iPhone 6 Plus Release Date, Case Pictures, Price, and Colors

Zachary Stieber
9/18/2014
Updated:
9/19/2014

The iPhone 6 Plus is the larger model of the new phone, and will cost more than the regular iPhone 6.

Both models are being released on Friday, September 19 in the United States, United Kingdom, and other first wave countries.

AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon, and C Spire will sell both models from Friday while Alaska Communications, Appalachian Wireless, Bluegrass Cellular, Cellcom, Nex-Tech Wireless, Silver State Communications, Strata, and Syringa Wireless will sell the models starting on September 26.

Gotta be Mobile notes that the Plus is the more popular model. “We expect stores, particularly Apple stores, to have ample iPhone 6 stock. The iPhone 6 Plus is probably going to be a little harder to find given the demand,” it said.

It’s also been reported that iPhone Plus pre-orders from some stores are sold out, especially in the United Kingdom.

“Pre-orders began on Friday, and the iPhone 6 Plus sold out almost instantly. It’s currently showing a 3-4 week delivery estimate - but the 4.7” iPhone 6 is still available with delivery in 7-10 working days,” reported the Daily Mirror.

Both iPhone models come in one of three colors--Gold, Silver, and Gray--and with one of three GB capacities--16, 64, and 128 GB.

The phones start at $199 (regular) and $299 (Plus) but increase with more GM. For the jump to 64 GB, the price jumps to $299 and $399; for the jump to 128 GB, the price jumps to $399 and $499. All prices are contingent on a two-year contract.

Apple has made two different cases available so far--a leather one and a silicone one. There are two different sizes, one for each mode. The leather case comes in black, soft pink, brown, dark blue, or red.

The iPhone 6 leather case is $45 while the Plus case is $49.

The black iPhone 6 Plus leather case. (Apple)
The black iPhone 6 Plus leather case. (Apple)

 

The iPhone 6 leather case in "soft pink." (Apple)
The iPhone 6 leather case in "soft pink." (Apple)

The silicone case comes in black, white, bright blue, pink, red, or lime green.

The silicone iPhone 6 case is $35 while the Plus is $39.

The blue iPhone 6 Plus silicone case. (Apple)
The blue iPhone 6 Plus silicone case. (Apple)

 

The green iPhone 6 silicone case. (Apple)
The green iPhone 6 silicone case. (Apple)

See an Associated Press story below.

Review: Devices, apps act like one under iOS 8

NEW YORK—The scores of new features in Apple’s software update for mobile devices can be boiled down to one word: unity.

Many iPhone owners also have iPads and Mac computers, and family members are likely to have Apple devices, too. With the new iOS 8 software for iPhones and iPads, those devices start to act like one. Apps on those devices start to unite, too.

Google’s Android software can’t compete with iOS' evolving unity because so many different companies manufacture Android devices, and each adds its own variables. Apple knows what goes into the few products it makes and can break down the walls between them.

The free update is available to owners of iPhone and iPad models going back to 2011, though older devices won’t get all the new features. The new software will also come with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which come out Friday.

Here’s a look at those “unity” features — and why iOS 8 is worth installing:

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— You can start tasks on one device and finish on another.

Let’s say you’re typing an email reply on your iPhone when you realize the message will be quite lengthy. You can pick up your iPad and finish there. With the upcoming Yosemite update for Mac computers, liking coming next month, you'll be able to use the Mac’s physical keyboard, too.

Picking up a task on a second device is easy. Just slide up the small app icon on that device’s lock screen, be it an iPhone or an iPad. On Macs with Yosemite, click the icon on the bottom left.

For now, this capability is limited to a handful of apps, including Apple’s Maps, Calendar, Mail, Messages and the Safari Web browser. And when you try to open a Web page on a second device, you still have to scroll down to where you were. With Maps, on the other hand, it takes me to the location I was viewing on the other device.

This feature, known as Handoff, will be more useful once outside developers take advantage of it. LG and Samsung have offered similar integration of their phones and tablets, but neither does it as extensively.

This screen shot made Sept. 17, 2014, shows the interactive notification feature available with Apple’s iOS 8 software update. The free update is available to owners of iPhone and iPad models going back to 2011, though older devices won’t get all the new features. The new software will also come with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which come out Friday. (AP Photo/Apple)

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— You'll be able to use your iPad or Mac to send texts or make phone calls.

Currently, you can send text-like messages from iPads and Macs with the Messages app, but the recipient also needs Messages. That excludes Android users. With iOS 8, those iPad and Mac messages will get relayed through the iPhone, so you can reach any other phone. The texting capabilities won’t be coming until next month, though.

What you can do now is use the iPad and the Mac to make and receive calls. The devices have to be on the same Wi-Fi network, so this won’t help if you left your phone at work. But it’s useful if the phone is charging in another room. Call quality was about what I'd expect from a speakerphone.

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— You'll be able to do more without switching from app to app.

If a text message comes in as you’re browsing the Web, you can pull down the notification and reply right there. You don’t need to leave the Web browser and launch Messages first. You can also delete an email or accept a calendar invite that way.

There are some limitations, though: You get only one reply for text messages. You then have to wait for another message to come in or open the full app. With email, you can mark a message as read or delete it, but you can’t reply. Like Handoff, this will be more useful once more apps take advantage of it and let you do more.

Meanwhile, if you’re chatting with a bunch of friends, you can see their locations (as long as they’ve shared it) without having to leave Messages to open a separate Find My Friends app.

This screen shot made Sept. 17, 2014, shows the predictive keyboard available with Apple’s iOS 8 software update. (AP Photo/Apple)

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— Members of the same households can share calendars and music more easily.

You pick up to five family members to join your network, for a total of six. These need to be people you trust, as they'll be using your credit card to make purchases. You can require approval for purchases, such as for kids’ accounts.

Family members will be able to share each other’s books, music, video and apps, so Mom, Dad and Junior won’t need to buy separate copies of the “Frozen” movie. A family calendar and a shared photo album also get set up. The individual still gets to decide which photos and videos show up there for other family members to see.

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— And there’s more ...

The walls between Apple apps and third-party apps are breaking down. For example, outside developers will be able to use Apple’s fingerprint authentication system with iOS 8. Before, it was limited to a few Apple services.

Beyond these “unity” features, owners of the new iPhones will be able to pay for goods simply by holding their device near a credit card terminal at retail stores. All iOS 8 users get quicker ways to type messages and reach favorite and recent contacts.

Although you don’t need to rush out to upgrade your devices right away, it'll eventually be worthwhile to do so, especially if you have a recent device or multiple Apple devices. While last year’s iOS 7 offered cosmetic changes and new gesture controls, this year’s update comes with plenty of new functionality.