iPhone 6 release date, news and rumours 2014: When will Apple's new iPhone 6 be launched?

iPhone 6 release dates and new features

Welcome to our New iPhone 6 release date, news and rumours article , here we plan to do everything that the title suggests. We are going to bring you everything we know about the new iPhone 6 release date so you can know exactly when the new iPhone 6 is coming out. Also we are going to bring you a few of the juiciest features rumours that are flying round the web too. Here's our iPhone 6 release date, and new features rumour round-up.

This is the place where we present to you some of the more plausible iPhone 6 release date and new feature rumours from around the web. Continue reading to find out more about the iPhone 6 release date and its new features. See also: iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5 comparison review in next article.

 

iPhone 6 release date: June or September 2014?

We've been covering iPhone launches and release dates for longer than we care to remember, it has stood us in good stead for what to expect from Apple with reagrds to its new smartphones. The most obvious thing that jumps out to us is that Apple hasn't launched a new iPhone outside of the five months between June and October - with a particular foundness for the months June and September.

 

Previous iPhone release dates:

iPhone 1st gen		June, 2007
iPhone 3G		July, 2008
iPhone 3GS		June, 2009
iPhone 4		June, 2010
iPhone 4s		October, 2011
iPhone 5		September, 2012
iPhone 5s/5c		September, 2013

While the history books suggest that there will be an new iPhone 6 release date around September/October 2014, we have a gut feeling that Apple might – just might – shake things up a little bit and launch an iPhone 6 earlier than expected, just like it did with the fourth-generation iPad, which was launched just eight months after the iPad 3 (previous iPads were release 11-12 months apart). For the record, though, the smart money goes on an iPhone 6 release date of September 2014.

Recent rumours are starting to gather pace that Apple is set to launch the next generation iPhone as early as June this year. This rumour is from Chinese analyst Sun Chyand Xu, and is reported on by respected tech site GSMArena. What adds weight to this rumour is the fact that Apple's WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) is taking place on from June 10-14, although traditionally this event focuses on software rather than big hardware launches.

But intriguingly the iPhone 6 may not be the next iPhone to hit the market. Currently, the iPhone is in the minority among high-end smartphones in that it can be operated with a single hand. There are reports that Apple may release an iPhone phablet - smartphone / tablet hybrid before the next normal-sized iPhone.

 

iPhone 6 rumours at a glance

·         iPhone 6 Release date: September 2014

·         iPhone 6 Screen sizes: 4.5- to 6-inches

·         iPhone 6 Price: Same as existing: 16GB £549, 32GB £629, 64GB £709

·         iPhone 6 possible new features:

·         Up to 128GB internal storage or expandable storage

·         Higher megapixel camera

·         New iOS 8 operating system

·         NFC chip

·         A8 processor

·         Wireless charging

iPhone 6 with a 4.8-inch screen

Timothy Acuri, the managing director of Cowen and Company – which "concentrates on the most dynamic industries and provide in-depth analysis of the sectors" – has produced a document for his investors stating that his supply chain sources have confirmed that the iPhone 6 will have a 4.8-inch screen and that this is "locked down". It is understood that the new 4.8-inch iPhone 6 would keep its current 1136 x 640 pixel resolution. Read more about this from the Anthony Wing Kosner's article on Forbes.

Don't panic though iPhone fans, there is very little chance Apple with ditch its hugely successful theory that its users want smartphones with screens compact enough for their thumbs to be able to reach everything. So what we'd suggest is that the 4.8-inch screen is part of a new sizing option for the new iPhone 6(s).

iPhone 6 to finally have NFC?

Until recently the idea of having an iPhone with NFC technology was desirable, but ultimately wishful thinking. Well, it looks as if the tide may have changed with sources now suggesting that the iPhone 6 could feature some sort of NFC chip.

Our friends over at Macworld UK, reported on Apple filing for a new patent covering NFC, that could be used for mobile payments and also for iPhones to talk to each other. 

iPhone 6 to have 128GB storage?

Until now Apple has set the top limit of its smartphone storage at 64GB, which is pretty good internal storage for a smartphone. However, if you are using your iPhone as your main camera and primary source for music consumption, then this will soon fill up – if Apple choses not to equip the iPhone with expandable storage then 128GB would be a welcomed addition to its lineup.

Sapphire screens that use light to charge the iPhone 6

This one gets 10 out of 10 for crazy… but at the same time there is evidence to back up its plausibility. Digitaltrends.com report on the possibility of using a sapphire screen that not only makes the iPhone "nearly indestructible". The website goes on to reveal that there are rumours of Apple and the sapphire screen company, GT Advanced having a $578m contract, with Apple looking to build its on facility in Arizona to make the screens.

Where this rumour goes back to 100 percent crazy is when the solar charging screen is mentioned again. 3M and SunPartner demonstrated screens at MWC that do exactly that, but it is understood that the technology won’t be ready to market until 2015, which according to our maths makes it a bit of a long shot for the iPhone 6.

According to the Forbes article mentioned earlier, Apple are also looking to expand Touch ID further by using it to replace the Home button in the iPhone 6. Apple removing the Home button has been a rumour that has been circulating for a while, however with the introduction of Touch ID in the iPhone 5S it could now become a reality.

iPhone 6: Expandable storage

This is a contentious issue, because Apple have both a very successful pricing structure based on storage options and also an ever developing iCloud. But expandable storage is still the most popular way and unrestricting way that the majority of people would chose to expand the storage capabilities of their smartphones. An iSD card and slot would be a great way for Apple to tackle this current flaw of the iPhone. It almost definitely won't happen though.

iPhone 6: Wireless Charging

This is almost too Apple, it's almost shocking it hasn't been included yet. Apple's big rival, Samsung, already has the feature and other smartphones are sure to catch up soon also.

iPhone 6: Flexible screen

A flexible screen, that's crazy talk! Apparently not. Those chaps over at Samsung are already making noises suggesting that there will be a smartphone with a flexible smartphone coming out in 2014. If it's a hit, then it won't be long till Apple joins the party. God knows enough people have smashed their existing iPhone screens.