APPLE UNVEILED the long-awaited iPhone 6 at a Cupertino event on 9 September, alongside the iPhone 6 Plus.
Here, we round up everything we know about the anticipated iPhone 6 handset so far. Keep this page bookmarked, as we'll update it with every new detail, feature and rumour about the iPhone 6.
iPhone 6 release dateJust as rumours had suggested before the handset's unveiling, the iPhone 6 will go on sale in the UK on 19 September, with pre-orders set to begin on 12 September.
The firm has also ditched the 32GB model, making room for a spacious 128GB iPhone 6, which will be sold alongside the 16GB and 64GB variants. The 64GB iPhone 6 will cost £619 (compared to the 32GB iPhone 5S' £629 launch price), and the 128GB model £699.
In terms of availability, the iPhone 6 16GB model is currently shipping within 7-10 days at the Apple website, while all 64GB and 128GB models have slipped to 3 to 4 weeks.
EE has started offering the iPhone 6. The 16GB model can be picked up for £99 on a £40.99 contract, while the 64GB model is priced at £149 on a £45.99 tariff. EE doesn't appear to be offering the 128GB model, nor is its online shop yet taking orders.
Three has started taking pre-orders for the iPhone 6, with prices starting at £99 on a £41 tariff with unlimited minutes and texts for 1GB data. For £41 and £45 respectively, this can be bumped to 2GB or unlimited data. Those after the 64GB and 128GB models will see contract prices rise to £43, £46 and £50, and £48, £51 and £55, respectively.
Vodafone has started offering the iPhone 6. Seemingly not plagued by website issues, the operator is offering the 16GB iPhone 6 for free on a £48.50 per month contract, complete with unlimited minutes and texts, and 4GB data. Prices for the 64GB model start at £52.50 per month with a £29 upfront cost, a price which increases to £109 for the 128GB model.
Virgin Media has announced that it will sell the iPhone 6 from 19 September, suggesting that it will not be taking pre-orders.
iPhone 6 specsWhile it didn't arrive boasting a sapphire crystal screen,
unlike the Apple Watch, the iPhone 6 specifications are almost identical to those that leaked ahead of the handset's launch.
The key talking point is the smartphones' screen. The iPhone 6 model touts a 4.7in 1344x750 Retina HD screen with 326ppi, with Apple promising 38 percent more pixels than on the iPhone 5S.
While the iPhone 6 is larger, it's the skinniest Apple iPhone yet, with handset measuring in at 6.9mm thick. In comparison, the iPhone 5S measured in at 7.6mm. It is slightly heavier than last years model, at 129g.
Under the hood, the iPhone 6 features Apple's new A8 chip. While specifics are yet to be confirmed, Apple is promising 25 percent faster processing power, and 25 percent quicker graphics. It is also set to offer up an improvement in the battery life department, with the iPhone 6 promising 14 hours of talktime, and the iPhone 6 Plus a full 24 hours.
The iPhone 6's 4G capabilities have seen a boost too, with the handset supporting speeds of up to 150Mbps, and 20 different LTE bands worlwide.
An upgraded camera is also included, and while the sensor still weighs in at 8MP, Apple claims it is much better than that found on the iPhone 5S. There's a true-tone flash, 1.5 micron pixel size, f/2.2 aperture and an optical image stablisation, alongside a new time lapse mode the ability to record slow-mo video at 240fps.
Apple's new contactless payments service, Apple Pay, also debuts on the iPhone 6 handset. This uses the iPhone's TouchID sensor to authenticate payments, and will be supported at 200,000 US retail outlets at launch.
While it doesn't offer up a major redesign like iOS 7, the updated software does introduce a bunch of new features, with Healthkit and Homekit being chief among these. Homekit, as its name suggests, will allow users to connect the iPhone 6 to supported devices, such as connected light bulbs and security kit, and to manage more than one at once.
OS X Continuity is also included in iOS 8, which sees Apple further merging its mobile software with Mac OS X. With Continuity, users will be able to Airdrop files between their iPhone, iPad and Mac, while the feature will also allow for picking up phonecalls on a Macbook or iMac. An additional feature called Handoff will enable users to "hand off" tasks between devices - for example, if start writing an email on your iPhone, you can then pick it up on your Macbook device.
Android-style widgets will also debut in iOS 8. While they won't appear on the homescreen, iOS 8 includes the ability for users to bake widgets from the likes of eBay and Pinterest into Notification Center.
iPhone and iPad users will be able to reply to messages straight from the Notifications bar too with iOS 8 installed, and can easily embed voice memos and videos which will "self destruct" unless specified otherwise, which sees Apple looking to challenge the likes of Snapchat.
iOS 8's Quicktype feature sees Apple finally improving autocorrect, while it has also added support for third-party keyboards, including the likes of Swype.
Other new features included in iOS 8 include family sharing and a number of new enterprise tools, such as improved data protection, Calendar notifications, Exchange out of office support and new productivity tools.
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