Apple is facing more class-action lawsuits in Europe over its practice of slowing down older iPhones.

Consumer watchdog Euroconsumers said in a statement that it has filed class-action lawsuits against Apple in Belgium and Spain over an iOS update that throttled iPhone performance, with two more suits planned for Italy and Portugal.

The legal action is similar to cases in the US and claims the company misled users about iPhone battery power and software updates that throttled device performance. Last month, Apple agreed to pay out $113 million to settle a case with multiple regulators in 34 states, including California and Arizona.

Euroconsumer's lawsuit covers around three million iPhone 6, iPhone 7 and iPhone SE models sold in Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Spain between 2014 and 2020.

“Consumers are increasingly upset by products wearing out too quickly, the iPhone 6 models being a very concrete example of that,” Els Bruggeman, head of policy and enforcement at Euroconsumers said in a statement to Bloomberg. “Not only does it cause frustration and financial harm, from an environmental point of view it is also utterly irresponsible.”

She added that “Apple pushed updates to mask problems with the battery, knowing it would slow down phones”, and that European consumers "just want to be treated with the same respect that was given to consumers in the United States."

The organisation said that moves to resolve to issue with Apple out of court were unsuccessful and would now be seeking compensation of €60 on average for each consumer affected by the issue.

In a statement, Apple said that it would never “do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades.”

"Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that," a spokesperson added.

Apple belatedly entered the phablet' market with a mammoth 5.5in device in 2014. While the iPhone 6 Plus has superior specifications to the smaller iPhone 6 - does it translate to a better user experience? We take a look at the good and the bad

Best features

Display

There are no questions as to why DisplayMate labelled this iPhone as the best LCD panel on the market when it was released. This is because it was the first iPhone with a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution (401ppi). Text and images appear pin sharp on this display with natural colour replication and abaolutely superb viewing angles. The 6 Plus also impressed us when we were watching videos from the iTunes store as the 16:9 aspect ratio makes black bars obsolete.

The extra screen space is taken advantage of through the new beefed up landscape mode. Some apps provide two-pane views, sich as Mail and Notes, and you can even use undo, copy and paste which pop up on the default keyboard in this view.

The home screen can even use landscape view which means you can use the device exclusively in this mode just like a tablet. (Note: You won't be able to use the home screen in landscape mode if you switch to Zoomed Mode to make the icons larger)

We managed to measure a maximum brightness of 500 cd/m2 on the iPhone 6 plus. We were also able to reduce the brightness between 25% to 50% and still see everything on the screen comfortably. The only time when you will have to raise the brightness levels is when watching video or if you have to combat sunlight.

Best battery life of any iPhone

The iPhone 6 Plus ended the problem that iPhone 5/5s users had where they needed to charge their device in the middle of the day. Its big chassis is home to a 2915mAh battery pack which is almost twice the size of the 5s's.

Remarkably, this is the first iPhone we've been able to use without having to worry too much about the battery life. After a huge 23 hours from the mains we still had 16 per cent battery left.

Battery life will depend on how much you use the device - so if you load up lots of data hungry apps don't be surprised to see it drain quickly. However, another positive is the ability to charge the 6 Plus faster than previous models using the iPad adaptor. This should get to 90 per cent after two hours. Even charging the device from USB port on a MacBook Pro was swift. We managed to get to 47 per cent in 60 minutes.

Touch ID

This retains its position as the best fingerprint scanner we've tested on any device thanks to its simplicity and convenience.

Competitor handsets like the Galaxy S5 require you to swipe to activate the fingerprint scanner - but with Touch ID all you have to do is touch the home button. And because this is a natural way to wake iPhones, you can unlock devices with one action.

With Apple opening up the APIs to third-parties, Touch ID has become ever more useful as you can log into things like your Amazon account.

Excellent camera

The 8-megapixel camera uses the same sensor as the iPhone 6 but Apple has also included Optical Image Stabilisation. It's the inclusion of the Focus Pixels technology and the low-light performance, which helps this to stand out from other devices.

The 6 Plus focuses so quickly that you can snap away multiple pictures without worrying about focusing. During an event at the Electric Ballroom, we took some quick fire shots without tapping the screen to focus and they turned out perfectly.

What the deal with Bendgate?

Despite Bendgate trending on social media after pictures of misshapen iPhones appeared, the issue seems to have been exaggerated.Apple says only 9 customers have officially complained regarding bending of the iPhone 6 Plus - and out of the millions of shipped devices, this is insignificant.

According to Consumer Reports, the iPhone 6 Plus is structurally sound. Tests show it is capable of withstanding more pressure than the iPhone 6. Under normal usage, there should be no problems.

iOS 8

iOS 8.0.2 has been rushed out and we haven't experienced any major bugs so far. Apple has also fixed the bug with HealthKit - so health monitoring apps should be flooding the App Store soon.

The latest update brings a wealth of options including the ability to customise the keyboard, have more control over privacy, better web browsing and MDM controls for businesses.

Areas for improvement

Just too big

It would have been interesting to see if the 6 Plus would have made it to market if Steve Jobs was still in charge at Apple as he loathed big screen handsets.

Although we loved the big screen for web browsing and watching videos, the dimensions of the device made it unwieldy. Interestingly, the 6 Plus is longer than the Galaxy Note 4, despite the latter having a bigger 5.7in display.

The device slips snuggly into most trousers without any problem but it will protrude from cardigans and the pockets of smaller jackets.

Like most phablets, the 6 Plus will also make you feel self-conscious when holding it to your ear in public. This can be avoided by using the headphones to make calls. You will get used to the size with usage, but if your hands are small this could cause discomfort.

No Stylus

It's a shame Apple doesn't offer a stylus as this can increase the usefulness of the device for graphical work and make it easier to use with one hand.

Fear of the drop

While the iPhone 6 is highly unlikely to bend in your pocket, questions remain about how fragile the device is. Even with a cover, the results of a drop test are unlikely to be positive.

1GB RAM

The 6 Plus is loaded up with a snappy A8 processor, but Apple continues to use just 1GB of RAM. That's three times less than devices like Galaxy Note 4 and Xperia Z3.

It poses questions about how the iPhone 6 Plus will be able to handle upgrades. We've already seen the 4s struggle to run the iOS 8 and with apps demanding ever more resources, the shelf life of the 6 Plus is questionable beyond 12 months.

Value for money?

It's not cheap. The 6 Plus starts at 619 SIM-free (16GB). This rises to 699 for the 64GB model and 789 for 128GB of internal storage.

Contracts pricing is also at the high-end. The 16GB model costs 230 upfront with a monthly charge of 33 (24 months). This comes with 1GB of data, unlimited minutes and texts.

Overall - Is it better than the iPhone 6?

This is Apple's first-generation phablet so there's room for improvement. Although the 6 Plus has a superb display and great battery life, we found it too cumbersome for everyday usage.

At 4.7ins the iPhone 6 has a manageable size, the same processor/1GB RAM and almost identical camera. But with better battery life and screen, we'd opt for the 6 Plus if you don't mind the bulk.

Previous News

27/03/2017: Apple has won its battle to overturn a ruling on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus that would have seen them banned from China.

The tech giant yesterday convinced a Beijing court to overturn the Beijing Intellectual Property Office's injunction on the iPhone after Chinese firm Baili accused Apple of infringing its patent on the design of the phone last year.

However, the intellectual property court found that there was insufficient evidence for granting the injunction, adding that the phones' designs (Baili's was its 100C device) were distinct enough to easily tell which was which, according to BBC News.

Apple also urged the court to strip Baili of the patent, but the court declined. Baili is planning to appeal, TechCrunch reports.

While Apple's instant appeal against the initial injunction meant the iPhone 6 wasn't ever taken off the market, the tech giant can now continue selling it without fear. The company's sales in Greater China fell 11.6% year-on-year, according to its latest financial results, released at the end of 2016.

18/11/2016: After some users reported touchscreen issues with their iPhone 6 Plus, Apple has launched a repair programme aimed at resolving them.

The fix is called "iPhone 6 Plus Multi-Touch Repair Program", and is said to be aimed at phones that do not register touchscreen signals or have flickering displays, after "being dropped multiple times on a hard surface and then incurring further stress on the device."

This issue affecting the iPhone 6 Plus, launched in September two years ago, has been termed 'touch disease', as it involves the smart phone's touchscreen becoming unresponsive or a flickering line appearing on top of the phone's display.

If a user's iPhone 6 Plus is experiencing this 'touch disease' and the screen is not cracked nor broken, repairing it will cost $149.

Apple said customers who have already paid for a service repair before this fix was introduced can contact Apple to receive a refund of the repair cost.

The exact number of customers affected by this problem is still unclear.

Verdict

The iPhablet has a superb set of specifications with the display and battery life being the stand out features.

OS: iOS 8 (preloaded) Display: 5.5in, 1,080 x 1,920 (401ppi) Processor: Apple A8 64-bit + M8 co-processor RAM: 1GB Biometrics: Touch ID fingerprint sensor Storage: 16/64/128GB Camera: 8-megapixel with autofocus, flash, 1.2-megapixel front-facing Connectivity: Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4, NFC, 4G, GPS/GLONASS Ports: Lightning connector Dimensions: 158 x 78 x 7.1 mm (WDH) Battery: 2915mAh Weight: 172g

The majority of iPhone 6 users haven't bothered to even try out Apple Pay, the tech giant's digital wallet, according to a survey.

The report from anti-fraud startup Trustev found that 79 per cent of Apple customers with the latest iPhone models haven't made use of Apple Pay, with many of the remaining 21 per cent of the 1,000 US respondents still using cards or cash as their main payment method.

Of that 21 per cent who have used Apple Pay to purchase goods, 30 percent have stopped using the service completely, with only 2.1 per cent describing themselves as "super-users," with 10 or more purchases a week made using the payments system.

Pat Phelan, CEO of Trustev, said: "Apple Pay is a great system: secure, elegant and convenient. But the slow adoption shows how difficult it is to get consumers to change well-entrenched habits, like paying with card swipes.

"Of course, it is early days, more merchants are coming on board, and I'm sure we'll see adoption grow, but the initial reception has been slow."

Apple announced that it had seen one million activations within 72 hours of the system's launch, and the company claims that one million cards have been added.

According to the survey, 63 per cent of those who are using Apple Pay are doing so because of its convenience.

"It also points to a broader issue: maybe paying with cards is just not that painful," Phelan added. "For years, techies have been pitching e-wallets to consumers, but they don't seem interested.

"Even after Apple has launched by far the most elegant version to date, consumer adoption is light."

Reasons behind the slow adoption of the service could be apathy and ignorance, with the survey finding 50 per cent of respondents simply didn't care, while 34 per cent didn't actually know about the feature.

Apple was awarded 28 new patents last week, reports Patently Apple (via CNN), and the choices offer noteworthy hints towards what direction the company's products could be heading in.

Among them was one for a "flexible electronic device," which calls to mind Apple's "bendgate" scandal where some users found the iPhone 6 Plus bent slightly in the middle when kept in pockets etc.

The patent reads: "Rigid electronic devices may be vulnerable to damage in the event of an impact such as a drop of the device on a hard surface. It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved electronic devices."

It includes mock-ups of how the flexible device would work, with bendable screen, battery and circuit board.

Then there are the smart glasses, which could pitch Apple against Google in the wearables market, dubbed "Lifestream." The patent describes it as an unscripted data collection system that collects "notes, recordings and annotation data elements."

The glasses could also plug into external apps such as Facebook, collecting video and audio information, as well as facial recognition, respiration patterns, pupil dilation and other data from users.

Google Glass has run into problems with consumers and business users alike, with limited battery life, privacy issues and reports of eye strain all contributing to a backlash. Apple's entry into the smart glasses market could knock Google's position even further.

Apple has released its first ever phablet in the form of the iPhone 6 Plus whilst Google has unleash its biggest Nexus handset to-date.

Both devices are powered by premium components, offering high-end performance. Below we take a look at how they compare:

DISPLAY & DESIGN

Nexus 6

Google's flagship handset has a gigantic 5.96in AMOLED display boasting a 2560 x 1440 resolution (493 ppi). Despite the excellent pixel density there are issues with the brightness.

The Android 5.0 Lollipop software uses an "adaptive brightness" setting, which means it's constantly changing the screen depending on the app you're using. In general, you'll find the brightness hovers between the 260 280 cd/m2 mark, so it's not able to compete with the iPhone.

The mammoth screen size is reflected in the dimensions of the device too. It's got a chunky 10mm thickness and weighs in at 184g. We do like the curve on the rear-panel and the soft touch matte-plastic is comfortable to hold.

iPhone 6 Plus

Apple's first phablet looks like an inflated iPhone 6. Housing a 5.5in LCD display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution (401 ppi), brightness levels reach a scorching maximum of 566 cd/m2.

The iPhone has big bezels and an all round large form factor but it's not as bulky as the Nexus. The 6 Plus has a 7.1mm thickness and weighs 172g. Apple has crafted the device from a single piece of Aluminium and it looks beautiful. The curved edges mean you'll have no problems holding the device.

Winner: iPhone 6 Plus Neither device can be dubbed pocket friendly but the iPhone has the smaller dimensions and the display is superior.

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BATTERY LIFE

Nexus 6

The Nexus 6 has a 3,220mAh battery pack powering the handset. On paper it looks higher than most flagship devices, including the iPhone, but it also has to power a large, high resolution display. You can expect the handset to last through the day but don't expect much beyond this.

Android does have a battery saving feature, which you can switch on when you're running low on power. There's also the Turbo Charging feature, which we'll touch on later.

Hardware at a glance

Nexus 6 - 5.96in display (2560 x 1440) - 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 CPU- 3GB RAM- 13MP rear camera- 32/64GB internal storage- 184g- 3,200 mAh battery + wireless charging support

iPhone 6 Plus- 5.5in display (1920 x 1080)- A8 1.4GHz dual-core CPU + M8 motion co-processor- 1GB RAM- 8MP rear camera- 16/64/128GB internal storage- 172g- 2915 mAh battery

iPhone 6 Plus

The 6 Plus has the best battery life of any iOS handset we've tested to date. The 2,915mAh battery cell will last you throughout the day and you can charge it faster when using an iPad adaptor.

iOS 8 now allows users to see which apps are using battery life, but there's still no manual power saving mode.

Apple continues to use a non-removable battery, so like the Nexus it's not designed to be easily replaced.

Winner: iPhone 6 Plus Despite not having any manually battery saving options and a brighter screen, the device will last longer than the Nexus 6.

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SOFTWARE

Nexus 6

The Nexus 6 is the first smartphone to ship with Android 5.0 Lollipop on board.

The latest version of Android offers all of Google's features as standard and because it's a Google branded device there is no carrier bloatware or obtrusive skin to worry about.

The benefits of Android include the ability to fully customise the interface, use widgets and transfer files between the smartphone and PC/Mac by simply dragging and dropping them. Being a Nexus device, it will also be first in line to get the 2015 Android update when it is released in September.

On the downside, the Google Store is a haven for malware as it lacks the quality control of the Apple App Store.

iPhone 6 Plus

Apple ships the iPhone 6 Plus with iOS 8. App selection is fantastic and the interface is easy to pick up and use.

iOS now interacts with OS X - so when your MacBook is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone it's possible to answer phone calls on your laptop, for example.

The proprietary nature of iOS isn't all bad as you can access all of Apple's services like the App Store, iBooks, iCloud and iTunes and you can also download popular Google apps like Chrome, Drive, Gmail, Inbox, Maps, and Translate. Theoretically, this means the iPhone provides the best of both worlds.

Probably the biggest annoyance of iOS is the inability to customise the interface and the lack of widgets. Moving content to and from the iPhone can also be a pain using iTunes - but there are useful alternatives like iSkySoft TunesOver.

Winner: Draw Both platforms have clear advantages meaning it's all down to personal preference.

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UNIQUE FEATURES

Nexus 6

The Nexus 6 makes use of Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 technology. This is useful, when your battery is in the red-zone as it allows you to hook up the device to a charger for 15 minutes and then use it for up to six hours.

We like the dual front-facing speakers Motorola has built into the front of the device. This provides more immersive audio when playing music or watching movies.

Motorola also markets the device as water resistant. Although it's not certified to an IP rating like the Galaxy S5 or Xperia Z series, this should make it more durable than the iPhone.

iPhone 6 Plus

The TouchID fingerprint sensor built into the home button is the standout feature of the 6 Plus. It allows you to unlock the device and authorise iTunes payments.

NFC technology is also available. The technology itself is not unique but the implementation is. On iPhones NFC can only be used in conjunction with Apple Pay. Users in the US can user their iPhone to pay for purchases in stores and this is expected to make its way to the UK in 2015.

Winner: Nexus 6 Although the Android device lacks a fingerprint scanner, the inclusion of Turbo charging, the dual-facing speakers and the water resistant win the day.

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STORAGE

Nexus 6

The Nexus 6 is available with 32GB or 64GB of on-board storage. MicroSD support is missing which is a shame but the internal capacity should be fine for the majority of users.

In terms of cloud storage, Google offers 15GB of free space, which is shared between the Drive, Gmail and Google+ photos services.

iPhone 6 Plus

Apple dropped the 32GB edition so you have to choose between 16GB, 64GB or 128GB models. There is no microSD support available either and in 2015, 16GB of internal storage does not cut it anymore - unless you want to be constantly moving stuff on and off your device.

Apple offers 5GB of free iCloud storage, which is primarily used to backup content on the device.

Winner: Draw Neither handset jumps out with microSD support sorely missed on both.

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PRICING

Nexus 6

To pick up the 32GB SIM-free version of the Nexus 6 you'll have to part with 499. The price increases to 549 for the 64GB model.

On contract, the Nexus 6 is available free from 33 per a month.

iPhone 6 Plus

The 6 Plus is the most expensive iPhone available. The 16GB entry-level model starts at 619 SIM-free. This rises to 699 for the 64GB model and the top-end 128GB device is 789.

Buying the device on contract is also expensive with the 16GB version available for free from 48.50 a month.

Winner: Nexus 6 - The Android device is cheaper, with more storage offered for less.

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VERDICT

When comparing entry-level handset, the 32GB Nexus is 120 cheaper than the 16GB 6 Plus. However, this doesn't necessarily make it the better device.

We found the 5.96in screen on the Nexus and the dimensions too bulky. The Google-branded device may have a beefier processor and more RAM, but the display and battery life can't match up to the 6 Plus. If you can budget for a 64GB iPhone 6 Plus or above, we'd recommend the iOS device.

The iPhone 6's popularity has been cited as the reason why sales of Apple's iPad mini have begun to struggle of late in a new report.

The larger iPhone phablet' could negatively impact the stagnating sales of Apple's smallest iPad, says Forbes, with Apple's overall global tablet market share falling from 29 per cent to 23 per cent year-over-year.

The overall tablet market has been slowing for some time, with growth in 2014 estimated at 12.1 per cent compared to 51.8 per cent in 2013.

The popularity of the iPhone 6 Plus could further "cannibalise" sales of the 7.9-inch iPad mini, given its large screen size and comparatively affordable price tag.

Forbes' Trefis Team says: "While the mini is still likely to prove popular with customers who seek an affordable, easy-to-use tablet with a comfortable viewing experience (130 per cent more area than the iPhone 6 Plus), the one-device-fits-all proposition of the iPhone 6 Plus is likely to hurt sales.

"We believe that an iPhone 6 Plus customer will be less inclined to purchase an iPad mini, given that the iPhone 6 Plus provides a good balance in terms of functionality, screen size and portability."

This week, Gartner predicted that tablet sales will grow eight per cent in 2015, with research director Ranjit Atwal attributing the tablet market's troubles to a lack of hardware innovation.

"The collapse of the tablet market in 2014 was alarming. The steep drop can be explained by several factors," he said. "One is that the lifetime of tablets is being extended they are shared out amongst family members and software upgrades, especially for iOS devices keeping the tablets current.

"Another factor includes the lack of innovation in hardware which refrains consumers from upgrading."

Apple is currently working on a 4-inch iPhone that's set for release in 2015, according to reports.

Evidence of the move comes from the Electronic Times of Taiwan, supported previous claims that Apple could be returning to smaller devices following the success it had with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in 2014.

The site claims the supply chain for production next year includes parts for an iPhone model markedly smaller than its most recent handsets.

One reason for the change is, the report claims, "for the convenience of single-handed operation of female users," who we guess have smaller hands and find it difficult to use phablets such as the iPhone 6 Plus.

The plans are to make a new budget' phone for the company, taking the place of the iPhone 5c, which has previously been Apple's cheapest handset. It was discontinued as soon as the iPhone 6 was announced back in September this year.

With 4-inch, 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models, PocketNow theorises Apple could standardise their line-up and introduce a truly budget option.

Product marketing executive Greg Joswiak announced that Apple had no plans to produce a cheap smartphone at the Code/Mobile conference in October, saying: "We were talking about some of the mistakes Apple made in the 90s, and some of it was trying to do things like making cheap products that were chasing market share instead of chasing a better experience.

"Our goal is to make the best products with the best experience," Joswiak continued. "We believe that if we made a better product and a better experience, that there will always be a healthy market for that. And a healthy market doesn't mean we have to be marketshare leader."

A more affordable iPhone had been rumoured for some time, attributed to the desire to compete with Android in the low-end devices market.

If you want a large screen smartphone, you're spoilt for choice with Apple, Google and Samsung all offering up flagship devices.

The Nexus 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Note 4 all claim to be "the" big screen device, but which one offers the best value?

Why buy a phablet?

- Devices with 5in+ screens are ideal for web browsing, typing and multimedia consumption.

- Phablets include bigger batteries so you don't have to worry about charging devices in the middle of the day.

Nexus 6

The Nexus 6 is the newest on the list and the first handset to ship with Android Lollipop 5.0. Designed and manufactured by Motorola, the device is a giant Moto X (2014). The large 5.96in display makes it the biggest device here.

Key specs

5.96in AMOLED display (2560 x 1440), 2.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor, 3GB RAM, 32/64GB internal memory, 13-megapixel camera, water resistant, 184g

Pros

- Solid build

Everything about the build oozes quality, from the display curving around the edge to the metallic Nexus branding on the soft-touch back. Motorola has used Gorilla Glass 3 for the display and the device is water resistant. It's not IP certified like the Xperia Z range or the Galaxy S5, but it's useful nonetheless.

- Pure Android Lollipop 5.0

The Nexus brand means this device runs pure Android 5.0, free of any resource-hungry customisations. This translates to a smooth performance and the device is fully customisable. It also means the handset will be first in line for the 2015 Android update.

- Fast charging out-of-the-box

Motorola has optimised the device to make use of the Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 technology and ships devices with a "turbo" charger in the box.

When the battery is in the red-zone, you can hook it up to a charge for 15 minutes and get up to 6 hours of usage.

Cons

Screen quality

Straying into tablet territory, the Nexus 6 has a mammoth 5.96in display. Although it has a razor-sharp 2560 x 1440 resolution (493ppi) on paper, there are a couple of issues with the screen.

The 'adaptive brightness' setting built into Lollipop constantly adjusts the screen depending on which app you are using. Even turning it off in the settings doesn't stop it from making adjustments.

The change in brightness is noticeable when you're moving from dark backgrounds to pure whites. When in the Settings menu, white tabs are super bright, but switch over to the web browser and you'll see the screen dim as the display compensates to show a larger area of white.

You can expect brightness to hover between 260 - 280 cd/m2 - which isn't atrocious, but is well below competing handsets.

When the display on the Nexus 6 is turned down to its lowest levels some users have also reported a notable pink tinge.

- Battery life longevity & no micro SD support

The Nexus 6 is powered by a 3,220mAh battery pack - the same size as the cell in the Note 4. But the Google device does have the larger screen.

Power users can expect to make it through the day without charging. However, it's non-removable nature means there's no way to swap it out.

Whilst the 32/64GB models should keep you going, the lack of micro SD card support is missed.

- Curved back makes it unstable

The Nexus is unable to sit flush on flat surfaces due to its curved design. It starts wobbling and spinning if you try and interact with it using one hand. This makes it almost impossible to send a text or navigate the device without picking it up or using two hands to hold it steady.

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Galaxy Note 4

Samsung's popular phablet range is on its fourth generation, so the firm has had time to refine the product. The Note 4 is shipping with Android KitKat 4.4.4, but an update to Lollipop 5.0 has been confirmed and will be rolling out to the flagship device soon.

Key specs5.7in Super AMOLED display (2560 x 1440), 2.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor (Exynos Octa-core in some regions), 3GB RAM, 32GB internal memory + micro SD card support (128GB), 16-megapixel camera, fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor, 176g

Pros

- Class-leading display

With a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, the 5.7in Super AMOLED panel squeezes 515 pixels into every inch. During indoor use you can expect maximum brightness of 340 cd/m2.

When the device detects sunlight, an outdoor readability mode kicks in, boosting the screen to the 500 cd/m2 mark.

Being a Super AMOLED panel, it retains Samsung's trademark high-colour saturation. But there are no problems with tinting as whites are pure and blacks are deep.

Testing from screen specialist DisplayMate supports our opinion the 5.7in panel on the Note 4 is the best available on the market.

- Excellent battery life

Another strength of the Note range is the battery life. Samsung has opted for a 3,220mAh cell and together with its various battery saving modes this will last beyond 24 hours.

Fast charging is supported, so the Note 4 can be charged from 0 to 50 per cent in 30 minutes.

Power users also have the option of carrying a spare pack around or replacing the battery after it starts to drop with long-term use.

- S-Pen

The Note 4 is the only phablet in this group to include a stylus. The S-Pen comes with 2048 points of pressure, so it's got the sensitivity for precise image work.

It's also great for jotting down notes, annotating documents or screen grabbing. Handwriting recognition means you can use the stylus to pen long-form content too.

Cons

- Overwhelming software

Samsung overlays its TouchWiz interface onto Android. This allows the Note to have numerous features including the ability to multitask.

However, there are lots of settings and you will have to spend time going through. It's not a massive issue as you spend the first few hours with any device digging through all the options. Just keep in mind that you'll probably end up disabling a fair few features you won't need.

- Some gimmicks

In its eagerness to stay ahead of the competition, the Note 4 is packed with a few features that are either unnecessary or feel rushed. We can point to the eye-tracking software and the heart-rate sensors as features you probably won't use.

The fingerprint scanner isn't as good as Apple's Touch ID either. But it's not a major problem as you're not forced to use it.

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iPhone 6 Plus

The biggest iPhone to-date has the best screen and battery life of any Apple smartphone. How does the flagship iOS 8 device compare to its Android rivals?

Key specs5.5in LCD display (1920 x 1080), 1.4GHz dual-core A8 processor + M8 co-processor, 1GB RAM, 16/64/128GB internal memory, 8-megapixel, Touch ID, Apple Pay, 172g

Pros

- Solid all rounder

iOS arguably edges the Google Play Store when it comes to the quality of apps, books, TV shows, films and games content offered.

Performance is smooth because there is no bloatware, and thanks to the Continuity feature the 6 Plus can be synced with other Apple devices - such as Macs and iPads via Wi-Fi. This means you can answer phone calls on your Mac or continue browsing exactly where you left off when switching devices.

The 6 Plus also has one of the best cameras on the market.

The 8-megapixel sensor may not be the largest around, but thanks to Focus Pixels it's ultra-fast when it comes to focusing and top notch image processing helps to ensure excellent picture quality in most conditions.

The biometrics on the iPhone have yet to be beaten. Touch ID is excellent and makes the iOS device the easiest handset to unlock as you just press the home button.

- All-day battery life

Apple has been conservative by using a 2,915mAh battery. However, the 6 Plus is still the first iPhone we've been able to use comfortably through the day without worrying about the battery.

The 6 Plus is up there with the Note 4 before the latters Ultra Power Saving mode is taken into consideration and also outdoes the Nexus 6.

- Excellent full HD display

The 6 Plus is the first iPhone to include a full HD (1920x 1080) display. The 5.5in LCD panel has a density of 401ppi and a scorching maximum brightness of 566 cd/m2.

Colour accuracy is outstanding because the LCD technology delivers natural colours. DisplayMate has labelled the 6 Plus panel the best LCD screen on the market, but overall the Note 4 display is rated as the top-dog.

Cons

- No 32GB option or micro SD support

Apple decided to axe the mid-range 32GB model when it introduced the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. With the lack of micro SD card storage on iPhones, buying the entry-level 16GB model is not ideal. You'll fill up the storage in no time with apps, films, movies, music and photos. When it comes to updating iOS, you're likely to have storage issues.

- Design quirks

The huge chassis of the 6 Plus is nowhere near as svelte as the iPhone 6. Despite having the smallest 5.5in screen in this test, it's almost identical in length to the Nexus 6 (5.96in) and could do with a trim around the bezels.

The sealed in battery poses long-term issues too. While we've had no problems so far - it's unlikely to have the same performance deep into an 18-month contract.

So which is best value?

Best value

Before we give our verdict, let's take a look at the pricing for the devices. For the purpose of this test we compared the cost of entry-level models from Carphone Warehouse.

Nexus 6 (32GB) - Free from 34.50 per month or 499 SIM-free

Note 4 (32GB) - Free from 39.50 per month or 599 SIM-free

iPhone 6 Plus (16GB) - Free from 48.50 per month or 619 SIM-free

When it comes to value, it's hard to justify the iPhone 6 Plus as the winner. It's considerably more expensive than its rivals and comes with half the storage. The price jumps to 699 for a device with 64GB of storage and you'll have to pay 58.50 a month if you want it free on a contract.

The Nexus 6 is the cheapest handset available here but remains another big investment. While we love the pure Android software, issues relating to display brightness/tinting along with the iffy battery life stop it from getting a wholehearted recommendation.

Despite, software complexity, the Note 4 is the best phablet you can buy. With an excellent display, long battery life, micro SD support and strong performance, it's the total package.

Apple has been hit with claims from iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users that their devices are prone to scratching even with minimal use and excellent care.

As reported by Apple Insider, and based on posts made by disgruntled users on Apple's Support Communities forum, many have noticed their iPhone screen becoming scratched very easily, and so far 626 people have taken to the forum to discuss the problem. The thread has been viewed more than 103,000 times.

The scratches seem to most often appear in the corners of the display, though some have pointed out that models previous to the iPhone 6 have not exhibited the same level of surface scratching even after years of normal use. As a result, many reported the problem after just one week.

The problem, then, has been attributed to the material used to protect the handset's screen, widely thought to be Corning's Gorilla Glass 3 alkali-aluminosilicate glass, though that assumption has not been officially confirmed by Apple.

Apple claims to have used "strengthened Ion-A" glass to reinforce the phone's screen.

According to Apple Insider, one reason for the iPhone 6's tendency to become damaged more easily is the curved display glass, as it is the first of Apple's smartphones to include no bezel "lip".

"Previous iPhones like the most recent iPhone 5s used flat pieces of glass surrounded by a thermoplastic peripheral material housed in a harder polymer wrap," they say. "This structure helped for shock protection, deflecting encounters with foreign objects and would keep the screen protected if laid down on its face."

In September, it was widely reported the iPhone 6 Plus was prone to bending when kept in pockets for extended periods of time.

Apple has so far not responded to news of the problem.

Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones have prompted less Android users to switch over to iOS than experts had predicted, a new study has revealed.

The survey from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners looks into iOS adoption among Android users following the release of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, report Mac Rumours.

The number is smaller for 2014 (12 per cent) than in 2013 (23 per cent), despite predictions that Apple's new devices would prompt more customers to switch.

Other findings included that Android users (31 per cent) that are already familiar with larger screens were more likely to buy the 5.5in iPhone 6 Plus over existing Apple customers (25 per cent), who opted instead of the smaller 4.7in iPhone 6.

Analysts previously predicted that Apple's larger iPhone models would spark a wave of conversions from Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry users, but this apparently has not been the case.

Josh Lowitz, CIRP Partner and Co-Founder, said: "The vast majority of new iPhone buyers were already iPhone owners. Current iPhone owners accounted for over 80 per cent of buyers after this launch, compared to less than 65 per cent after the iPhone 5s and 5c launch in September 2013.

"Android owners accounted for a much smaller share of buyers immediately after this year's iPhone launch, and with smartphones so prevalent in the US, we also saw a smaller percentage of iPhone buyers moving from basic phones."

Results of the survey are based on 300 people who had bought an iPhone in the 30 days following the devices' launch on 19 September.

Despite several updates released for Apple's latest operating system, iOS 8, problems have persisted.

It has also been announced that users who have already updated their device will not be able to downgrade to iOS 7, which could become a problem in light of the ongoing hardware and software issues.

Apple released the iOS 8.0.2 update on Thursday, which was created to correct some problems that users had reported having with iOS 8.0.1.

Problems included people being unable to connect to their cellular network to make phone calls, getting locked out of their device due to the Touch ID fingerprint sensor not working correctly and HealthKit apps not being available on the App Store due to a bug.

The HealthKit bug meant many apps that were planning to release iOS 8-compatible updates for Apple's new health and fitness tracking hub had to delay plans until the problem could be resolved.

Addressing this, a spokesperson for Apple told Cult of Mac: "We're working quickly to have the bug fixed in a software update and have HealthKit available by the end of the month."

Once these problems were first reported, Apple released the second update. According to Mac Rumours, the company did however announce that fewer than 40,000 iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices had been affected by the bugs.

In a statement on Thursday, the company said: "iOS 8.0.2... fixes an issue that affected iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who downloaded iOS 8.0.1, and includes improvements and big fixes originally in iOS 8.0.1. We apologise for inconveniencing the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who were impacted by the big in iOS 8.0.1."

The second update did not rectify all of the problems as promised, however, and many users continued to report issues they were having with their device.

Carolina Milanesi, chief of research at Kantar Worldpanel, said: "There's a certain perception that Apple has to get things right, and when they don't, the whole company gets questioned. But they came out and said We apologise; we're working 24/7 to fix it.' I think that's what matters."

It has also emerged that Apple is withdrawing support for iOS 7 for users who have already upgraded their device, which can be seen as an attempt to get as many people using iOS 8 as possible.

The problems that Apple's newest operating system has experienced so far have received a lot of attention, so the news that disgruntled users will not be able to downgrade to iOS 7 could be cause for concern.

People have reported instances of the iPhone 6 Plus bending when kept in users' pockets, with the problem being dubbed bend gate' by many disgruntled customers.

After being kept in pockets for extended periods of time, The Independent reports, Apple's much-hyped phablet device would emerge bent slightly out of shape, and photos of various affected handsets started to be posted online as soon as the initial news broke.

The iPhone 6 Plus has set itself apart for being the biggest and thinnest Apple handset ever released, but it appears this has had the unfortunate side effect of reducing the structural integrity of the hardware.

For example, the aluminium casing is thought to have been weakened by the disproportionate size of the handset.

MacRumours were the first to report the story of one user who discovered the flaw by accident after keeping his phone in front pocket. The person said: "The 6 Plus was about 18 hours in my pocket while sitting mostly. As I lay it on the coffee table and sat down on the couch to relax from the drive (yes, sitting again), I saw the reflection of the window in the iPhones slightly distorted."

Previously, there was a similar scandal surrounding the iPhone 4 in 2010, which saw users complaining about dropped calls caused by a faulty antenna.

The good news is that, according to reports, the iPhone 6 Plus is actually easier to repair than the Samsung Galaxy S5.

Apple has so far not responded to news of the problem.

Apple has sold more than 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices on its launch weekend, beating last year's record of nine million units.

The iPhone 6 Plus completely sold out in most territories the day it went on sale last Friday.

Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive, said: "Sales for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus exceeded our expectations for the launch weekend, and we couldn't be happier. We would like to thank all of our customers for making this our best launch ever, shattering all previous sell-through records by a large margin.

"While our team managed the manufacturing ramp better than ever before, we could have sold many more iPhones with greater supply and we are working hard to fill orders as quickly as possible."

Both devices went on sale in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico and Singapore last weeek, and will go on sale in 20 more countries on Friday.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were announced two weeks ago in Cupertino. The iPhone 6 features a 4.7-inch screen, while the larger iPhone 6 Plus' 5.5-inch display was subject to a little criticism for being too big.

They are available across the UK's main networks: Three, Vodafone, EE and O2, starting at 30.99 per month, but be prepared to pay a chunky upfront fee if you want to keep that monthly cost down.

Virgin Media said yesterday that 33 per cent of Apple devices using the company's Underground internet services were running iOS 8, despite initial reports saying takeup of the Apple update was slower than previous years.

A teardown of the iPhone 6 Plus has revealed the flagship iOS handset is easier to repair than the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone.

The teardown also helps to confirm the 6 Plus has 1GB of RAM on-board and is powered by a 2915mAh battery (double the capacity of the 5s), which is considerably easier to remove than on previous devices.

"Continuing the trend from the iPhone 5 series, the display assembly comes out of the phone first, simplifying screen repairs," iFixit noted.

"The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires a proprietary pentalobe screwdriver and knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult."

Another key change is the re-routing of the fingerprint sensor cable so it's possible to open the device without shearing it.

On the downside, the Phone 6 Plus uses proprietary Pentalobe screws and Apple does not share repair information with independent shops and consumers.

iPhone 6 Plus vs Galaxy S5

Interestingly, the 6 Plus is easier to repair than the Samsung Galaxy S5 handset, which received a mediocre score of 5/10.

iFixit claims replacing anything other than the battery on the Galaxy S5 is difficult because the display requires removal and there's risk of damaging components.

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are now available to buy, with early indications suggesting the larger of the two devices might prove to be the most popular.

THe consumer electronics giant debuted two new iPhones at its launch event last week, including a 4.7in smartphone (the iPhone 6) and a 5.5in phablet (the iPhone 6 Plus).

Handsets are due to start shipping and will be available in stores from today (19 September).

Below, we take a look at the deals each of the major UK mobile networks are offering on both devices, before going on to offer a thorough breakdown of the hardware specs of each one.

4 million pre-orders

Apple has announced 4 million units have been ordered within the first 24 hours. The firm claims this this is the most it has ever taken.

This reportedly exceeds the number of iPhones Apple has in supply, and some customers will not receive their handsets until later in September and October.

Additional phones will be available to Apple store walk-in customers on 19 September.

Pricing

SIM-free UK pricing is as follows:

iPhone 6 - 16GB (539), 64GB (619), 128GB (699)

iPhone 6 Plus - 16GB (619), 64GB (699), 128GB (789)

The devices are also available on subsidised contracts:

Three

As is the case with all its other 4G-enabled devices, Three doesn't charge extra for high-speed internet services and pre-orders are open now.

iPhone 6

You can choose from three tariffs on Three for the iPhone 6, across the 16GB, 64GB and 128GB varieties. All tariffs include unlimited minutes and will set you back 99 upfront but it's the data and capacity that determines the monthly price.

16GB: If you want unlimited data, you'll need to go for the top tariff that costs 45 a month. The next down gives you 2GB data a month for 41 and the cheapest will cost 38 a month with 1GB data included.

64GB: For unlimited internet, you'll be paying 50 a month, 2GB data will cost 46 a month, while 1GB data will set you back 43 a month.

128GB: Add another fiver on a month for the 128GB device. A plan with unlimited data will cost 55 a month, 2GB data 51 and 1GB 48 a month.

iPhone 6 Plus

The bigger iPhone 6 follows the same guidelines: 99 upfront and unlimited minutes.

16GB: Unlimited internet will cost 51 a month, 2GB data 47 a month and 1GB data 44 a month.

64GB: If you want all-you-can-eat data, you'll have to invest 56 a month for the iPhone 6 Plus 64GB, while 2GB data will cost 52 a month and the least data - 1GB will cost 49 a month.

128GB: The 128GB iPhone 6 Plus will cost you 99 upfront and then 60 a month for unlimited data, 57 for 2GB data and 54 a month for 1GB data.

EE

Unlike Three where you can find a pretty straightfoward pricing structure, EE offers a whole heap of tariffs that may get a little confusing. Some tariffs include Double speed 4G, so it's important to decide whether you think standard 4G will be fast enough for you before committing. Here's a lowdown of some of the highlights.

iPhone 6

16GB: The upfront cost for the 16GB iPhone 6 varies from 209.99 for 500MB of data that will cost 30.99 a month, down to 49.99 upfront and 53.99 a month for 20GB data. If you're a more conservative data user, you'll be able to get your hands on the device for around 100 upfront with between 2GB and 4GB data for 40 a month. Most of the higher data plans come with unlimited minutes and texts, while the lower data limits come with fewer inclusive minutes.

64GB: If you want a little more storage on your device, the 64GB iPhone 6 is available for between 229.99 and 49.99 upfront. Tariffs are also a little more expensive, with the 500MB data a month costing 35.99 a month and 2GB data setting you back 45 a month. If you need 20GB data, you'll find yourself committing to 58.99 a month for 24 months.

128GB: The 128GB iPhone 6 will cost 329.99 if you want the least committment a month of 35.99 for 500MB data. The most expensive option will cost the slightly less shocking 149.99 upfront, but it will cost 58.99 a month. If you only want between 2GB data, you'll pay either 289.99 or 249.99 upfront depending on whether you want double speed 4G or not and it'll cost around 45 a month.

iPhone 6 Plus

16GB: EE's 16GB iPhone 6 Plus is available on tariffs offering between 500MB data and 20GB data. The lowest tariff will cost 30.99 a month with a cost of 309.99 upfront, while the 20GB data option costs 99.99upfront and then 53.99 a month thereafter. If you want to pay less, the iPhone 6 Plus is available with 5GB data for 179.99 upfront and an ongoing cost of 45.99 a month.

64GB: For similar price plans but boosting the capacity up to 64B, you'll pay 35.99 a month and 329.99 upfront for 500GB, 50.99 a month and 249.99 upfront for 5GB data and 149.99 upfront and 58.99 for 20GB of double speed 4G.

128GB: The highest capacity iPhone 6 Plus is also the most expensive of Apple's new lineup. For light data users, you'll be able to get your hands on the device for 379.99 upfront and then 40.99 a month with 500MB data. More sensible limits of 2GB-5GB are also available and these will cost 329.99 upfront with ongoing monthly costs 50.99 and 55.99

O2

With O2's Refresh tariffs, you pay a monthly cost for the phone and then the tariff on top. You can also opt to pay some of the phone cost upfront that will reduce your monthly payment.

iPhone 6

16GB: All iPhone 6 16GB tariffs include unlimited calls and texts, but you'll pay between 18 a month and 28 a month for the data plans. For 28 a month (48 a month including the phone's monthly payment), you'll get 20GB data and for 18 a month (38 a month including the phone's monthly payment), 2GB data. You can also sign up to a 23 a month airtime plan that will give you 5GB data a month.

64GB: If you want to boost your phone's capacity, the airtime plans cost the same, but the phone plan will cost more. For example, if you choose to pay 69.99 upfront, you'll pay 25 a month for the phone, but if yoou don't want to pay anything when you sign up, you'll pay 30 a month for the phone.

128GB: The 128GB iPhone 6 costs at least 29.99 upfront, up to the full retail 789.99 cost if you want to minimise your monthly payments and just pay for the airtime, which follow the same patterns as the 16GB version. You'll have to pay between 20 and 30 a month for the device too, depending on how much you're prepared to stup up in advance.

iPhone 6 Plus

16GB: You'll pay the same as the iPhone 6 for your airtime tariffs whatever iPhone 6 Plus you buy, but you'll have to pay more for the phone - between 20 and 30. The lowest cost will apply if you decide to pay 129.99 upfront, 25 if you pay 49.99 upfront and 30 a month if you'd rather not pay anything when signing up.

64GB: You'll have to pay at least 29.99 upfront for the iPhone 6 Plus and even with that, you'll be paying 30 a month for the device. Pay a little more when you buy - 119.99 - and that monthly phone cost will drop to 25 and 20 a month when you pay 209.99 in advance. These costs are on top of the monthly airtime charges you'll need to pay.

128GB: For the highest capacity iPhone, be prepared to fork out a lot. In addition to the monthly airtime charges of 18, 23 and 28 a month, you'll need to pay between 25 and 35 a month for the device. This is on top of an upfront fee of anything between 9.99 and 879.99.

Vodafone

All 4G Red plans ship with unlimited UK minutes and UK texts.

iPhone 6

The 16GB model available at no upfront cost when you sign up to a 53.50 per month (24-month) contract. This includes a 10GB of 4G allowance, a 6 month subscription to Netflix as well as a choice between a 2-year subscription to Spotify or Sky Sports Mobile TV.

If you trade in your old iPhone 5, 5c or 5s you'll get a 5 discount on the monthly bill, which will drop to 48.50.

For the 64GB model with a 10GB allowance, the monthly charge is 58.50 with a 29 upfront fee. This downpayment rises to 109 if you opt for 128GB of internal storage.

iPhone 6 Plus

The 16GB iPhone 6 Plus is available for no upfront cost at 53.50 per month (24 months) if you trade in an iPhone 5, 5c or 5s. This includes 10GB of data and the subscriptions to Netflix and Spotify or Sky Sports Mobile TV.

If you don't have a device to trade-in the monthly cost is 58.50 and there is a 19 upfront fee.

What's the difference between the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus?

Display & size -The iPhone 6 is the smaller of the two devices measuring in at 4.7ins (1334 x 750). It has 326 pixels-per-inch (ppi) and a 500 cd/m2 brightness. The iPhone 6 weighs 129g and is 6.9mm thick.

The 6 Plus is the biggest iOS device to date with a 5.5in (1920 x 1080) panel. This has 401 pixels-per-inch (ppi) and a 500 cd/m2 brightness. Being the larger device, it is slightly thicker (7.1mm) and heavier (172g) than the iPhone 6.

Release date & price

The iPhones will be available to pre-order from the 12 September.

They will begin shipping on the 19 September in theUS, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK.

As the both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are considerably larger than the 5s, Apple has made changes to the interface.

Display Zoom will make make all content on the device bigger when activated.

Another feature is dubbed "Reachability". This shifts the screen down toward the bottom making it possible to interact with an app with one hand. It is activated by double tapping the home button.

Processor - The devices are powered by the second generation Apple A8 64-bit processor, which the firm claims delivers a 20 per cent improvement in processing power over the previous generation.

M8 co-processor- This is now capable of measuring distance and elevation via a barometer.

Battery life- Apple is claiming better battery life compared to the 5s. The iPhone 6 will offer up to 11 hours of video and Wi-Fi browsing. Meanwhile, the 6 Plus offers 14 hours of video and 12 hours of web browsing.

Connectivity - The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus both support a total of 20 4G bands and theoretical download speeds of up to 150Mbps.

NFC is included for the first time on the iOS devices. Users will be able to tap to pay for goods using the Apple Pay system, with purchases authorised via Touch ID.

Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is supported to increase the quality of phone calls.Wi-Fi is 802.11ac is built-in as standard and Wi-Fi calling is supported in the US (T-Mobile) and UK (EE).

Cameras - Both devices have 8-megapixel iSight cameras with a True Tone flash, BSI sensor and f/2.2 aperture. The iPhones use "phase detection" to autofocus twice as fast as the previous model.

A key difference is that the iPhone 6 has digital image stabilisation and the iPhone 6 Plus has optical image stabilisation.

There's a new FaceTime camera too, with the sensor now allowing in with 81 per cent more light.

Were the rumours correct? Find out over the page...

The iPhone 6 is expected to make its debut at a launch event tonight, 9 September, in Cupertino, along with the iWatch and - possibly - the iPad Air 2.

The firm is widely-tipped to be introducing two new iPhone models tonight, including a 4.7in and a 5.5in phablet.

This echoes last year's launch event, which saw Apple unveil the flagship iPhone 5s and the lower-cost iPhone 5c.

At the time of writing, little is known about how this year's models will compare to the 2013 versions on the pricing front.

However, data from price comparison site CompareMyMobile suggests the release of the iPhone 6 will result in trade-in prices for the iPhone 5s falling by up to 52.

In terms of launch data hype, the firm's data also revealed a spike in iPhone trade-in rates in the two weeks leading up to the 9 September launch event.

For example, the company claims to have seen a 158.3 per cent uptick in trade-ins for the iPhone 5s 64GB model and a 146.17 per cent jump in people trading in the 32GB version.

Ahead of the official unveiling, a number of key specifications appear to have been leaked. Apple will no doubt have some surprises in store, but here's what we know about the iPhone 6 so far...

Different display sizes

Code found in a test version of the new iPhone has sparked speculation that the phone's display will be sharper than older models. The code was discovered by developer James Thomson, according to The Independent, and indicates that the iPhone 6 will allow users to view much clearer images than before.

iPhone 6 or iPhone Air?

Apple may choose to switch up the naming system with the next-generation iPhone like it has done with the iPad range.

It wouldn't be a surprise if one of the devices was dubbed the 'iPhone Air' and the other was christened the 'new iPhone'.

It was previously reported that Apple was testing the iPhone 6 with a 1706 x 960 resolution display, with 416ppi for the 4.7in model and 356ppi for the 5.5in model. This resolution is three times higher than the base rate of 568 x 320 pixels.

The iPhone 6 will have the same 16:9 aspect ratio as the iPhone 5, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, it is claimed, but the screen will be taller and wider than these models. This will make it relatively simple for developers to take the increased screen size into account.

The 5.5in model, dubbed a "phablet", will put Apple in a position to battle Samsung's Galaxy range, which has previously been leading in the screen size category.

Fuelling rumours even further, a Weibo user has uploaded what appears to be a legitimate sneak peek at the new Apple handset, with photos and video of the device, reported by 9to5mac.

This is thought to be legitimate mainly because of the new Passbook icon on display, as well as evidence of iOS animations' trademark smoothness.

Materials

Apple has invested heavily in Liquidmetal and sapphire in order to improve both the appearance and the durability of the device. The firm has reportedly spent $20 million on getting exclusive rights to the materials and a further $578 million on mass production of the sapphire glass coating, according to Apple Insider.

Making the new iPhone 6 stronger is seemingly at the top of Apple's list of priorities, with potassium and sodium ion treatments on the phone's glass cover making it much more shock and damage-proof. Sapphire is the second hardest substance after diamond. A shock-absorber could also be a part of the inside tech.

Key hardware features

Information regarding the 4.7in iPhone 6's hardware specs was leaked by Sonny Dickson (viaDaily Tech), indicating the handset will sport a 64-bit, dual-core Apple A8 processor, with 1GB of RAM. This is way behind most Android devices, which usually ship with between 2GB and 3GB of RAM.

Rumours of a 12-megapixel camera and 128GB of storage have previouslyemerged. We can also expect it to be available in a variety of colours.

Apps

With apps, Apple is keen to work on many of the features that threatened to derail their previous releases with improvements made to Apple Maps and new additions such as iWallet, a 3D camera and iWatch, an app to go with Apple's as-yet-unconfirmed foray into wearable health tech.

9to5mac also reports that the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 could display apps with dual-panes when in landscape mode in much the same way as the iPad.

Given that iOS 8, the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system, was released on 17 September, iPhone users should be treated to a wealth of new features that complement the apps they already have on their devices.

NFC

Speculation around the possibility of the next iPhone introducing NFC functionality had been building in the run up to the launch, and it's now been confirmed that iPhone 6 users will be able to use their devices to pay for goods and services using a new service called Apple Pay.

This is being rolled out in the US first, and - although there's no definite go live date for the UK yet - it's widely tipped to make it's debut over here some time in 2015.

This article was originally published on the 02/06/14 and has been updated numerous times to reflect new information, most recently on 19/09/14.

Early reviews of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are in and the general verdict across the board is that Apple has nailed it with the larger designs.

The quality and size of the display and camera have been lauded as stand-out features. Battery life has also improved - particularly with the 6 Plus.

Reviewers were also impressed with the ergonomics and metallic feel of the handsets. However, the protruding camera lens and the lines that are on the back of the devices means they aren't the prettiest iPhones to-date.

Interestingly, the iPhone 6 has had better scoring reviews so far - despite packing a smaller 4.7in screen, lacking optimal image stabilisation and having a shorter battery life.

The Verge was one of the three publications to test both handsets and give the iPhone 6 a higher score.

iPhone 6 - 9/10

Display - The 4.7in screen is deemed to be an extremely good display with great colour reproduction and phenomenal viewing angles.

Camera - Despite lacking Optical Image Stabilisation - the 8-megapixel camera on the iPhone 6 is described as "fantastic". The revamped sensor with Focus Pixels means autofocusing is faster than ever.

"It never appears to be focusing," the reviewer pointed out.

Battery life - So far the device has been lasting over a day, thanks to the bigger battery.

"I still charge it almost every night, but at least I'm not forced to baby the battery just to get it through dinner anymore."

iPhone 6 Plus - 8.7/10

Display - Labelled the 5.5in display as "stunning" and great for multimedia consumption.

"If you're a traveler who carries an iPad just for movies on the road, the 6 Plus is going to be your best friend."

Work still needs to be done on the apps, which are scaled up and using the larger screen takes time to adjust especially when you are using the newly-designed landscape keyboard.

Camera - Highest praise was reserved for the 8-megapixel snapper which features Optical Image Stabilisation for the first time. The Verge claims it's the "best smartphone camera" it has tested to-date.

Battery life -The iPhone 6 Plus has been offering 2 days of battery life. But it's early days and the review was quick to point out the day will come when the device will "inevitably" need to be stuffed into a battery case.

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Engadget also gave the edge to the smaller iPhone 6. The reviews praised the iOS 8 update even though it feels like Apple is "playing catchup" to Android.

iPhone 6 - 90/100

Display - Remains comfortable to hold despite being noticeably larger than the iPhone 5s. Colour replication is less saturated than the Super Amoled technology on the Galaxy Note range.

Camera - The 8-megapixel sensor is dubbed "modest" but the Focus Pixels don't disappoint - making it easier to snap images back-to-back without losing focus.

Battery life - It could be better. The iPhone 6 last 6 hours and 19 minutes in a video playback test - slightly worse than the 5s (10 hours 50 minutes).

It also managed 13 hours of real-word usage.

iPhone 6 Plus - 87/100

Display - Images and text are sharper on the 6 Plus - but it's not enough to choose it over the 6. The 5.5in screen has its disadvantages too. One-handed usage is "frustrating and uncomfortable", despite the inclusion of the reachability mode.

Camera - The camera holds it own against most flagship competitors in terms of low-light. It's "near top in every scenario".

Optical image stabilisation helps images to comes out sharper than on the iPhone 6

Battery life - The 6 Plus lasted 12 hours in the video loop test - and managed 17 hours of real world usage.

"With moderate to light usage, you should expect to see the Plus get roughly a day and a half, if not more."

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The Independentwasthe third publication to find in favour of the iPhone 6.

iPhone 6 - 5 stars

Display - Offering "faithful, natural colours" the screen iPhone 6 looks spectacular.

Camera - The lack of a higher pixel count doesn't affect quality. Pictures are "so effectively processed and adjusted in the phone that they can look instantly stunning."

Battery life - Is dubbed "massively improved" but the reviewer pointed out that its conceivable it could be flagging by lunchtime for power users.

iPhone 6 Plus - 4 stars

Display - The display is richer than the smaller iPhone 6."This is really more like a little iPad that makes calls than anything else."

Camera - Thanks to the addition of the optical image stabilisation, and better lower light performance - "this is Apple's best camera".

Battery life - "The iPhone 6 Plus just keeps going. I found it seriously capable of going strong even when I didn't charge it for two successive nights."

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The Guardian found little to differentiate between the two devices, giving them both top marks.

iPhone 6 - 5 stars

Display - Deemed excellent for colour and brightness. The swiping gestures from the side of the screen also work well because of the way the glass curves around to the edge.

Camera - Shoots better pictures that the iPhone 5s.

Battery life - Battery life is "about 30 per cent" better than the 5s. You can get one day's use out of it.

iPhone 6 Plus - 5 stars

Display - The extra screen space is welcome - but "many apps will need rewriting to deal with the new screen".

Camera - "Expect this device to become the new 'must-have' among photographers who like traveling light."

Battery life - No figures provided but it is has the "best battery life of any iPhone".

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The Telegraph labelled the iPhone 6 as "Apple's best phone ever" and also gave the 6 Plus full marks.

iPhone 6 - 5 stars

Display - Whilst the display is not class-leading with its 326ppi density, most users will not be able to perceive differences between this panel and its rivals.

Camera - Despite dubbing it the weakest aspect of the iPhone 6, due to a lack of 4K recording and optimal image stabilisation, it is "the best camera of its class on the market".

Battery life - This is now at the point where it lasts the day.

iPhone 6 Plus - 5 stars

Display - It's big but not too awkward and the reachability mode, which brings everything to the bottom half is deemed to be "genius". Landscape mode is a welcome addition.

Camera - "Apple is able to get decent pictures out of hardware that should really be better." And although optical image stabilization makes a difference, it's not a reason to choose the 6 Plus over the 6.

Battery life - The 6 Plus's battery lasted two days, but the reviewer pointed out that many who purchase the phone will use it more intensively, so should expect a shorter life span.

Apple has taken 4 million pre-orders for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which is claims is a new record.

The amount of pre-orders is reportedly more than the initial number of devices available and, while some will be shipped to customers from Friday September 19, others will not arrive until later in the month and in October.

Customers will also be able to pick up one of the handsets from Apple stores from 8am on Friday.

Both the 4.7in iPhone 6 and 5.5in iPhone 6 Plus will be available from O2, Vodafone, EE, Three, GiffGaff, Virgin Media, TalkMobile and other carriers.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said: "iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are better in every way, and we are thrilled customers love them as much as much as we do. Pre-orders for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus set a new record for Apple, and we can't wait to get our best iPhones yet into the hands and customers starting this Friday."

Pre-orders for the handsets ran into problems last Friday, with many users finding they were unable to access Apple's online store.

The suggested retail price for the 16GB iPhone 6 is 539, 619 for the 64GB model and 699 for the 128GB model.

The price for the iPhone 6 Plus is suggested at 619 for the 16GB model, 699 for the 64GB and 789 for the 128GB.

Google has announced it'll be supporting the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launches with an iOS Sync solution that will protect files, emails, documents and other Google apps on Apple OS-based devices.

The company launched the offering to appeal to those who use their iPhone as a work device alongside its own Android device management solution.

iOS Sync will come ready-integrated into the Gmail and Google Drive apps for iOS, so users don't need to download anything extra. Itt also supports iOS 7 so if users prefer to stay on the older OS, they're still safe.

Clayton Jones, product manager for Google for Work, said: "Marvel and DC Comics, Star Wars and Star Trek, Emacs and VIwe all have our favorites. And then there's iOS and Android, each with dedicated fans. Regardless of which you prefer, there's no reason your device of choice should get in the way of your work."

iOS Sync should aid management for IT decision makers, allowing them to set a policy so that when an employee logs into Google Apps including Gmail and Google Drive using their work email and password, they're prompted to activate their device.

Wi-Fi networks and certificates for employees can also be configured, so they are only able to connect to trusted networks.

Google's iOS Sync will support any other policies set up on your company's devices and it won't replace those security measures, so firms will still be able to remotely wipe a device, approve applications and block devices if they fall into the wrong hands.

iOS Sync will start rolling out to device running iOS 7 and iOS 8 next week and will be available for Google Apps for Work, Google Apps for Education and Google Apps for Government.