After much speculation and a hyped reveal, Apple has finally launched the latest in its line of world-famous smartphones. The curtain was pulled off the iPhone 6 last week, and consumers around the globe will be able to get their hands on the device on September 19.
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Now that the unveiling has come and gone, publications have been able to spend time with the device, and the reviews are in. Here are some verdicts from around the web:
Engadget, 90/100: "This year's iPhones aren't groundbreaking, nor are they perfect. But they demonstrate something far more important to Apple's success in the long run: freshness. Apple ditched the tried-and-true square design (which I've always been fond of) for a more rounded, modern look; it added features that should've been there ages ago (NFC, anyone?); and it made the phones large enough to start competing in a hotly contested space.
"No doubt about it, the iPhone needed to grow in size and function, and it did just that. Fortunately, it made the leap before it was too late."
The Verge, 9/10: "Everything is better and nothing is different.
"That's the story of the iPhone 6. Apple took this opportunity to upgrade nearly everything about the device, from Wi-Fi to LTE to build quality to the already remarkable camera. And since it has a big-enough screen but still works well in one hand and fits snugly in my pocket, this is a device that almost every phone buyer on the planet will at least consider."
"Yet there's nothing truly ambitious here, no grand vision of the future or of a new way of living in the present. Apple doesn't have better ideas about how to make use of more display real estate, or how to help users navigate a bigger device. It's not on the precipice of offering a new kind of do-it-all computer, as it might be with the iPhone 6 Plus. The latest iPhones could have been a chance for Apple to really re-examine what smartphone hardware should be, but Apple just built a bigger iPhone. Because that's what people wanted."
CNET, 8.8/10: "The Good: A bigger, crisp display, improved LTE and Wi-Fi speeds, better camera autofocus, bumped-up storage capacities to 128GB at the top end, and NFC Apple Pay mobile wallet features on the horizon.
"The Bad: In early tests, the iPhone 6's battery doesn't fare any better than last year's model. Some Android phones fit an even-larger 5-inch screen into the same size frame. It lacks the optical image stabilization of the bigger, more expensive 6 Plus.
"The Bottom Line: The iPhone 6 delivers a bigger screen while remaining easy to handle, with plenty of features to satisfy everyone--and the promise of Apple Pay on the horizon to potentially sweeten the deal even further."
Tech Radar, 4.5/5: "The iPhone 6 is a brilliant phone. It's the first time I'd even consider using an iPhone as my daily device, thanks to the larger screen, better keyboard and most importantly upgraded battery life.
"However, the price is still tremendously off-putting and the screen, while perfectly fine (and sometimes impressive) in day to day use will still irritate me, knowing that I've not got the best experience for my money.
"But that's the only bugbear I have with the iPhone 6. It feels amazing in the hand. Apple has somehow made a phone too thin and turned it into a positive. The operating system is smarter and more intuitive than ever, and that's without even factoring in the strong ecosystem of apps and media that Apple users get."
