Apple
iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5 Video: 5 Key Differences
The iPhone 5 is almost two-years old, leaving many owners yearning for an upgrade to the iPhone 6 this fall. Our iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5 comparison looks at five key areas where upgraders will see a big difference by upgrading to the iPhone 6.
To make this iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5 comparison possible we grabbed a Verizon iPhone 5 running iOS 7.1.2 and ordered an iPhone 6 mock-up from China. This is not the real iPhone 6, but it is what case makers think it will look like based on rumors, leaks and specifications trickling out from Apple and Apple suppliers.
Any iPhone upgrade that skips a generation will offer a lot of new features, and the iPhone 5 to iPhone 6 upgrade is a great example of what apple can do when the company goes for a new design and new features.
The iPhone 5 is a well-known device and it is one of the most searched for iPhone models of all time. Part of the popularity came from the larger 4-inch display, marking the first time Apple boosted the iPhone screen size. With the iPhone 6 it looks like Apple is ready to deliver a larger iP{hone again with a 4.7-inch display. We may even see one later in the year with a 5.5-inch display, but today we’ll be comparing the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5 with a 4-inch screen.
Read: 9 Reasons This iPhone Owner is Waiting for the iPhone 6
These iPhone 6 rumors can change as the iPhone 6 release date approaches this fall, so some of these differences and specs may change for the iPhone 6.
iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5 Video
Watch our short iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5 video to see the biggest differences that upgraders should be on the lookout for this fall.
Screen Size
The iPhone 5 offers a 4-inch screen with a 1136 x 640 resolution that delivers 326 pixels-per-inch (ppi). This is a Retina display by Apple’s standard and it is pleasing to look at, but a bit small compared to the flagship android phones old today.
Apple’s iPhone 6 will deliver a 4.7-inch screen with a 1704 x 960 resolution that delivers a 416 ppi experience, based on the current rumors. This should result in better looking text, photos, videos and apps that are also on a bigger display.
It’s not clear if Apple plans to adjust the number of apps on the home screen for this bigger display or how iOS 8 will actually look on the iPhone 6 at this point.
Design
The iPhone 5 introduced a new design for the iPhone with chamfered edges, straight sides and an aluminum and glass back that replaced there easy to shatter iPhone 4s glass back. The glass areas at the top and bottom allow antenna to communicate with WiFi, Bluetooth and cellular towers easily and add a contrasting color to the back of the iPhone 5.
For the iPhone 6, aluminum is the name of the game. The back of the new iPhone will ditch glass for an all metal design according to leaks and rumors. This iPhone 6 mock-up shows white lines that indicate some type of break or gap for antenna communication, but the lines may not be as obvious or tacky on the final design.
Although the iPhone 6 offers a 4.7-inch display it is not that much bigger than the iPhone 5. The iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5 photos above show the new curved edges on the iPhone 6, along with slimmer volume buttons and a power button that is now on the right side of the device for easier access.
Touch ID
The iPhone 5 is the last iPhone to ship without Touch ID, Apple’s fingerprint sensor that can unlock the iPhone and make purchases. The iPhone 5 uses a standard home button with the old square logo as shown below.
The iPhone 6 will use Touch ID, like the iPhone 5s, to unlock and make purchases. iOS 8 will also let developers do more with Touch ID, which could include filling secure passwords and much more.
Camera
Apple’s iPhone 5 includes an 8MP camera that can also shoot 1080P video, but that is not capable of burst mode and slow motion like the iPhone 5s. It includes a bright flash, but it is not dual-LED like the iPhone 5s.
The iPhone 6 will use either an 8MP camera with bigger pixels or a 13MP camera according to rumors. The iPhone 6 may also include image stabilization tech and superior low light performance. Even if the iPhone 6 arrives with a 8MP sensor, expect better looking photos than an iPhone 5 can deliver.
The mock-up does not show the same pill-shaped flash as the iPhone 5s, but it would be odd to see Apple drop dual-LED flash support so soon.
One Handed Use
The ease of using an iPhone 5 with one hand is one feature that many users worry will go away on a larger iPhone 6. While some big smartphones are hard to use with one hand, many 4.7 to 5-inch smartphones are still usable with a single hand.
It’s impossible to test this without iOS 8 on a real iPhone 6 and be completely certain, but the overall size of the iPhone 6 concept lends itself to an easy grip with one hand and stretching a thumb lets me touch the far corner with the right grip.