Apple's new phone is out. What do you think?
Doesn't seem to be a big upgrade from iPhone 6/6 Plus. Pricing here. Pretty expensive possibly due to (1) it's an Apple (2) crap AUD.
| Storage | iPhone 6S | iPhone 6S Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 16GB | $1,079 | $1,229 |
| 64GB | $1,229 | $1,379 |
| 128GB | $1,379 | $1,529 |
I doubt there will be or the price drop will be tiny, seeing 6S started more expensive than the current iPhone 6 price.
Yes, price drops for models these replace was announced.
Last time they announced a new line of macbooks, they actually RAISED the price of older models by several hundred dollars.
My mate was waiting for the price drop and he got caught out by that.
$1200 for base version…. Unaffordable…
blame the currency exchange….. aud-usd $0.69…
These prices are assuming it is $1.65USD/AUD when really it's closer to $1.45USD/AUD.
I don't know why they continue to sell the 16gb option especially with 4k video.
Because having 32GB option would cannibalise sales on 64GB model?
You forgot the GST.
did u add 10% GST???
@Zfan111222: Close to $1.5USD/AUD in that case. Seems more logical. Still passing the full exchange rate change onto consumers is a bit tough, surely they would have hedged it on the futures market.
Exactly, 32GB seems to be the sweet spot for a decent amount of apps/music/videos. Having a 32GB would drive up the cost of the base model, while reducing sales of the 64GB model.
I doubt it's about the cost price of materials. I reckon it's about the loss of profit by people not buying the 64GB model if a 32GB model is available.
@ozhunter: If they included a 32GB model, it would be priced at the 64GB model, and the 64GB will be priced at the 128GB model, and the 128GB would cost even more. Apple won't lose, the only one who will is you.
That doesn't help, but I also think Apple had something to do with it.
Yes the Aus dollar being shitty has something to do with it, but Apple have thrown their taxes all over it too.
These phones are made at the Chinese Foxconn factory by extremely underpaid staff. The components in this are cheaper than high end Android phones that are much cheaper.
The components in this are cheaper than high end Android phones that are much cheaper.
What, I thought they all had the same components /s
Just bought cheaper, in greater number.
@gokhanh:
How can they have the same components? Different brands choose different brands of components, eg. Qualcomm vs MTK vs Samsung CPUs.
@clse945111: I know, hence the /s; having said that, seeing as iPhones use Samsung components, wouldn't the other phones be using "cheaper" components? :)
@gokhanh:
Right, didn't notice the /s…
Well it depends, from what I can see Apple actually use cheaper components when it comes to screen (lower res), battery (low capacity), and assembly (in China, by foxconn. Some Samsungs and LGs are made in Korea and HTCs are made in Taiwan). Of course, there are components that may cost more such as sapphire glass lens and touchID.
Overall I think the cost of the device itself is around the same as high end androids, but they get to price the phone higher because of their exclusive software/OS/ecosystem. I'm sure marketing and r&d cost a lot as well.
No blame apple.
$1,200 for a base model phone, ridiculous. For a phone often used by schoolchildren, absurd.
I blame Labor ha ha
It's like 1995 all over again!
I actually watched the Keynote (yay for Edge Browser). The price probably is from AUD tanking, since at least on Keynote, it was mentioned that the initial price haven't changed in USD.
I probably would have slightly different opinion from other people. I look at these things from spec and whether the tech used is interesting to me or not. I frankly found 6S and 6S+ to be more attractive than 6 and 6+ for me, if I were to compare the two and the first impression I had from these two.
Apple rarely change the RAM around and it's rumoured that they've increased RAM (by many different sources, though, until ifixit or others show breakdown of the components, we can't be sure). Though, as I want to emphahsise, this has not been confirmed.
3D Touch frankly seems something different. I personally think Apple could've done the demonstration differently though, since the way they've demonstrated it didn't really bring out what's so different about 3D Touch; many of the functions they've shown could've been easily replicated with long press function. That said, I think it has potentials. Though I am curious to whether this will become a large part of iOS UI, since I don't think iPads will have this function (at least, they didn't talk about it during Keynote, from what I remember).
Touch ID apparently is now twice as fast as before as well apparently (I used Touch ID once with my mother's phone, so I have no opinions on that whatsoever, but it was mentioned on the Keynote).
My mother owns a iPhone 6, I don't think it'd be necessary for her to move. That said, this is selling itself more to me than 6 did when it came out. Though my response to 6 was fairly negative one to begin with.
Would I grab iPhone 6s when it comes out? That's a slightly different question.
They already ruin the Music app with the 3D Touch.
I don't know whether it would be good, I haven't seen it at work with my own eyes and my own fingers yet.
As I've mentioned, I personally think 3D Touch is something different, a new UI element, that has potentials.
Though the way Apple showed it made me go, around 80% of what they are saying can be achieved with long press as I've said.
Probably going to check it out at one point when the hype dies down and I don't have to fight people to play with 6s series.
IMO long press is the workaround that was used because the tap/haptic engines weren't available previously. (3D touch or otherwise) The reason I say that is because long press slows you down compared to tapping around the screen, whereas 3D touch works just as fast as a regular tap. If you're tapping around the screen and you suddenly have to tap and hold, that does kill the momentum a bit. Personally I think that when tap/haptic engines trickle down to every smartphone, it'll replace long press as a gesture for the most part.
Also the uses for accessible apps is huge. Blind people will be able to take advantage of phones in more ways than just speech.
@cheng2008:
From the demo it looks like 3D touch isn't instant anyway, it looks more like you need to press it with force and wait for half a sec. (Maybe to prevent inaccuracies)
@clse945111: Someone said that it was slow only for demo purposes and won't be in the phones you buy. I guess we'll see in a few weeks.
3D Touch frankly seems something different.
It could be useful, but can also be annoying.
Hopefully it's not so sensitive that you have to think about not pressing so hard. Nothing really different than long pressing.
I actually watched the Keynote (yay for Edge Browser)
Same, it was funny when the audience thought that the guy was joking when he asked a Microsoft representative to go up on stage.
:P I think there was some confusion in the audience, it was like "Should we cheer for those guys as well?"
From what I could figure, 3D touch does what long press does. Don't really see what's the hype about that!
:P It's the potential though. I could see what they could do differently, albeit the demonstration showed not much.
I think the game that they were showing on keynote showed some of its potential (press harder to shoot or something like that).
Though, I do admit that it's more of me gawking at new tech (honestly nothing else on the keynote was "new")
hehe that much is true, I was interested at first but later figured out it provides more or less the same functionality as long press. But I do agree it might have some potential. At first, I thought it would be a way to provide customized tactile feedback through the screen since it said 3D touch, how wrong was I ;)
@enzioFirenze: I think it is possible, but they probably haven't worked the software out on version 1.
Don't forget to spend $99 on an apple pencil… lol
I still am not sure whether that thing supports palm rejection or not.
one of the photos (on the apple website) shows his palm on the screen while drawing with the pen, so i think so?
In keynote, Apple had videos that advertised the pen. The people on the ad had their hand above the screen like how you'd use a brush, so it gets me thinking whether the pen has no palm rejection function.
I don't know, Apple haven't mentioned what kind of tech they've used nor any specs on the pen other than it supports tilt and pressure sensitivity. From how they described usage with the pen, I think it has palm rejection function. At least, if the pen want function like a pen, it needs palm rejection.
@BartholemewH: :P My bad, that device left such an awful impression on me that I keep forgetting what it should be called.
I am going to check it out from an Apple store or somewhere when it comes out, but from what I've seen, I don't think my opinion will change.
Ignoring the ridiculous pricing, it still offers less than similar products out there as far as I see.
@cheng2008: Can it be other than software based? Anyways, some people are speculating that it might be using n-trig technology (which, I wouldn't think it is true, but wouldn't say it's impossible), that said, I think everything on the pen is speculation (other than what Apple have mentioned + what the reviewers have said about it).
I am going to check it out when it comes out, even though I seriously doubt that it's going to make me want it. I could easily go for a Surface Pro with that kind of cash. Surface Pro 3 is like a year old product and I personally find it more attractive than iPad Pro (Stylus wasn't good enough for me to make the move though). Surface Pro 4 is likely going to be better than Surface Pro 3, better CPU and improvements on n-trig technology. You pay slightly more, but it can act as a laptop (a proper one).
Not to mention other vendors as well who usually offers better value (MS pricing is steep), Lenovo Miix 700 looked decent (it used Core M processor, around the same weight as iPad Pro and had a stylus support (I hope it is Wacom Feel IT tech) at similar price), Toshiba had a prototype with similar feels out in IFA (it was a working model but no one was allowed to touch it nor anything has been revealed).
According to the hands on by Gizmodo, it has palm rejection.
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/09/apple-ipad-pro-apple-penci…
That's also US pricing.
Jobs be turning in his grave right now:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/08/jobs-if-you-see-a-stylus-…
https://youtu.be/HALtebWHpNA?t=2m27s
Also have to charge the Apple pencil as it has a built in battery. Recommend charging by plugging it into the ipad pro lightning port.
It'd look like a giant… lollipop.
A drop while it's charging probably would destroy the pen and the lightning port.
@Oversimplified: 15 seconds of charging = 30 minutes of use. So you could plug it in, go to the toilet and use it for the rest of the day.
@Davo1111: Wacom pen doesn't require charging. N-trig pen, I remember hearing that the battery lasts for several months. Ignoring how stupid it looks while charging and how fragile it looks, I don't see why the battery life has to be so awful, given the size of the pen.
Though seriously, it looks so easy to damage the connector or the port. You could drop it while charging, accidently put pressure on the pen, those wouldn't do the connector nor the port any good.
I frankly think this will be yet another prime example of why you shouldn't get a first gen electronics.
@Oversimplified: > Though seriously, it looks so easy to damage the connector or the port. You could drop it while charging, accidently put pressure on the pen, those wouldn't do the connector nor the port any good.
I frankly think this will be yet another prime example of why you shouldn't get a first gen electronics.
If you're this clumsy you'd be better off not getting any electronics altogether ;)
@gokhanh: :P Maybe, but then again, that still doesn't make Apple Pencil more sturdy nor gives it an excuse for having a horrible design. A design should be pretty, but at the same time be practical as well.
A stylus is something that I use every day. I carry a stylus around in a pencil case along with my surface pro for note taking. I go around everywhere with it. If it requires charging frequently, I wouldn't want the stylus to be easily breakable while charging. Especially when it's not impossible to drop the tablet or not impossible to put enough pressure on the connector with that kind of size when you are charging (12.9 inch tablet + length of the pen).
The problem I've mentioned could get rectified easily by having the connector to swivel 90 degrees, so that the pen body sticks to the side of the iPad Pro when you are charging it. Or, make it use a replacable battery. Or use smart connector they've released. It's fairly easy to rectify the problem. I don't think I am asking too much for a $100 USD accessory.
@Oversimplified: > I don't think I am asking too much for a $100 USD accessory.
No, I don't think you are either :)
We are going to use the pointing device that we're born with - born with 11 10 of them.
Reminds me of Naruto and Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation, Steve Jobs constantly pops up with new Apple products release.
In the great Brian Tong's words, it's a pencil not a stylus.
Jobs meant that in the context of devices that use a stylus for full control; people really have to stop misunderstanding what he actually meant.
…and still they'll flock to buy one.
and camp on the street for 2 nights!
Just another reason why people buy mobile phones on plan. Over $1500 for a phone is ludicrous outright. Even though I don't think people who have the 6 will be like, "Need to buy the 6s now."
not really. with plan you'll pay more…. its all logic.. you pay less each month at the end you will pay more compare with someone who pay upfront… plus you tied with the contract for 2 years.. thats along time!
Thats not actually always true… I've done the math a few times now.
I bought the 6 outright, pay about $50 a month for unlimited calls, 5gb data with virgin.
Had my phone stolen in Brazil earlier this year, looking to buy a new one vs going on a plan.
Plan = $87/m (same calls, extra gb data) = $2088 over 2 years
Outright = $50/m + 1140 for the phone = $2340 over 2 years.
Generally you can buy out the plan, i did it for years, upgrading to the new phone each year by selling my old phone, and paying maybe an extra $100 or so for the buyout cost. Plus you dont need to shell out $1100 upfront, heck you could invest that at 5% per annum and claw back $50 per year (yes, i haven't considered the draw downs to pay the bills…), or even worse cop the interest on your CC if you purchase that way!
I'll be going back to plan this time around, if the costs weigh up!
Can you actually change from one plan to another? While I don't disagree with your maths, I think the ability to move between plans is a plus.
I was on $30 post paid SIM only plan and I've moved to $30 Prepaid plan because Optus started to offer data roll over.
It has been one of my reasons why I never bought a phone using plan, I might move to a plan if the price is right.
It works out it you use a $50mth plan. If you use $20 on Telechoice or similar it doesn't.
@mskeggs: agree. if you are heavy user or telstra fanboi (because their plan are expensive)_then the calculation will be different.
Many people don't cancel the contract or swap on month 24 and continue to pay $87 each month for a few months…
That is where they make the real profit.
people need to do smarter, ie rolling over BEFORE the contract expiry, and get new model phone (usually possible around 1-2 months before). and sell the old phone quickly.
To do that you will have to go with the same provider and whatever deals they have at the time.
Like you said, much better to not be tied in.
Mobile rates will drop over the next 24 months and data allowances will go up. Why would you commit to a plan for 2 years?
@smashed: agree, but some people just too stubborn.. or they simply dont have $300-500-800 upfront. some people…
Easier to pay a little amount over a long time period than a small amount over a short time period, especially if you don't have much money saved.
Precisely.. "Easier" which usually means more $$$'s.
Nothing wrong with that though if you don't mind being tied in.
Not always. I got my iPhone 6 for $55/month with virgin. That's $1320 over 24 months.
Back then an iPhone 6 16 GB cost $870 outright if I remember correctly. $1320-$870=$450.
So that equals $18.75/month on calls and data over 24 months. When I signed up they had a 2.3 GB data deal plus $300 worth of funny money calls/text. Even today it's hard to find a prepaid/monthly plan that comes with 2+ GB data per month for less than $20.
But now the Aussie dollar has tanked, these deals seem to be long gone and it's probably cheaper to buy outright and claim GST if you're heading overseas at the right time.
I buy all my phones outright. I just don't buy iPhones.
The only one I find interesting is the Apple TV. It uses iPhone 6's A8, should be powerful enough to run games and emulator if it jailbroken. Though they didn't say it support 4k. Though this video iPhone 6 can playback 4k video without any problem
The iPod Pro is meh, just a blown up version of iPod Air with PenPencil. Surface Pro 3 is still better.
The iPhone 6 cannot play 4K video @ 4K since its screen is only 750x1334, and 6 plus is only 1920x1080… It is downscaled to the screen's native resolution so it is not truly playing a 4k video. Note the dislikes on that video and amount of people saying the same thing, it's a stupid example.
Not doubting the processor has plenty of power or if it's capable or not of playing 4k, but in that particular video, it is not actually..
i hope we can select the resolution. even recording at 1080p was a waste of space.
It still renders the video at 4K but downscaled to iPhone resolution. If you tried to play 4k video with iPhone 5 it wouldn't work.
No need to jailbreak. tVOS will have its own app store with games. The remote for apple tv has all the sensors found in iPhone so can be used as a controller. Also other iPhones may be used as extra controllers.
There are apps not present on the App Store, that's why some people jail break their iPhones. (iPhone has an app store)
Pretty expensive given I'm earning AUD from work!!!
Would I buy outright? - Yes, but only if:
- Amex CC gives cash back promo like last year
- I can claim TRS
what kind of cc cashback promo last year?
$50 cashback over $500 spend
i.e roughly 10% off if you pay with multiple cards (or buy apple gift cards)
cool!
I really liked this device, but my jaw almost dropped when I saw the price had been raised again thanks to our dollar. I was looking at getting a iPhone 6S Plus 64gb with the $75 leather case. I don't think I can settle for a 16gb, especially with it packing new 4K capabilities it's likely that 16gb will not last long. I'm going to take a miss on the leather case, although stunning it is a bit expensive and just bumps the whole package out of my price range. I did consider importing the device from the US as the same device costs about $849, but I soon discovered that equals about $1250 AUD, so not really worth it. It would probably end up costing more by the time I arrange for it to be shipped here too.
OK…
Don't forgot us sales tax. Best bet would be buy in Australia when on sale or using gift cards and then claiming trs.
only thing that caught my interest was the apple tv….
The hardware of the Apple TV is finally going to be decent, but, it's not backed by anything. If they had a few contracts stitched up (ala Netflix), that would make a big difference. To buy an Apple TV at around $400 is a big gamble if it doesn't have much content. It could easily be an expensive Roku plus Siri.
Netflix and Stan already have apps for the AppleTV so I'm sure they will have versions made for TVOS. I am sure we will see apps from channel 7,9,10 too which would be great
Not an iPhone user but rose gold. <3
just waay to expensive, but when you have a middle class person wanting to stand out there'll always be sales.
I own an iPhone 6
I'm braced to be modded down ;)
Two years ago, nothing came close to an iPhone for quality (we're talking hardware, not walled gardens). So, now that Samsung is actually producing a handset that's about on par (the Galaxy 6S), things have certainly changed somewhat. However, anyone that's used Apple for a few years will almost certainly be locked in to application/song/book purchases.
I still like Apple hardware. Read a solid review of the new Samsung Galaxy S6 that talks about colour reproduction of the screen and looks at detailed measures of the camera beyond megapixels. The theme is that Samsung are finally producing a phone that's about as good as an iPhone… So, the differentiators are the Operating System and investment in books, songs, movies and applications.
Now, I could re-purchase the "available" apps on Android, or buy another iPhone. I could also keep my current iPhone and experience software rot as new applications no longer work on my older device.
Your analysis of a middle-class person trying to stand out is simplistic and naive. If it was meant to be funny, it wasn't.
Agree that the main differentiator is the OS, and no doubt the hardware on the iphones is good, but I'd say hardware on teh S6 is better overall.
S6 is thinner, lighter(while have larger display), smaller bezels, much higher ppi, infrared port, larger battery, and wireless charging.
That's very subjective, I'm assuming you are referring to build quality when you say hardware given that many of the iPhones components are third party? 2 years ago I had the Galaxy S4 active which happened to fall out of my bag whilst I was on my motorcycle at 70km/h, going back to pick it up I was sure that it would be fubar'd but somehow apart from a few scratches along the edge of the device it was unscathed no damage to the screen or anywhere else and it was still waterproof.
So you may be correct that 2 years ago nothing had the premium feel of the iPhones but there are plenty of phones out there who were as good if not better engineered/manufactured, there would be no chance that an iPhone would have survived the same impact without much more damage.
Any news on price drops for the older models?