Apple finally gave the iPhone a much-needed rethink, and the result is a product that is more like its competition than ever before, but also stands out just as well, if not better, in a seriously overcrowded market. The big talking point is its screen size - months of leaks told us nearly everything we needed to know long before the actual launch happened - but there's also plenty more to explore. As always, Apple has managed to deliver more power, better aesthetics, improved cameras, and all-new software.
The iPhone 6 shares a lot with its larger sibling, the iPhone 6 Plus (Review | Photos), which we reviewed a little while ago. They're obviously designed to look similar, but Apple has also made sure they're very similar to use. The iPhone 6 is still just as much of a premium device as ever; not a lower-end version of a new flagship. A lot of what we've said in that exhaustive review of the 6 Plus will apply to the iPhone 6 as well.
Apple's unique position lets it control and tightly integrate the hardware and software experiences of its products. We see all of this and more in this year's new iPhones.
Look and feel
Gone are the flat edges and sharp angles of the iPhone 5s. The iPhone 6 feels smooth and slick, with a lovely dark glass front that looks like a pool of ink. The glass is raised above its rim and is curved at the edges so that it meets the metal in a smooth curve. It seems as though the glass could shatter very easily if this phone is dropped and lands on a corner, which is just one of many reasons to invest in a case of some sort.
Another good reason is that the rear of the iPhone 6 is one of the least attractive designs we've ever seen coming out of Apple. The plastic antenna lines intersecting the metal body are just too prominent. There's a bunch of regulatory text and logos which we wish could have been less prominent, and then of course there's the infamous camera bulge. The little nubbin really does stick out prominently, and we couldn't help fidgeting with it when holding the iPhone 6 in our hands.
Camera
The rear camera is still 8 megapixels, but the lens and sensor have been improved to allow for better low-light shots and colour accuracy. Videos can now be taken with continuous autofocus and improved stabilisation. 120fps slow-motion, which was introduced with the iPhone 5s now coexists with 240fps slow-motion, and there's a new time-lapse mode in iOS 8 that older phones can also use.
Apple's camera app is mostly barebones - there are no fancy special effects or multi-page menus of options. The new capabilities of the iPhone 6 and iOS 8 are thus easy to discover, but it's beginning to feel as though Apple can't decide whether to offer more options or keep its interface minimalist.
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