Apple iPhone 6 – what we know so far

Many are looking forward to the arrival of Apple’s upcoming flagship smartphone – the iPhone 6. There have been rumors here and there right from its alleged specs, features, and down to what its form factor could look like. We’ve compiled what we currently know about this device to give you a general idea on what to expect when it comes out.

Just a reminder: The details here aren’t final yet and could still be changed by the company before the handset becomes official. With that in mind, let’s dive in and see what the iPhone 6 could possibly have in store for everyone.

Specs
We could expect a 64-bit A7 processor at the very least since the iPhone 5S already possesses this. This means that seeing a more powerful CPU (maybe A8?) is possible along with 1GB or 2GB RAM to support it.

The iPhone 6 was reported to come in three storage options: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. Cloud storage is also likely to play a huge role with easy access to store all the user’s media, thus eliminating the need for a larger 128GB storage.

In terms of display, we think that equipping the iPhone 6 with sapphire glass is the road Apple will take. Previously, they only incorporated sapphire glass to the physical home button and lens cover of the iPhone 5S. It just makes sense that the next step would be to reinforce the entire display with this tough material.

Its camera should also be receiving an upgrade. Since Apple is a testament to what people say “more pixel count doesn’t totally mean better photos”, it’s unlikely that it will bump up its camera to 16MP or more as we commonly see today. Instead, the company could still retain its 8MP rear camera but with improved image stabilization and even larger pixels similar to HTC’s Ultrapixel technology. This should improve the quality of photos taken with the iPhone 6.

Size(s)
If you’ve been following the stories surrounding the iPhone 6, you’ve probably heard that it may come larger than the 5S’ current 4-inch display. Not just that, it may also be available in two sizes – a 4.7-inch variant and a bigger 5.5-inch model. Apple may have decided to make larger displays since its Android counterpart almost has the phablet scene all to itself. They probably want to tap the same market and give its competition some challenge.

Although there might be two upcoming variants, we don’t think that they would be launched at the same time. Reports suggest that the smaller 4.7-inch model might first make its appearance, while the bigger iPhone 6 might be delayed for a couple of months.

Hardware
We’re expecting the iPhone 6 to get a refreshed look with an entirely new feel for the device. A famous concept artist rendered an artwork of what the iPhone 6 would probably look like and it looks really different from what we’re used to see with the current iPhone.

One of the things we noticed was that the company let go of the edged corners and have now switched to rounded edges reminiscent of the iPod. There’s also the Sleep/Wake button that moved to the right side from its original position up top. This should make navigation a lot smoother and easier even while using a single hand on the now-bigger display.

Software
After giving us a taste of what the new iOS 8 is capable of doing last WWDC, we can expect the next flagship phone to function heavily on the said OS. Some of its features may have already appeared on Android, but its Wi-Fi calling and support for Tagalog keyboard are some of the things we’re anxious to try out on an iPhone.

It’s also likely to see some iOS 8 features in the iPhone 6 that you cannot find in an iPhone 5S with the same iOS 8 onboard. In other words, there might still be some iPhone 6-exclusive features that users can take advantage of.

Features
In this aspect, Apple seems to be bringing something new to the table. It’s been reported that along with the iPhone 6 comes NFC that could be used for mobile payments. The company was said to be in talks with China UnionPay for a mobile payment service, while also working with the possibility of using it for purchases over at Apple stores.

There’s also the granted patent for a Bayonet Attachment Mechanism that will allow users to slot in different lenses to their iPhone. A document from the company itself reveals that they have looked at other options to have an accessory mounted on the handset. So far, the Bayonet mount proves to be the fitting choice since no more alterations on the design is required for this approach.

Pricing
As of now, talks are going around the Internet that the iPhone 6, when it becomes available for purchase, will cost around the same starting price like the previous iPhones during their launch. This is so that the handset will still maintain being competitively-priced against other flagship phones. This is for the 4.7-inch variant, at least, and the 5.5 inches model should cost significantly higher.

Launch Date
Looking back at the launch of previous iPhones, Apple seems to have an affinity for releasing their front-runners during the start of fall. This is around late September, maybe the third or last week of the month. Although we’ve heard of a rumor that will have the iPhone 6 available in August, latest updates still point to a September release with its availability following after a couple of weeks.

There will be more details that should emerge as we near its launch. Stay tuned as we’ll be sure to update you on the arrival of the Apple iPhone 6.