4G SIM NewsAfter much speculation Apple has finally announced the details of the iPhone 6, alongside a larger version known as the iPhone 6 Plus. Details of the new devices were released on 9th September, and the iPhone 6 will be available in UK stores on 19th September.
Design of the iPhone 6 4G phone
The most talked about feature of the new iPhone 6 is the larger display, meaning that the handset as a whole is bigger than the previous iPhone 5S, although it is slimmer than its predecessor at just 6.9mm. The 4.7 inch display has a resolution of 1334 x 750, giving it a pixel density of 326ppi, and Apple are calling the effect Retina HD. The iPhone 6 features rounded edges where the glass front meets the anodised aluminium back.
iPhone 6 controls
Apple has always emphasised the importance of being able to use an iPhone with one hand, so the bigger size of the iPhone 6 has presented some control challenges. The new handset includes a gesture known as ‘Reachability’ which allows the user to double tap on the Touch ID finger print sensor and make the display slide down so that the top is within reach. The sleep and wake button has been moved from the top to the side.
iPhone 6 connectivity
The new version of the iPhone has advanced wireless capabilities. It includes support for 20 LTE bands compared with 13 for the iPhone 5S, and the LTE in the phone has increased from 100Mbps to 150Mbps. Apple has finally built NFC into the phone to allow customers to pay using their mobiles through the new ApplePay service.
Other features of the iPhone 6 include:
- New A8 processor which is 64-bit like the A7 processer, but is 13% smaller and delivers 25% faster CPU and 50% faster GPU.
- New M8 motion co-processor that works with the sensors on the phone to determine what physical activity you are doing, including estimating elevation.
- Improved efficiency and longer battery life – with an estimated 50 hours audio playback, and 10 hours of 4G browsing – to maintain performance over a longer time period.
- An 8Mp iSight camera with True Tone flash, 1.5 micron pixels and an f/2.2 aperture. New features include advanced face detection and image stabilisation, as well as cinematic stabilisation for video.
The iPhone 6 4G handset will be available to pre-order from 12th September. Apple are expected to release the iPhone 6 simultaneously in the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, and Australia, and plan to make it available in 115 countries by the end of 2014. Prices for the iPhone 6 in the UK are expected to be:
- £539 for the 16GB model
- £619 for the 64GB model
- £699 for the 128GB model
What makes the iPhone 6 Plus different?
The key difference with the iPhone 6 Plus is that it is larger with a 5.5 inch display, which features an impressive pixel density of 401ppi. The device measures 15.8cm tall by 7.8cm wide and weighs 172 grams. It is Apple’s first phablet style device, providing a middle ground between the iPhone and the iPad.
It is a more expensive option and prices in the UK are expected to be:
- £619 for the 16GB model
- £699 for the 64GB model
- £789 for the 128GB model