The iPhone 6 release date is the current hot topic of
the tech scene, with latest iPhone 6 rumours suggesting the eagerly
awaited handset will finally pack NFC connectivity.Although, almost a year after launch, both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C remain two of the most popular handsets on the market, consistently outselling the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8,
attention has already firmly turned to the upcoming iPhone 6 release
date and the possibility of an all new Apple smartphone direction.
With the iPhone 6 wildely expected to feature a
completely refreshed, larger design and screen to better rival its main
Android rivals, it has also been suggested that the phone could benefit
from a super slim profile similar to the iPod touch.
What's more, having shaken things up last year with the colourful, plastic bodied iPhone 5C,
recent iPhone 6 rumours have claimed the next Apple handset could share
the limelight with the company's first phablet offering, a handset
which would look to rival the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
With a September 26 iPhone 6 release date being widely teased - a launch
date which would fit with the 'fall' timeframe handed to the iOS 8
launch - such a release would likely see the phone formally announced
around September 16.
However, it has recently been claimed that
at least one iPhone 6 model is facing delays due to production issues
and will now not launch until early 2015, something which would surely
see Apple concede serious market share to its newer Android rivals.
Last
Update: 01/08/14: We will continue to update this page leading up to
the iPhone 6 launch and the confirmation of the precise iPhone 6 release
date.
iPhone 6 Release Date: When will the iPhone 6 go on sale?
Although
some had claimed that the iPhone 6 release date would be announced
during WWDC 2014, we now know this to be pure nonsense, with June's
conference keynote focussing on iOS 8, OS X Yosemite and a raft of new
developer features.
Now, what is looking far more likely is that
the iPhone 6 release date will be held in either late September or the
opening days of October - a launch which will follow an unveiling less
than two weeks earlier.
Despite multiple reports claiming the
iPhone 6 release date will be held on September 26 (and this is where we
are placing our bets), claimed supply chain sources have now also
hinted at a potential October 14 arrival. Both scenarios have the phone
being unveiled on September 16.
With the iPhone 4S
having marked the company’s first move to a late summer unveiling, the
iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S have all made their first appearances around the
same time of year.
Adding
further backing to an autumn release, analysts and claimed insiders
have reported that the iPhone 6 will touch down with a new 4.7-inch
screen during the very latter period of Q3 - so late September. It has
been suggested that the iPhone 6 will land as a busy second half of the
year for the Cupertino-based giant, a period which will also see new
iPads, MacBooks and the much mooted Apple iWatch land.
Separate
reports out of Japan and Taiwan have both suggested that the iPhone 6
will enter full production in July in order to meet launch demands. One
thing
you can bet on is that the iPhone 6 will not be hit by the same level
of stock shortages as the iPhone 5S, a device which faced 6-8 week
shipping delays on day one.
Could a second 5.5-inch iPhone launch in 2015?
What
might happen however, at least according to one analyst, is that the
oft-rumoured 5.5-inch iPhone 6 could be delayed until 2015. KGI
Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has stated that the larger iPhone 6
could be edged back into 2015 due to construction issues.
“We are
conservative about 5.5-inch iPhone launching by end-2014. Even if the
product is launched in 2014, it is likely to take place after mid-4Q14,
which is later than the September-October of consensus, with shipments
being lower than consensus of 15- 20mn units,” Ming-Chi Kuo told
investors.
On the potential delay he added: “We think the
5.5-inch model will also have issues with the yield rate of in-cell
touch panel and color unevenness of metal casing. Indeed, these problems
will likely be even more complicated with a larger size.
"In
addition, from a technical perspective, we don’t expect sapphire cover,
used for the first time on the 5.5-inch model, will easily pass the drop
test near term.”
NEWS ROUND-UP: Samsung Galaxy S6 Release Date, News, Rumours, Specs and Price
iPhone 6 News: What do we know so far?
While
it can be hard to separate the fact from the fiction in the outpouring
of the iPhone 6 rumour mill, a number of reports have pointed to the
device making the switch to toughened Sapphire glass to protect the
phone's display. With Apple long been known to be working with this
material, we think this might be closer to the 'fact' end of the
spectrum.
The Sapphire screen
With Sapphire
glass featuring toughened properties that make it seriously difficult to
scratch, it seems like the ideal fit for a smartphone screen.
The Sapphire coated iPhone has even popped up on video (allegedly) coutesy of tech YouTube personality Marques Brownlee.
With
Sapphire glass already used in watch faces and even the iPhone 5S's
TouchID fingerprint sensor, Brownlee has claimed that the iPhone 6
prototype he got his hands on was “straight off the assembly line iPhone
6 part from Apple” and featured a full Sapphire glass front.
“I
couldn’t get the surface to even scratch a little bit at all. The worst
blemish on the surface was actually my fingerprint marks and the dust
from handling it so much,” Brownlee said of the device.
The iPhone 6 will be even thinner than ever
With
iPhone 6 rumours having long focussed on the size of the handset's
screen, attention has now turned to the phone's thickness with latest
iPhone 6 leaks all pointing to a super slim device skinnier than even
the 6.18mm thick Huawei Ascend P6.
While we in the
TrustedReviews
offices aren't sold on the idea of excessively skinny handsets, alleged
iPhone 6 renders reportedly sent to case manufacturers have claimed the
iPhone 6 will be just 6mm thick, 1.6mm slimmer than the 5S.
Bringing
this remodelled form factor to life, an iPhone 6 mock-up has been
created based on the leaked renders, offering a video-based insight into
exactly how the next-gen Apple handset might look.
According to separate reports the S5 rival will be not only super slim but the proud host of a curved display and body.
As
unlikely as we find it, reports out of Japan have cited "reliable
information" in claiming that a curved display with rounded edges is on
the cards.
We do, however, believe the claims of a super slim
form could come to fruition as the skinny iPhone leaks continue to flow.
Joining the renders and schematics, a claimed iPhone 6 case has leaked
online, again suggesting the next-gen handset will be considerably
thinner than its predecessor. The teased peripheral itself is slimmer
than an iPhone 5S meaning the 6 will be heavily cut down in size. What's
more, it has shown off the much mooted increase in screen size.
A 4.7-inch screen is likely and possibly more than one option
Another
of the most common iPhone 6 rumours to do the rounds in recent weeks is
that the handset will feature a larger screen than past Apple handsets.
With the likes of the LG G2
having already pushed flagship Android phone displays to 5.2-inches,
Apple is likely to make another jump in size, having moved from
3.5-inches to 4-inches with the iPhone 5. At present, it is believed the iPhone 6 will host a 4.7-inch display, similar to the original HTC One, with an Apple phablet to follow with a 5.5-inch panel.
“The electronics giant has begun evaluating a plan to offer iPhones with
screens ranging from 4.7-inches to as high as 6-inches,” mooted “people
familiar with the matter” have been quoted as stating in recent
reports.
With dozens of leaks all pointing towards the iPhone 6
featuring a larger screen, notorious Apple tipster Brian White has added
that an iPhone 6 screen size “could approach 5-inches.”
Topeka Capital analyst White added: “The next iPhone will offer customers more choice in terms of screen
size. The Company has
never offered multiple screen sizes for a single model, we believe this
is about to change with the next iPhone offering different screen sizes
that we believe will allow Apple to better bifurcate the market and
expand its reach.”
Seeing a larger iPhone 6 screen all but
confirmed, even component suppliers have been getting in on the
premature unveiling act, teasing an increase in smartphone size.
Speaking with Asian media, an unnamed Foxconn executive reportedly
revealed that “Apple has been particularly interested in recent tests
for a 4.8-inch screen.”
With latest reports suggesting the iPhone 6 will line up with a 4.7-inch
display, it is believed that the handset will still be smaller than
many of its leading Android-based competitors, instead lining up similar
in size to the Motorola Moto X.
Although
it has been suggested that the iPhone 6 will gain its larger display as
part of a total redesign, leaked images of the phone's front panel have
hinted that Apple will retain a similar aesthetic for its next flagship
phone.
Surfacing courtesy of iPhone.fr, the teased image (above)
has hinted that Apple will retain iPhone look, simply expanding the
screen area on the phone's body.
GUIDE: Five Big-Screen iPhone 6 Problems Apple Needs to Solve
iPhone 6 Rumours: Will the iPhone 6 use Quantum Dots?
Size isn't the only change expected for the iPhone 6's screen. Building
on the manufacturer's past Retina offerings, it has been suggested that
the iPhone 6 will make use of new, Quantum Dot display technologies.
Quantum
Dots
improve colour reproductionby
emitting the light through a thin film of quantum dots, particles that
have properties that improve the range of colours the display can
produce.
Despite
grabbing headlines, the technology isn't new. Quantum Dot displays have
already featured on the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX tablet line.
Earlier
this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased the company's plans to introduce
improved displays to its mobile products, a remit sure to include the
iPhone 6.
“We want to give our customers what’s right in all
respects – not just the size but in the resolution, in the clarity, in
the contrast, in the reliability”, Cook said during an interview earlier
this year. “There are many different parameters to measure a display
and we care about all [of] those, because we know that’s the window to
the software.”
Could the iPhone 6 include improve haptic feedback?
Improved haptic feedback is also rumoured to be on the iPhone 6's incoming features list.
Now
don't go getting too excited, this isn't going to be futuristic haptic
feedback that lets you feel the texture of a clothing or the prickles of
a thorn bush through the glass, more an improved vibration motor which
will also allow for more intricate, and potentially more powerful,
gaming feedback.
The power button could move
As
part of the handset's refresh, a number of small design changes are
expected, with those claiming insider knowledge suggesting Apple could
relocate the phone's power button for the first time since the original
iPhone was introduced.
“Our understanding is that [the] iPhone
6’s power button might be moved from the top to the side,” analyst
Ming-Chi Kuo stated. “We think this change is meant to facilitate
one-hand operation and might indicate new application that require more
frequent use of the power button.”
The iPhone and the iWatch as one
Despite
the iPhone 6 being set to be one of Apple's biggest launches of 2014,
the next-gen smartphone might have to share the stage. With Apple having
repeatedly teased and hinted a wearable gadget potentially being in the
works at its Cupertino HQ, it has been suggested that the iPhone 6
release date could be held in conjunction with an Apple iWatch launch.
Tipped
to boast a 1.3-inch touchscreen, the Apple iWatch will reportedly
feature a curved screen manufactured by LG and launch as a companion to
the iPhone 6.
Although iWatch reports have circled for some time,
the iPhone 6 rumour that continues to generate the most talking points
is the potential move to a larger display. With insiders and component
suppliers chattering about a bigger display, analysts have got in on the
act too, with Topeka Capital analyst Brian White also pointing at a
4.8-inch form factor.
One iPhone 6 rumour which seems to be stretching the realms of possibility, is collection of iPhone 6 concept images
which have shown the phone with a curved, wraparound display. While
these images have grabbed the attentions of many, even the concept’s
designer has questioned its likelihood.
“Such a design may appear
on the iPhone 6 or 7, or maybe never,” designer Nikolay Lamm said.
“It’s a cool design, but one which is unlikely to give Apple a
sustainable competitive advantage.”
GUIDE: Quantum Dots Explained: What they are and why they're awesome
iPhone 6 Specs: What features will be included?
The
iPhone 6 specs sheet is set to have a few surprises in store following
the incremental updates from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 5S.
With
the Touch ID fingerprint sensor having made an appearance aboard the
iPhone 5S, it is expected that the biometric security measure will
become something of a standard on flagship models, and make another stop
within the iPhone 6’s home button. On this front, with the Samsung
Galaxy S5's own fingerprint sensor being made compatible with Paypal
payments, you can guarantee Apple will be working on further
partnerships and tie ins of its own.
Further iPhone 6 specs will
likely see the increased screen and completely overhauled design
partnered with an even speedier 64-bit processor and revised camera.
Although the recently confirmed Qualcomm Snapdragon 805, Snapdragon 808
and Snapdragon 810 chipsets are to power the next wave of Android
powerhouses, Apple is likely to continue to shun the leading mobile CPU
provider in favour of its own chipsets.
Although the iPhone 6
camera looks set to retain the same 8-megapixel sensor as its
predecessor, recent reports have suggested that integrated snapper will
be improved by a move to improved glass optics to boost image quality
and clarity.
Further and more precise iPhone 6 specs are still unclear.
What is clear, however, is that the iPhone 6 will become one of, if not the, first device to run iOS 8
direct from the box. An evolution more than a revolution of its mobile
operating system, iOS 8 is set to have a strong, fitness based focus.
Leading this new direction will be the HealthKit hub, an aggregator of a
variety of dedicated fitness and wellbeing applications and services
that can be tied in to a selection of third party peripherals.
Further
features set to be introduced to the iPhone 6 through iOS 8 include
HomeKit, new Messages feautres, the iCloud Drive storage service, a new
QuickType keyboard and Notification bar widgets.
As has become
customary, the iPhone 6 is expected to be made available in 16GB, 32GB
and 64GB storage forms, although a new 128GB handset is also believed to
be on the cards.
On a connectivity front, Apple
is expected to finally give a nod to NFC as the Cupertino-based company
looks to adopt wireless payment systems.
Having been rumoured to
feature on past Apple handsets, NFC looks set to finally join the fray.
Although uses for NFC have been slow to appear, a number of retailers
and transport systems are now accepting tap-to-pay NFC payments direct
from phones.
NEWS ROUND-UP: iOS 8 Release Date, Features, Apps, News, Rumours
iPhone 6 Price: How much will it cost?
Although
Apple isn’t short of a few bob, the iPhone 6 price, like that of its
predecessor is sure to hit you where it hurts, the wallet.
The
iPhone 5S price was increased over its predecessor, and with the iPhone 6
expected to get a bump in screen size and an all new design, you can
expect and even lofty rise in costs next time around. We will bring you
further details on the iPhone 6 price as and when we get them.
Tags:apple iPhone 6 rumours, apple iPhone 6 news, apple iPhone 6 price, apple iPhone 6 release date, apple iPhone 6 specs,
