iPhone 6 Models Praised for Screen, Processor, and Durability

Apple’s new iPhone 6 models praised for best LCD screen, fast processor, and durability

By Malarie Gokey September 22, 2014

Apple iPhone 6 Plus review — Image used with permission by copyright holder

If Apple’s new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were to be awarded a senior superlative, it seems that both models would be deemed “most likely to succeed.” On Monday, several experts reported test results for the new iPhone models’ screen, processor, and durability. In nearly every test, the new iPhones were a cut above the competition.

DisplayMate published test results in which it compared the LCD screens of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to previous iPhones’ screens and those of its leading Android competitors. The report’s author, Ray Soneira, criticized the iPhone’s screen quality in the past, but was impressed with the quality of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus screens.

“Based on our extensive lab tests and measurements, the iPhone 6 Plus is the best performing smartphone LCD display that we have ever tested,” Soneira wrote. He added that the iPhone 6 Plus is only the second smartphone LCD to receive the green star rating for a good or excellent screen in all categories except viewing angles and brightness variation, which are the categories in which LCD screens invariably fail to impress.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 6 came in behind the 6 Plus because of its low pixel density. “The display on the iPhone 6 is none-the-less still a Very Good display, and most buyers will be happy with its performance,” Soneira wrote. “But it’s somewhat disappointing that Apple went for satisfactory as opposed to the best.

Noted publication AnandTech published its preliminary benchmark test results for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus after a weekend of tests. The outlet found that the A8 processor performs very well on Web browser tests and actually leads the pack in most of these benchmarks. Based on the results, it seems the iPhone 6 has a slightly less powerful version of the A8 processor onboard, as the iPhone 6 Plus typically outperformed its smaller twin. However, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus suffered from average GPU performance in the more intense gaming benchmarks. Of course, benchmarks don’t always tell the whole story.

Perhaps the most important test Apple’s new iPhones aced was the durability test from warranty company SquareTrade. The company said the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are among the most durable smartphones it has ever tested. SquareTrade said both new iPhones were very easy to grip, even though they are much larger than previous models.

“The iPhone 6 Plus is not only more durable than most large screen phones, but it also outscored last generation’s iPhone 5S,” the report stated. “Both new iPhones performed very well in most tests, but the iPhone 6 Plus lost some points because some users may have a hard time gripping the phone due to its large but slim form. The screens on both new iPhones held up very well to Breakability testing, giving credence to Apple’s promise of ion-strengthened glass.”

So far, it looks like Apple’s new iPhones are standing up to the test.

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