The iPhone 6 is easily the most eagerly-anticipated device releasing in 2014, and although this tends to be the case with each year that goes by, the reported size increase has certainly helped to ramp up the hype this time around. A new listing on the Amazon Japan marketplace, which has since been removed, showed the device as on sale for upward of $1,300, and although the source of this posting is currently unknown, some intriguing details were recovered prior to the page's swift removal.
It seems that the 5.5-inch Apple iPhone 6 "will it, won't it" saga is set to continue. Apple is widely expected to continue the development of the iPhone by introducing a new 4.7-inch model as well as a larger 5.5-inch "phablet" variant which will appeal those individuals who love a larger display. The question surrounding the release isn't whether or not the purported larger device exists, but whether Apple and its supply chain partners are able to flawlessly manufacture the parts necessary for the device in the required quantities. According to Ming-Chi Kuo - a well respected industry analyst from KGI Securities - the larger in-cell touchscreen panel and the redesigned metal casing that forms the exterior of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 are proving to be problematic, meaning that a launch could be pushed back to 2015.
If you just can't wait until the expected September iPhone 6 release, then there is one option that you may not have already considered. With Apple's unannounced new flagship just two months or so away, Chinese clone makers have already managed to get their iPhone 6 knockoffs out the door, as reported by the French site.
The iPhone 6 parts leaks are arriving thick and fast, and having seen a fair bit of the alleged sapphire glass front cover for Apple's upcoming handset over the last couple of days, we've now got what appears to be a legitimate leak of the device's front frame. Notably, it includes a large shield used to keep the display element separate from the major interior components, and although there's no way of confirming its authenticity, it's certainly plausible when we consider some of the other leaks we've seen lately.
It seems almost certain that the next-gen iPhone's front panel will be comprised of sapphire glass, with Apple apparently looking strengthen up a feature prone to shattering. As for sapphire glass's credentials as a robust material, we've already seen via the key and knife test that it can hold its own, and so now, as ever, the time has come for the car test.
Whenever a new iPhone comes around, Apple always seems to have a problem with meeting that early demand. As millions of eager early adopters descend upon Apple Retail Stores across the world, the first batch seems to run out long before even half of those in search of the device actually manage to get hold of it, but with the iPhone 6's retail date now looming, the Cupertino outfit looks to be pulling out all of the stops to ensure a sizeable early inventory.
We already suspect that the Apple iPhone 6 will be packed to the gills with some exciting new features on both the hardware and software front, with an improved camera, NFC and enhanced LTE connectivity accompanying all the little treats that Apple is cooking up with iOS 8. Now, a new report has suggested that the next-gen handset will include dynamic haptic feedback, further enhancing a typing experience that is set to reap the benefits of third-party keyboard support.
Even though, for quite a while, we've had a pretty solid idea of what's in store for the iPhone 6, we're now starting to encounter some solid evidence through numerous component leaks, and today, we've been treated to a close-up look at the rear shell of the 4.7-inch model of Apple's upcoming handset. As well as a few high-quality images, there's also a video to accompany this latest discovery, and below, you can catch all of the details.
With the forthcoming iPhone 6, Apple is expected to break from tradition in a number of key areas. Notably, the display will see the biggest size increase since the original handset back in 2007, while the overall design will draw much of its inspiration from the iPod touch and iPad Air / iPad mini. Another tidbit we've continually heard over the past couple of weeks is that the front panel will be comprised of sapphire glass, as opposed to the Gorilla Glass from Corning that Apple has long since utilized. Following a leaked video yesterday showcasing the panel's ability to bend, another clip has today appeared offering a glimpse of how the front shell may cope with scratches.
Apple has continued to push the boundaries in its efforts to pack high-end technology into unfathomably small housing, but while we continue to marvel at the likes of the MacBook Air and iPad mini with Retina display, we've also been impressed with how Apple continues to thin-out the iPhone. This long-standing trend is set to continue with the next-gen model, with some suggesting that the iPhone 6 will be as slender as 6mm, but even though early adopters will likely be impressed by the svelte nature of the device to hold, the slimline finish will also mean that battery capacity will only see a modest improvement.
