents, but there are a lot of people out there who do. If that’s you, consider getting a case.

The volume buttons rattle if you shake the phone close to your ear, something I’ve noticed on all iPhones since 2010. However, the departure from round to pill-shaped is a nice touch. Both the mute rocker and the volume buttons feel a lot sturdier and more durable, but only time will tell if my forecast is accurate.

As most people know by now, the Sleep/Wake button has been relocated from the top of the phone to the right-hand side. It was a logical step because you can no longer reach the top of the phone quite as easily. The reason is obvious: its size.

iPhone 6 closeup
iPhone 6 closeup

4.7 inches of perfection

Not to step on anyone’s beliefs, but for someone who just made the jump from iPhone 5 and also tried out the iPhone 6 Plus, the iPhone 6 fits snuggly between them like the correct answer to two different questions. Your taste in phones may vary. The same can be said for a person’s needs. As far as this reviewer is concerned, iPhone 6 nails it both in form and in function. Admittedly, you get an even better visual experience on the Plus, but you want to be able to enjoy the phone, not just use it. It’s easier to stick to your one-handed use with the 6 than it is with the 6 Plus, that much I can say for sure.

The glass is something else too. The first time you touch it you get the impression that there’s still some glue left on it from the plastic film protector that came with it in the box. There isn’t. The Ion-strengthened glass is so smooth that when the display is completely clean, it catches your skin. This may sound like a quality at first, but it can pose problems in apps that involve a lot of precision swiping. Most likely this is caused by the fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. Which does help keep its appearance, but doesn’t fully prevent smudges.

The display is Retina HD, which refers not to the size of the pixels but their sheer number. Apple markets a 1334-by-750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi. That’s the same dots-per-inch ratio as previous four iPhones before it. But somehow the image quality is much better. The new display technology and the glass are equally responsible for this.

One-handed use feels familiar
One-handed use feels familiar

iOS 8 on a bigger canvas

iOS on 4.7 inches makes a lot of sense. More than it does on 3.5 inches (iPhone 4), more than it does on 4 inches (iPhone 5), and more than it does on 10 inches (iPad). Why? I couldn’t tell you. It just does. Because of this, and because I can still use it efficiently with one hand, the phone just feels like a true companion, a friend if you will. Not just a slab of technology that lets you make calls and browse the web, then goes in a pocket and is forgotten for hours.

Everything that used to feel cluttered on a 4-incher now shows up neatly and spaced out. It’s only natural, but it’s something worth noting. The extra 0.7 inches matter more than you’d care to believe.

Safari makes more sense than ever on the new display. I used to employ Opera Mini because I couldn’t find my way on the web through Safari’s distinct navigation system and tabs view. Now it’s back to being my default browser, all because I can see what I’m doing much better.

Same goes for the virtual keyboard. My typing is more relaxed because it’s a little wider. My thumbs no longer bump into each other once every two seconds. That said, I still have a hard time typing rapidly without making mistakes. I can’t be sure if that’s me or the phone to blame. All I know is the bigger the keyboard, the fewer typos I make.

Ugly protruding camera takes better photos and video than iPhone 5s

One downside to the design that I can tell you right off the bat is the bulging camera module. While I completely understand the necessity (it has to do with the optics inside), that still doesn’t count as an excuse to me. Sure, I want to take brilliant photos with it, but I also want it to look like it’s one thing, not a phone with a round thingy that appears to have been glued on there. A little tapering around that area could have made a lot of difference without sacrificing the design. But hey, Jony Ive probably knows best.

Photo taken with the iPhone 6's camera
Photo taken with the iPhone 6's camera

The camera module itself is slightly better than the one found on the previous generation of iPhones. Stabilization (be it digital as it may on the iPhone 6) is visibly better, while the powerful A8 can handle a faster Burst Mode, awesome slow-motion videos, and better panoramas. Apple's own Timelapse app is also visibly better thanks to better exposure. The biggest advancements are not in the imaging sensor – which is still 8MP with 1.5-micron pixels – but in the optics. Apple prefers to improve there before anywhere else.

Video-wise, you can capture 1080p HD at 60 fps and 240-fps for slow motion videos.

Battery life is about the same, charges even slower

I don’t have to elaborate, but I will say that I’m pretty disappointed that Apple hasn’t managed to increase battery life beyond one full day of usage. I understand that the thinness of the chassis doesn’t leave much room for a bigger battery, while the extra screen space undoubtedly also takes its toll on power consumption. But it’s almost 2015 for Pete’s sake. Battery life for the iPhone is the same today as it was back in 2007 when Steve Jobs unveiled the first one at the Macworld Expo.

Sure, you can tweak the wireless and brightness settings to save some power, even switch off Internet access for some apps and prevent location services from kicking in. But even so you still won’t get two full days of usage. Unless usage to you means one or two calls per day, a few texts, and setting the alarm for next morning. For that, you can get a Nokia 3310 off eBay. I’m sure there still are a few out there.

One thing worth noting is that iPhone 6 charges a little slower than its predecessors, the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s. This indicates that the phone indeed has a bigger battery inside, but one that quickly succumbs to the demands of a faster processor and a Retina HD display with a higher pixel count. As far as the battery goes, Apple hasn’t done any noticeable improvements.

Connectivity and audio

iPhone 6 has faster LTE download speeds, something that can be felt in strong-signal areas, but doesn’t make much of a difference in places where you can’t get good reception. It’s got nothing to do with the phone itself, of course. Point is, the advertised functionality is there.

iPhone 6 also supports Voice over LTE (VoLTE), which enables wideband high-quality calls. The phone has up to 20 LTE bands (more than any other smartphone out there). The cellular reception has been great in our testing, but your mileage may vary depending on your carrier, proximity to the towers, etc.

The sound quality is better than on the previous-generation iPhones (which was already great), but not by a long margin. Same goes for the speaker. It’s louder and the sound is a bit clearer. The phone’s vibrator is stronger, allowing you to feel it even whilst you’re walking.

What I found to be not so fast was the Wi-Fi. Whether or not this is a bug in iOS 8.0.2 (the firmware I tested the phone on) or a hardware (antenna, design) flaw of some kind, Wi-Fi seemed really slow on the iPhone 6 in my testing. I truly hope it’s easily fixed through software. Otherwise, Apple has a big problem on its hands. Especially when Apple.com advertises “up to 3x faster Wi-Fi.”

Feels natural as a phone
Feels natural as a phone

Security

Touch ID is the cornerstone of security in iOS, and it is now being expanded to iPads as well. The fingerprint sensor works well, albeit with a few hiccups now and then if your hands aren’t clean enough or if you didn’t register a print using all sides of your finger.

The phone ships with iOS 8 as standard, which is packed to the brim with features but also many security checkpoints. For example, your photos, messages, email, contacts, call history, and everything else you can think of is placed under the protection of your passcode and / or your fingerprint. Apple cannot bypass the passcode and therefore cannot access this data. They can’t even do it when the feds ask them to. Or so says the company, anyway.

That doesn’t mean your iCloud account can’t be breached. Apple is doing its bit, but you need to choose a strong password and keep it safe from prying eyes.

In the box

iPhone with iOS 8 Apple EarPods with Remote and Mic Lightning to USB Cable USB Power Adapter Documentation


The Good

The best thing about the iPhone 6 has to be its ability to combine form and function like no other iPhone before it. It reminds me a lot of the original: bold, sturdy, powerful, and altogether breathtaking. The almost seamless design gives you tingles when you first touch it, and iOS has never looked so good. 4.7 inches is the perfect recipe for a smartphone that you want to use freely without a case, a carrying bag, bigger trousers, or hand extensions.

The Bad

I wouldn’t mind seeing Apple ditching those plastic strips marking the radio windows on the back. They should have the skill and the technology to make the transition from metal to plastic invisible.

The protruding camera isn’t necessarily ugly on its own, but it makes for an ugly design. It’s a harsh word for an Apple device, but I also find it to be true. Overall, the iPhone 6 is gorgeous, but the camera module sticking out like that wasn’t their best design choice.

Conclusion

Let’s put it this way. The iPhone 6 is to the 5s what the iPhone 4 was the 3GS: a complete overhaul of the phone’s entire architecture and design, jaw-dropping curves, a brilliant display, improvements inside and out, and a genuine feeling of “new.” It’s packed to the micron with technology and it’s reminiscent of the original iPhone introduced by Steve Jobs at Macworld Expo seven years ago. Highly recommended for people upgrading from any iPhone. This time around, it’s not just for show. It’s the logical choice.

Our Rating

looks 5
build 5
speed 5
battery 2
calls 4
camera 4
video 4
apps 5
screen 4
signal4

final rating 5

Photo Gallery (39 Images)

iPhone 6 closeup
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