The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon

The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon

The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon

Apple Wins Again: Get Ready to Take Another Bite

Last year’s paramount sales of the iPhone 5S were rendered insignificant by a record ten million purchases made on the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus during its opening weekend. The latest lineup of iPhone devices was released by Apple on Friday, September 19. Many people in the Silicon Valley (and arguably across the world) are eager to get their hands on these new smartphones. Once again, Apple has revolutionized the smartphone industry with the upgrades, addons and facelifts of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

The first thing you will notice about the phones is the dramatic aesthetic changes; both phones have enlarged screen sizes compared to the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus now measure 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches diagonally, respectively, which is significantly larger than the the previous 4.4 inch models. This improvement puts the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus on par with the Samsung Galaxy series smartphones in terms of screen size and is sure to win back customers who have long waited for the size increase. Although some users report that the new dimensions are too large for those with smaller hands, there is a double tap feature on the home button that lowers the screen and accommodates the phone’s new size. In general, these improvements in screen size are a strong selling point for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Typical of Apple progress, the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are slimmer and possibly even more minimalist than previous versions. Both phones are around 0.7 centimeters thin and feature rounded outer edges and a side power button (for those who can’t reach the top with the increased dimensions), making the new phones aesthetically beautiful, practical and more approachable than the sharp, edgy contours and smaller size of the iPhone 5S. In addition, Apple has employed the use of anodized aluminum in the framework and anodized glass and sapphire crystal in the HD retina display in order to prolong the durability of the phone. These improvements in appearance make the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus a lot more pleasant to hold relative to the iPhone 5S.

As for the improvements on screen imaging, both iPhones now include superior viewing experiences, such as more defined contrast and better screen visibility at wider angles and with sunglasses. Apple has also introduced the Display Zoom option, which allows users to freely zoom anywhere on the screen in both the apps and the home page. While these features are an added bonus, they are not noticeably different from the iPhone 5S.

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The camera quality is one of the most significantly improved and exciting feature of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Both the front and back cameras have advanced, including a brand new sensory system that allows for faster autofocusing. At the same time, special editing features have also evolved: time lapse easily speeds up captured video footage while slow motion video now operates on 240 frames per second (twice as much as the previous frame rate). In addition, the new burst mode operates at 10 pictures per second. Users will be pleasantly surprised by the new sensory system and will see very few faults if any in your pictures and videos. The new burst mode will also be useful when taking pictures of rapidly moving objects. In general, the time lapse video feature and the improved slow motion video capture will not be needed on a regular basis, but these additions are still nice to have in special circumstances or just for fun.

Battery life is an extremely important aspect when considering phone quality. While professional critics have come to a general consensus that the iPhone 6 has a battery life equivalent to that of the iPhone 5S (under prolonged use, these iPhone models will run dry in less than a day), the iPhone 6 Plus is said to be a completely different story. Under prolonged use, the iPhone 6 Plus’ battery is able to function for 1.5 days before running dry. This means that not only does the battery have to be charged less, but it also is more durable through long-term wear. For those tech-absorbed users, the improved battery is a clear plus.

The extensive list of iPhone 6 and 6 plus upgrades makes these latest Apple products considerably different than previous versions and well worth a shot. However, experiencing the iPhone 6 comes with a considerably hefty price tag. The iPhone 6 and 6 plus starting prices for 16 gigabyte memory is $199 and $299, respectively. While this is a drawback, for those who are willing to pay, it is not too late to invest in an iPhone 6 and ride the tide of Apple’s latest hype.

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