5. A thing for fingers
Apple reintroduced the finger scanner and based on the company’s efforts, it’s not going anywhere. Apple’s finger scanner is ahead of rivals because it can be used at multiple angles accurately. In comparison, the finger scanner used on Samsung’s Galaxy S5 works best with vertical swipes alone.
Banks and merchants are now making use of finger scanners in smartphones as a way to verify payments. The Bank of Melbourne is leading the Apple charge by allowing iPhone 5S, 6 and 6 Plus users to access their accounts with a simple swipe of their finger.
4. Global LTE support
Packing to go overseas can be stressful. The new iPhone eases the process with its blanket support from most international networks.
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will be compatible with 20 different LTE bands globally, which is more than any smartphone to date. For instance, the same iPhone 6 will work on 4G networks in Japan, US, Europe, China, India, Brazil and some parts of Africa.
Read more: JB Hi-Fi banks on new iPhones and Microsoft Surface 3 to drive Christmas sales
3. Powerful imaging
The megapixel count on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus may have stagnated, but the quality of the cameras remain strong. The front and rear cameras are provided by Sony, tweaked by Apple and then coupled with software that makes powerful features easy to use.
The 8 megapixel rear camera benefits from a time lapse mode and improved slow-motion recording. Now slow-mo videos can be captured in high definition at 240 frames per second.
Apple’s ‘phablet’ 6 Plus goes one further with the inclusion of optical imaging stabilisation, which irons out the bumps in videos caused by shaking hands.
2. Premium build
The Apple iPhone sources its charm not necessarily from its design, but from the quality of its parts and the craftsmanship of its assembly. It’s the attention to detail that resonates, like when you enable the silence switch. The little toggle slides into place with a mechanical thud, as though gears are being knocked about behind the scenes to deliver a refined experience.
Solid build quality is part of the iPhone’s DNA. The iPhone 3G made use of metal and glass, which are two rich materials that have been used since.
1. Refined software
Strip down either the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus to sheer specs and the numbers won’t impress. The smartphone has a 1.3GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM and batteries less impressive than rivals. And it doesn’t matter.
Apple has found a fine balance between hardware and software. The company’s smartphones don’t have more powerful components because its iOS operating system is light enough to deem beefier parts overkill.
Then there’s the ecosystem, a thorough end-to-end solution that works flawlessly, covers all computing devices and delivers a refined content solution. Apple doesn’t design products independently, but rather in relation to its range of products. Each product fits together seamlessly, like well rounded pieces in an elaborate puzzle.
