Just like last year, Apple released two new iPhone models during an event on September 9 at the Flint Center in Cupertino, California – the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
The two smartphones are bigger, faster and of course, generally better than the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. However, they also have differences in terms of camera features, battery and obviously, size. Which one should you choose?
Let’s first talk about the similarities between the two new iPhones. First, both are running on a slightly faster 1.4GHz dual core 64-bit Apple A8 processor dubbed as ‘Cyclone’. This is aided by a hexa-core PowerVR GX6650 GPU.
The two will also run on iOS8 out of the box. Your old iPhone can also be updated to iOS 8 but some features like the Apple Pay mobile payment system will only be available on two iPhone 6 and the Apple Watch.
The biggest disappointment is perhaps in the cameras. Both iPhones still have an 8MP camera on the back and a mere 1.2MP on the front. There are improvements in the hardware like ‘Focus Pixels’ for faster autofocus though.
Lastly, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus looks like the iPod Touch. It might not look as sleek as the previous iPhone designs but it certainly helps in making them more comfortable in the hands.
| iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus has a mobile payment system called Apple Pay. |
Now let’s come to the differences. Let’s start with the display – the larger iPhone 6 Plus has a 1080p resolution while the iPhone 6 has 750p. Clearly, the bigger one has the upper hand in terms of screen resolution but are you okay with using a bigger phone?
Next, the camera of the iPhone 6 might have image stabilization using software techniques but the iPhone 6 Plus has enough room for a camera module that can actually move up and down to compensate for your shaky hands – this is called optical image stabilization.
The iPhone 6 Plus also boasts slightly more RAM than the iPhone 6. It also has better battery capacity that makes it last 3 hours longer during video playback.
Lastly, the iPhone 6 is more affordable than the iPhone 6 Plus. You can get a 16GB iPhone 6 free from any contract for $649 in the US or around ₱30,600. This is likely going to be more expensive here in the Philippines but the larger iPhone 6 Plus will set you back by $749 or around ₱32,800 – that’s a difference of ₱2,200!
| Feature | iPhone 6 | iPhone 6 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 4.7-Inch IPS Retina Display at 1334 × 750 Pixels or 326 ppi | 5.5-Inch IPS Retina Display at 1920 × 1080 Pixels or 401 ppi |
| Operating System | iOS 8 | iOS 8 |
| Processor | 1.4GHz Dual Core 64-bit A8 Processor with M8 Motion Coprocessor | 1.4GHz Dual Core 64-bit A8 Processor with M8 Motion Coprocessor |
| GPU | Hexa-core PowerVR GX6650 | Hexa-core PowerVR GX6650 |
| RAM | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Internal Storage | 16GB, 64GB or 128GB | 16GB, 64GB or 128GB |
| Main Camera | 8.0 Megapixels, Autofocus with Focus Pixels, BSI Sensor and Dual LED Flash | 8.0 Megapixels, Autofocus with Focus Pixels, BSI Sensor, Dual LED Flash and Optical Image Stabilization |
| Front Camera | 1.2 Megapixels | 1.2 Megapixels |
| SIM | Single SIM (Nano) | Single SIM (Nano) |
| Networks | 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+, 2G EDGE and GPRS | 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+, 2G EDGE and GPRS |
| Wireless Connectivity | Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS | Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS |
| Wired Connectivity | Lightning and CTIA 3.5mm Audio Jack | Lightning and CTIA 3.5mm Audio Jack |
| Sensors | Touch ID, Barometer, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor and Ambient light sensor | Touch ID, Barometer, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor and Ambient light sensor |
| Extra Features | Apple Pay | Apple Pay |
| Dimensions | 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm @ 129 grams | 158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1 mm @ 172 grams |
| Battery | -Non-removable Li-ion Battery -Up to 11 hours video playback | -Non-removable Li-ion Battery -Up to 14 hours video playback |
| Price | Starts at $649 or ~₱30,600 | Starts at $749 or ~₱32,800 |
