iPhone 6: 7 Tips for Future Buyers

With iPhone 6 rumors swirling around, we’re starting to get bombarded with questions about Apple’s rumored 2014 iPhone from readers, family and friends. While we certainly don’t have all of the answers, we do have some worthwhile iPhone 6 tips for buyers that we think will not only make the wait a lot easier but the eventual release much smoother as well.

While consumer attention is primarily focused on the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the HTC M8, two flagship Android smartphone that are set to debut in just a few weeks, there are certainly those that have their eyes fixated on another big name smartphone, or smartphones, that should arrive some time later this year.

Every year, Apple releases an updated version of its iconic iPhone. Last year, it was the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c, this year, consumers are expecting an iPhone 6. Rumors suggest that Apple does indeed have another iPhone up its sleeve, that it’s not going to bow out of a smartphone market that it continues to dominate.

iPhone 6 rumors, at the moment, are scarce, unsurprising given that Apple typically doesn’t announce or release its iPhone until much later in the year. That hasn’t stopped a barrage of questions from plummeting into our chat windows, Twitter feeds and email, however. No, we’ve been inundated with numerous questions about the iPhone 6. We’ve been answering those questions to the best of our ability but we thought it appropriate to extend our advice to more than just our family and friends.

Here, we want to offer up seven early iPhone 6 buyers tips that we think will be helpful to those who are considering the iPhone 6 as their next smartphone.

iPhone 6 Release in Summer/Fall

One of the questions that we continually get asked about the iPhone 6, and really every big name smartphone that’s rumored for 2014 and beyond, is about its release date. “When will the iPhone 6 be released?” While a specific date hasn’t been set in stone, we know that there are two windows where the iPhone 6 will likely be released.

The first is in the summer. WWDC, Apple’s annual developer conference, typically takes place during the month of June and in the past, it has been used as an iPhone launch pad. Apple shifted away from summer and WWDC with the last three iPhones but there are rumors that suggest it could return at least one iPhone launch to the annual conference. If it does, the device would likely arrive in late June or in July.

The other window is the fall. The iPhone 4s, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s all arrived during the fall between the months of September and October. This is another likely window for the iPhone 6 in that it sets Apple up perfectly. iPhone 4s users will be coming off contract and it’s right before the holiday season which allows Apple to ramp up production to meet demand by the time November and December roll around.

No, we don’t know the exact date of the iPhone 6’s release but we know that Apple always uses either the summer or the fall so we advise interested consumers to circle July, September and October on the calendar and remain patient.

Expect a Larger Display

As of right now, we don’t know a lot about the iPhone 6 itself. Rumors haven’t emerged at the same frequency as Samsung Galaxy S5 rumors and there are still plenty of puzzle pieces missing. The iPhone 6 isn’t a blank canvas though.

One thing that appears likely is a larger display. It’s something that rumors from credible sources have consistently pointed to, time and time again, and at this point it’s impossible to ignore.

The Wall Street Journal believes the company will deliver a 4.5-inch and a 5+-inch iPhone 6. NPD DisplaySearch believes that two iPhone 6 models with higher resolution displays will be coming in 2014. A KDB Daewoo Securities report uncovered by OLED-Display includes two iPhone 6 display sizes. Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, who accurately predicted many iPhone 5s features, thinks Apple is planning an iPhone 6 with a screen between 4.5-inches and 5-inches. Here is how that breaks down:

• 4.5-inch display – WSJ
• 4.7-inch display – 1600 x 900 resolution – NPD
• 4.7-inch to 4.8-inch display – 1920 x 1080 resolution – KDB
• 4.5-inch to 5-inch display – Kuo
• 5+ inch display – WSJ
• 5.5-inch display – 1920 x 1080 resolution – NPD
• 5.5-inch display – 2272 x 1280 resolution – KDB

So unless every single source here is wrong, the iPhone 6 will be coming with a display that is larger than the 4-inch Retina Display found on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c.

While nothing is confirmed, it’s safe to assume that at least one new iPhone model will come with a larger display. And it’s possible that they could be made out of Sapphire, something that would make them virtually unbreakable. With that in mind, our advice is this.

If you’ve been waiting for years for a larger iPhone display, now is the time to wait because all signs point to a much larger iPhone 6 display arriving later on this year.

Expect the iPhone 6 to Be Good

Another question that we continually get asked is: “What features will the iPhone 6 have?” We can’t answer that exactly but what we can tell you is that you should expect the iPhone 6 to come with hardware upgrades over the likes of the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5. Apple introduces advancements year-after-year and it would be strange to see an iPhone 6 share a camera or processor with the iPhone 5s. It will more than likely feature better hardware.

It’s safe to assume that the iPhone 6 will be better, performance-wise, than the iPhone 5s. That means features like gaming, multitasking and overall speed of the operating system should be improved. There are already rumors that point to an improved camera. The iPhone 5s is an extremely powerful smartphone, but the iPhone 6 will almost certainly be more powerful. And that will be key for many users who depend on their smartphone for more than just phone calls.

Don’t Limit Your Options

While it’s alright to have the iPhone 6 on your shortlist, we advise taking a serious look at some of the iPhone 6’s competitors. That includes the iPhone 5s, that includes the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC M8, and that will probably include a number of other devices that emerge between now and the summer.

We suggest doing as much research as possible. Play around with Android, take a look at Windows Phone, use Apple’s iOS 7 software because it’s likely going to be similar to the iOS 8 update that arrives along with the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 may be the best smartphone of the year in the eyes of many but it won’t be that way for everyone.

So while your heart might be set on the next iPhone model, keep an eye on the competition. Who knows, you may just find something that you think is better than Apple’s experience.

Research Carriers

Between now and the iPhone 6 launch, consumers would be wise to do as much research as they can on carrier options in the United States. That means digging into the data plans and 4G LTE coverage at AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon. There are tons of differences between these carriers and their coverage and the more you know, the better equipped you’ll be when the iPhone 6 finally does arrive.

We also suggest taking a look at their off-contract plans as well. These will appeal to those that find that they can’t stick to a smartphone through the duration of a contract. There are plenty of people who get bored with their device and want something new. And for those people, offers like AT&T’s Next and Verizon’s Edge are worth a look.

And finally, expect the iPhone 6 to arrive for the five major carriers in the United States in addition to a number of pre-paid and regional carriers. Apple’s iPhones always come to a wide swath of carriers so we suggest preparing for a widespread launch.

Don’t Believe Every Rumor

This probably goes without saying but we still think it’s important to note. Do not believe every single iPhone 6 rumor that comes out between now and the iPhone 6 launch. Gotta Be Mobile will do its best to bring you the most credible rumors but even then, those sometimes don’t pan out.

Apple, like other smartphone manufacturers, goes through a number of prototypes before it decides on a final version of its flagship phone. This is likely the reason why iPhone 6 display rumors are all over the place. This also means that Apple will continue to add and trim features in the build up to the devices eventual launch.

iPhone rumors typically start to firm up a few months ahead of the release and the most believable ones are typically the ones that get rumored over and over again ad nausea. Again, like the iPhone 6 display rumors.

We should also note that things like price and storage are usually some of the last dominoes to fall, if they even fall at all. When the iPhone 5s launch date arrived, we had no idea how much storage it would have or how much it would cost. Turns out, the price and the storage space for the iPhone 5s were both familiar.

And finally, about those iPhone 6 concepts. There is a reason they are called concepts. While they might pull in iPhone 6 rumors, they are usually from third-party designers and not the designers at Apple.

Start Saving Now

Smartphones aren’t cheap. They may appear cheap due to their subsidized price tags but those buying the iPhone 6 will incur hundreds if not thousands of dollars in charges thanks to features like data and accessories. So, with several months to go before the iPhone 6 launch, now is a great time to start saving money for not only the initial upfront cost of the iPhone 6 but for the costs that you’ll incur down the road.

One thing that we do suggest is to stay patient about trade-ins. Companies like Gazelle and NextWorth offer a lot of money for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 trade-ins, something that can help offset the cost of your next smartphone. Those prices, however, don’t tend to start fluctuating until much closer to the actual launch which means that you have plenty of time to sell.