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Meet Engadget's new buyer's guide picks: The iPhone 6, Moto X and more!
Here at Engadget, we make good on our promises. So when we say we're going to be updating our buyer's guide more frequently, well, gosh darn, we mean it. Roughly two months after we re-launched the guide, we're adding a bunch of new gadgets, including the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the new Moto X, HTC One M8 for Windows, the Acer C720 Chromebook, the NVIDIA Shield gaming tablet and the Moto 360 smartwatch. Of course, we also had to remove some of our original picks to make room for the new ones: The new, 5.2-inch Moto X takes the place of the old 4.7-inch one, while the Moto 360 overtakes the Samsung Gear Live -- formerly our favorite Android Wear device. We're also getting rid of all the BlackBerrys for now. That's not to say BBM hold-outs should switch operating systems, but until we get to try the new BlackBerry Passport, we're going to refrain from including those older models. Check out our guide right here, and stay tuned for more updates next month -- who knows what we'll be adding then!
iPhone 6 review, Microsoft's investment in 'Minecraft' and other stories you might've missed
This week, we reviewed Apple's new large-screened iPhones, investigated Microsoft's investment in Minecraft, whipped up some magical butter, learned about Google's new budget handset initiative called Android One and more. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
iFixit cracks open an iPhone 6 Plus to get at the massive battery inside
Need something to make today's wait for your new iPhone easier? Watching the crew at iFixit go at a brand new iPhone 6 Plus with their screwdrivers, spudgers and iSclacks probably won't help, but at least it will pass the time. They're in the middle of pulling Apple's XL-sized phone apart, and while there's not a lot new to report (it's a phone, and it has 1GB of RAM) the pics are always entertaining. The 6 Plus' 5.5-inch display also leaves room for a larger battery, and now we know that it's a 2915 mAh unit. That's about twice the size of the one in the iPhone 5s, slightly bigger than the battery in the Galaxy S 5, but smaller than the swappable 3,220mAh unit slotted inside the 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 4.
Sound off! What are your favorite features in iOS 8?
iOS 8 is finally here, and it's bringing a slew of new features. It's faster, more secure, and in a lot of ways, more like Android. Out of all the new bells and whistles what are your favorite new additions? Head over to the forums and let the community know what you're digging most about iOS 8. When you're done there don't forget to write your own review! We'll be rounding up the best of the best in an upcoming post. Photos by Will Lipman.
EE will honour its iPhone 6 preorders from Phones4u tomorrow
Since EE is somewhat responsible for the reason Phones4u can no longer honour iPhone 6 or 6 Plus preorders, the network's trying to make it right, at least for some of you. The carrier's just told us that when Apple's latest handsets launch tomorrow, anyone that preordered on an EE plan through Phones4u can walk into a store and pick one up. If you're still keen on getting a day-one device, then take along a copy of the Phones4u preorder confirmation to get hooked up. EE's putting aside as many handsets as preorders it received via the troubled retailer, but you'll have to take out one of the network's own contract options, rather than whatever you may've opted for originally. Reserved iPhones will be spread out across the carrier's many stores, however, so there's always a chance you won't be successful at the first location you visit, but we guess that depends on how many went elsewhere when Phones4u folded. Sure, this is a bit of clever PR on EE's part, but if you helps you get the handset you want when you want it, then so be it.
Where in the world is your iPhone 6?
If you checked your iPhone 6 (or 6 Plus)'s shipping status before making coffee, walking the dog or catching up on your favorite tech site this morning, you're definitely not alone. With a record number of pre-orders this year, there are thousands of soon-to-be iOS 8 users doing exactly the same thing. If you want to take your obsession to new heights, however, the aircraft tracking service FlightAware is eager to help. Once you receive a UPS tracking number for your precious cargo, you can head on over and track the exact location of your phone, be it in China, Anchorage (for a re-fueling stop), the Louisville (Kentucky) distribution center, or somewhere in between. Or you could just wait patiently for the doorbell to ring. [Photo credit: Getty Images]
Engadget Daily: iPhone 6 and 6 Plus review, the future of virtual payments and more!
Did you hear? iOS 8 is ripe for the picking, and lucky for you, we've already taken it for a test drive. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours, including our iPhone 6 and 6 Plus review, everything you need to know about virtual payments, and more!
iPhone 6 and 6 Plus review: bigger and better, but with stiffer competition
To say that Apple's doing things differently would be an understatement. With the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, the company introduced two new high-end phones at the same time, both with a complete redesign and a much larger screen size than any iPhone that came before. Gone are the days of 3.5-inch and 4-inch phones that, at one time, seemed to provide more than ample amounts of screen space. Now, the new iPhones make their predecessors look like the tiny handset Ben Stiller used in Zoolander. The market has changed, and it was high time Apple did the same. Even though this is Apple's first attempt at building large phones, it's not breaking new ground -- in fact, it feels more like the company is catching up than innovating. To be fair, finding a fresh take is a difficult thing to do in this crowded space: Samsung's Galaxy Note series, which started out at 5.3 inches and is now up to 5.7, is selling by the millions, and most competing flagships aren't much smaller. Basically, Apple would be leaving money on the table if it didn't address this segment of the market. So how did the company do on its first try at large phones? Pretty well -- mostly.
NFC on the iPhone 6 is limited to Apple Pay, at least for now
If you were hoping to use NFC on the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus to pair with your camera or share files with friends... well, you'll have to keep waiting. Apple has confirmed to Cult of Mac that the new iPhones' near field wireless is currently limited to use with Apple Pay. In other words, you won't see it used either for core iOS features or in third-party apps, at least not in the near future. However, that doesn't necessarily mean the technology will go to waste in the long run. We already know that the Apple Watch can unlock your hotel door, so the crew in Cupertino isn't averse to letting developers use NFC for tasks beyond payments. And if you'll recall, Apple initially limited its Touch ID fingerprint reader to unlocking the iPhone and making iTunes purchases before opening it up to developers in iOS 8; it wouldn't be surprising to see expanded NFC support on the iPhone once Apple is more comfortable.
Phones4u confirms all iPhone 6 pre-orders will be cancelled
Now that news of the Phones4u collapse has begun to settle, details are starting to emerge about how customers will be affected. The good news is that the company has said that it will honour existing contracts, but it has also confirmed that people who pre-ordered the new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus last week will miss out on getting their new smartphones, at least from them. In a statement shared with the Huffington Post UK, Phones4u noted that "any orders that have not already been dispatched will be cancelled and any payments refunded to customers." Phones4u has yet to ship any devices to customers and its online store has already been replaced with a sad-looking page full of support line phone numbers. Customers who ordered last Friday will now need to place their order again with a different retailer, but they'll be placed at the back of the queue as Apple's official delivery times begin to slip.
AT&T won't activate WiFi calling until next year
Apple made a pretty big deal about WiFi calling at its event this week, but if you preordered an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus running on AT&T today, you won't be able to use it right out of the box. That feature, according to LightReading, won't be available until next year. The carrier's Ralph de la Vega says the delay is because he wants to make sure that actually using the tech is a good experience for customers and doesn't result in annoyances like, say, dropped calls when switching from WiFi to mobile data. T-Mobile believes it's sidestepping that by giving every customer a router that prioritizes voice calls -- something that AT&T apparently doesn't need to do because it doesn't share the magenta network's coverage issues. De la Vega says he sees the tech not as a replacement for voice over LTE and 3G, but a complement. Shots fired?
Innerexile's iPhone 6 case can heal from light scratches
We've seen LG flaunting the self-healing coating on its rather peculiar G Flex, but wouldn't it be nice to have this on other phones? Well, Innerexile's Hydra plastic case for the iPhone 6 offers a similar feature. We say "similar," because the hard yet resilient Hydra is apparently able to recover from a heavier bronze brush scratch test -- 1kg instead of the G Flex's 750g -- as well as strong bending in the lab. I received a couple of samples to play with and while I don't have the same testing equipment, I can still attest to the cases' impressive build quality, glossy finish and flexural strength -- as shown in my hands-on video after the break. But as with the G Flex, the Hydra's patented self-healing coating is meant for light scratches only.
iPhone 6 and 6 Plus preorders are live in the UK
Even if you have been living under a rock for the past few days, chances are that rock will've told you about the new iPhones in town. We imagine there are more than a fair few of you chomping at the bit for them, too, so it's our duty to remind you that preorder day has arrived. And, assuming the new handsets will be relatively popular, you'll want to consider your options if you're determined to get in on the first batch. Whether it's the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 or the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus you're after, basically every carrier and reseller under Sol is ready to supply you with one right now -- or give you an IOU for September 19th, at least. If you want to keep it simple and buy a phone outright, you might want to head straight to Apple's online store and stake your claim (you can also reserve one for in-store pick-up here). If you prefer your carrier alliances, however, then of course you've got your pick of the big four.
Verizon and AT&T want your old iPhones now that new ones are here
Sprint and T-Mobile have already promised to match and even top each others' (and other carriers') trade-in prices before the new iPhone debuted. But would you like to hear what Verizon and AT&T have to offer first before deciding which carrier to sell your soul to? Yes? Then let's start with Verizon, which will give you gift cards worth $300 for an iPhone 5S and worth $200 for an iPhone 5, 5c, 4 and 4s from any carrier if you get an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus with a two-year contract. AT&T, on the other hand, will up its minimum trade-in value for the iPhone 5S to $300, and for the iPhone 5, 5c, 4 and 4s to $200 starting this Friday. Also, you can get $100 off any iPhone if you're a new subscriber and $200 off any iPad when you sign up for an iPhone with a Next plan. You can see how much Apple's new devices will cost you under the carrier's Next pricing schemes after the break.
Samsung ads poke fun at everything from Apple's stream to its Watch
Now that Apple's new iPhone 6 Plus is ready to play in the Galaxy Note 4's size territory, Samsung is taking the competition on with a few new ads. It's revived the "It Doesn't Take A Genius" tagline, and first up is a segment making fun of Apple's glitchy live video stream during yesterday's presentation. The rest of the videos play up Samsung's features like multitasking windows, stylus and fast charging, or make fun of anyone using a watch that still requires a phone to get connected. Whether you're already lined up for a refreshed slate of iStuff or if you weren't too impressed, the latest round of Apple vs. Samsung -- on store shelves instead of in the court room -- is here (complete with bonus flame action).
With larger iPhones, Apple accepts that smartphones have evolved
So it finally happened -- after seemingly ages of rumors and speculation, Apple has unveiled larger iPhones (the 6 and 6 Plus) that are really, truly bigger than the 3.5-inch original. It's no doubt a welcome move if you're a fan who has been craving a big display, and it might even reel in people who have held off on an iPhone until now. However, this isn't just an instance of a company tweaking its product line to accommodate changing tastes. That happens all the time. For Apple, it's an acknowledgment that the very definition of a smartphone has changed over the years.
US carriers are bringing their tap-to-pay wallet to the iPhone 6
Don't worry that Apple Pay will be the only game in town for tap-to-pay shopping on your iPhone 6. The carriers behind Softcard (aka Isis) have revealed that they're working with Apple to bring their NFC-based payment system to newer iPhones sometime in 2015. While you'll need a Softcard-aware SIM card in your phone for this to work, you hopefully won't have to slap a bulky case on your device this time around. It's doubtful that this solution will work as elegantly as Apple Pay, which doesn't even require that you launch an app, but it should let you purchase with your iPhone in considerably more places.
Sprint's new $50 unlimited plan is only for iPhone 6 (and 6 Plus) owners
Not in a framily yet? If you're in the market for one of Apple's new iPhones, perhaps it's time to jump on the Sprint bandwagon. The carrier's rolling out a new individual rate plan: $50 gets you unlimited talk, text and data (and yes, that data is of the high-speed Spark LTE variety). Plus, Sprint will pay the ETF should you be breaking up with another carrier. Of course, that rate is exclusive to owners of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, so all you small-screened iPhone owners need not apply. And, should you struggle with up-front hardware costs, Sprint's new iPhone for life initiative lets you pay just $20 a month with no money down and you get a new Apple handset every two years.
Apple aesthetics: a look at the iPhone's design history
In order to properly appreciate the brand-spanking-new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, you first have to examine its lineage. 2007's OG iPhone introduced iOS to the masses, and 2013 saw the release of two separate models for the first time. Today, the long-rumored successors to those 5s and 5c handsets was unveiled, and with them comes new aesthetic tools that continue Apple's lineage of design prowess. Let's take a gander back at the full line, and examine the finer points that made each one unique.
The iPhone 6 Plus preview (hands-on)
An iPhone with a 5.5-inch display? A few years ago, it seemed as though Apple would never relent to doing such a thing -- after all, a 3.5-inch display was more than sufficient at the time. In 2014, however, it's a bit of a different story. There's a wide variety of phone sizes out there, and a lot of different markets that Apple could appeal to by offering a large device. With the iPhone 6 Plus, Apple is now able to address those who don't mind using a big phone for its extra screen real estate and larger battery. We had the opportunity to play with the Plus for a spell after Apple's keynote this morning, and it's got a bright future ahead. Check out our photos and video below as we continue to bring you our thoughts on the giant iPhone.
