Can Apple close the gap to the S6's hardware?

[whatos]

When Apple leads in specs, no matter the device or computer they put the full weight of their marketing machine behind it and announce it to the world. There's nothing Apple likes more (except money) than to brag.

When Apple lags behind in specs they throw their marketing muscle behind a cleverly concocted dialog to divert attention away and down play specs. Instead talking about how fabulous they are, it's Apples tradition. They do it well and it's quite impressive.

Not to mention their cadre of Apple Faithful that are quick to go to Apples defense. It's an extraordinary double pronged effort, an advantage no other tech company has.

Apple is a true winner.

 

[C DM]

Exactly...... no need to add current tech in iphones. They can stay 2 years behind the curve because they have such a great adoring fan base. If Apple released a slightly changed IP5 and called it the IP6s...it would still sell millions. Some will buy it just because of the logo then say they don't need upgraded specs.

That's why they perform about on par if not better than many of the other phones with "current" hardware, right?

 

[HiDEF]

^ here we go again

 

[AppleRobert]

The iPhone gets an upgrade yearly and is their best one yet.

So why do so many folks buy them if they are under specs of other smartphones? HHHMMM, maybe because it is fine for 99 percent of their users. You think they keep lots of tabs open in Safari?

 

[HiDEF]

When Apple leads in specs, no matter the device or computer they put the full weight of their marketing machine behind it and announce it to the world. There's nothing Apple likes more (except money) than to brag.

When Apple lags behind in specs they throw their marketing muscle behind a cleverly concocted dialog to divert attention away and down play specs. Instead talking about how fabulous they are, it's Apples tradition. They do it well and it's quite impressive.

Not to mention their cadre of Apple Faithful that are quick to go to Apples defense. It's an extraordinary double pronged effort, an advantage no other tech company has.

Apple is a true winner.

It's genius marketing and kudos to them! But folks need to wake up and just face reality, that's all.

I said it before, imagine a world with a A9 chip and 3GB's of RAM iPhone! Whoa! That's all.

 

[JaySoul]

I believe I recall reading iPhone will be sourcing a new sensor from Sony--a 20MP version I believe, but also that it's unlikely to be ready/included in the next version. Apple traditionally doesn't change much with the 'S' models so I don't expect to see much different this year either, unfortunately. Biggest change will likely be the RAM upgrade.

The camera is still really good. Yes, it's been passed by the S6 but, that's arguably the only smartphone using a better camera. I think its greatest deficiencies are in RAM and the display (iP6--the 6+ is just fine with 401 ppi). My guess is the iPhone 7 will have significant changes (camera, including OIS in smaller model, display, improved battery using the same technique used on the new MacBook) including what I think would be their first true innovation in years--a force touch display.

The iPhone 'S' models traditionally focus on speed - i.e. a big improvement on processor/performance/RAM - plus the camera, and probably the screen this time round too (like you said, maybe Force Touch in the Plus).

The iPhone 6 was clearly the big design change, as will be the case with 7.

I'm actually interested in the 6S if they can nail it.

 

[whatos]

It's genius marketing and kudos to them! But folks need to wake up and just face reality, that's all.

I said it before, imagine a world with a A9 chip and 3GB's of RAM iPhone! Whoa! That's all.

I couldn't agree more, I'd enjoy seeing Apple produce their best work!

Just imagine how spectacular their smartphones and computers could be. Not only would Apple be known for its present accomplishments, but for high performance as well.

Currently they are hyper focused on money, money, money, and well... More Money!

Just one example:
They install a minimum amount of ram in their laptops. The faithful defend and argue Apple's better at memory management (like the original MBA with a bare bones 2GB) and that's that. Until the following year when they quietly bump it up.

If Apple made a few strategic changes they'd really dominate. But they'd also have the serious and daunting task of dealing with even more sales and resulting profits...

 

[MasterRyu2011]

I don't think Apple is in the business of playing the hardware game. They never have, at least for Mobile. Apple understand it's about the end experience and the consumer perspective. If your device runs smoothly, who really cares what is under the hood.

 

[GadgetSN]

I am currently using a Note 4 but despite preferring Android over IOS I still cannot get over the ugliness of the Samsung phone. The S6 and S6 edge is a massive improvement on the Note 4 and all other Samsung phones but it still does not look as good as most Apple devices. The back of the S6 looks odd and not cohesive. The front is fine however.

However the S6 is too small for me. Samsung better deliver with the Note 5 otherwise I am going to get the 6S plus. Might as well buy an Apple watch at the same time if I go that route.

I always pop in a Apple store if I am walking past and always appreciate the feel and look of the iPhones.

Sony obviously are pulling back overall if their Z4 is anything to go by. Therefore only really Samsung left and I just dont think they have what it takes to design nice phones.

The S6 is far from being ahead hardware wise. In fact it is still behind the iPhone 6 as a piece of hardware. The iphone 6's hardware is more desirable even with lower specs. It is even tempting me from leaving my preferred OS, sonething an Android phobe has never done.

 

[jamezr]

That's why they perform about on par if not better than many of the other phones with "current" hardware, right?

Do they? I have an 6+ and it performs great. But not the as current products. That's is why the iPad air 2 has more ram. because it was under speced and now its performance is pretty dam good.
I will bet the 6s will have more ram and finally a upgraded camera to keep up with current gen smartphones.

 

[JaySoul]

I am currently using a Note 4 but despite preferring Android over IOS I still cannot get over the ugliness of the Samsung phone. The S6 and S6 edge is a massive improvement on the Note 4 and all other Samsung phones but it still does not look as good as most Apple devices. The back of the S6 looks odd and not cohesive. The front is fine however.

However the S6 is too small for me. Samsung better deliver with the Note 5 otherwise I am going to get the 6S plus. Might as well buy an Apple watch at the same time if I go that route.

I always pop in a Apple store if I am walking past and always appreciate the feel and look of the iPhones.

Sony obviously are pulling back overall if their Z4 is anything to go by. Therefore only really Samsung left and I just dont think they have what it takes to design nice phones.

The S6 is far from being ahead hardware wise. In fact it is still behind the iPhone 6 as a piece of hardware. The iphone 6's hardware is more desirable even with lower specs. It is even tempting me from leaving my preferred OS, sonething an Android phobe has never done.

Have you considered the LG G4 which is being launched next week?

I had a G3, very good phone in many respects, and it seems the G4 will improve almost everything.

 

[jamezr]

I believe I recall reading iPhone will be sourcing a new sensor from Sony--a 20MP version I believe, but also that it's unlikely to be ready/included in the next version. Apple traditionally doesn't change much with the 'S' models so I don't expect to see much different this year either, unfortunately. Biggest change will likely be the RAM upgrade.

The camera is still really good. Yes, it's been passed by the S6 but, that's arguably the only smartphone using a better camera. I think its greatest deficiencies are in RAM and the display (iP6--the 6+ is just fine with 401 ppi). My guess is the iPhone 7 will have significant changes (camera, including OIS in smaller model, display, improved battery using the same technique used on the new MacBook) including what I think would be their first true innovation in years--a force touch display.

I think you are right. I also think they night just call the next iphone the iPhone 7 to meet with the upgraded specs and changes. So they might just skip the 6s this year and go straight to an iphone 7.
I can see force touch display with improved DPI and an improved Siri and 2GB ram standard.

 

[C DM]

Do they? I have an 6+ and it performs great. But not the as current products. That's is why the iPad air 2 has more ram. because it was under speced and now its performance is pretty dam good.
I will bet the 6s will have more ram and finally a upgraded camera to keep up with current gen smartphones.

Is there information/data that shows they don't perform like current products, or noticeably behind them (let alone 2 years behind)?

 

[I7guy]

^ here we go again

Here we go again, what? Do I need to get out the benchmark links?

Not understanding some of these comments. Don't like Apple, don't buy their products...but don't minimalize the brand appeal by saying its all marketing.

 

[jamezr]

Is there information/data that shows they don't perform like current products, or noticeably behind them (let alone 2 years behind)?

The same that exists to show it outperforms the current gen.
I currently have 3 phones....Note 4, S6 edge and 6+. The 6+ is a great phone and I will get the next gen as well. But it does not out perform the other two phones I have. Performance wise my experience is it lags behind them.

 

[epicrayban]

Sure they can. They just don't need to.

This is why I argue we need to stop hiding behind the fact that they are still having record breaking sales.

 

[C DM]

The same that exists to show it outperforms the current gen.
I currently have 3 phones....Note 4, S6 edge and 6+. The 6+ is a great phone and I will get the next gen as well. But it does not out perform the other two phones I have. Performance wise my experience is it lags behind them.

So personal anecdotal opinion. Which can and often is different for someone else. Meaning that nothing is really behind or anything like that (especially by 2 years), just what different people think about their experience which is basically subjective.

 

[jamezr]

So personal anecdotal opinion. Which can and often is different for someone else. Meaning that nothing is really behind or anything like that (especially by 2 years), just what different people think about their experience which is basically subjective.

Where did I say 2 years? I don't remember that part but maybe I did. But as you say everything is subjective. You can add all the reviews and all the benchmarks and it is all subjective. You can only go by what/how the device performs for the person using it.

 

[Surface2Owner]

The hardware is perfectly in the iPhone. I just don't see how most any user would complain that the iPhone 6 is outdated.

 

[C DM]

Where did I say 2 years? I don't remember that part but maybe I did. But as you say everything is subjective. You can add all the reviews and all the benchmarks and it is all subjective. You can only go by what/how the device performs for the person using it.

That was in relation to the original post I was replying to where it was mentioned that Apple can stay 2 years behind the curve.

 

[tbayrgs]

I think you are right. I also think they night just call the next iphone the iPhone 7 to meet with the upgraded specs and changes. So they might just skip the 6s this year and go straight to an iphone 7.
I can see force touch display with improved DPI and an improved Siri and 2GB ram standard.

I'd love that but I honestly don't think we'll see significantly different hardware. Again, IIRC, the rumors are the next iPhone(s) will continue with an 8MP sensor. If they use the same body design as they traditionally do for the 's' models, we won't see a change in display and I doubt force touch is ready for implementation on the phones yet--my guess is they need to redesign the body style to accommodate a big hardware change like that. New iPhones are only about 5 months away--little chance they did anything more than just their typical 's' model refresh in such a short time.

I'm not expecting anything more than a new CPU, a bump in RAM, some tweaks to the camera and maybe some battery improvements, if they can get the battery layered inside the existing frame to add a few more mAh. They may also slightly improve the display if they adopt the same lamination techniques used on the iPad Air 2 (which is pretty slick looking, BTW). I think the 2016 models will have the big changes--improved display (1080 for the smaller model and another resolution bump, say 4X from the 5/5s models so 2272x1280 and maybe shift to OLED), camera, and inclusion of Force Touch. Just my $0.02.

 

[HiDEF]

Here we go again, what? Do I need to get out the benchmark links?

Sure, why not.

I love this 'Internet tough guy' tone you're taking with me; keep it coming.

And to be perfectly clear, I own multiple Apple products and praise their efforts but doesn't mean I have to be a sheep and follow the herd.

 

[epicrayban]

Adding more specs means higher production costs. And we can't have that cutting into their profit margins. So they'll spec it just enough for that year.

The Apple Watch is under-specced (reviews have said as much). As is the iPhone 6 (RAM). As is the new Macbook Retina Air (this is not the Retina Macbook Air I was hoping for).

 

[Technarchy]

Here we go again, what? Do I need to get out the benchmark links?

Sure, but you'd have to engage in some epic cherry picking to find benchmarks to suggest the iPhone 6 is flat out superior to the S6.

 

[smorrissey]

Samsungs hardware doesn't directly compare to Apple as it is running a totally different OS with a custom skin on top of it. You should be asking about Samsung competing with HTC, LG, and Sony on hardware.

Yes, still having just 1GB of RAM on the iphone 6 is lame...Also minimum screen resolution in 2015 should be 1080 not less...