8 Things We Want In iPhone 6
What features rank as most wanted in Apple's soon-to-debut iPhone? Let's talk battery, camera, display, and more.
![](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt69509c9116440be8/bltef2ce563d1f8f23c/64cb5782e7288cdbeaf7dad6/1-iPhone6.png?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Here's what we want, Apple
We're coming down to the wire. All signs point to a Sept. 9 launch for Apple's next-generation iPhone, better known by its unofficial moniker, iPhone 6. That's less than two weeks from now, meaning the endless series of iPhone speculation stories (yes, like this one) will soon get a stake through the heart. However, they won't die a vampire's death. Rather, they will rise again this fall, when rumors of the iPhone 7 begin to leak out from Apple's vast supply chain in Asia.
One interesting thing about iPhone rumors is that they invariably focus on hardware specs -- screen size, processor, camera, storage capacity, and so on. It's much easier for Apple to silence chatter on new software, particularly when developed in-house, than it is to keep far-flung suppliers from spilling hardware factoids to eager journalists and analysts.
As a result, we tend to hear far more gossip about Apple's prerelease hardware than its software. A good example of this came at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, when senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi introduced Swift, a new programming language for creating iOS and Mac OS X apps. Swift took the keynote audience and blogosphere by surprise, as rumors leading up to the event hadn't mentioned it as one of Apple's likely WWDC announcements.
We already know a lot about the iPhone 6, but the handset's precise physical appearance remains something of a mystery. (The slide above isn't a leaked snapshot of the new iPhone -- it's too far too pretty for that -- but rather a conceptual image created by graphic designer Martin Hajek.) One thing is certain: Despite being notably larger than its predecessor, the new model(s) will retain Apple's slim-and-sleek aesthetic.
What else is new? Well, one recent rumor says the larger of the two new iPhones, the one with the 5.5-inch display, will be named the "iPhone 6L" (the L presumably standing for "Large").
It'll be interesting to see how Apple prices the iPhone 6. Will the 5.5-inch model be the premium edition, perhaps with features not available in its 4.7-inch sibling? Or will screen size be the only distinction between the two? Assuming the smaller model has more mainstream appeal -- as it probably will in the North American market, where 5-inch or larger phones (i.e., phablets) aren't as popular as they are in Asia -- the latter option seems likely.
Exlore the slideshow to see the top eight things we want to see from the iPhone 6. And tell us if you agree with our choices.
(Source: Google Image Search)
One of the hottest iPhone 6 rumors, if true, would be great news for users who've had to replace a cracked or shattered iPhone screen. The new model reportedly features a screen made of sapphire crystal. From a durability perspective, sapphire's claim to fame is that it's very hard to scratch, crack, or mutilate, making it an ideal material for smartphone screens. Try hard enough, though, and sapphire will crack under the pressure -- well, shatter, actually. Last month, a video emerged from China showing an alleged iPhone 6 sapphire screen surviving fairly brutal treatment, including hammer blows, knife scratches, flame from a cigarette lighter, and unnatural twists and turns. The screen finally did shatter when run over by a vehicle's tire -- proof it's not unconquerable.
(Source: Chinese microblogging site Weibo, via MacRumors)
Rumors of manufacturing delays have accompanied recent iPhone launches, and this year's leadup is no exception. Reuters reported last week that Apple's suppliers are struggling to produce enough display panels in time for next month's rollout. Citing supply-chain sources, Reuters said the iPhone 6's screen backlight had to be reworked, putting screen assembly on hiatus for part of June and July. It's unclear, however, if the rumored delays will postpone or limit the initial iPhone 6 supply. The report also stated that the 4.7-inch screen went into mass production ahead of the phablet-sized 5.5-inch panel, suggesting there's truth to earlier rumors that the larger model won't be available right away.
(Source, modified: ihelplounge)
The iPhone 5s performs quite well with 1 GB of memory, even though high-end Android competitors such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G3 have 2 GB and 3 GB of RAM, respectively. Rumors suggest the iPhone 6 will get a memory bump to at least 2 GB. If true, app developers could begin coding with higher RAM limits in mind -- a key advancement as the iPhone platform evolves. But don't get your hopes up too high. The Chinese Apple repair company GeekBar claims the iPhone 6 will stick with 1 GB. On the plus side, Apple might also optimize its new iOS 8 operating system to deliver a better user experience, even without the memory boost.
(Source: ifixit.com)
Every smartphone user wants this, of course, but will the iPhone 6 deliver? The signals are mixed. Recent reports have the 4.7-inch version shipping with either a 1,810-mAh or 2,100-mAh capacity battery. Either would have a greater capacity -- and ideally a longer lifespan between charges -- than the 1,560-mAh battery in the iPhone 5s. Then again, allegedly leaked photos show what might be new iPhone 6 batteries with 1,810-mAh and 2,915-mAh capacities.
Since the iPhone 6 will almost certainly have more demanding components -- faster processor, more RAM (maybe), larger displays with higher resolutions, and so on -- the question is whether larger batteries would extend usage times or merely maintain the status quo? Seeing as how a recent Samsung ad derided iPhone users as "wall huggers" perpetually tethered to AC outlets, longer battery life would be the way to go.
Back in 2007, the original iPhone came with either 4 GB or 8 GB of flash memory, and then 16 GB the following year. Six years later, the iPhone 5s offered 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB of flash. Sounds like it's time for another storage spec bump. Weibo, a Chinese phone repair firm, recently dug up what appears to be a iPhone 6 schematic showing the new handset with 128 GB of storage, GforGames reports. Most users won't need 128 gigs, but the option is nice to have in lieu of a memory card slot, which the iPhone 6 almost certainly won't have.
Apple's next-generation A8 mobile CPU will arrive with the iPhone 6, but the processor's exact specs remain a mystery. Like its predecessor, the A7, the A8 will likely be a dual-core, 64-bit chip. However, the A8 may very well be Apple's first mobile CPU to reach or surpass the 2-GHz threshold. One prediction claims the A8 will clock at a speedy 2.6 GHz.
Apple also is expected to upgrade the M7 "motion coprocessor" that debuted in the iPhone 5s. Designed to boost battery life by measuring motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass, the M7 (or its successor) will be a nice fit with Apple's new HealthKit software, one of the key new features of iOS 8.
(Source: Concept art by graphic designer Martin Hajek)
The rear (main) camera on the iPhone 5s is very good, but there's always room for improvement. A larger sensor is always welcome, for instance. A recent rumor from the Chinese website IT168 Mobile (via MacRumors) claims the iPhone 6 will sport a 10-megapixel camera with an aperture of f/1.8, a step up from the iPhone 5s's 8-megapixel, f/2.2 specs. (Aperture is the size of the lens opening through which light reaches the sensor.) Other reports have the iPhone 6 camera getting optical image stabilization (OIS), as well. OIS reduces image blur by shifting the camera lens to adjust for movement of the device.
Will Apple add Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to the iPhone 6 or focus on its Bluetooth Low Energy-based iBeacon technology as a mobile payment solution? Average users don't care all that much, though they would appreciate the convenience of a slick, seamless payment solution. Numerous reports claim Apple will finally bring NFC to the iPhone -- three years after the mobile payment/data sharing technology began appearing on Android devices -- and perhaps even announce a payment service with major Chinese banks. Apple joining the NFC brigade could give the payment platform the nudge it needs to go mainstream after years of unfulfilled expectations.
Will Apple add Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to the iPhone 6 or focus on its Bluetooth Low Energy-based iBeacon technology as a mobile payment solution? Average users don't care all that much, though they would appreciate the convenience of a slick, seamless payment solution. Numerous reports claim Apple will finally bring NFC to the iPhone -- three years after the mobile payment/data sharing technology began appearing on Android devices -- and perhaps even announce a payment service with major Chinese banks. Apple joining the NFC brigade could give the payment platform the nudge it needs to go mainstream after years of unfulfilled expectations.
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