Unveiling the phone that captured the hearts of over 222 million users, the iPhone 6's revolutionary design and performance, from its A8 chip to its groundbreaking Apple Pay introduction, redefined what a smartphone could be.
Key Takeaways
- The iPhone 6 features a 4.7-inch Retina HD display
- The display resolution is 1334-by-750 pixels at 326 ppi
- It weighs exactly 129 grams (4.55 ounces)
- Powered by the Apple A8 chip with 64-bit architecture
- A8 chip is built on a 20nm manufacturing process
- The A8 chip contains 2 billion transistors
- Back camera is 8-megapixel iSight camera with 1.5µ pixels
- Aperture is f/2.2
- Lens consists of a five-element lens
- Supports LTE bands (up to 20 bands)
- Maximum LTE download speed is 150 Mbps
- Supports VoLTE (Voice over LTE) for high-quality calls
- Launched with iOS 8 operating system
- Final supported OS is iOS 12.5.7
- Announced on September 9, 2014
The iPhone 6 featured a larger, thinner design with a faster processor and improved camera.
Battery and Connectivity
1Supports LTE bands (up to 20 bands)
Verified2Maximum LTE download speed is 150 Mbps
Verified3Supports VoLTE (Voice over LTE) for high-quality calls
Verified4Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with speeds up to 433 Mbps
Directional5Bluetooth version 4.0 (later updated via software to 4.2)
Single source6Includes NFC (Near Field Communication) specifically for Apple Pay
Verified7Battery capacity is 1810 mAh
Verified8Talk time is up to 14 hours on 3G
Verified9Standby time is up to 10 days (250 hours)
Directional10Internet use is up to 10 hours on 3G or LTE
Single source11Internet use is up to 11 hours on Wi-Fi
Verified12HD video playback is up to 11 hours
Verified13Audio playback is up to 50 hours
Verified14Battery is a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Directional15Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter
Single source16Connectivity includes GPS and GLONASS
Verified17Nano-SIM card support exclusively
Verified18Wi-Fi calling is supported on certain carriers
Verified19DC-HSDPA support allows up to 42 Mbps on 3G
Directional20iBeacon microlocation supported
Single source21Battery voltage is 3.82 V
Verified22Battery total energy is 6.91 Wh
Verified23Charging port is Lightning connector
Verified24Supported audio formats: AAC, Protected AAC, HE-AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR
Directional25Video formats: H.264, MPEG-4, Motion JPEG
Single source26AirPlay Mirroring support up to 1080p to Apple TV (2nd gen+)
Verified27Lightning to 30-pin adapter support
Verified28Tethering and Mobile Hotspot support
Verified29GSM/EDGE frequencies: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
Directional30UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA frequencies: 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz
Single sourceBattery and Connectivity Interpretation
While it won't survive a modern apocalypse, the iPhone 6 was a meticulously engineered Swiss Army knife for the early 4G era, packing enough connectivity tricks, battery stamina, and format support to make you feel like a wizard who occasionally had to whisper sweet nothings to a power outlet.
Camera and Optics
1Back camera is 8-megapixel iSight camera with 1.5µ pixels
Verified2Aperture is f/2.2
Verified3Lens consists of a five-element lens
Verified4Features "Focus Pixels" for faster phase-detection autofocus
Directional5True Tone flash uses two LEDs for natural skin tones
Single source6Video recording in 1080p HD at 30 fps or 60 fps
Verified7Slo-mo video support for 120 fps or 240 fps
Verified8Time-lapse video mode included in iOS 8 for iPhone 6
Verified9Cinematic video stabilization helps keep shots steady
Directional10Continuous autofocus video maintains focus as subjects move
Single source11Front camera is 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera
Verified12Front camera aperture is f/2.2
Verified13Front camera supports 720p HD video recording
Verified14Burst mode allows users to take 10 photos per second
Directional15Panorama mode supports up to 43 megapixels
Single source16Face detection is improved for faster and more accurate results
Verified17Exposure control allows manual adjustment of brightness in the viewfinder
Verified18Sensor type is CMOS BSI (back-illuminated) sensor
Verified19Sensor size is 1/3"
Directional20Sapphire crystal lens cover protects the camera glass
Single source21Auto HDR available for both photos and videos
Verified22Digital zoom up to 3x
Verified23Geo-tagging for photos and videos via GPS/GLONASS
Verified24Local tone mapping for better detail in shadows and highlights
Directional25Advanced noise reduction for low-light photography
Single source26Front camera includes a timer mode (3s or 10s)
Verified27Video geotagging included
Verified28Still photos can be taken while recording 1080p video
Verified29DXOMARK Mobile score at launch was 82
Directional30Focal length (35mm equivalent) is 29mm
Single sourceCamera and Optics Interpretation
The iPhone 6's camera is a pocket-sized cinematographer, packing a surprisingly sophisticated arsenal—from a lightning-fast focus system and a true-tone flash to silky smooth video stabilization—all to ensure your hastily snapped photos look like you carefully planned them.
Hardware and Display
1The iPhone 6 features a 4.7-inch Retina HD display
Verified2The display resolution is 1334-by-750 pixels at 326 ppi
Verified3It weighs exactly 129 grams (4.55 ounces)
Verified4The device thickness is 6.9 mm
Directional5The contrast ratio is 1400:1 (typical)
Single source6Maximum brightness is 500 cd/m2
Verified7Features a dual-domain pixels for wide viewing angles
Verified8The height of the phone is 138.1 mm (5.44 inches)
Verified9The width of the phone is 67.0 mm (2.64 inches)
Directional10Screen-to-body ratio is approximately 65.8%
Single source11The display supports Full sRGB color standard
Verified12The screen is protected by ion-strengthened glass
Verified13Features a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on the front
Verified14The chassis is made from 6000 series anodized aluminum
Directional15Available colors included Silver, Gold, and Space Gray
Single source16Reachability feature allows UI to shift down for one-handed use
Verified17Display zoom feature allows users to see larger icons and text
Verified18Backlight technology used is LED-backlit IPS LCD
Verified19Resolution depth is 24-bit for 16 million colors
Directional20The pixel pitch is 0.078 mm
Single source21Bezel width is 4.66 mm
Verified22Volume buttons are elongated rather than round like iPhone 5s
Verified23Power button was moved from top to the right side
Verified24The display covers 95.8% of the NTSC color space
Directional25Display black level measured at 0.35 nits
Single source26Effective viewing angle before 50% brightness loss is 170 degrees
Verified27Display reflectance is 4.6%
Verified28The home button houses a capacitive Touch ID sensor
Verified29Screen uses a "Retina HD" branding for the first time
Directional30The glass has a 2.5D curved edge finish
Single sourceHardware and Display Interpretation
While the iPhone 6 was touted as a sleek, featherweight device at just 129 grams, its considerable screen bezels and 65.8% screen-to-body ratio now make it look like a sturdy little picture frame for your apps.
Processor and Performance
1Powered by the Apple A8 chip with 64-bit architecture
Verified2A8 chip is built on a 20nm manufacturing process
Verified3The A8 chip contains 2 billion transistors
Verified4CPU is a Dual-core 1.4 GHz Typhoon (ARM v8-based)
Directional5CPU performance is 25 percent faster than the A7 chip
Single source6Graphics performance is 50 percent faster than the A7 chip
Verified7Included the M8 motion coprocessor to track activity
Verified8RAM capacity is 1 GB LPDDR3
Verified9RAM frequency is 1333 MHz
Directional10GPU is a PowerVR GX6450 (quad-core graphics)
Single source11L1 Cache: 64 KB instruction, 64 KB data
Verified12L2 Cache is 1 MB
Verified13L3 Cache is 4 MB
Verified14Geekbench 3 Single-Core score is approximately 1610
Directional15Geekbench 3 Multi-Core score is approximately 2890
Single source16SunSpider 1.0.2 JavaScript benchmark score is ~350ms
Verified17BrowserBench Kraken 1.1 score is ~3,900ms
Verified18GFXBench T-Rex (Offscreen) score is 42 fps
Verified19Sustained performance is 50% better than iPhone 5s without throttling quickly
Directional20M8 coprocessor includes a barometer for measuring elevation
Single source21M8 tracks distance and steps even when the main CPU is asleep
Verified22Octane 2.0 benchmark score is approximately 7,500
Verified23Basemark OS II overall score is ~1200
Verified24Memory bandwidth is 12.8 GB/s
Directional25CPU uses the ARMv8-A instruction set
Single source26Core count: 2 (Dual-core)
Verified27Lithography process is 20 nanometers
Verified28Thermal design allows longer peak performance than previous models
Verified293DMark Ice Storm Unlimited score is ~17,500
Directional30Internal storage options were 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB
Single sourceProcessor and Performance Interpretation
The iPhone 6's A8 chip is a marvel of miniaturized might, squeezing two billion transistors into a space so small it makes other processors look lazy, delivering a seriously snappy experience that finally made your phone feel more like a pocket-sized computer and less like a gadget that occasionally needed a nap.
Software and Market
1Launched with iOS 8 operating system
Verified2Final supported OS is iOS 12.5.7
Verified3Announced on September 9, 2014
Verified4Released in the US on September 19, 2014
Directional5Sold 4 million units in the first 24 hours of pre-orders
Single source6Sold 10 million units in the first weekend
Verified7Price for 16GB model at launch was $199 with 2-year contract
Verified8Unlocked price for 16GB model was $649 in the US
Verified9Introduced Apple Pay for contactless payments
Directional10Health app integrated for M8 motion tracking data
Single source11Siri voice assistant with "Hey Siri" support when plugged in
Verified12Support for Metal graphics API for console-level gaming
Verified13Family Sharing allows six members to share iTunes purchases
Verified14iCloud Drive support for cross-device file storage
Directional15Operating temperature range: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
Single source16Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
Verified17Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)
Verified18SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) for Head: 1.18 W/kg
Verified19SAR for Body: 1.18 W/kg
Directional20The iPhone 6 was the first "thin" redesigned iPhone since iPhone 5
Single source21Discontinued official sales in most markets in September 2016
Verified22Re-introduced as a 32GB budget model in selected markets in 2017
Verified23Total units sold for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus combined exceeded 222 million
Verified24Produced a peak revenue of $74.6 billion in Q1 2015 for Apple
Directional25Contains 1 GB of RAM (fixed)
Single source26Model numbers include A1549, A1586, and A1589
Verified27Features a three-axis gyro sensor
Verified28Features an accelerometer sensor
Verified29Features a proximity sensor
Directional30Features an ambient light sensor
Single sourceSoftware and Market Interpretation
While it rode the wave of being fashionably thin and broke sales records with over 222 million units sold, the iPhone 6’s legacy is that of a workhorse, patiently tracking your steps and running Apple Pay until its final iOS update in 2021.
Sources & References
- Reference 1SUPPORTsupport.apple.comVisit source
- Reference 2GSMARENAgsmarena.comVisit source
- Reference 3APPLEapple.comVisit source
- Reference 4DEVICESPECIFICATIONSdevicespecifications.comVisit source
- Reference 5THEVERGEtheverge.comVisit source
- Reference 6ANANDTECHanandtech.comVisit source
- Reference 7DISPLAYMATEdisplaymate.comVisit source
- Reference 8BROWSERbrowser.geekbench.comVisit source
- Reference 9DXOMARKdxomark.comVisit source
- Reference 10IFIXITifixit.comVisit source
- Reference 11MACRUMORSmacrumors.comVisit source
- Reference 12ARCHIVEarchive.fortune.comVisit source