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The iPhone 6 may be able to last longer than the 5S on a single battery charge, at least according to new scuttlebutt.
Recent reports claim that Apple will launch two new iPhones — one with a 4.7-inch screen, the other with a 5.5-inch display. The 4.7-inch model will reportedly see a 15 percent jump in battery performance over that of the iPhone 5S, according to AppleInsider, citing a report from Chinese tech site IT168. If true, that would be a healthy and welcome boost over the 8 percent increase from the iPhone 5 to the 5S.
Battery performance is one of the top complaints of smartphone users. How many of us run out of juice long before the day is over, requiring us to find a spot to recharge? Battery technology has improved over the years. But our smartphones now pack more and more features that can easily eat away at battery life. Finding a way to boost battery performance while keeping phones relatively slim and trim is the ultimate challenge.
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Assuming the report from IT168 is even accurate, the 4.7-inch iPhone would use an 1,800 mAh battery, which would still keep the phone thin. Recent rumors claim that the next-generation iPhone will be thinner than previous models. The larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 would go even further by packing a 2,500 mAh battery, representing a 60 percent jump in battery performance from the iPhone 5S, AppleInsider noted.
The new iPhone batteries would still leave Apple behind some of its Android rivals in capacity. Samsung’s Galaxy S5 sports a 2,800 mAh battery. All else being equal, that capacity provides better performance, though the S5 weighs in as thicker than the current iPhone. Still, a slightly beefier phone may be a small price to pay for better battery life.
In a commercial spot released last week, Samsung even dissed Apple by referring to iPhone users as “wall huggers” who must always be near an outlet to keep recharging their phones.
“I hear there’s a new iPhone coming out soon,” says one person in the ad. “Hope it has a better battery,” responds someone else.
Samsung’s Galaxy S5 does offer one distinct advantage — a user-replaceable battery. Spend the money for a second battery, and Galaxy S5 owners can simply swap out the spent battery for a fresh one. Apple has consistently cordoned off the iPhone’s battery, so users cannot swap or replace it.
