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Apple iPhone 6 unboxing and first impressions (Video)

Today we’re taking a look at Apple’s iPhone 6. Anxious fans queued up at Apple Stores across the world to get their hands on the latest and greatest from Cupertino. Apple has bumped up the display size to 4.7-inches on the iPhone 6 and also added a 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus model for phablet fans. For a closer look, be sure to check out our first impressions video

The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 features a resolution of 750 x 1334 (326 ppi) and what Apple calls “Retina HD.” The new display is crisp and clean as we’ve grown to expect from Apple. The overall build quality feels solid, but it’s definitely a huge change when compared to the iPhone 5/5s.

I’m not 100 percent sold on the antenna bands on the back side, but the design is growing on me. As for the protruding camera, I wasn’t a fan of it on the 5th generation iPod touch and putting it on the iPhone 6 isn’t going to change my mind. Luckily, Apple will sell you a premium leather case to make things flush again, but I would honestly rather have a slightly thicker device with a bigger battery than the protruding camera.

Check out our unboxing and first impressions video below:

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty_s9ZRFTEs]

On the back side, you’ll find an 8-megapixel camera, True Tone LED flash, microphone, and a shiny Apple logo. The sleep/wake button has been moved to the right side of the device to accommodate its larger size, but the volume buttons and mute switch still live on the left side. On the bottom you’ll find the speaker grille, microphone, Lightning port, and 3.5mm headphone jack.

For those worried about one-handed usage, Apple has included a new Reachability feature which allows you to access menu options within apps and the top rows of icons on the home screen. This feature is activated by double tapping (not pressing) the home button. Unfortunately, that’s where the one-handed software enhancements end. Either way, if you’re into larger displays, it’s likely that you don’t have a problem using two hands with the device occasionally.

Apple’s iPhone 6 ships with iOS 8 and along with that come a ton of new features. If you’d like to know more about iOS 8, we recently put together a top 20 favorite features article which you can view here. We’re pretty excited about the iPhone 6 and iOS 8 and curious to know your opinions about the new features and design changes that come along with these releases. How do you feel about Apple’s jump to large display devices?

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Comments

  1. Mr. Grey (@mister_grey) - 10 years ago

    I didn’t appreciate the (freaking HUGE) advertisement for “5/4 Club” which sounds like a scam the way it’s described.

    That being said, I agree about the protruding camera. For those of us that don’t use cases (roughly 20% I’m told), you cannot (presumably, I don’t have one), put the iPhone 6 down flat on a table without it rocking.

    I like the fact that Dom is one of the only reviewers that I’ve even heard mention the protruding camera, but I’d really like to see someone actually lay the phone down on it’s back and show how much it “rocks” (in the bad way). It’s almost a bit of a conspiracy in that this is such an obvious flaw, but no one is even talking about it in the review so far, except here.

    • Jon Stahler (@JonStahler) - 10 years ago

      I have a plus and it doesn’t rock when I sit it camera-down on my counter top. The camera doesn’t protrude much at all from that model.

    • Max Mars (@devianter) - 10 years ago

      http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/16/6155009/apple-iphone-6-plus-review here you can clearly see how much it rocks. i’d say the case is a necessity, but anyone who’s not using one is already a crazy person in my eyes. all the iPhones used without cases i’ve seen were in pretty bad conditions. My 4s, on the other hand, is almost like it just arrived from the factory.

      • driverbenji - 10 years ago

        I had zagg invisible shield HD full body (on back and front) of my iPhone 5, NO CASE, for about 1 1/2 years. After this it got dropped and the small glass at top back cracked under the back invisible shield, but otherwise still intact. Later, I got a glass screen protector and then saw what happened to another’s glass screen protector (cracked when dropped), it wasn’t until then that I started using a thin case, only to protect the glass screen protector, however, I would prefer NO CASE. (The glass screen protector is great, feels more like no screen protector at all.)

        I will NOT be getting the plus, but the 4.7 iPhone 6 (anything bigger is no longer a phone. Period.). I prefer my phone to be slim in my pocket…a MUST really, so, I will not be getting a case for it, probably invisible shield, and, no I AM NOT CRAZY, again, I went 1 1/2 years without one on my iPhone 5, and it’s still intact (I’ve had it two years now.)

        The iPhone is too pretty to cover it up. However, I wish it was more durable and didn’t need any protection at all.

    • Kemar W (@toohotz) - 10 years ago

      The protruding camera lens indeed bothers me on my six but it now sits in a case (after being dropped and screen cracked which I’ll have to sort out this weekend at my Apple Store). This iPhone’s screen doesn’t seem as durable as my old warrior iPhone 5 that has been through quite a few drops through its two years.

      You can’t expect everyone to focus on it’s one “flaw” because they’re quite busy ogling over the front of the iPhone with its larger screen size which keeps them from noticing the protruding lens that sits on the back that they’re more than likely not to notice.

    • robertvarga79 - 10 years ago

      The camera lens itself is the part which has been made partially with sapphire hardened glass on its outside, soooo…..

      • Max Mars (@devianter) - 10 years ago

        You can make it out of a diamond. Sooner than later it WILL scratch.

    • Yes ads suck but that’s how websites stay in business.

      Also- you can see a couple of great iphone reviews at theverge.com where the show the wobble from the lens.

  2. timl2k11 - 10 years ago

    I tool a look at the iPhone 6 (4.7″). No problem at all reaching the upper left corner, and I don’t have big hands. Is it just a matter of dexterity? I don’t know. The iPhone 6 is quite a piece of work. Absolutely gorgeous. The protruding camera? Who cares? It is very small and does not stick out much. I can’t believe how thin the phone is! It is a marvel of engineering, the fit and finish amazing. Also it’s nice to finally have some of the better features that have been on Android now on iOS. For now I’m sticking with the iPhone 5 that was just handed down to me, (a HUGE step up from the “old” iPhone 4 I have been using which was never the same after iOS 7). Perhaps I can upgrade to the 6s when it comes out. My bet is it will be quite a bit faster as the “s” series typically are.

    • staywhatyouare2 - 10 years ago

      I also decided to go with the iPhone 6 Plus because of the extra real estate and the added features it could do with the space. In the keynote speech Phil talked about the “2 up” possibilities in messages, mail, stocks, weather, etc. None of these features are working for me. Am I the only one? Is there a setting I need to turn on?

  3. Patricio Derito - 10 years ago

    this is what they should’ve done instead of the antenna bands

    http://www.yankodesign.com/2014/07/16/apple-iphone-6-%E2%80%93-unmasking-yet-another-concept/