New and improved
Other notable improvements include a faster and more efficient A8 processor, a new camera with optical image stabilisation, improved fingerprint sensor, faster wireless communication options, larger batteries, and new support for NFC contact-less payments.
Starting with a new processor, Apple’s latest A8 will drive the high-resolutions demanded by the new displays, along with optimising processes to improve battery life.
Like the A7, this processor is dual core, with quad core graphics. It’s meant to have 25 percent faster processing power and 50 percent faster graphics performance than the A7, and is 50 percent more energy efficient.
Also, Apple says that the A8 can provide more sustained performance without throttling back to control heat build up.
The new M8 motion co-processor can track your distance and even figure out elevation, such as when moving up stairs. The system things like air pressure to figure out many steps you’ve climbed and links to the new HealthKit app.
On the camera front, Apple has kept its camera at 8 megapixels, but rather focuses on other enhancements for taking better photos. A new pixel matching technology helps reduce out-of-focus shots.
The Panorama mode can create shots up to 43 megapixel photos with better pixel stitching to join everything together.
Only the iPhone 6 Plus gets the new optical image stabiliser, which is a mechanism that houses the tiny camera and helps counteract shaky movement.
It’s an electro-mechanical system, similar to that found in far larger, and more professional lenses.
The camera now supports a time-lapse mode, and the front facing camera can take burst ‘selfies’ and now supports high dynamic range (HDR).
On the outside, the lens has a raised rim around it that protrudes from the phone. While not a problem, it does mean that the device will not lie completely flat.
Like the 5, both iPhone 6 models also feature 2-tone flashes, which will create a more ‘natural’ colour cast to photo rather than a harsher ‘white out’ effect.
This time, however, the LED flash is circular rather than pill shaped.
On the communications side, the iPhone 6 now supports the latest Wi-Fi standard, called 802.11ac.
This means it can transfer information around compatible Wi-Fi networks at speeds up to 430Mbps, and brings it in line with the latest smartphones from Samsung, HTC and Sony.
There’s a new Wi-Fi calling feature that starts your call on Wi-Fi and hands off to cellular networks once the signal strength improves. This will starting with US carriers.
after reading about the cost of iphones in the USA i cannot believe people here would pay what they do in the states the 6 starts at $199 and the 6plus is $299, here they are $869 and $999 so wow how about that for a ripoff are they worth that much extra iphone devotees must think so.
If I recall, the $199 and $299 prices in America weren’t outright prices, but rather with a phone contract, so you can’t exactly compare them.
yeah i saw that looked up and saw the 6 was $649 outright for 16gig and 6plus saw the outright price cant remember it and no i know apples phones are good tech i bought the 3s outright years ago the thing that annoyed about apple is you have to use everything apple the bluetooth i had at the time couldn’t use it and i like to have the choice to use what i want to so that is why i will stick with win phones android is everywhere so it didn’t grab me so no i am not ranting at apple as such its all about choice for me.