Review: iPhone 6

Text and photos Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Marrying stunning hardware with killer software has been Apple's way, and the iPhone 6, its most important product, moves the ecosystem forward in terms of device, software (iOS 8, OS X) and services (iCloud, Continuity, Apple Pay).

Apple’s popular iPhone hit its landmark 7th year and counters the challenge posed by competitors on a number of fronts.

iPhone 6 features an all-new seamless unibody design, a second generation  64-bit A8 processor and M8 coprocessor, a new camera sensor with enhanced video features and better focus and low light performance, NFC for payments, a Barometer, as well as the most LTE bands (20) on any smartphone in the market.

The most noticeable features this year are the larger screens. For the iPhone 6, the 4.7-Retina HD display is a big move up from the iPhone 5s and its 4-inch display. Despite a larger size, iPhone 6 retains a thin and light profile at 6.9 mm thin.

The 4.7-inch new generation Retina HD Display features a 1133 x 750 pixel resolution with the same 326 pixel per inch pixel density from the iPhone 5s. This gives a larger canvas for apps and content. It has 38 per cent more viewing area than the iPhone 5/5s while only being 13 per cent larger in volume.

Apple decided to go large in every possible way, and managed to do so while still managing to make the new iPhones thinner than the previous version.

-Canadian Angle 

Demand for iPhones in Canada has always been huge with long lines forming in Apple Stores overnight and the new models are often sold out from carriers and retailers within the first few hours.  

The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus hit a record 4 million pre-orders (that’s 150,000 phones an hour) in 24-hours.  Supply is expected to be constrained going into the holiday buying season. iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will come to market on September 19 in gold, silver and space grey colours as well as 16GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities. 

SRT  for unlocked units is $749 (CAD) for the 16GB model, $859 (CAD) for the 64GB model and, for the first time, a new 128GB model for $969 (CAD). Canadian carriers have various plans in place.

-Form -

The iPhone 6 represents seven years of evolution. A measured response to the world that has changed since Apple revolutionized the smartphone market with the original iPhone.

We now have expansive app ecosystems, faster data speeds capable of rivalling WiFi as well as large and more immersive applications and experiences and a range in screen sizes.

People use their smartphones to watch movies and YouTube videos, shoot their own videos and photos, play games and, increasingly, are even running business grade applications right from their devices.  Pretty soon, people will use those same devices as mobile payment conduits and virtual wallets. 

The 3.5-inch screen of the iPhone to iPhone 4s and the 4-inch screen of the iPhone 5/5s are already considered small in many of today’s use cases.

Apple responded this year with two new phones with larger displays but managed to do this without compromising size, battery life, performance or screen quality.

The iPhone 6, at 4.7-inches, now goes head-to-head with many flagship devices running on Android and Windows Phone in terms of display size, but is still thinner and lighter than many of its competitors. 

Apple calls the new design ‘seamless’, and we no longer see any glass on the rear backplate which is now one semi-smooth slate.

You do feel a thin protrusion where the antennas are overlaid on the metal, a method other smartphone makers have adopted as well. Even the protective glass on the screen tapers at the edges to give the new iPhone 6 a continuous flow and feel. Sapphire glass, widely rumoured to be making a debut as a replacement to Gorilla Glass, only makes an appearance to protect the camera lenses.

Many iPhone 5 and 5s (or 5c) users will be surprised by the larger display when first using the iPhone 6 (even more so, the iPhone 6 Plus), just because the size discrepancy is so huge. 

But after interacting with the newer iPhone 6’s, and then going back to the smaller devices, will make the older ones feel really tiny, specially when typing on the keyboard. My eyes and fingers found it difficult to go back and work with the smaller screens of the iPhone 5s and 5c after a few hours using the iPhone 6.

I’ve been a big fan of the iPhone 4’s design with the steel and glass sandwich that felt unlike anything else in the market at the time (but which was also more delicate).

The iPhone 5’s design retained some glass in the backplate but also started a more unified use of metal. With the iPhone 6, we see a return to the unibody look and feel of the original iPhone, but with more use of metal now that the antennas are overlaid strategically on the top and bottom.

There's a definite progression in design and in technology. Apple developed processes that have enabled it to create a more unified design and yet remain true to their roots.

The look and feel of the iPhone 6 is undoubtably premium, specially when you look at the gold and silver variants which, while muted in their shine and lustre, do appropriate the look of luxury items.

-Functions and features

With larger screens comes the challenge of one-handed usability. While the iPhone 5s and 5c were perfect for one-handed usage, and fit most human hands quite well, the larger footprint of the iPhone 6 requires a bit of stretch to use. 

Apple has offset these challenges by redesigning physical aspects of the iPhone 6. They moved the wake/sleep button from the top to the left-hand side, and made the volume rocker buttons longer. They also used software to make things a bit easier.  

Double-tapping the Touch ID button moves the contents of the screen down within reach of your thumb or finger, it’s an effective way to get to the top of many apps where the controls are located.

Display Zoom is another feature that increases the size of the icons and make them easier to read on the larger screens. You can select small or larger icons and layouts at will and this is one of the first options presented when you set-up the phone.

iOS 8

iOS 8 is a big component of iPhone 6. The newest and most comprehensive change to Apple’s mobile OS will need its own review, as we put it through its paces (iOS 8 is available as a free download tomorrow), but iPhone 6 has been designed to take advantage of most of the new features and functionality.

OS 8 brings a long list of improvements to the core functionality of iPhones, but more importantly, helps extend shared functionality between iOS devices and OS X through Continuity and Handoff features.

Some of the features I’ve been able to try so far include AirDrop to Mac, which allows quick sending of files on your iPhone to a nearby Yosemite-enabled Mac, which is very convenient and fast.

I was also delighted to see that while working on my laptop, I had the option of answering calls from my iPhone on my MacBook Pro as well as calling any phone number on my Mac using my iPhone 6.

Owners of compatible Mac computers running OS X Yosemite (also coming this fall) will really have more ways than ever before to interact and communicate between their mobile and computer devices.

Health is another huge feature and focus of iOS 8, as well as the new iPhone 6.

The new app aggragates various activities as well as general health information. With the iPhone 6, it can even determine elevation thanks to a built-in barometer.

One of the biggest features from iOS 8 is the QuickType keyboard which brings native predictive typing to the iPhone and it also understands the way users communicate.

QuickType will offer various options to words you have started to type so you can pick one instead of typing the whole word. It is convenient feature we’ve seen on other devices for some time now and really works nicely on the iPhone 6.

In terms of performance, testing iPhone 6 side by side an iPhone 5s shows there is an incremental increase in speed when accessing apps, surfing the web and multitasking.

It isn’t a dramatic jump in performance which Apple says is 25 per cent over the previous model, I find this to be accurate. There’s a very good reason for that.

The Apple A8 processor addresses improved battery life, something that’s been wanting in older iPhones (because of their smaller size, and smaller batteries). 

So, while there’s a marked speed increase, the bigger factor is longer battery life across most applications and functions, which is very welcome.

I found this to be true with the iPhone 6, even after a day’s heavy use streaming Netflix videos and shooting a lot of HD video plus editing them in the device, there was more than enough battery left to get me through the day.

The specs of the new iPhone camera may sound unexciting at first. It is still 8 megapixels, like the previous version, but it does offer a newer sensor that approximates faster focusing that Apple says is similar to DSLRs. 

Taking photos on the iPhone 6 is better than ever. The larger screen helps frame photos and the new camera sensor is a definite step up from previous versions, specially in terms of low-light photography. Below are some images I took in dark conditions and the iPhone 6 managed to capture a lot of detail, drama and texture which would have been washed out or too dark.

There are also new features like optical and digital image stabilization and some truly amazing new video features. 

Shooting slo-mo video at 240 frames per second sounds insane on a mobile device, but the iPhone 6 can do this without so much as a stutter and the results are fantastic. 

The time-lapse feature works remarkably well, even in handheld mode, thanks to the image stabilization function. The short video above was shot in the IKEA parking lot on a busy weekend, this was done handheld and without a tripod.

The iPhone 6 has one of the best video cameras we’ve seen on any mobile device. Even the iPhone 6’s non optical image stabilization, does a fine job in keeping videos levelled and the new functions like slo-mo and time lapse are super easy to use. Thanks to the processor, trimming and editing video in-camera (or in Phone) is smooth and fast. Using it it with the Hyperlapse time-lapse app is a joy.

Remembering how hard it was to get a good time lapse effect on my camera years ago, I was simply amazed at what the iPhone 6’s camera can achieve. It is still the best all-around camera and software combination on a smartphone, and now ups the ante in video recording performance.

The front facing camera has also gotten better, now with a larger aperture and all-new sensor technology, the front-facing FaceTime HD camera now captures 81 percent more light. It also has improved face detection. Apple added a new burst mode that takes 10 photos per second, so you can spice up your selfies.

-Caveats

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are pushing the iPhone experience in larger sizes with a completely new design. This means accessories and cases from previous versions will likely not work, and it might take a while to see some worthy third party cases and accessories for these devices.

Apple has released some premium leather cases as well a more affordable, yet equally attractive silicone cases. Both of these are designed to fit snugly and perfectly cover the rear, top and part of the bottom of the iPhone 6. They should help absorb some of the impact when dropped as well as add much needed grip and protection in day-to-day use, but the display remains exposed.

With the new phones comes the new realization that we are moving to larger screen sizes and bigger phones. This may not be popular with some users who like the compact look and feel of their current devices, but that doesn't change that fact that larger smartphone experiences are the inevitable future.

The discontinuation of the 32GB version iPhone will be an issue for some users who see this as the perfect size in terms of storage. I would have much rather they discontinued the 16GB version and start right at 32GB.

As it stands, the version I think most people should go for is the 64GB one since we now have more apps and take way more photos and video than ever before.

-Who is it For?

iPhone fans who have been chugging along on older models, notably the iPhone 4 or the iPhone 4s, will get a whole new experience that’s familiar yet richer on iOS 8 and the iPhone 6. Anyone clamouring for larger screens on iOS now has two devices and sizes to choose from. Both are excellent.

Users on other platforms who have been using larger smartphones and have enjoyed the bigger screen and longer battery life that come with larger phones and phablets, now have the largest iPhone models running the very latest mobile OS in the market. Consider the various hooks that the iOS ecosystem is offering for home automation, health, CarPlay and now mobile payments via Apple Pay, and the value of the iPhone becomes considerable.

BYOD users who want a reliable personal smartphone that can also handle the rigours of their corporate work life can now consider a larger device that’s rooted on great user experience and support. 

-Conclusion

By offering a larger iPhone, Apple has responded to the two key features that have held the previous models back, battery life and a small screen size.

The iPhone 6 is notable because it offers such a departure in terms of screen size, design and functionality while maintaining one of the thinnest, lightest profiles in the industry.

Marrying stunning hardware with killer software has been Apple's way, and the iPhone 6, its most important product, moves the ecosystem forward in terms of device, software (iOS 8, OS X) and services (iCloud, Continuity, Apple Pay).

Considering the monumental effort required to make this all work together as seamlessly as possible, yet keep most of the inner workings invisible, the iPhone 6 is truly a multifacted cog and the foundation of the company's future.

For consumers, they now have the widest choice in iPhone models and sizes. The iPhone 6 is really the next level. Bigger, faster, more connected and yet improving the features that have made it so key and so popular to many users.

Rating: 5 out of 5