2014 MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air comparison review: Apple laptop buying advice UK

The MacBook Air and the Retina MacBook Pro are portable, beautiful and high-performance laptops, but there is a £250 price difference between the two types of MacBook. This is the PC Advisor MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air laptop comparison review, which will help you understand which of the two types of MacBook is best for you. Our colleagues over at Macworld UK have done a more Apple-focused piece comparing the two Apple laptops which you should check out too: MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro review. Also read our MacBook Air 2014 review.

Both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro have recieved small updates in 2014, reducing the price of both line-ups and also giving each model a little spec boost. We expect Apple to release bigger updates for its MacBook ranges next year when Intel's Broadwell chips become available.

MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air comparison: build, design, portability

The differences here are small but may be significant. Both MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are stunningly built and finished devices, but the 2014 11-inch MacBook Air is 490 g lighter than the lightest Retina MacBook Pro, at 1.08 kg. While the MacBook Air gives the impression of being slimmer, it's still 1.7 cm at the thickest point, just a millimeter different. (See also: What's the best laptop you can buy in 2014?)

The 2014 13-inch MacBook Air model is probably a fairer comparison, and that weighs in at 1.35 kg, just 220g less than the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina. The 2014 13-inch MacBook Air weighs the same as the 2014 model. Let's take a closer look.

The MacBook Air is the ultimate ultraportable laptop. It has a beautiful unibody chassis that's just 18 mm thick. This is rigid, exceedingly tough and impeccably finished in satin sand-blasted aluminium. Expect Apple's usual high quality.

The Apple backlit keyboard now so widely copied by others is improved over earlier unibody MacBooks, such that light bleed through the sides of keys is greatly reduced. And that keyboard is one of the best in the business, with very short travel keys that we found made typing comfortable and nearly effortless.

The Apple MacBook Air sports the same supreme all-metal build quality that we've yet to see surpassed in other brands' laptops, styled with a wedged taper from rear to front edge. Despite Apple's reputation for assembling premium products at premium prices, we've not seen any Microsoft hardware partner match the features, build and attention to detail, either at the same price or higher.

One small visible change for the new MacBook Air is an extra pinhole on the left flank, marking an additional, second microphone. This trusted tech trickled down from the Retina MacBooks, adding noise cancellation to improve voice clarity in FaceTime and Skype calls.

The MacBook Air weighs in at a swallowable 1.35 kg. Switch to the MacBook Pro and you get a good selection of ports around the chassis, with Thunderbolt now at version 2. Unfortunately the HDMI output looks to be set to the older HDMI 1.2 standard or below as we still couldn't get any better than 1920 x 1200-pixel output through this port. This won't be an issue when connecting to full-HD televisions or projectors, but it does mean you need to use a valuable Thunderbolt port to connect a high-resolution monitor with, eg, 2560 x 1600 display.

You can expect the same quality of design and finish as with the MacBook Air, but in a marginally larger and heavier chasis. The 2014 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is 50 g lighter than the 2012 Retina MacBook, it's now just 1.57 kg. As we said: marginal. The 2014 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is a bit heavier than the 13-inch, at 2.02 kg, but the same weight as the 2012 model. Both models are just 1.8 cm thick. These are not big laptops in any respect other than workspace, and we consider the MacBook Pro to be an ultraportable just the same as the MacBook Air.

The MacBook Pro with Retina Display benefits from an incredible 2880 x 1800-pixel IPS display, configured in HiDPI mode to look like the 1440 x 900 layout of every 15-inch MacBook Pro since 2006. Ports around the chassis are the same: two Thunderbolt 2, one USB 3.0, audio headset jack with Toslink digital audio, and MagSafe 2 power connector all to the left.

Simply: if absolute portability is your thing you may wish to opt for the MacBook Air. But you won't curse lugging around a MacBook Pro. These are all super portable PCs.

MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air comparison: specifications and performance

There's a hefty premium for the top model MacBook Pro over the entry-level £999 13in Retina MacBook. The top spec 15in Retina MacBook Pro will set you back £1,999. The extra £1000 will buy you an Intel quad-core processor with built-in Intel Iris Pro graphics, compared with the dual-core Intel processor with Intel Iris graphics. The baseline clock speed is up to 2.8GHz for the dual-core and 2.5GHz for the quad-core. Choose from 8GB RAM or 16GB, and up to 1TB of PCIe-based flash storage.

For professional users and well-heeled gamers arguably the biggest justification for the top-spec Retina MacBook Pro is the discrete nVidia GPU with its 2 GB of video memory. As with the original Retina MacBook and previous Unibody models, these graphics are configured to automatically switch depending on loaded applications. You could also set only nVidia high-power graphics to be used (System Preferences/Energy Saver and deselect 'Automatic graphics switching'); or use the gfxCardStatus menu app to manually lock Intel graphics on.

For many users the 'low-power' Intel integrated graphics will prove quite sufficient, making the upgrade to nVidia machine less justifiable. In our tests, we found Intel Iris Pro could keep up with nVidia GeForce when playing games at standard screen resolutions. And in fact, Iris Pro could be faster.

For lovers of peace and quiet though, do note that running the Intel Iris Pro graphics means louder fan noise. The integrated graphics run hotter than nVidia's and introduce clearly audible noise throughout most gameplay.

Can the MacBook Air compete? You bet it can. The Mid-20134 of the MacBook Air has a 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor.

It's worth noting that this dual-core chip still includes Hyper Threading too, to process four concurrent threads, and will also dynamically overclock to twice its rated speed, 2.7 GHz in Turbo mode. While Intel talks of its Core i-Series chips' baseline speed and their Turbo peak speed, one could also view this processor as a 2.7 GHz part that runs predominantly underclocked at half its baseline speed.

There's 128 GB PCIe-based storage as standard across both 11.6in and 13.3in models.

Graphics on the MacBook Air aren't as powerful as the Pro, but unless you're planning on playing graphics-heavy games you should be satisfied with the Intel HD Graphics 5000 found in the 2014 MacBook Air models.

When it comes to battery life, the MacBook Air is the clear winner. Expect up to 12 hours of use with the 13-inch MacBook Air compared with just 9 hours with the 13in Retina MacBook Pro.

The MacBook Pro is marginally the better performer, then. But we'd wager that you won't be worried about the performance of the MacBook Air. And when it comes to battery the Air is king. (See also: 20 best budget laptops of 2014.)

MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air comparison: UK price

When it first launched in October 2012, the 13in MacBook Pro with Retina display started at £1,449. This was reduced to £1,249 a few months later when the range received a processor upgrade. Now the entry-level price is a much more compelling £999. The MacBook Air pricing starts at £749, this is £100 less than the 2013 model, which started at £849. That's a £250 saving between the entry-level models of MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro.

If you wanted to compare like for like, the 13-inch MacBook Air pricing starts at £849, £150 less than the Retina display model.

What do you get for your £150? The key differences are a faster processor (2.6 GHz compared to 1.4 GHz) and Intel Iris Graphics as opposed to the Intel HD Graphics, plus 8GB RAM rather than 4GB. Of course, there's also that stunning Retina display to take into consideration.

2014 MacBook Air, 13-inch, £849, specs and features

• 128GB PCIe flash storage
• 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
• Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz
• Intel HD Graphics 5000
• 4GB memory
• 12 hour battery

2014 MacBook Pro, 13-inch, £999, specs and features

• 128GB PCIe flash storage
• 2.6 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
• Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
• Intel Iris Graphics
• 8GB memory
• 9 hour battery

The MacBook Air might be the cheapest option, but it's still worth considering paying just £150 more to can get a lot more power and features from the MacBook Pro with Retina display. However, you might prefer to keep your £150 and spend it on an external monitor so that you can hook your MacBook up to a second display. It really does boil down to your requirements. You are unlikely to be disappointed either way. (See also: Group test: what's the best ultraportable laptop?)

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S5 comparison review: Samsung's best ever smartphones fight it out

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4, which launches next Wednesday at IFA (see Samsung Galaxy Note 4 release date, price and specs UK), and the Samsung Galaxy S5, which launched at February's MWC, are Samsung's two best ever smartphones. Here we compare the S5 and Note 4 spec for spec to see which is best suited to you. 

It's worth pointing out that until the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 launches next week we won't be absolutely certain of its spec. However, so many details have already leaked that we've got a pretty good idea of what to expect. Of course, we will update this article next week. Also see: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 4 comparison review. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Price and UK availability 

As we mentioned above, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 won't be officially unveiled until next week's 3 September Unpacked event, which you'll be able to watch live at 2pm here on PC Advisor. We're expecting the new Note 4 to command a price of around £550- to £600. It should go on sale in the weeks immediately following IFA 2014. Also see: 41 best smartphones 2014.  

The Samsung Galaxy S5 was unveiled at February's Mobile World Congress, and its price has since dropped from its £599 RRP to as little as £413 SIM-free at Amazon at the time of writing. This means there will be a significant difference in price between the two smartphones when the Note 4 launches but, like the S5, we expect its price to drop considerably within a few months. Also see Samsung Galaxy S5 review. 

If you'll be getting either handset free with a contract this is unlikely to bother you, but it's worth pointing out that the cheapest way to buy any phone is SIM-free, and then pair it with one of the best SIM-only contracts.  

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Design and build 

While the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini is very much a more compact version of the standard S5, the Galaxy Note 4 won't simply be a larger version of that same flagship smartphone. Indeed, rather than adopting that cheap plastic dimpled rear, the new Note is expected to follow in the footsteps of the Samsung Galaxy Alpha with a metal chassis. 

Another key difference will be the sizing of these phones. With a 5.7in screen the Note 4 is what's known as a 'phablet', and it should be approximately the same size as the Note 3 - that's 151.2x79.2x8.3mm, and it weighs in at 168g. Samsung's 5.1in-screen Galaxy S5 is much smaller, at 142x72.5x8.1mm, and it weighs just 145g. 

Also, like its predecessor the new Note 4 will come with Samsung's S Pen. The S5 is not supplied with a stylus. 

Samsung is rumoured to have stuck with the same colour range for the Note 4 and S5: Charcoal Black, Shimmery White, Electric Blue and Copper Gold. 

We also expect the fingerprint scanner, heart-rate monitor and IP67-rated dust- and waterproof protection found in the S5 and S5 mini to be added to the Galaxy Note 4.

New to the Note 4 will be a UV scanner and Retina scanner. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Screen 

Not only is the 5.7in Note 4's screen significantly larger than the 5.1in panel of the Galaxy S5, it will also be much higher in resolution. While the S5 has a full-HD (1920x1080) display, with a pixel density of 432ppi, the Note 4 will have a Quad HD screen with a whopping 2560x1440 resolution and 515ppi density.  

Forget what Apple says about the human eye not being able to see individual pixels once you get past a certain point. We've seen Quad HD before in the LG G3, and you really can't appreciate how awesome is the difference until you see HD, full-HD and Quad HD side by side. 

Samsung will more than likely use Super AMOLED display technology for the Note 4, and like the S5 it will reveal vibrant colours and have decent viewing angles. 

It's been rumoured that a version of the Note 4 with a curved or flexible screen will also be available in some parts of the world. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Processor, graphics and performance 

The Note 3 blew the competition out the water when it launched last year, and we have complete faith in the Note 4 doing the same. It'll run a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 805 processor with a huge 4GB of RAM and Adreno 420 graphics. Its performance will be blistering - check back soon to find out exactly how fast is the new Note 4. 

The Samsung Galaxy S5's 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801, 2GB of RAM and Adreno 330 graphics are meagre by comparison, although the S5 revealed some stunning performance in our benchmarks.  

In Geekbench 3, for example, the S5 achieved 926 points in the single-core test, and 2869 in multi-core; in GFXBench 3.0's T-Rex we saw 28fps; and in SunSpider the Galaxy S5 turned in 824ms. See how these scores compare in our article: What's the fastest smartphone 2014. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Storage 

Whereas the Samsung Galaxy S5 comes in versions with 16- or 32GB of storage, and includes a microSD slot that lets you add up to 128GB, the Note 4 will be available with 16-, 32- or, allegedly, 64GB of storage. It, too, will feature a microSD slot that supports expansion up to 128GB, and with either phone you'll be able to make use of cloud storage. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Connectivity 

Connectivity-wise the S5 and Note 4 should see few - if any - differences. Both will feature 4G (also see: what is 4G), dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC (also see: What is NFC), Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, DNLA, MHL, a 3.5mm headset jack and Micro-USB. We hope Samsung will also bring the S5's Download Booster, which pairs 4G and Wi-Fi to offer theoretical maximum download speeds of 400Mb/s, to the Note 4. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Cameras 

The same rear camera will be fitted to the Note 4 as to the S5, and you can expect the Camera app to feature the same filters and modes. That's a 16Mp snapper with a dual-LED flash and autofocus, also able to capture video - UHD at 30fps, full-HD at 60fps and HD at 120fps. 

The S5 is also fitted with a 2Mp front-facing camera for selfies and video chat. We don't yet know whether Samsung will apply this camera to the Note 4, or go with the very slightly higher-rated 2.1Mp model found on the S5 mini. Either way, there will be very little difference between the two. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Software 

When the Note 4 launches it will, like the S5, be running Android KitKat. When Android L is released later this year both will be upgraded. 

Samsung overlays its own user interface, too. On the S5 you get the latest version of TouchWiz, which features a redesigned Settings menu that is easier to navigate and now features rounded colourful icons, as well as new quick access features and the ability to hide (if not uninstall) preinstalled apps.  

Meanwhile, on the Note 4 we think we'll see the latest version of the Magazine UX, which is a tablet-friendly version of TouchWiz that aggregates content on your home screen. There will more than likely be some tweaks to support the new fingerprint scanner, heart-rate monitor, Retina scanner and UV scanner, too. 

Both will feature Samsung's usual preinstalled apps, such as S Health, S Voice, Samsung Apps and more. 

We'll be able to get a proper look at the Note 4's software when we get it in our hands at IFA 2014. Look out for our Note 4 hands-on review toward the end of next week. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Battery life 

One of the plus points of the Note 3 over the S4 is its larger-capacity battery, and this is a trend we expect to continue with the Note 4. The battery will, like the S5's, more than likely be removable (meaning you can swap it out for a spare, although we prefer to use a portable USB charger), and we can't see Samsung specifying anything lower than the 3200mAh cell fitted to the Note 3. Given the higher-resolution screen and faster hardware, it may even give this specification a boost. 

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S5 has a smaller 2800mAh battery, but also a lower-resolution screen and slower hardware. It comes with a fantastic Ultra Power Saving Mode that can squeeze an extra 24 hours of life from the S5 once the battery capacity gets down to 10 percent by switching to a greyscale screen mode and turning off inessential apps. Samsung has already added this feature to the S5 mini, and we see no reason why it wouldn't also add it to the Note 4. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Verdict 

Arriving a good six months after the Samsung Galaxy S5, it's no surprise that the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has significantly faster hardware. It's important to note, however, that all flagship smartphones are now very fast, and the chances of the average user being able to tell the difference between them is minimal. However, what might sway you in the new Note's favour is its larger, higher-resolution screen and potentially longer battery life. Whether it sways you enough to part with an extra £200 over the S5 will depend on your budget. 

Also see: 38 best Android smartphones 2014. 

Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 release date, price and specs UK: New video and fingerprint features

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 video teaser

Samsung's next flagship Android smartphone will be the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. It's tipped to have a 5.7in, 2K screen, a Retina scanner and a UV sensor, and come in a premium metal version with a flexible screen. An Ultrasonic cover will also be available to aid the visually impaired. Here's everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 release date, price and specs. Invites for the IFA 2014 Unpacked event are now out. We've added a section for photos, render and concepts Also see Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 release date, UK price and specs.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4: Release date

Previous versions of the Galaxy Note have been released in and around September and it looks like the Galaxy Note 4 will be no different. Indeed, industry insiders have suggested the Note 4 will be unveiled at a pre-IFA 2014 Samsung Unpacked event on 3 September and now invitations have been sent out (see above) with the massive hint 'note the date'. See also: The best smartphones you can buy in 2014.

The Unpacked 2014 Episode 2 event will take place simultaneously in three cities at 3pm CEST: Berlin, Beijing and New York. Also see: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

The latest news comes from The Korean Times, which quotes 'an executive of a Samsung partner' as having said: Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Note 4 phablet, UHD OLED TVs, a Google Glass rival, and home appliances at the upcoming IFA. The Note 4 will have two versions - one with a curved OLED display for niche markets and the other a flat OLED display for mass marketing." Also see: What's the best Android phone 2014?

Yoon Han-kil, senior vice president of Samsung's product strategy team, told Reuters that the firm is planning to launch a new Galaxy Note handset with a "new form factor" in the second half of the year.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4: Photos, renders and concepts

This render shows a possible use for curved screen technology

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 looks all set to go, if this image leaked by TK Tech News of its packaging is anything to go by.

See also: Samsung Galaxy S5 review: flagships smartphone has new features but doesn't stand out from the crowd.

This is a concept of the Galaxy Note 4 from behance.net showing a 5.9in display in a super thin design.

Concept-phones.com has published the above concept images.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4: Price

There's no leaked information on the Galaxy Note 4 yet and that's not too surprising since we're a few months away from its expected launch. We'll bring you any information as and when we hear it but in our expert opinion it is likely to come in between £550 and £600 – similar to the Galaxy S5.

Eraphone, which has leaked the device, has the Galaxy Note 4 at IDR 9,499,000 (£487). This listing has also given detailed information on specs so read on.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4: Specs

The Galaxy Note series is deliberately big, what we would regrettably call a phablet. The Galaxy Note 3 stands at 5.7in and that's bigger than the Galaxy Note 2's 5.5in display.

Screen

The Galaxy Note 4 was expected to continue that trend with an even bigger screen – perhaps 5.9in or even 6in matching the LG G Flex. However, SamMobile has reported that the SM-N910A has been listed on Indian import tracking site Zuba with a 5.7in screen. Leaked specs from Erafone also include a 5.7in size and a Quad HD resolution like the LG G3 (1440 x 2560).

According to The Korean Times, both standard- and curved-screen versions will be available. We've since heard yet more rumours that the flexible display version will be a premium version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 with a metal case. Although, no images of the device show this feature.

As you would expect, the device will come with Samsung's S Pen stylus and will be powered by Android's Google's Android operating system. It is rumoured that the device will be able to recognise personal handwriting to unlock it and perform functions like calling contacts.

Evleaks reports that the Galaxy Note 4 will come in the same colour options as the Galaxy S5. That means it will be available in Charcoal Black, Shimmery White, Electric Blue and Copper Gold.

Android

By September we could well have a new version, 4.5 or maybe 5.0 codenamed 'Lolipop' so the hope is that the Galaxy Note 4 will come with the latest software. However, the Eraphone listing states Android 4.4.3 KitKat. Also see: Google I/O 2014: what new products to expect, and Android 4.5 Lollipop release date and new features.

Processor

Under the hood, the Galaxy Note 4 will supposedly wield the recently announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor. That's a quad-core Krait 450 chip which can be clocked up to 2.7GHz and has an Andreno 420 GPU. Eraphone states there will be two models of the Note 4: one with the above chip clocked at 2.5Ghz (SM-N910S) and one with an Exynos 5433 octa core processor (SM-N910C).

AnTuTu benchmarks back this up showing Samsung’s own Exynos 5433 octa-core processor. A score of 40,303 is better than the Snapdragon 805 but slightly begind the nVidia Tegra K1.

It's likely that Samsung will launch different processors for different markets like it has done in the past - for example, the Galaxy S4. It's anyone's guess as to which we will get in the UK.

Also see: 25 best Android phones 2014.

Another titbit about the screen is the possibility it will be three-sided so messages can be read from an angle. That's hard to imagine but sounds interesting and is what Lee Young Hee, executive vice president of mobile at Samsung, told Bloomberg.

Camera

We've not really head much on the camera side of things but the eraphone leak suggests a 16Mp (3456 x 4608 pixels) rear camera with optical image stabilization, autofocus and a dual-LED flash. It will be able to shoot video in up to 4K resolution (2160p@30fps).

SamMobile backs this up adding that the device will have modes including Wide Selfie and Side Touch (tapping the side of the phone to take a photo).

Storage and memory

Yet more details from eraphone include three storage capacities: 16-, 32- and 64GB along with a whopping 4GB of RAM. The phone will also have a microSD card slot capable of accepting up to 128GB.

Waterproof

Like the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy Note 4 is thought to be coming with a dust- and waterproof design. It's something we're seeing more of after Sony made it an almost standard feature for higher end devices like the Xperia Z1 Compact.

Retina scanner

On 14 July Samsung itself gave away a clue that the Note 4 could have a Retina scanner. Its @SamsungExynos account tweeted "Security can be improved using features unique to us. That's what we envision. What would you use?" along with a picture of what looks very much like a Note phablet with an eye and the words 'Unlock the future'.

Ultrasonic cover

Sammobile reports that one of the official accessories will be an ultrasonic cover, targeted toward those with vision impairments. According to the site's source, it will detect nearby objects (you can alter the range) and provide appropriate feedback. It will not detect drop-offs, however, and should be used as well as rather than instead of a cane, dog guide or human guide.

UV sensor

The latest leak comes from Sammobile, which suggests the Galaxy Note 4 will also feature a UV sensor. Part of the S Health system, it will warn users if they are getting too much sun.

"The sensor will be used to measure the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation and prevent users from damaging their skin, ageing it prematurely, and increasing their risk of skin cancer by giving recommended guidance based on the current UV index level at that particular place and time. To actually measure the UV radiation, users will need to maintain over 60 degree angle of elevation towards the sun against the back of the sensor," reports Sammobile.

"There are a total of 5 UV index levels: Low, Moderate, High, Very High and Extreme, and users will be presented with different precautions based on the level of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation," it continues.

Fingerprint scanner

According to Sammobile.com, in common with the S5 and Galaxy Alpha the Note 4 will feature Synaptics' Natural ID solution. One part of the fingerprint scanner is built into the Home button, and the other takes input from the main touchscreen. All four fingerprint canning features we saw in the S5 - Screen Lock, Private Mode, Samsung Account Verification and PayPal Payments - are coming to the Note 4.

In a leak from GSMArena.com, a handset thought to be the Samsung Galaxy F but thought by many, including evleaks and TK Tech News, to be the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, is shown with an aluminium bezel (see photo above). Turns out this is the Galaxy Alpha.

Keep an eye on this article over the coming weeks and months for updates, but for now let us know your thoughts on the Galaxy Note 4 in the comments section below.

Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 isn't the only curved-screen smartphone - also see the Samsung Galaxy Round and LG G Flex.

Follow Chris Martin and @PCAdvisor on Twitter.

Compare with other Galaxy Notes | FindTheBest

Dragon Notes review - speak your sticky notes

As a writer, I find Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice-recognition software wonderful. Its time-tested and mature speech recognition engine understands me well, and it can transcribe audio files I record on my phone. But at £80 to £150, it's also an expensive piece of software, and no, you can't download a demo. What you can do if you're curious about Dragon's speech recognition is plop down £17 for Dragon Notes, marketed as a smart sticky-note replacement. Dragon Notes for Windows 8 tablets, as well as for PCs supporting Windows 8 and Windows 7, supports US and UK English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. It will be available for download on June 19,2013 through the Nuance.co.uk online store for £16.99 for the first language and £6.99 for any additional language pack. To learn more or to purchase Dragon Notes, visit www.nuance.co.uk/dragon/dragon-notes. See also: Dragon Dictate 3 review.

Dragon Notes is supposed to be a complete product, but it feels a lot like a demo, especially if you've used any of Nuance's more powerful NaturallySpeaking products. There's no calibration procedure when you install it, and no tutorial. You can't transcribe audio files, and speech transcription is limited to 30 seconds, though that's actually longer than it sounds: I've discovered I can say quite a bit in that time. See all: PC Advisor software downloads.

To begin dictating you have to click two buttons, and then Dragon Notes just listens as you speak. Unlike with NaturallySpeaking, you don't see text forming as you speak--just a moving bar indicating the application is listening. This is similar to how speech recognition works in Swype, Nuance's mobile keyboard for Android. Listen first, transcribe later. See also: Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 Premium review.

Recognition quality is fairly good, as long as you keep your notes simple. Dragon Notes had no trouble at all taking down a simple shopping list, and made just one minor error. It didn't fare so well when I tried dictating the first paragraph out of the Wikipedia entry for Alice in Wonderland: Although I do think "Alice's ventures in wonderland" would make for a good read, I am not so sure about a "fantasy world populated by pick you lyrics."

In terms of user interface, Dragon Notes makes an interesting compromise: It looks just like a Modern Windows app, but runs in a regular window. Your notes take up the bulk of the screen, each in its own little rectangle. Unlike Stickies, you can't change any of the visual settings for your notes: There's no way to customize the background, the font, or anything else really. This means that once you have more than a handful of notes, finding the one you're looking for will take some time. There's no built-in search feature, either. Dragon Notes makes it easy to share a note over email, Facebook, or Twitter, although I would recommend proofreading the text before sharing it with the world.

iPhone 6 release date, price, specs and new features: Invite confirms 9 September launch

UPDATE: Apple has sent out the invite for its iPhone 6 launch, which will be held on 9 September.

The iPhone 6 is one of the most anticipated smartphones of 2014 and with Apple's iPhone 5s now nearing its first birthday, iPhone 6 rumours are flooding in. We've collected all of those rumours into one place, so you'll know everything there is to know about the iPhone 6 until Apple actually announces the device later this year. We've investigated the possible iPhone 6 release date, iPhone 6 price rumours, spec rumours and new iPhone 6 features. We've also got some iPhone 6 photos to show you, a 'hands-on video' of an iPhone 6 mockup and iPhone 6 cases. Read: iPhone Air release date, specs, new features

This is the place where we present to you some of the more (and less) plausible iPhone 6 release date and new feature rumours from around the web. Continue reading to find out more about the iPhone 6 release date and its new features. See also: iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5 comparison review.

We've been lucky enough to have a trusted industry source describe the iPhone 6 to us. They've seen it in the flesh and held it ahead of the launch. Read about it: iPhone 6 described by someone who's seen it in the flesh.

For more, visit our iPhone 5s vs iPhone 6 comparison preview

iPhone 6: More leaked photos

Here are the latest leaked photos of the iPhone 6, via TMZ and Feld&Volk. They look pretty convincing.

iPhone 6 release date: When is iPhone 6 coming out?

We've been covering iPhone launches since 2007, which has stood us in good stead for predicting what to expect from Apple this year. The company hasn't launched a new iPhone outside of the five months between June and October - with a particular foundness for September. We're in that five-month window, so expect iPhone 6 talk to heat up from now (as if it's not hot enough already!) See also: iPad 6 release date, price, specs, new features.

While the history books suggest that there will be an new iPhone 6 release date around September/October 2014, rumours did suggest that Apple would launch the next generation iPhone at its WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) keynote on 2nd June. Apple instead used the event to unveil iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 Yosemite. See also: iWatch release date & rumour round-up

A new launch date of 9th September has been outed by re/code which says Apple has scheduled a big media event for that day. "As with September events past, the focal point of this one is to be Apple's next-generation iPhones" says the site which founded by former Wall Street Journalists Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. The invitation posted above confirms this date.

This is despite a report by Reuters that says that this date could be delayed due to a supply chain problem. The site reports that suppliers are struggling to get enough iPhone 6 screens ready.

"Two supply chain sources said display panel production suffered a setback after the backlight that helps illuminate the screen had to be revised, putting screen assembly on hold for part of June and July. One said Apple, aiming for the thinnest phone possible, initially wanted to cut back to a single layer of backlight film, instead of the standard two layers, for the 4.7-inch screen, which went into mass production ahead of the 5.5-inch version," said Reuters.

"But the new configuration was not bright enough and the backlight was sent back to the drawing board to fit in the extra layer, costing precious time and temporarily idling some screen assembly operations, the source said. Output is now back on track and suppliers are working flat-out to make up for lost time," it added.

September, September, September

The Mirror is reporting that the iPhone 6 will launch on September 19th in 32GB and 64GB, citing a report. Plus, the website MacRumors has slated a release for the third Friday in September which is in line with previous launches.

Another rumour, this one from unidentified supply-chain sources who spoke with Taiwanese media, is that the iPhone 6 will now launch in August, according to Reuters. That's a month earlier than we expected and a little unusual. The reports also suggest that a larger model with a 5.5- or 5.6in screen will then arrive in September, but again, the idea that Apple will launch two iPhones so close together seems unlikely.

See also: Why there won't be an iPhone 6C in 2014

A recent iPhone 6 release date rumour to arrive, and one that we think is probably true, is that Apple employees have been told that they are not able to take some specific dates in September as holiday. That's usually a sign that something big is coming on those days, so we're fully expecting it'll be the iPhone 6.

In fact, German carrier Deutsche Telekom has been telling Apple blog Apfelpage.de that the iPhone 6 will be released on 19th September, after being unveiled by Apple on 9 September, which seems like a safe guess to us.

This has now been backed up by Chinese web portal Tencent (via MacRumours) citing inside sources. It also touts 19th September for a launch while giving some information on specs (see below).

In July, a slightly dubious rumour from a MacRumors source suggested that the iPhone 6 would actually become available to buy on the 14th October, after a 16th September announcement. It seems odd that Apple would leave almost a month between the device's unveiling and the release date, as it usually releases its products around 10 days after their announcement. It's also a departure from Apple's usual Friday release date, as 14th October will be a Tuesday.

However, it is possible that Apple is experiencing some issues with production of the iPhone 6, and that it fears consumers will decide to purchase a rival device if no iPhone is unveiled in the expected month of September.

iPhone 6: Cases show off 4.7in iPhone 6

As with previous smartphone launches, case makers have jumped the gun on the iPhone 6 by announcing cases for the device ahead of the launch. Spigen and others have cases available which give us a good look at the iPhone 6.

"Each case looks to fit the new 4.7-inch iPhone 6 perfectly, with all of the features of the phone looking exactly as rumoured," says MobileFun.

iPhone 6: Retail box

There have been plenty of leaked photos of the iPhone 6 already, just scroll though this article to see a sample. However, the latest ones are the most convincing yet. They've been sent to TechRadar and show the iPhone 6 complete with the retail box which it will ship in. They apparently come from a beta tester and the site has 'no reason to believe' they are fake.

5.5in iPhone 6 delayed until 2015

KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via Apple Insider), says that the 5.5in model could be delayed until 2015 - or late in the fourth quater at best. This is due to technical problems with the phone's in-cell touch panel, as well as colour unevenness on the redesigned iPhone 6 metal casing.

Although similar problems are thought to be occurring on the 4.7in model, this will launch first with the 5.5in model to follow, according to Kuo.

iPhone 6 scam

The iPhone 6 absolutely hasn't launched yet, though, so don't be fooled by the most recent scam that's being emailed out to thousands of people from a convincing email address. The email, from sales@apple.com, says "The wait is over" and tells recipients that they can buy the iPhone 6 today. All they need to do is follow the links and fill out their Apple ID and password details. Please don't be fooled by this scam - it's a phishing site so entering your details will compromise your confidential details stored within your Apple account.

Find out more about the iPhone 6 phishing scam here.

See also: Is the iPhone 5c 8GB a good deal? Price and alternatives.

iPhone 6 concept by Martin Hajek.

Previous iPhone release dates:

To help you get a better idea of Apple's iPhone history, here are the release dates of its iPhones since the very first one was unveiled in 2007.

iPhone 1st gen		June, 2007
iPhone 3G		July, 2008
iPhone 3GS		June, 2009
iPhone 4		June, 2010
iPhone 4s		October, 2011
iPhone 5		September, 2012
iPhone 5s/5c		September, 2013

iPhone 6 rumours at a glance

• iPhone 6 Release date: September 2014
• iPhone 6 Screen sizes: 4.7- to 5.5-inches (or both)
• iPhone 6 Price: Same as existing: 16GB £549, 32GB £629, 64GB £709
• iPhone 6 possible new features:
  • Up to 128GB internal storage or expandable storage
  • Better camera
  • New iOS 8 operating system
  • Heart rate EarPods
  • NFC chip
  • A8 processor
  • Wireless charging
  • Will work with Apple's rumoured iWatch
  • Sapphire glass and LiquidMetal design

iPhone 6 rumours: Screen size

One of the most talked about elements of the iPhone 6 is its screen. Pretty much every rumour report, expert and source out there suggests that the iPhone 6 will be bigger than the iPhone 5s, and there are a surprisingly large number of reports that say we'll get two new iPhones this year, with one of those iPhones falling into the 'Phablet' category.

Among those set on the idea that Apple is working on a bigger iPhone is KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a very impressive track record when it comes to predicting Apple launches. He expects two new iPhones to arrive this autumn, one with a 4.7in display and the other with a 5.5in display.

That same rumour has been reiterated by numerous others who agree that we should expect a 4.7in and 5.5in iPhone, including UBS analyst Steve Milunovich, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster and several other analysts, as well as Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, so we're beginning to believe it might be true.

The latest rumours from the supply chain say that Foxconn, Apple's main manufacturing partner, will be building the majority of Apple's 4.7in and 5.5in iPhones, while Wistron will be responsible for building Apple's 4in iPhone, which could simply be a continuation of the iPhone 5s.

Plus, images reportedly confirming a bigger iPhone (above) emerged in May, showing what is claimed to be the official schematics for the iPhone 6 that have been leaked from Apple supplier Foxconn. The dimensions of the iPhone 6 shown are 138 by 67 mm, compared with the 123.8 by 58.6mm of the iPhone 5s.

The allegedly leaked schematics match up closely with many 3D dummy models of the iPhone 6 that have appeared in recent months, so they could well be the real thing.

Interestingly, there's very little talk of an 'iPhone 6c' so it's possible that Apple will leave out the 'c' line of its iPhones this year, or perhaps drop the colourful, cheaper model from the iPhone line-up completely.

iPhone 6 rumours: Design

In addition to the bigger screen, we expect that the iPhone 6 will have a bit of a new design. The latest rumours and leaked images suggest that the iPhone 6 will have little or no bezels, and many suggest that the iPhone 6 will have a thinner, lighter chassis.

Our industry contact which we mentioned at the top of the article confirmed that the iPhone 6 will have an 'edge-to-edge' display and a design which looks like the iPad mini. It sounds pretty similar to the above render and means the end of the flat sides which have been around since the iPhone 4.

The thinner, lighter chassis could be made possible with the use of Liquidmetal, a material that Apple has exclusive rights to. It's extremely strong and durable, and therefore can be used in smaller quantities to get the same level of build quality as aluminium. Apple has recently extended its exclusive license to use Liquidmetal in its products, adding further evidence to this rumour.

It's also thought that Apple is planning to use Sapphire glass in the iPhone 6, which is a "virtually scratch free" and "nearly indestructible."

This rumour is backed up by Apple CEO Tim Cook's confirmation that the company has built a new factory in Arizona that is being used to manufacture the sapphire glass. Currently, the material is only used in the iPhone 5s's Touch ID Home button and the cover of the iPhone's rear-facing camera, so we're pretty certain that Apple has bigger plans for the glass if it needs an entire factory to make it.

According to Digitaltrends.com, Apple has spent $578 million on a deal with GT Advanced technology, the sapphire glass maker, to speed up the development of sapphire glass displays destined for the iPhone 6.

A patent issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office in May covers the use of a Sapphire glass display and Liquidmetal bezel in a future iPhone, so a combination of those to materials it's certainly something that Apple is considering.

Apple design guru Jony Ive has also confirmed that the company is working with new materials for future devices, so LiquidMetal and sapphire seem likely.

As if we needed any more evidence of a sapphire crystal screen, YouTuber Marques Brownlee, has seemingly got his hands on a 4.7in iPhone 6 front facia 'straight from the production line'. Check it out in the video below.

Other design rumours include rounded edges more reminiscent of the latest iPod touch, as well as a relocated power button on the side of the device.

An unlikely feature for the iPhone 6 but interesting nonetheless and certainly a possibility for future iPhones is a wraparound display.

This rumour comes from an actual Apple patent, so hasn't been pulled out of thin air. Apple was granted a patent in May for "Electronic devices with sidewall displays," which basically suggestst that future iPhones could have a display that extends onto the sides of the device, providing interactive or touch sensitive portions that give access to slide to unlock funtionality, music player controls, messaging readout, caller ID, system controls and more.

Concept by Michael Shanks.

Most recently, an photograph hit the web of an alleged iPhone 6 chassis, and that photo seems to reveal that the iPhone 6 will have an illuminated Apple logo on the back like the one found on the back of Apple's MacBooks.

A second photo of what appears to be the back panel of the iPhone 6 emerged on 8 June on Nowherelse.fr, and again shows a cut out where the Apple logo should be, suggesting that the new iPhone could have an illuminated Apple logo.

The below photos from Uswitch adds further weight to the rumour that the iPhone 6 will have a light up logo. It is thought that the logo may indicate notifications such as a new email or text message.

Samsung seems to have picked up on the rumours of a bigger iPhone, launching a new Apple-bashing advert that points out that Samsung's Galaxy S5 already sports a bigger screen. Watch the advert below (you'll spot our sister website Macworld UK on the iPhone if you look closely.)

You can see more leaked iPhone 6 images below.

iPhone 6 rumours: Price

We won't know the price of the iPhone 6 until Apple announces it, but it's thought that the firm will keep the same pricing system as the iPhone 5s for the next generation of iPhone. That means the iPhone 6 price will start at £549.

iPhone 6 rumours: iOS 8

One thing which isn't so hard to work out is that the iPhone 6 will almost certainly come pre-installed with iOS 8, Apple's latest mobile operating system which was unveiled at WWDC in June. You can find out more about what to expect from iOS 8 here.

iPhone 6 rumours: Automatic unlocking

Despite not being a confirmed feature of iOS 8, the iPhone 6 is rumoured to come with an automatic unlocking feature similar to the one just announced for Google's Android L. No more need for Touch ID or a passcode – unless you're in a less secure environment.

Apple's patent for the feature, called 'location –sensitive security', says: "The security level and/or other device behaviour, configurations, or settings on a mobile device can be modified based on the location of the mobile device."

"In one example, a passcode is not required when the mobile device detects a current location corresponding to the user's home. In another example, a simple passcode is used when the mobile device detects a location corresponding to the user's office desk, but a longer or more complex alphanumeric passcode is used at other locations within the office, such as the cafeteria or conference rooms." it adds.

iPhone 6 rumours: Camera

It's highly likely that the iPhone 6 will have a better camera than the iPhone 5s. The iPhone 5s has an 8-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture, but rumour has it Apple is planning on boosting that to a 10-megapizel camera with an f/.8 aperture and an improve filter, according to Chinese website IT168.

Rather than adding loads of new pixels to the camera like some of its rivals, Apple is apparently going to focus its camera improvements in other areas such as image stabilisation and image enhancements.

iPhone 6 rumours: NFC?

Until recently the idea of having an iPhone with NFC technology was desirable, but ultimately wishful thinking. Well, it looks as if the tide may have changed with sources now suggesting that the iPhone 6 could feature some sort of NFC chip.

Our friends over at Macworld UK, reported on Apple filing for a new patent covering NFC, that could be used for mobile payments and also for iPhones to talk to each other. Read more about filing for a new NFC patent here.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also thinks NFC is on the way with the iPhone 6, and in May, a new note from Morgan Stanley analysts suggests that NFC will work with the Touch ID sensor in the iPhone 6, and that Apple will be the force that drives NFC's widespread commercial adoption for mobile payments.

"NXP is well positioned to participate in Apple's mobile payments ecosystem," said Hettenbach, explaining that NXP is expected to provide the NFC technology for Apple. "The company signed a licensing agreement with a customer in Q4'13, who we believe is Apple, related to its emerging ID business."

Reports that emerged at the end of July 2014 suggested that Apple is working with partners including Visa to launch a mobile payments system with the iPhone 6. Photos claiming to picture the iPhone 6's logic board surfaced alongside these reports, suggesting that the iPhone 6 will have support for 802.11ac WiFi and NFC to make the mobile payments system possible.

iPhone 6 to have 128GB storage?

Until now Apple has set the top limit of its smartphone storage at 64GB, which is pretty good internal storage for a smartphone. However, if you are using your iPhone as your main camera and primary source for music consumption, then this will soon fill up – if Apple choses not to equip the iPhone with expandable storage then 128GB would be a welcomed addition to its lineup.

The company has already expanded the storage of the iPad to offer a 128GB option, so it's certainly possible that Apple will choose to do the same with the iPhone this year.

According to Chinese Apple blog Feng.com, Apple will be releasing a 128GB 5.5in iPhone 6, but the rumoured 4.7in option will not have the larger capacity.

The Tencent site which offered the 19 September launch date said that Apple will launch the 4.7in iPhone 6 in 32- and 64GB variants.

iPhone 6 rumours: Heart rate & Lightning EarPods

Instead of sticking a heart rate monitor on the back of the phone like the Samsung Galaxy S5, Apple is rumoured to be integrating the technology into its EarPod headphone. According to secret.ly, they will also measure blood pressure and iBeacons to avoid losing them.

"Apple's new EarPods will have sensors in them, for heart rate & blood pressure. Also iBeacons so they don't get lost. They will require the lightning port, it's why the audio jack was moved to the bottom," says the site.

The iPhone 6 could be thinner than the iPhone 5s thanks to the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack, too, according to speculation that sparked from Apple's announcement of a Lightning-enabled headphone standard.

During WWDC 2014, Apple revealed a new program that allows third-party manufacturers to make headphones that connect to iOS devices via the Lightning port. This could potentially lead to the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is the thickest component in the iPhone 5S.

iPhone 6 rumours: Expandable storage

This is a contentious issue, because Apple have both a very successful pricing structure based on storage options and also an ever developing iCloud. But expandable storage is still the most popular way and unrestricting way that the majority of people would chose to expand the storage capabilities of their smartphones. An iSD card and slot would be a great way for Apple to tackle this current flaw of the iPhone. It almost definitely won't happen though.

iPhone 6 rumours: Wireless Charging

This is almost too Apple, it's almost shocking it hasn't been included yet. Apple's big rival, Samsung, already has the feature and other smartphones are sure to catch up soon also. Will Apple introduce wireless charging with the iPhone 6? Maybe, but there's no real evidence to back this up yet.

iPhone 6 rumours: Flexible screen

A flexible screen, that's crazy talk! Apparently not. Those chaps over at Samsung are already making noises suggesting that there will be a smartphone with a flexible smartphone coming out in 2014. If it's a hit, then it won't be long till Apple joins the party. God knows enough people have smashed their existing iPhone screens.

iPhone 6 rumours: Leaked images

One thing we're certainly not short of is iPhone 6 leaked images. In addition to lots of concept images that have been created by talented designers, some of which you'll have already seen in this article, there have also been photographs of alleged iPhone 6 parts that have come straight from sources on Apple's supply chain.

Many of the leaked parts match up, which makes it likely that they closely represent what the iPhone 6 will look like when it arrives. Below, you'll find an iPhone 6 hands-on video using an iPhone 6 mock-up based on dummy models of the device that allegedly emerged from Apple's supply chain. While the maker of this video is not trying to pretend that this iPhone is the real thing, we think it is a very convincing mockup and could well look very similar to the iPhone 6 that Apple releases this year.

This photo (below) comparing the Samsung Galaxy S5 to the iPhone 6 uses what's been described as an 'iPhone 6 final mockup' to show how the two rival smartphones might look beside eachother. It comes from Italian Apple blog Maccitynet.it, and shows that Apple's iPhone 6 may be much closer in size to Samsung's flagship.

Other iPhone 6 dummy models that have emerged are also pretty convincing, including the three shown below from 9To5Mac.

Another one from 9To5Mac is a brilliant video showing what iOS might look like on a 4.7in iPhone 6. It's actually a Motorola Moto X, which has a 4.7in display, modified to look like the iPhone dummy models we've seen floating around the web.

Taiwanese singer, actor and race car driver Jimmy Lin has posted a picture of himself with what he claims is an iPhone 6 on Weibo, and a second picture (below) showing an iPhone 5S beside this alleged iPhone 6.

Last year, Lin posted a similar photograph showing an iPhone 5C, which ended up being pretty accurate, so this could be the real deal. It could just as easily be fake, though, as it wouldn't be particularly difficult to mock up an iPhone 6 based on the leaked dummy models we've seen floating around the web.

 

We are particularly intrigued by this photograph of two iPhone 6 mockups, which comes from notorious Apple leaks provider Sonny Dickson on Twitter.

The devices pictured are not the actual iPhone 6, but dummy models that may have been created by case-makers preparing for the launch of the new iPhone. Nonetheless, they could provide a first-look and comparison of the size and shape of two iPhone 6 models expected (4.7in and 5.5in models).

For even more iPhone 6 pictures, check out this slideshow on our sister site Macworld UK to see more iPhone 6 leaked images.

We also rather like this comparison between the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S, which uses an interactive 3D render to show what the iPhone 6 might look like.

Go to the next page to see our 2013 iPhone 5s/iPhone relase date round-up.