FutureFive New Zealand - Consumer technology news & reviews from the future
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An in-depth Look at the New iPhone 6
Fri, 30th Jan 2015
FYI, this story is more than a year old

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were two of most eagerly awaited product releases of 2014. They're sleek, dare we say sexy, and currently selling like a proverbial hotcake all over the world – from Milan to Melbourne and Mumbai to Moscow. But what exactly is this new phone from Apple all about? And are users satisfied with the new kid on the block? Let's take a closer look at the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and separate fact from fiction.   Taking a Peek   At first glance, the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are noticeably bigger than earlier models, and feature large Retina HD screens: 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches, respectively. They are housed within an ultra thin aluminium body – making them the thinnest (and lightest) members of the Apple iPhone family, which also feature stainless steel buttons and crystal clear glass in a virtually seamless design. That's the outside.   On the inside the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus feature fast 64-bit A8 processors, top-notch cameras, a fingerprint identity sensor, and either 16, 64 or 128 GB capacity. The major camera improvements over earlier iPhone models are particularly worthy of mention. Both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus feature superior tone mapping capabilities, sensor upgrades, better noise reduction, and the new "Focus Pixel" technology which improves the phones ability to select autofocus points. Taking high quality pictures with the new generation of iPhones has certainly never been easier.   Although both models offer vastly improved battery life when compared to earlier iPhones, the iPhone 6 Plus gives users up to 24 hours of 3G talk time – compared to just 14 hours with the iPhone 6 (but still a significant improvement over the iPhone 5).   What Consumers are Saying   But what are real users saying about the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Initial reports suggest that many users are having a hard time dealing with the larger screen size of the iPhone 6 Plus, some even calling it "awkward" to use. Others have expressed frustration at the glitchy software and frequent crashes.   However, not all feedback is negative. Happy iPhone 6 owners are celebrating the iPhone 6's improved Wi-Fi speeds, both downstream and upstream, reporting download speeds that are nearly double those of the iPhone 5. Users are also singing the praises of the new interface design. The built-in iOS 8 software leverages on the physical design of the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and allows users to swipe, navigate, and access all parts of the phone with a single hand. The new generation of iPhones has really made the end experience for the user that much better.   Is it worth the Money?   If you're in the market for a new phone, then both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are certainly worthy of your hard earned cash. Both phones are powerful yet simple to use, and look great. Visit your local phone shop to try them out for yourself.