Apple's upcoming flagship smartphone iPhone 6 may feature a more powerful processor, a bigger display and several other features when it is released later this year but that could also mean the device's power would drain faster. And the company is now reportedly working on better battery life for its next generation smartphone.
The Cupertino giant, which released new operating system iOS 8 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2014 in San Francisco on Monday, hinted that the OS will help extend the phone's battery life, by giving users the option to switch off the apps which consume more battery.
"A presentation slide shown during the tech giant's Worldwide Developer Conference revealed the next-generation software will monitor battery usage by app," read a report by Daily Mail.
"By monitoring which apps use the most power, Apple users will be able to keep a closer eye on their battery life and know which services to close, in order to extend it."
Interestingly, Android users have been enjoying this feature for years, helping them avoid recharging their smartphones too often.
iPhone users have long been complaining about the short battery life of their devices, with many claiming it barely lasts a day. A survey by mobile discount aggregator WalletHero revealed that 97 percent of respondents want iPhone 6 to have a longer battery life.
Many even preferred an iPhone with powerful battery to one with a bigger screen.
"iPhone with bigger screen may attract many but the company should concentrate more on simple things like increasing the battery life, as smartphone batteries don't last long, which is irritating sometimes," said John, 29, who works at a multi-national company.
iPhone 6 Release Date
Several conflicting reports have emerged on the release date of iPhone 6. Apple is keeping mum on the device as usual but most reports have pointed to an autumn release.
The latest report by German website ApfelPage claims that the leaked internal documents of German wireless carrier Deutsche Telekom have given a strong hint that the iPhone 6 would be unveiled on 19 September.
The Cupertino giant is expected to come out with two variants of iPhone 6 - 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch - models this year, and both may have scratch-free sapphire crystal screen.
A research note by UBS Managing Director Steve Milunovich (via Barron's) had earlier said that the smaller iPhone or 4.7-inch variant would be unveiled either in August or September. Nikkei also reported that the device would be launched as early as September.
However, Reuters claimed, citing Taiwan's Economic Daily News, that the 4.7-inch model would be released in August, while the 5.5-inch variant would arrive in September.
Expected Specifications
According to South Korean brokerage KDB Daewoo Securities, the smaller model may come with a 1920x1080p (440ppi) resolution, while the larger device may feature a 2272×1280 (510ppi) resolution.
It is expected to be powered by a 20-nanometer A8 chip (64-bit), run on the recently released iOS 8, and come with an 8MP camera with several upgrades like flash and Optical Image Stabilisation.
iPhone 6 will feature low temperature polysilicon in-cell touch panels, Touch ID fingerprint security, NFC and metal casing, according to a report by Apple Insider, citing analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Another Chinese analyst - Sun Chang Xu - had also claimed that the device might have sensors that can detect pressure, temperature and humidity.
