iPhone 6 Plus teardown: Lots of hardware in small space

There is no question that the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are now the apples of many tech lovers' eyes, what with the Cupertino-based company having already broken its record for online pre-orders of the new smartphones. In this teardown, we focus on Apple's flagship, the larger "phablet" 6 Plus.

The iPhone 6 Plus packs a host of new tech including Apple's A8 SoC manufactured by TSMC. (Source: iFixit)

The phone comes in three colours, including silver, gold, and "space grey" instead of the typical dirt-absorbent white of the earlier models. It's interesting to note that iFixit gave the new line-up an improved repairability score of 6/7 out of a possible 10, because of the phone now has an easily removable battery and the fingerprint cable no longer rips off when opening the case. Enough about the iPhone's aesthetics and sales numbers, let's get down to business and see what makes the 6 Plus tick!

Case features

The 6 Plus case features an aluminium back plate with a typical plastic front, which is held together with Pentalobe screws. A noticeable "bump" from the improved optics of the camera runs along the case edge that raises it about 0.6mm, not a big deal because the optics provide improved image quality. Once the case is cracked open, you'll notice the hardware is fastened with Philips screws, making them easier to disassemble. The first thing that stands out when looking inside is the size of the battery. Apple went with a massive Li-Ion battery rated at 2,915mAh that has a reported 16-day standby time, which is removed using an adhesive pull-tab. The FaceTime camera and Retina display LED back-plate are clearly visible along with the home button with integrated Touch ID fingerprint scanner.

Display takes serious real estate

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