Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Don’t wait! 10 things we know about the iPhone 6 right now

iphone 6 top 10 things youll see on the next rumors 2014
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Weve never seen such a flurry of rumors and news about an upcoming smartphone. Apple’s iPhone 6 is truly exceptional in this regard. As we’ve gotten closer and closer to launch, the reports have begun to echo each other, painting an incredibly clear picture of this coveted flagship smartphone that we’ve never even seen.

We’ve gathered all the news into one massive rumor roundup, but now the time has come to consolidate the overarching themes of that post into a projection of what we expect from the iPhone 6.

Related: Catch up on all the iPhone 6 rumors from start to finish

1. Two models

Early on in the game, signs pointed to the launch of two versions of the iPhone 6. We started tracking rumors about the next iPhone in late January when DisplaySearch first hinted that the iPhone 6 might come in two sizes. Now many major publications have confirmed that the iPhone 6 will come in two sizes: 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches.

iphone-6-two models
Image used with permission by copyright holder

2. Bigger displays made of sapphire

The jury is still out as to whether Apple will be able to produce a sufficient number of sapphire screens in time for the anticipated September 9 launch. However, given the company’s intense focus on the new GT Technologies plant in Mesa, Arizona, we think the iPhone 6 will feature a sapphire display. Several videos have also shown scratch tests on what appears to be a sapphire iPhone 6 screen.

We know the iPhone 6 will come in two screen sizes, but we don’t know either screens’ pixel resolution. The most recent conjecture from long-time Apple reporter John Gruber says that the 4.7-inch model will feature a 1,334 × 750 pixel resolution, which amounts to 326ppi and the 5.5-inch version will get a higher resolution  2,208 × 1242 pixel resolution, which ends up being 461ppi. Whatever the number of pixels, Apple will certainly increase the resolution on both iPhone 6 models.

3. Thin design and new button placement

At this point we’ve seen hundreds of photos of the iPhone 6. Components, case manufacturer dummies, and fully assembled iPhone 6s have leaked all over the Internet, alongside reports that the next iPhone will be thinner than ever before and sport a new design.

iPhone 6 Spigen Case
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Based on earlier reports, the iPhone 6 will measure anywhere between 5.5 millimeters thin, to 7.1 millimeters thin. It will be made of aluminum and come in three colors: silver, black, and gold. Most case manufacturer mockups show the power button on the right side of the device for easy access. The volume buttons are still on the left side, but they are slim and rectangular. The home button remains in the same position, though. Recent reports hint that the camera module will stick out from the phone’s body.

4. A8 processor and faster RAM

The iPhone 6 will most likely be powered by the upcoming A8 processor. It’s also said that the M7 co-processor will be updated as well. Although most recent reports say that Apple will stick with 1GB of RAM on the iPhone 6, it’s also said that the RAM may be faster this time around.

A8 processor
Image used with permission by copyright holder

5. September 9 launch event

Apple confirmed that it will hold a September 9 event at 10 a.m. PDT, which it will livestream on its website. Major tech publication Re/Code, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times have all independently confirmed that both versions of the iPhone 6 will debut at the event. The iWatch is also expected to make an appearance.

Apple 9-9-14
Image used with permission by copyright holder

6. iOS 8

The next iPhone is guaranteed to have iOS 8 onboard. Based on the preview we had of Apple’s latest mobile OS at WWDC 2014, it’s safe to say that iOS 8 won’t have any major design changes, but it will add responsive widgets, better integration with OSX, and a few new app ecosystems. HealthKit, HomeKit, and the new mobile payments systems will be the main highlights of iOS 8 on the iPhone 6.

iOS 8 Healthbook
Image used with permission by copyright holder

7. Touch ID and New Sensors

The iPhone 6 will have a new and improved Touch ID sensor on the home button. Various reports say that the sensor will be more accurate, but look and function the same as before. The iPhone 6 is also expected to have a variety of sensors, including a barometer and air pressure sensor. However, the most highly anticipated addition to the iPhone 6 is NFC technology. Several publications, including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, have confirmed that Apple will include NFC on the next iPhone. NFC will reportedly be an integral part of Apple’s new mobile payment ecosystem.

iPhone Touch ID
Image used with permission by copyright holder

8. Bigger battery

Apple will undoubtedly place larger batteries on the two iPhone 6 models to power the larger screens. Reports vary as to the size of each iPhone 6’s battery. In August, a picture of a 2,915mAh battery appeared on Nowhereelse.fr and the publication claimed that it was the battery for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6. In early August, ESM-China analyst Sung Chang Xu issued a report stating that the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will come with a 2,100mAh battery.

iPhone Battery
Image: iFIxit Image used with permission by copyright holder

9. Better camera

The iPhone 6 will receive an upgrade to its camera, but it’s unknown just how big of an improvement we’ll see. Some reports claim that Apple will bump up the camera’s resolution to 13 megapixels or perhaps 10 megapixels with an f/1.8 aperture.

iPhone 6 camera
Image: Arthur Reis Image used with permission by copyright holder

10. Release date and price

Release date rumors are all over the place. In late August, a post on Chinese social media site Weibo hinted that the iPhone 6 will arrive in stores on September 19. But a July report from MacRumors suggested that it will hit stores on October 14. At this point, nobody really knows, but we think you’ll be able to buy the iPhone 6 on September 19.

iphone-apple-store-line
Image: Henrik Ahlen/Flickr Image used with permission by copyright holder

We’ve heard lots of rumors that claim Apple will charge $100 to $200 more for the iPhone 6. The most recent one comes from a Spanish mobile carrier in a report that claims the iPhone 6 models will cost 750 and 950 euros, respectively. However, if Apple does raise the price, we don’t think it will be by more than $50.

Editors' Recommendations

Malarie Gokey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
Best refurbished iPhone deals: Get an iPhone 14 for $513
An iPhone 13 in white color option.

The Apple iPhone is one of the best phones on the market, and because of it they don’t often come cheap. There are some great iPhone deals out there, but it’s rare to find significant discounts on newer models without having to commit to a longterm contract with a carrier, and it’s even less frequent you come across one of the best iPhones with a major price drop. This is where shopping refurbished can come in handy. Refurbished iPhones — for the most part — will come backed with a functionality guarantee or extended return window, making refurbished iPhones as safe of a purchase as shopping new. There are a lot of refurbished iPhone models seeing great price drops right now, which is why we’ve done the heavy lifting of rounding up all of the best refurbished iPhone deals. You’ll find them below, as well as some information on which refurbished iPhone might be best for you.
iPhone XR -- from $136

A refurbished model but one that's unlocked and comes with a full one-year warranty, the Apple iPhone XR is still pretty stylish for its age. It has a large 6.1-inch LCD screen with 1,792 x 828 resolution with Liquid Retina technology ensuring it looks super sharp. Powered by the A12 Bionic chip, it's starting to show its age but still has potential. There's also a 12MP back camera that can shoot 4K videos while the front-facing camera is 7MP and ideal for selfie-taking.

Read more
Nomad’s new iPhone case and Apple Watch band may be its coolest yet
Nomad Glow 2.0 Sport Case and Apple Watch Sport Band in daylight.

Though the world of Apple accessories is a dime a dozen, one of the better brands that you can buy is Nomad. Nomad has a variety of amazing leather Apple Watch bands and cases, as well as non-leather options, too. In August 2023, Nomad released a one-of-a-kind Glow in the Dark Apple Watch band that sold out in about 12 hours.

Since that Glow in the Dark band was a limited edition, no one was sure if Nomad was going to re-release it, and this explains the high resale prices you’ll find on eBay. But Nomad just released the Glow 2.0 Apple Watch Sport Band as well as a new Glow 2.0 Sport Case for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. And, yes, they're just as wonderful as before.
The new and improved Glow 2.0

Read more
Best iPhone deals: Save on iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro Max and more
iPhone 13 Pro in blue.

The Apple iPhone is likely the most popular smartphone of all time, and even older models are still seeing impressive sales. This popularity can make it difficult to find iPhone deals, but there are quite a few hanging around out there right now and some of them could be considered among the best phone deals currently taking place. And while you can always shop refurbished iPhone deals to ensure some savings, we think we’ve found some iPhone deals worth taking a look at right now. They include the newest model iPhone 15, so whether you’re looking for the latest and greatest or an iPhone that simply gets the job done, read onward and start shopping the best iPhone deals going on right now.
iPhone 15 128GB (AT&T) — $730, was $830 (plus up to $700 off w/ trade-in)

The Apple iPhone 15 finally brings with it Dynamic Island which we’ve only previously seen on the Pro range. It’s a real game changer at times and is very convenient. Alongside that, the Apple iPhone 15 has the Ceramic Shield front to keep it more protected while its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display promises to be up to two times brighter than the iPhone 14 in the sun. There’s also a 48MP main camera with 2x telephoto lens to help you take great shots. The A16 Bionic chip has plenty of processing power to aid with software adjustments.

Read more