Connect with us

Android

iPhone 6 vs. iPhone 5s: What We Know Right Now

Published

on

As we inch deeper into 2014, we’re starting to hear more and more about Apple’s plans for 2014. Among them are supposed plans for a new iPhone, a device that’s being called, iPhone 6. With demand increasing by the day, we want to take an updated look at how the rumored iPhone 6 currently matches up with the current iPhone 5s.

Two years ago, Apple finally introduced two features that had been on board Android smartphones for a number of years. Apple’s iPhone 5, which arrived in 2012, emerged with 4G LTE data speeds and a larger 4-inch display. 4G LTE data had been a staple of Android smartphones and just about every Android flagship sported a screen 4-inches or larger.

In the years since the iPhone 5’s release, Android smartphones have grown increasingly larger. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is a 5.7-inch monstrosity. The HTC One M8 features a large 5-inch display. So does the new Samsung Galaxy S5. Nokia’s Lumia Icon on Verizon comes with a 5-inch display. The upcoming LG G3 is supposedly coming with a large QHD display. Apple? Well, its current iPhone 5s sports the same 4-inch Retina Display that arrived with the iPhone 5. From the looks of things though, it’s just biding its time.

Apple waited and waited to deliver its new 4-inch Retina Display and those 4G LTE data speeds. And it has waited to deliver a larger iPhone to consumers around the world. However, rumors suggest that the wait could end later this year when Apple introduces its brand new 2014 iPhone model dubbed iPhone 6.

A larger screen may not be the only change that Apple tacks onto its next iPhone either. Rumors suggest a number of differences between it, and the iPhone 5s. And while the iPhone 6 release may still be months away, there are still enough credible rumors to warrant an early comparison to the current iPhone model, the iPhone 5s.

With prospective iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 buyers in mind, we compare the key rumored iPhone 6 details to the iPhone 5s and its features. This comparison aims to help set consumer expectations as we head deeper into the year and closer to Apple’s inevitable iPhone 6 announcement.

Release Date

The iPhone 5s has been available since September of last year and remains an extremely solid option for those in the hunt for a new smartphone. It’s available at a number of retail locations including Apple Stores, carrier locations, retailers like RadioShack and Best Buy, Amazon, and a whole lot more. This is an easy phone to find and play around with before buying and we always suggest that consumers do that.

Unfortunately, you’re probably not going to be able to physically compare the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s for a number of months because iPhone 6 rumors virtually all point to a release this fall. As we’ve pointed out, this makes a whole lot of sense given that Apple’s past three iPhones launched in the fall and given that the company tends to stick with a very particular release cycle.

There have been a lot of iPhone 6 release date rumors but the most recent rumor comes from the CEO of a company that partnered with Apple to sell the iPhone in Russia. Several days ago, he claimed that the iPhone 6 release date would land in September, 2014.

The iPhone 6 release date rumors focus on two new iPhones in the fall.

The iPhone 6 release date rumors focus on two new iPhones in the fall.

This is the second Apple partner to point to the fall for an iPhone 6 release date and the most direct iPhone 6 release date claim from a company that has an instrumental role in helping Apple sell the iPhone in Russia. Thus far, we have not seen a specific iPhone 6 release date emerge and we probably won’t until we get much closer to the actual date.

His assertion lines up with just about everything that we’ve heard about the iPhone 6 and its release date. Here is a recap of the latest iPhone 6 release date rumors:

  • iPhone 6 release date as early as September – Nikkei
  • iPhone 6 release date in August or September – Steve Milunovich UBS via Barrons
  • iPhone 6 release in the fall – Andy Hargreaves at Pacific Crest via Business Insider
  • iPhone 6 scheduled for third quarter 2014 – ZDNet Korea

So, those who are in need of a new iPhone right now are going to be stuck with Apple’s current lineup which consists of the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 4s. Those going the used route will be able to find the iPhone 5, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and more. The iPhone 6 launch is likely months away at least.

Display

In 2012, DisplayMate called the iPhone 5 display, “the best Smartphone display we have tested to date.” The publication’s claim carried over to the iPhone 5s which sports the same 4-inch Retina Display with 640 x 1136 pixel resolution and 326 pixels-per-inch. The Retina Display is still a fantastic but according to DisplayMate, the industry voice on mobile display quality, “the Galaxy S5 is the best performing smartphone display that we have ever tested.” In other words, the competition has finally caught up.

Consumers are excited for a iPhone 6 with a bigger display.

Consumers are excited for a iPhone 6 with a bigger display.

Rumors suggest that Apple might be upping the ante with its next iPhone. And not just in the resolution department either. iPhone 6 rumors almost universally suggest that the iPhone 6 will come with a larger display that will compete with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S5’s of the world.

Rumors have asserted that Apple might introduce two new iPhones at two new sizes. Display rumors point to one model will come with a display that’s between 4.5-inches and 4.8-inches with a majority of rumors pointing to a 4.7-inch display. That device is rumored to have a higher 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution which would put it on par with many of the top Android smartphones.

The other iPhone is thought to be larger and closer to the Galaxy Note in size. Rumors point to a display that rests somewhere between 5.5-inches and 5.7-inches. NPD DisplaySearch, a well respected publication, asserts that the larger iPhone will come with a 5.5-inch display and 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution.

The iPhone 6 release dates will be staggered according to a new report which points to the fall and holiday shopping season.

The iPhone 6 release dates will be staggered according to a new report which points to the fall and holiday shopping season.

A new report from Reuters claims that Apple is planning a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 release for this fall but that the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 may be delayed. In fact, rumors are starting to point to two possible iPhone 6 releases this year.

EMSOne, Reuters, Ming-Chi Kuo and Steve Milunovich from UBS all point to a delayed release for the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6. It’s not clear how much of a gap there might be between the two.

There is also a ton of chatter about Apple utilizing sapphire for the iPhone 6 display. A Sapphire display would mean a more scratch-resistant display. If true, we could wind up seeing a iPhone 6 that not only comes with a bigger sized, higher-resolution screen but also a display with improved battery efficiency and image quality.

The video below will give interest consumers a look at how iOS could look on a larger display.

Design

If the iPhone 6 does come with a larger display than the iPhone 5s, than it will almost certainly come with a footprint that is much larger than the 4-inch iPhone 5s. In fact, that’s exactly what rumors suggest.

iPhone 6 design rumors remain inconclusive despite several alleged iPhone 6 photo leaks. A recent Macotakara report shared two possible sets of iPhone 6 dimensions for both 4.7-inch and 5+inch models.

With a larger overall size, the device may be thinner while still offering room for components and a larger battery. The rumored iPhone 6 dimensions are listed below, compared to both the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 4s.

  • iPhone 4s – 115.5 × 62.1 × 9.3mm
  • iPhone 5s – 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm
  • iPhone 6 (4.7) -140 x 70 x 7mm
  • iPhone 6 (5.7) – 160 x 80 x 7mm

Sonny Dickson claims that the iPhone 6 may be as thin as 5.5mm, down from a 7.6mm thick iPhone 5s. This smaller size could come in part from new display technology that reduces the thickness needed for display backlighting, as shared in a report on LEDInside of TrendForce.

Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, in a note shared by MacRumors, says that he believes that the iPhone 6 will come with a power button on right and narrower bezels.

Alleged iPhone 6 photos and mockups claim to show the exact look of the upcoming iPhone but thus far, they are conclusive. Indeed they look a lot like a larger iPhone but they don’t offer any clues in regard to the build material.

Camera

The iPhone 5s’ 8MP iSight camera is one of the best in the business. A sample photograph taken with Apple’s iPhone 5s camera can be seen below.

iPhone 5s camera sample.

iPhone 5s camera sample.

Camera technology continues to improve as consumers demand higher quality cameras and particularly ones that can handle subjects in noisy, poorly lit environments. Apple continues to upgrade its iPhone camera and rumors unsurprisingly suggest that the iPhone 6 camera could trump the sensor on the iPhone 5s.

A report suggests that Apple will not join the race to push more megapixels in 2014. AppleInsider reports that Apple is planning to focus on “image-enhancing components” based on discussions with people familiar with the matter.

New-HTC-One-vs-iPhone-5s-9-620x413

Another rumor suggests that the iPhone 6 will arrive with Optical Image Stabilization. This is based off supply chain chatter, and could allow users to take better looking photos and videos and enhance low light photography by using a special gyroscope and technology inside of the new iPhone’s camera.

Apple swaps out its iPhone camera year-after-year so there is no reason, at this point, to believe that the company will stick with what it has inside of the iPhone 5s. We should see something better, it may just not come with a massive amount of megapixels.

Specs

Obviously the iPhone 6, like the iPhone 5s, will be made from more than just a screen and a frame. We’ll likely see Apple perform its yearly hardware maintenance and offer some improvements over the iPhone 5s. In fact, rumors are already pointing to a number of potential iPhone 6 feature upgrades.

The iPhone 6 battery orders are in and assembly may be automated according to new rumors.

The iPhone 6 battery orders are in and assembly may be automated according to new rumors.

Here, we take a look at how the iPhone 6′s rumored specifications compare to the specifications that are on board Apple’s iPhone 5s.

iPhone 6

  • Apple A8 64-bit processor
  • iOS 8
  • 4.5-4.8-inch and 5 -5.5-inch Sapphire displays
  • 2GB RAM
  • 16GB / 32GB/ 64GB / 128GB storage options
  • 3.2MP front-facing camera
  • 8-10MP rear-facing camera
  • 1,800 mAh battery
  • 802.11ac WiFi
  • Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor

iPhone 5s

  • Apple A7 64-bit processor
  • iOS 7.1
  • 4-inch Retina Display
  • 1GB RAM
  • 16GB / 32GB/ 64GB / storage options
  • 1.2MP front-facing camera
  • 8MP rear-facing camera
  • 1,570 mAh battery
  • 802.11 a, b, g, n WiFi
  • Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor

Software

Apple recently announced its dates for WWDC 2014 and the annual developer conference will be taking place at the beginning of June. There, the company plans to show off its new versions of OS X and iOS. Rumors suggest that the new version of iOS will be iOS 8, an upgraded version of its iOS 7 software.

Rumors suggest that the iPhone 6 will debut with iOS 8 on board. iOS 8 is rumored to be the next version of iOS software and new iPhones always come with brand new iOS software.

At the moment, iOS 8 rumors point to software that not only delivers VoLTE support on the new iPhone 6 for this year but also comes with a host of other changes.

Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac recently shared many details about the new version of Apple’s iPhone and iPad software. Health and fitness are a major focus and a collection of iOS 8 mock ups show what a Healthbook feature could look like.  Other iOS 8 rumors flowing from Gurman and his sources include plans for a better Apple Maps, a standalone iTunes Radio app and more.

There is also talk of a much improved Siri after Techcrunch reported that Apple bought Novauris last year for an undisclosed sum. Yoon Kim, and other voice recognition experts from the company are currently working with Apple.

Apple will likely show off iOS 8 at WWDC 2014 on June 2nd followed soon after with an iOS 8 beta for developers.

Apple could use a new purchase to deliver a better Siri in iOS 8 this year.

Apple could use a new purchase to deliver a better Siri in iOS 8 this year.

The iPhone 5s will likely get Apple’s next major iOS update which appears to be iOS 8. The company typically keeps its devices upgraded for three years before kicking them aside. The iPhone 5s has yet to receive a major iOS update as it arrived with iOS 7 right from the get go. iOS 8 should be its first major upgrade and it should come with most, if not all of the upgrade’s feature set.

iPhone 5s owners should get iOS 8 before iPhone 6 owners are able to get their hands on it, but just by a few days. Apple tends to send out its new iOS update to older devices between its iPhone announcement and release.

Price

Back in November, Chris Caso of Susquehanna Financial Group made a bold prediction. He believes that the price of the iPhone 6 could jump up as much as $100 from the price of the iPhone 5s.

Caso sees “the potential for the iPhone 6 price point to move higher,” adding, “we think Apple could get away with a $50 to $100 premium for a larger screen size iPhone 6.” Caso isn’t alone. Analysts continue to suggest that the iPhone 6 could see a price hike.

The iPhone 6 price is a hot topic, with analysts predicting different decisions by Apple.

The iPhone 6 price is a hot topic, with analysts predicting different decisions by Apple.

Peter Misek also believes that there is a potential for a $100 price jump though UBS analyst Steve Milunovich recently claimed that the iPhone 6 price may not jump, which could result in a lower margin for Apple. For consumers a larger iPhone 6 at the same price would obviously be a welcomed perk.

At this point though, nothing is set in stone and it could be that the iPhone 6 debuts with same $199.99 starting price tag that arrived alongside the iPhone 5s.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.