BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were released today to throngs of dedicated fans across the country. In Bakersfield, Valley Plaza was ground zero for the Apple-loyal.
Pre-orders for the devices began Monday, and set a company record with four million copies sold, twice the number of iPhone 5 pre-orders.
Fans who spent their night waiting on the sidewalk for doors to open were also prepared to open their wallets, with the two phones costing between $200 and $650, depending on which carrier contract, if any, they chose.
In addition to the standard upgrades expected of any new iPhone iteration, the iPhone 6 Plus marks Apple's first entry into the phone-tablet hybrid market, or "phablet," as they've been called. The 5.5-inch screen comes with some pros and cons.
"Let's say you're used to something like this, which is the iphone 5S, which is usually my day to day phone. This might feel a little bit big," said Re/code columnist Lauren Goode. "It didn't fit well in some of my pockets, I couldn't carry it with me when I was working out. So as with most large screen phones, there are positives and there are some downsides to having such a big screen."
Besides the larger screen, the camera has seen improvements, able to capture high-definition footage with a sharper focus.
The phones also boast the new Apple Pay system, turning customers' handsets into wallets by allowing them to purchase items by swiping their phones over credit card readers.
The new iOS 8 software was released Wednesday, allowing iPhone 4S, 5, and 5S users to upgrade.
Pre-orders for the devices began Monday, and set a company record with four million copies sold, twice the number of iPhone 5 pre-orders.
Fans who spent their night waiting on the sidewalk for doors to open were also prepared to open their wallets, with the two phones costing between $200 and $650, depending on which carrier contract, if any, they chose.
In addition to the standard upgrades expected of any new iPhone iteration, the iPhone 6 Plus marks Apple's first entry into the phone-tablet hybrid market, or "phablet," as they've been called. The 5.5-inch screen comes with some pros and cons.
"Let's say you're used to something like this, which is the iphone 5S, which is usually my day to day phone. This might feel a little bit big," said Re/code columnist Lauren Goode. "It didn't fit well in some of my pockets, I couldn't carry it with me when I was working out. So as with most large screen phones, there are positives and there are some downsides to having such a big screen."
Besides the larger screen, the camera has seen improvements, able to capture high-definition footage with a sharper focus.
The phones also boast the new Apple Pay system, turning customers' handsets into wallets by allowing them to purchase items by swiping their phones over credit card readers.
The new iOS 8 software was released Wednesday, allowing iPhone 4S, 5, and 5S users to upgrade.