The much-awaited Apple press event just finished with the tech giant announcing some of its upcoming products: the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and the Apple Watch. Apple CEO Tim Cook called the iPhone unlike previous offerings with the iPhone 6 Plus marking the company's entry into the phablet market. The tech giant also introduced its Apple Watch, which features an interface that caters to both fitness and iPhone users. The question now boils down to whether Apple's promised "killer features" can satisfy users. Can these products propel the company's position or will their efforts be in vain?
Apple's announcement of the iPhone 6 goes along with previous leaks about a 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch version. As mentioned, the devices go by the names iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, respectively. Tim Cook claimed confidently that they are the best of the iPhone series yet. During the keynote event, Cook noted: "Today, we are pleased to announce the biggest advancement in iPhone." Both models will have 16GB, 64GB and 128GB options.
According to Apple, the iPhone 6 16GB variant comes with a starting price tag of $199 while the iPhone 6 Plus 16GB model comes with a starting price of $299. The devices come with a two-year contract. Carriers may have a different pricing scheme. Both models are also presented as the thinnest variants made to date. The iPhone 6 is only 6.9mm whereas the iPhone 6 Plus is only 7.1mm. Other specs of the iPhone 6 include a 4.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen Multi‑Touch display running on IPS technology offering up to 1334 x 750 resolution. Pixel density is at 326 ppi. The iPhone 6 Plus, on the other hand, offers a 5.5-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen Multi‑Touch display with the same IPS technology. It comes with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and pixel density of 401 ppi.
One of the most impressive parts of the announcement is the A8 chip. According to Apple, the new 64-bit chip makes the iPhone 6 50% faster than the previous iPhone. There is also a new landscape mode, allowing users to view the icons and work with their devices horizontally. Pre-order for the iPhone 6 begins on September 12.
As for the Apple Watch, it will come in three editions: the standard Apple Watch series, Apple Watch Sports and Apple Watch Edition series. People can sync the device to their iPhone devices starting from iPhone 5 to send messages and check information similarly on the handset. According to ReadWrite, the greatest point and weakness of the Apple Watch is its integration with the Apple ecosystem. It can work well with Apple devices, but relies heavily on them. The Apple Watch will be available in early 2015.
Join the Conversation