Search results for: “iPhone 6 Plus”

Apple Knew iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Were More Likely To Bend Before The Launch

In 2014, Apple released the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in September. The release saw Apple move on to a new unibody design and screen sizes. The iconic top-placed power button moved to the right-hand side and the circular volume rockers became cylindrical. However, the most talked about aspect of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus continues to be infamous “bendgate” incident. It was alleged that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were bending in people’s pockets due to Apple’s poor design.

As a part of the ongoing lawsuit against the company regarding touchscreen failure due to bending, new internal documents were released by Judge Koh. These documents have revealed that the company knew about the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus’ susceptibility to bending before the launch. According to the documents, Apple’s internal tests found that the iPhone 6 was 3.3 times more likely to bend than the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 6 Plus, on the other hand, was 7.2 times more likely to bend.

Must Read: Apple iPhone SE 2 Renders Leaked Again With iPhone X Style Notch

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At the nascent stage of the bendgate controversy, Apple conceded that bending iPhones were extremely rare. Unbox Therapy, now one of the biggest tech YouTubers, made a video about how easy it was to bend an iPhone 6 Plus. The video, at the time of writing, has 70,614,430 views!

The issue became worse when cases of iPhone 6 devices exhibiting a “touch disease” became public. Apparently, the touchscreen would fail due to a flaw in a specific touch-controller chip on the motherboard. Some people claimed that this was due to the physical damage from bending iPhones. However, Apple claimed that that the issue was a symptom of iPhones that were dropped multiple times on a hard surface and then incurring further stress on the device.

Must Read: Google Sued For Secretly Tracking Browsing Data For 4.4 Million iPhone Users

Judge Koh notes that Apple then began to make changes to the design of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The company started adding extra epoxy to strengthen the area underneath the touch-controller chip in May 2016. It is worth noting that the company has never publicly acknowledged the issue that has been widely known as the “bendgate” issue.

Must Read: OnePlus 6T To Follow OnePlus 6 In Q4 2018

May 25, 2018
Apple Sued Over Faulty iPhone 6 And iPhone 6 Plus Touchscreens

While the next iPhone is around the bend, Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus owners have sued Apple in the U.S. over faulty touchscreen controller chips that render the smartphones useless. Dubbed “Touch Disease” it seems to be rampantly affecting iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

The case alleges that Apple is aware of the technical glitch but refuses to fix affected devices. The named plaintiffs in the case Todd Clearly, Jun Bai and Thomas Davidson are reportedly accusing Apple of fraud.

The iPhones are not fit for the purpose of use as smartphones because of the touchscreen defect,”

The plaintiffs linked the problem to Apple’s decision not to use a metal “shield” or “underfill” to protect the relevant parts, as it did on versions of the iPhone 5.

Touch Disease was a tear given to the problem by iFixit who have also made the video below demonstrating the issue. A distinct flickering gray bar the appears at the top of the display near the status bar.

August 30, 2016
Oppo’s New Handset Seems Heavily ‘Inspired’ by the iPhone 6 Plus

After design overlaps between HTC’s One A9 and iPhone 6, looks like Oppo has also joined the league with its new smartphone. As hardware leaks of Oppo’s latest addition to the world of smartphones emerge, we see a device with a metal uni-body which looks very similar like that of the iPhone 6 Plus.

HTC had given its device a dash of originality by placing its camera in the centre of the back of the phone. Oppo, on the other hand, has refused to be too creative with its design -its camera is located exactly where it is in an iPhone. The only thing different is the orientation of the LED flash.

To add this, there are also other identical features which include a bottom-firing speaker grille, headphone jack and port for charging, all positioned on the underside of the phone.

What is this charm of Apple that has captivated both consumers and manufacturers all over? Whether you hate it or love it, or love to hate or hate to love it -either way it’s hard to ignore the presence the Apple in the tech world. Do you think the design of the iPhone is actually as popular as all other companies are making it out to be?

Image Source

November 24, 2015
Apple Begins Replacing iPhone 6 Plus’ With Faulty Cameras

Apple Inc. has announced the launch of its iSight Camera replacement program for the iPhone 6 Plus. This program is said to help replace the camera module in some of the iPhone 6 Plus devices that have allegedly come with a faulty rear camera.

According to some statistical reports, some of the iPhone 6 Plus models that were sold between September 2014 to January 2015 might have had a component that made photos to look blurry. This particular component also prevents the camera from focusing and could be related to the Optical Image Stabilization, since this device also comes with a much larger screen.

Therefore, all the iPhone 6 Plus models that are facing this problem and have an eligible serial number will get their cameras replaced by Apple, free of cost.This service can be obtained through Apple’s online support team, an Apple retail store, or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

The company has recommended users to back up their data to iTunes or iCloud in order to get ready for the replacement process, and iPhones that have other damages need to be fixed first, before replacement of the new camera.

Specifically, this new iSight Camera Replacement Program will cover iPhone 6 Plus iSight cameras for three years after the first retail sale of the unit.

Click here to check if your iPhone 6 Plus eligible for the program.

August 22, 2015

Epic Flagship Spec Battle : LG G4 vs Samsung Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6 Plus vs HTC One M9

LG pulled off a big show yesterday and introduced its 2015 star flagship, the LG G4. The company is betting big on the new device and claims that it offers an exceptional visual experience. So, we decided to check out how this new flagship stands up against the major flagships already available in the market. We are pitching the LG G4 against the Samsung Galaxy S6, iPhone 6 Plus and HTC One M9.

Have a look at the difference in specs:

Specs	LG G4	Samsung Galaxy S6	iPhone 6 Plus	HTC One M9
Display	5.5-inch Quad HD LCD display 2560×1440 resolution	5.1-inch QuadHD Super AMOLED 1440×2560 pixels	5.5 inch Full HD 1080×1920 pixel resolution	5.5 inch HD 1080×1920 pixel resolution
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 with X10 LTE	2.1 GHz Quad + 1.5 GHz quad Exynos 64-bit	1.4 GHz Dual-core A8 chipset	2.0 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset
RAM	3 GB	3 GB RAM	1 GB	3 GB
Storage	32 GB	32 GB	16/32 GB	32 GB
Expandable Upto	128GB	Non-Expandable	Non-Expandable	128 GB
Main Camera	16 MP	16 MP, Optical Image Stabilization, Autofocus, LED flash	8 MP Optical Image Stabilization, Face Detection Autofocus, dual-LED	20 MP autofocus, dual-LED Flash
Front Camera	8 MP	5MP	1.2 MP	Ultra Pixel
Battery	3,000mAh	2550mAh	2915mAh	2800mAh
Operating System	Android 5.1 Lollipop with LG UX 4.0 on top	Android 5.0.2 Lollipop	iOS 8	Android Lollipop

Looking at the specs, LG G4 shows the might to take on its competition. It is one mammoth of a device in terms of the camera, display and battery life. Coming out with an additional 128GB external storage capacity is an advantage for the LG G4. We’re also hearing good things about its leather-clad design and style. However, we’d like to get our hands on the device before we make any further comparisons.

Read about the LG G4 here, or you can compare notes of the difference between the LG G4 vs LG G3 here.

April 29, 2015

Features Samsung Galaxy S6 Needs to Take on the iPhone 6 Plus

Samsung is just a few days away from launching its magnum opus, the Galaxy S6. This will be a make or break device for Samsung. Consumers, as well as industry experts, have been losing their patience with Samsung’s products. Samsung’s claims of having designed the Galaxy S6 from scratch has intrigued the market and now everyone wants to see what the electronics giant means by a complete revamp. We look at some of the features that the Galaxy S6 needs to take on its prime adversary, the iPhone 6 Plus.

Display

Apple’s big boy, the iPhone 6 Plus sports a 5.5 inch Full HD display with a pixel density of 401ppi. Samsung’s previous flagship, the Galaxy S5 too flaunted a Full HD display with a pixel density of 432 ppi. This time around Samsung is expected to go for an increased screen size as well as to introduce a Quad HD (2K) which will be advantageous over the iPhone 6 Plus. Samsung is known for good displays especially on the higher end devices with Super AMOLED panels. So Samsung will have an easy win here. Some reports have also mentioned the possibility of a 4K display, which we hope the company doesn’t abide by as it would be a tremendous waste of resources. A 4K display would consume a lot of battery and processing power and the average users won’t be able to tell the difference anyway.

Design

A design makeover has been in order for a long while now. Samsung has answered the heavy criticisms for plastic based devices by introducing the metal frame design with the Galaxy Alpha series. The company is now expected to go full metal with the new S6, which is a welcoming news. The teaser of the device unveiled by T-mobile also shows a curved edge screen like the Note Edge, but it feels gimmicky and doesn’t have too much use as of now.

Battery

With an increased screen size and the rumored Quad HD display, the Galaxy S6 is bound to get a bigger battery. But what it does need to offer is a prolonged battery life that lasts for at least a week without using features like ultra power saving modes. This, of course, sounds like a heavy demand, but for once we’d rather the company invest in the state of the battery. The iPhone 6 Plus has a great battery backup that can last up to two days, and we hope Samsung has something good in store for us in this arena.

Camera

iPhone 6 Plus undoubtedly has the best camera in the business. Features like Time-lapse, slow-motion shots have made the device a one stop production tool. Samsung has to bring something at least comparable in this aspect. With the Note 4, the company brought wider selfies to its list of camera features, but this fell short of what Apple had to offer. An AnTuTu leak has hinted 20-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel selfie snapper for the Galaxy S6, which is decent spec listing. But we are more interested in finding how Samsung makes use of the hardware to provide improved shooting features with the camera.

Software

Galaxy S5 used as illustration

This is one area where Samsung needs to show real promise with the S6. It’s time Samsung shelved the boring TouchWiz UI for good. Samsung has updated the UI a bit over the past few years, but the market now expects a complete makeover. The UI update also needs to add advanced customizability features too so that users shouldn’t have to look for third party launchers or custom ROMs. Samsung has been cutting down on its bloatware too so it’s time it left just the bare essentials so that the user have control over what they choose to install on their device.

To Conclude

Samsung needs to give it all its got to the Galaxy S6. It needs to once and for all prove to the audience that it is still capable of delivering unique innovation to the market. Samsung being one of the pioneers of the smartphone business, has a responsibility to take the market further. If the device is appreciated by the market, Samsung needs to bring the design and feature down its ecosystem and update the new line of devices accordingly. Apple has done a good job with its flagship, now the world is looking at you Samsung, show us what you got!

February 26, 2015
iPhone 6 Plus Uses Twice as Much Data as the iPhone 6

Apple fans had to wait for a long while before they got a big screen. Their request was finally answered by Apple last year when they finally launched the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with bigger displays. These displays are great for multimedia consumption, but apparently they will also cause your data bills to skyrocket.

In a research paper submitted by Citrix, it claims that iPhone 6 Plus uses almost twice as much data as the iPhone 6. Interestingly it was also found that the bigger iPhone slurps out ten times more data than the iPhone 3Gs.

One of the major reasons cited for this heavy data usage is the increased multimedia content accessed through the devices. The bigger screen makes it easier for the users to watch heavy data intensive content like streaming videos.

This revelation may not be as worrisome to an Apple user because if you can afford an iPhone, then you might easily handle the additional data charge. iPhone users have got the pleasure of the big screen display just a few months back, so it’s obvious that they are making the most of it.

February 13, 2015

Nexus 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus vs Note 4 vs Xperia Z3 vs LG G3

With the launch of Google’s Nexus 9, the world has seen the crème de la crème of what the smartphone industry has to offer. This year turned out to be the best year in technology. Not only did we reach the highest specifications yet but were even able to bring those specs to lower-priced devices. Now that the biggest giants have unveiled their flagship competitors, it is time to test their spec-sheet might in comparison to each other.

This is a purely spec based battle and will not take in consideration the optimization and other software features. So let’s get ahead to check out how the innards of these legendary devices score in a face off against each other.

Specs	Nexus 6	Samsung Note 4	iPhone 6 Plus	Sony Xperia Z3	LG G3
Display	5.96 inch QHD	5.7 inch QHD	5.5 inch Full HD	5.2 inch Full HD	5.5 inch QHD
Processor	2.7GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 805	2.7GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 805	1.4 GHz Dual-core A8 chipset	2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801	2.26 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801
RAM	3 GB	3 GB	1 GB	3 GB RAM	3 GB
Storage	32GB & 64GB	32 GB	16/64/128 GB	16/32 GB	16/32GB
Expandable Upto	–	64 GB	–	128 GB	128 GB
Main Camera	13MP	16 MP	8 MP	20.7 MP	13 MP sensor
Front Camera	2MP	3.7 MP	1.2 MP	2.2	2.2MP sensor
Battery	3220mAh	Removable 3220 mAh	Non-removable 2915 mAh	Non-removable 3100 mAh	3,000mAh
Operating System	Android 5.0	Android 4.4.4	iOS 8	Android 4.4.4	Android 4.4.2
Miscellanous	Ring Flash	S-Pen	Reachability	Water-Proof	Knock Code

With this table, one can easily see the Nexus throwing a heavy claim to the throne. Not only does it come with great specifications, it also comes with the Android Lollipop which is the most efficient Android OS yet. The phone also sports Motorola’s unique ring flash which sets it apart from the rest. For a multimedia enthusiast, the Nexus 6 makes complete sense with its front facing speakers and gigantic display. However it misses out on expandable storage and added features like timelapse and slow motion camera which irks because those features could have been easily incorporated.

Nexus 6 faces its most toughest challenge from its own cousin. The rumored Moto X Plus will take the features from this device and add more features to the device. There is still a lot to look forward to in the future.

October 16, 2014

iPhone 6 Plus vs Note 4: Which Giant is Right for You?

The cards have been dealt, and now the markets all around the world are ready to choose between the latest offerings from the two giants of the smartphone business. Apple and Samsung will be taking on each other with their flagship offerings. Samsung’s behemoth will take on the first big screen outing from Apple’s stable. Flagship battle doesn’t get bigger than this. So without wasting a beat, let’s get into it.

Design

The Galaxy Note 4 takes on the usual Samsung design patterns but with edgy design features. The phone gets a metal frame to strengthen the device. The massive display has always been the Note series’ USP. But this time they take it much further by introducing the 5.7 inch Quad HD Display with a pixel density of 515 ppi. This display is stunning, and high-quality content on it looks mesmerising. Note’s unique feature, the S-pen also gets some considerable improvement over its predecessors.

The Note 4 Flaunts its metal frame based design and Super AMOLED Quad HD Display.

Apple’s iPhone 6, on the other hand, comes with a 5.5 inch 1080p HD display with a pixel density of 401 ppi. The phone has an Aluminum body which was recently in the news for its bending issue.

Hardware

The innards on the Note 4 are top of the charts. The phone is powered by a Quad-core 2.7 GHz Snapdragon 805 processor. It comes with 3 GB of RAM. The internal storage on the device is 32 GB and has options for expandable storage up to 128 GB. Along with the massive QHD display, the Note 4 is a mobile multimedia powerhouse.

The bigger iPhone comes with a new generation Apple A8 processor clocked at 1.4 GHz along with 1 GB. But we found that even with the seemingly low specifications the phone brings out a smooth and zippy performance. The phones come in three storage options of 16/64/128 GB.

Camera

The Galaxy Note 4 sports a 16 MP camera on the front with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). On the other hand, the iPhone 6 Plus gets OIS too on its 8 MP camera. This device will be loved by selfie enthusiasts. Not only does it give a 90-degree selfie, but using its wide selfie feature you can get an even wider 120-degree selfie which is great for a “Groupfie/Weefie”.

The camera on the iPhone 6 Plus offers amazing shooting features like Time-lapse and slow motion capture.

iPhone’s features such as time-lapse shooting, Slow motion capture and superior burst mode give it an edge over Note 4’s bigger sensor. Using the multiple features you can almost shoot a professional looking film using the device’s camera.

Battery

Both companies have put focus on making these devices with mammoth screens to give more efficient battery backup. Note 4 sports a 3220 mAh battery which tries to quell the hunger of the massive QHD display. Samsung has also added some internal tweaks to make the phone more juice efficient.

Both phones deliver a good battery backup even with their massive displays.

Samsung’s unique Ultra Power Saving mode is a standout feature for the phone. Using the feature you can use limited features on the phone and extend the life of the phone to multiple days.

The iPhone 6 Plus comes with a slightly smaller 2915 mAh battery. The phone churns out a good battery backup over the previous outings. It provides a talk time of 6+ hours on LTE networks and 7+ hours on 3G networks, with a switch to 2G we saw upwards of 8 hours. The display consumes the maximum juice on this phone.

Price

Note 4 will come to the market at a price of Rs. 61,500 which like in the past may go down even further in a few weeks.

The iPhone 6 Plus doesn’t come cheap. The base 16 GB variant will start at Rs. 62,500 which considering the lack of expandable storage is a rough deal. If you are a multimedia enthusiast, the 64 GB and 128 GB variants are quite a hefty buy.

Special Features

The S-pen, of course, is the feature that sets the Note as a different smartphone species. Samsung has upgraded the feature of the pen with this outing. With better touch sensitivity and handwriting recognition, the pen will become more of a handy utility than just a gimmick. With options of using calligraphy pens, it brings a more native writing experience.

Note 4 Stylus come with improved upgrades making it more efficient to use for everyday use.

Apple though is flaunting its new Apple Pay feature which works using an NFC radio and the Touch ID Sensor on the phone. The single hand mode will also make a lot easier to use the phone and will free the other hand for your tasks. The landscape options also offer good multitasking options. The system will take some time to come to India but till then you can us the sweet camera on the device to make some great feature style home videos with cool time-lapse and slow motion.

Conclusion

The Diwali season will see and enthusiastic rivalry between the two tech giants. Samsung will leave no stone unturned to reach out to new consumers; Apple will have to match up to Samsung’s marketing if it wants to entice the Indian market during the peak spending period in the country. Both phones offer some unique features which cannot be compared but they seem like winners in each of their segments. Now its all up to the market to decide the real winner because only the market has the right to choose that. In the words of the Grail Knight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; Choose Wisely.

October 15, 2014

iPhone 6 Plus : Bigger Than Bigger May Be Better or Bendier

This is the first time Apple has gone this big with a phone, usually pinging their traditional theories that the phone needs to be designed for one handed use. The iPhone 6 Plus has been the preferred of the two (6 and 6 Plus) by buyers worldwide, simply because those who were using large Android phones could switch to a similarly large iPhone 6 Plus.

The iPhone 6 Plus on paper is the better bet, a full HD screen, bigger battery, larger display, optical image stabilization and landscape mode etc. However that all changes when you first hold the phone and the immediate reaction is “wow its huge”. Does it make a big difference, to the way we use smartphones and is the iPhone 6 plus actually a better phone? Let’s find out!

Overview

The iPhone 6 Plus is the largest phone Apple has ever built, but there is good reason that they did it now, when people wanted it more than ever. The bendgate phenomenon has actually added to the existing hype of the iPhone 6 Plus, making people more aware of the existence of the phone. The idea behind the bendgate died as soon as it emerged simply because it didn’t affect users as much. The phone is essentially a bigger brother of the iPhone 6, but Apple may have done the right things to leverage the bigger size.

Build Quality and Hardware

The iPhone 6 Plus is built on a single rounded piece of aluminum, this not only makes the phone look good but adds a good resistance to damage. The phone however is not as strengthened on the smaller phones, hence bendgate exists. No but it’s not as easy as it looks, the phone does not bend as easily as it appears to on screen, and only under certain circumstances. It is an issue and if you are worried about that happening, you should skip the rest.

Hardware wise you get a bumped up Dual Core 1.4 GHz Apple A8 chipset with the Quad Core Graphics, same 1 GB of RAM as the little brother and a M8 motion co-processor that also ties into the health app on iOS 8. The battery is a large non-removable 2915 mAh, and you get the three storage options, 16GB , 64Gb and 128 GB.

The front has a massive 5.5 inch with a 1920 x 1080p resolution which feels a little more fulfilling than the resolution on the iPhone 6 although you get the retina display at 401 ppi. Even though its massive in size it is only 7.1 mm thick, making it exceptionally sleek and pocketable.

Here is how it stacks up with other big boys !

Specs	Samsung Note 4	Sony Xperia Z3	iPhone 6 Plus	LG G3	Galaxy S5
Display	5.7 inch QHD	5.2 inch Full HD	5.5 inch Full HD	5.5 inch QHD	5.1 inch Full HD
Processor	2.7GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 805	2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801	1.4 GHz Dual-core A8 chipset	2.26 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801	2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801
RAM	3 GB	3 GB RAM	1 GB	3 GB	2 GB
Storage	32 GB	16/32 GB	16/64/128 GB	16/32GB	16/32GB
Expandable Upto	64 GB	128 GB	–	128 GB	64 GB
Main Camera	16 MP	20.7 MP	8 MP	13 MP sensor	16MP sensor
Front Camera	3.7 MP	2.2	1.2 MP	2.2MP sensor	2 MP
Battery	Removable 3220 mAh	Non-removable 3100 mAh	Non-removable 2915mAh	3,000mAh	2,800mAh
Operating System	Android 4.4.4	Android 4.4.4	iOS 8	Android 4.4.2	Android 4.4.4
Price	Rs. 61,500	Rs. 51,990	Rs. 62,500 for 16 GB variant	Rs. 44,100	Rs. 37,000

Performance

The iPhone 6 Plus is no underdog when it comes to performance, and just because it is running relatively low spec’d hardware doesn’t mean that this guy doesn’t pack a punch. Apple has managed to make it work, they own the architecture and the hardware and have optimized the OS to run zippy smooth on hardware which in Android terms would be lame and notoriously dated, props to Apple for this.

Everything from playing games, to multitasking to going about your day, works well on the iPhone. Some of the Apps have been designed to leverage the large screen size of the iPhone 6 Plus improving the overall experience by a lot.

Camera

This is a big mention, and no not because Apple added a might big sensor but because two amazing things happen with the iPhone 6 Plus. First the video is absolutely stunning with the optical image stabilization, you can walk about and get almost steadicam like shots on your iPhone. The phone also shoots brilliant 720p 240fps slow mo that looks absolutely stunning in low light or otherwise.

Images are sharper and there is definitely less hunting thanks to the on-sensor phase detection that has good and accurate focus capabilities. This overall improvement in focus results in sharper images and better results. The camera on the iPhone has been best in class, the new improved sensor and image processing will only carry that into the next year.

The large screen on the iPhone 6 Plus makes for a good viewfinder for the camera, and especially in video mode it comes in handy to pick and select your focus points. The fact that you can adjust the brightness on the fly will be appreciated by a lot of people, you can also lock in your points before you click a picture or shoot a video.

Phone Networks and Battery Life

The one thing that you immediately notice is the battery life of the iPhone 6 Plus, it will practically last you a day and a half. Even more if you are a light user. The networks are sustained and solid through areas with weak reception. Mostly in areas that we would notice weak reception with the iPhone 5 and 5s we saw great network reception with the iPhone 6 Plus, better than the iPhone 6 even.

Battery will last you 6+ hours with talk time on LTE networks and 7+ hours on 3G networks, with a switch to 2G we saw upwards of 8 hours which is impressive. The biggest drain on the battery is the display, so if you have less screen on time, then you get more talk time, and vice versa.

iOS 8

[pullquote_left]Apple’s biggest strength is the lack of weakness in iOS[/pullquote_left]

Apple’s biggest strength is the lack of weakness in iOS. Despite a few initial bugs on iOS 8, the next versions have been tweaked and work as flawlessly as any other iOS release ever. There is no denying that iOS is the best if not one of the best mobile operating systems, and also one of the reasons that iPhones have seen success through the years.

Apple has taken iOS 8 and moulded it well for the iPhone 6 Plus, and it works great. The iPhone 6 Plus essentially behaves like a mini-iPad, so you get landscape mode on the desktop as well as some essential apps like messaging and mail. Apple’s reachability with the use of the touch-id sensor makes a lot of sense on this gigantic phone. Third parties can leverage the large size of the display to their advantage and we have yet to see unique use case scenarios. However, Apple has updated the dev kit to make this work well.

Conclusion

Apple has made a big iPhone and there is no denying it, infact people said the same thing about the iPad when it was first released, and it went on to become the most selling tablet ever. Apple has given the market what they needed, a large size iPhone option. While the 4.7 inch iPhone may be the right size for most people, the iPhone 6 Plus, is just that big boy of a phone which comes with its perks. The large battery life will be a boon to any iPhone user of the past as, chargers will become a thing of the past. Those with a camera fetish will love the slow-mo capability that looks as juicy as the apple being sliced in slow motion. The optical image stabilization, large viewfinder for the display, and excellent use of the large screen to show landscape options truly adds to the already awesome iPhone experience.

For those looking for a little extra, the Note 4 rival launches the same day as the iPhone 6 Plus in India, so take a healthy pick.

[tw-column width=”one-half”]

GOOD THINGS

Excellent Battery
Solid Networks
Wow Camera
Slo-Mo video at 240 fps

[/tw-column]

[tw-column width=”one-half” position=”last”]

BAD THINGS

It Bends!
Seriously, it bends!

[/tw-column]

October 15, 2014

Apple iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Pre-Orders Start Today in India

Apple’s latest flagship iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are all set to launch on October 17th, right before Diwali. The launch, about a month after the phone arrived in the US, will go down as the fastest launch of a new iPhone model ever.

This time around, Apple has chosen e-commerce dealers for the new iPhones. Amazon.in and Ahmedabad-based Infibeam promise a firm dlivery date for iPhone 6 sales in India. Both website will take pre-order starting noon today. The online retail firm has promised to deliver iPhones 6 and iPhone 6 plus on October 17 in all urban areas, and in rural areas in a couple of more days.

The 16GB version of Apple iPhone 6 will be available for Rs. 53,500, while the 64GB version is priced at Rs. 62,500. The 128GB version of the phone will sell for Rs. 71,500. The 16GB version of Apple iPhone 6 Plus will be available at Rs. 62,500, while the 64GB version is priced at Rs. 71,500. The 128GB version of the phone will sell for Rs 80,500.

Offline retailers have repeatedly complained to phone brands about low prices being offered by online retailers. As a result, companies are increasingly going through ‘exclusive’ partners for online selling to retain control over prices. The prices announced by Infibeam are exactly the prices that Apple has stipulated, and not lower than that. The prices are what you can get in offline stores as well.

October 7, 2014
Apple Might Screw Up the India Launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Again!

The new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are expected to do well in India, especially considering the launch date which falls just shy of major festivals of our country. Oct 17th (the official launch of both big iPhones in India) is also just 4 days prior to the mega festival of “Dhanteras” which celebrates gold and anything that represents gold. A few days post that is the biggest festival of India, Diwali/Deepavali, which again brings about the act of gifting, shopping and spending money like there is no tomorrow. And finally “Bhai Duj” which again ensures that people are buying gifts for their respective brothers and sisters.

In 2013, Apple launched the gold color iPhone 5s, which was sold out within hours and remained out of stock for many a days. It is assumed that there was a high demand of the gold color due to the excitement around the time of the above stated festivals. However, the way the iPhone was launched in India was the complete opposite of how Apple does things globally.

Apple in India, unfortunately does not have any of its own stores, no online store, no flagship stores and well nothing close to a “5th Ave” store. The company has its distribution tied up with Indian distributers “Ingram” and “Reddington”, who make a spectacle of the launch, by making available “limited” number of phone in limited cities. This redundant process has left people who actually want to buy an iPhone with a horrible taste.

Poorly Orchestrated iPhone 5s Launch

The launch is nothing close to what happens, for example, at a US store (or any other Apple store). There is this strange coupon system that lets you stand in line to buy an iPhone. Then there is a “special” coupon that lets you skip the line and jump ahead to a “special” area for VIP guests of big distributers i.e. Ingram, Reddington and networks like Airtel.

The standard line is essentially made up of store owners and employees of store owners, who want to essentially get stock that they can then sell from their respective stores to their respective “best clients”. There is a huge inflation of price of the iPhone as well. The same day as the launch of the gold iPhone 5s for (Rs. 54,500 for the 16GB variant), the phone was available at most dealers and brick mortar stores for as high as Rs. 70,000. An inflated price you had to pay for not standing in line.

There are a few who actually brave it and stand in line, but their numbers are limited and their wait times are catastrophically high. The event itself is loud and disorganized, usually outdoors and in the open (except a few), leading to long wait times and a chaotic atmosphere. The company also tries to build in live music and unnecessary shows with loud emcees making it look like a typical Indian fair (mela).

Despite claiming that the gold color had reached “out of stock” status, Apple India warehouses were full of them, and Apple chose not to sell anymore gold colored iPhone 5s, because it was affecting the sales of the other colors.

Why does it have to be so difficult, and complicated for a user to buy a phone that they want to pay money for. Apple needs to bring their user experience to India, considering India is an important market for them. Apple is planning to officially be in India by next year, that means that the company will finally set up shop which may end all these theatrics. However if there are limited number of handsets to sell, a simple pre-order system should suffice, or a registration system which lets actual buyers who want to own these phones buy them. Apple asks for identification and credit cards at the time of purchase in the US and also limits the sale to a maximum of two handsets.

However in India, most purchases are made by cash and why should the company care about identification as long as phones are getting sold? To make matters worse, the people who are supposedly selling you the phones have not been trained as you would expect at a “genius bar”, they have been debriefed a few hours prior to the launch and know basic things like “turning on the iPhone” and “inserting a sim card”. They usually freeze up if you ask them questions around “iCloud” or some new elements like “handoff”.

The one good thing out of all of this is the fact that Apple has made the phones available in India early, unlike the iPhone 4s which was launched a good 9-10 months later, the iPhone 6 will launch a month after the US launch. However, this year expect the problems to be big, or well “bigger than bigger”. #BigFailSale anyone?

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September 17, 2014
iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus : Is the Bigger Screen Worth the Extra Bucks?

Months of heavy speculation about Apple revealing two new phones this year, was confirmed at the mega event held in Cupertino California on 9th September. They arrived with much fanfare and we finally got to meet the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. Both the devices are larger and much thinner in size; the iPhone 6 comes with a 4.7-inch screen and its bigger sibling, the iPhone 6 Plus sports a 5.5-inch one. However, there is a hundred dollar difference between the two.

Now if you’re thinking about investing in one of these devices, you need to really think it through. Here are some differences that could help determine your decision.

Design

Both devices are made of aluminum and have a hard glass front. Also, there is a steel Apple logo at the back of the phone, that gives them both an elegant but still tough look. There are bare minimum changes in the design, the only difference is the size. As the name suggests, the iPhone 6 Plus is a lot larger than the smaller iPhone 6. Some of you may find it a bit too big for your hands. Also, at 7.1mm the iPhone 6 Plus is bit thicker, while the iPhone 6 is 6.8mm thick.

Screen and Display

As mentioned above, the iPhone 6 Plus comes with a 5.5-inch display while the iPhone 6 is at 4.7-inch. Previous iPhones, in the last few years, have come with much smaller screens in comparison to other high-end Android phones like Galaxy Note series and the Nexus series. However, there is no significant difference in display technology between the two. Both use IPS displays with ion-toughened fronts. As expected, iPhone 6 Plus gets a higher resolution and pixel density. Where the iPhone 6 has a display of 326ppi (same as iPhone 5S), the iPhone 6 Plus offers 1080p resolution.

Camera

One of the biggest disappointment at the event was that Apple decided to stick to an 8 megapixel cameras. The new camera in the iPhones is an 8-megapixels with f/2.2 and 1.5 micrometer pixels. Although, Apple claims that the new camera comes with a better low light performance and focus than the previous generation iPhones. The iPhone 6 offers digital image stabilisation, while the iPhone 6 Plus comes with higher optical image stabilisation (OIS), hence giving the bigger variant an edge in terms of camera. Both devices are also equipped with the 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, with f/2.2 aperture.

Battery life

The iPhone 6 have the same battery life as iPhone 5S that lasts about 10 hours. The iPhone 6 Plus gets a better battery life which can last upto 16 hours on a single charge, and that is pretty impressive considering the size of the device. The larger device claims 24 hours of 3G talk time, the smaller 14 hours, however, the company did not reveal the actual capacity yet.

Processor

Both phones are equipped with the same processor and a dual-core 1.4GHz 64-bit CPU. According to the company, the new Apple A8 processor offers 20 per cent better CPU performance than the Apple A7. All in all, compared to the original iPhone, the new processor in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is rated to be 84 times faster. Furthermore, Apple says the new A8 is up to 50 percent more power-efficient and will be able to sustain battery-sucking tasks for longer without heating up.

Storage

Not that we are surprised, Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus do not offer you expandable memory option. Anyhow, Apple’s new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will provide users more storage than ever before, excelling out at an impressive 128 gigabytes of space on high-end models of its two new handsets. An iPhone 6 Plus with 128GB of internal storage will be a ‘Holy Grail’ for on-the-go multimedia experience, offering enough memory for a hundred SD-quality films or 25-plus HD ones.

Verdict

Big or Small? Apple made sure that there is no weak link between the two iPhones. Both the devices have same screen tech, the same processor and similar-grade cameras with only a considerable difference is the screen size and the battery life. However, we prefer that extra display space of the iPhone 6 Plus and its greater battery life makes it more of a power user device. Keeping this and pricing in mind it will be better to spend some extra money get that extra real estate on the screen and battery life.

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September 11, 2014
Apple Launches iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Goes On sale Sept 12

Apple at their iPhone launch event today has announced the new iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, packed with a 4.7 inch display and a 5.5 inch display respectively.

The phones despite being bigger are lighter and thinner with the new iPhone 6 being only 6.9 mm where and the new iPhone 6 Plus is only 7.1 mm thick. The front glass on the new iPhones is curved, with the iPhone 6 has a resolution of 1334 by 750 with 326 pixels per inch on the 4.7 inch display, and iPhone 6 Plus has a resolution of 1920 by 1080 with 401 pixels per inch on the 5.5 inch variant.

According to Apple, iPhone 6 is up to 50% more energy efficient, The new A8 chip has up to 25% faster processing power and up to 50% faster graphics. Which means that the graphics are an incredible 84 times faster than the original iPhone.

iPhone 6 has faster LTE than iPhone 5s. It also has more LTE bands than any other smartphone for better roaming. The new iPhone 6 can now tell if you’re going up molehills, mountains, and everything in between.

The iPhone 6 still is is equipped with an 8 MP iSight camera, with 1.5 micron pixel size, added with a phase detection AF system. the aperture is f2.2. The new iPhone 6 takes use of the new A8 image processor. The iPhone 6 Plus uses OIS “optical image stabilisation” to get better images even in low light conditions.

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus 1080p at 30 and 60 fps, new Slo-mo video upto 240 fps. Burst mode detects smiles and blinks, then recommends the best picture.

The new TouchID can be accessed by apps in the new iOS 8 and iPhone 6 and 6 plus, the big thing; Apple launches a new Apple Pay payment system that uses NFC and Touch ID. The credit cards can be stored in Passbook, without the actual number being stored, Apple creates a temp payment ID.

September 9, 2014
Apple To Phase Out iPhone 6, 6 Plus In India, Also Rethinking Market Strategy

In an effort to strengthen its premium positioning in the Indian smartphone market, Apple has planned to halt the retail of older devices like the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. This may lead to a higher entry price barrier for other devices. The company is trying to shape the perception of Indian smartphone consumers towards Apple as a sumptuous brand.

The Company’s Market Strategy

As mentioned before, it has been confirmed that Apple is phasing out the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, leading to an increase in the entry price barrier for Apple devices. Consequently, Apple’s entry level smartphones will now be the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, which are already retailing at a higher price point compared to the previous entry level models, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus respectively. The American technology organization claims that even after reducing the selling prices of some smartphone models in the country, the market response is not up to its expectations. This is reflecting on the fact that Apple has a lower percentage of shares in the Indian smartphone market as compared to other countries, where Apple is the leader of market shares.

Talking about the Apple stores, the American Multinational company also plans to adopt newer strategies to improve its marketing statistics. The company will pay more attention to particular stores in a given area that have a higher chance of maximising sales. Accordingly, the company would allocate more sales executives to those outlets, consequently resulting in a sales performance boost. Also, the company wants to spread its footing via bigger stores that are more capable of increasing sales as a whole.

Partnerships

Also Read: Samsung Launches New 12GB RAM Modules For Future Smartphones

Apple is also putting an end to its distribution partnership with RP Tech for iPhones. Starting April, the company will focus on improving its partnership with Redington and Ingram Micro, both of which are reputed IT product distributors. Noteworthy, Apple has already terminated its relationship with HCL Infosystems and Brightstar as of the year 2018. Furthermore, Ashish Chowdhary (ex-Nokia Global Leadership Team Member) took charge of Apple’s India Operations in January and reportedly has been touring the market in order to strengthen trade relationships.

March 15, 2019