iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sales are still going strong but it’s never too early look ahead to Apple’s next flagship smartphone, which could be just three months away. Here’s what we know about the iPhone 6S release date, price and specs in the UK which might end up being the iPhone 7 including a possible 12Mp camera and Force Touch display. Also see: Best new phones coming in 2015.
Update 31 July: The influx of leaked iPhone 6S images continues with photos of what appears to be internal components destined for the new phone, as shown below. There’s not much we can glean from the leak aside from further evidence that the external design of the iPhone is unlikely to see much in the way of changes.
Update 27 July: A leaked image reportedly showing the iPhone 6S shows the phone will have the same design and the Touch ID is unlikely to be moved from the home button to the rear or even the display. Reports also suggest a stronger aluminium to avoid a repeat of bendgate.
Update 23 July: In the Apple versus Samsung battle it looks like Samsung has blinked first as multiple rumours suggest that the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will be launched in August instead of September to avoid a clash.
Update 20 July: A new report suggests that Apple will finally ditch 16GB as the base storage capacity for the iPhone – contrary to the report below from 9to5Mac. M.I.C.Gadget thinks the line-up will include 32-, 64- and 128GB options saying “We can’t tell you from what Foxconn’s department we received information, but we can only say that the packaging of the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus don’t have sticker with ’16GB capacity.”
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iPhone 6S: The name and models – will it be the iPhone 7?
Following Apple’s history with smartphones, the next iPhone will be an ‘S’ model. However, there’s always the possibility it will put an end to this tradition so we may be in store for theiPhone 7 this year – you just never know. In fact, reports suggest that the new iPhone is going to be so different from the current models that Apple will indeed skip to the iPhone 7. This is what KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks who has a proven track record of predicting Apple launches correctly.
For the last two launches, Apple has introduced two new iPhones. We currently have the iPhone 6 and the larger iPhone 6 Plus and previously Apple launched the iPhone 5S andiPhone 5C. Will we get two models again this year? We think so but rumours are thin on the ground on the subject at the moment but it’s early days so stay tuned as we’ll be updating this article as new information becomes available. Read: The best iPhone 6 alternatives.
iPhone 6S release date: When is the iPhone 6S coming out?
These days it relatively easy to predict when a new generation of a flagship smartphone will arrive. Most manufacturers announce a new model annually while a few go for every six months.
Apple is one of the former and if we look at previous launches, it’s highly likely that the iPhone 6S will be announced in September and will go on sale a week or two afterwards. Of course, if the launch event is towards the end of the month, the iPhone 6S release date could be early October. Bear in mind that if there are two new iPhones announced this year, they may not go on sale on the same day.
However, if we are to believe Economic Daily News (translated), the iPhone 6S will arrive a month early in August. It claims this year’s yield for the device is better than expected so Apple may jump its own gun.
What we do know is that Apple will give us our first look at iOS 9 since its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) begins on 8 June. It’s pretty much a given that the iPhone 6S will come pre-loaded with iOS 9 so we will at least see the software features of the phone before it is announced.
Vodafone has revealed the iPhone 6S or ‘New iPhone’ as it is referred to will go on sale on 25 September with pre-order starting on 18 September. The information was sent in an email to staff but seen by Mobile News.
It looks like Apple is planning the biggest iPhone launch yet with a record order of between 85 million and 90 million units from its manufacturer, the Wall Street Journal reports via people familiar with the matter. Last year Apple ordered 70-80 million. The source also confirmed the screen sizes will remain the same at 4.7- and 5.5in.
iPhone 6S: Design and specs
With an ‘S’ model iPhone, most things tend to stay the same in terms of design and specs. Usually there are a few tweaks here and there but Apple will save major changes for the next full model number – ie the iPhone 7. The above leaked image shows an essentially identical case for the iPhone 6S.
It seems likely then that the iPhone 6S will look the same as the current iPhone 6. It will use the same chassis and come in the same colour options. The weight might change though due to different components inside or a new sapphire glass. The below image shows the design will be just 0.13mm thicker so it will fit most existing cases.
The latest on the iPhone 6S comes via KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who is known for accurate info. Kuo says the next iPhone will have a bigger screen and be 0.2mm thicker and 0.15mm taller than the current model. Colours will also reportedly match the Apple Watch and the iPhone will use the same 7000 series aluminium.
A lot of Apple users will be hoping for 32GB of storage as the smallest iPhone but it looks like it will remain at 16GB. The below image reportedly shows a 16GB Toshiba flash chip with a 19nm process. It seems that we’ll get the choice of 64- and 128GB alongside this again.
However, a leak which supposedly has sources at iPhone manufacturer Foxconn, says the lowest capacity will be 32GB.
An S model sticks with the same screen size so we’re probably looking at 4.7in and if there is an iPhone 6S Plus then it should remain at 5.5in. Resolutions are also likely to stay the same although one rumour suggests the new iPhone will have a 5in display with a 400ppi and what about the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge rivalling concept below by Michael Shanks?
So what will change?
If the design of the iPhone 6S remains the same, then Apple will provide upgrades in the form of new hardware. There are various rumours floating around, the most obvious of which, is of a new processor. The iPhone 6S will come with an A9 chip and could also get an upgrade in the RAM department to 2GB.
The Touch ID fingerprint scanner could be integrated into the display, according to one rumour, rather than sitting in the home button. But the most interesting rumour about the display, and more likely, is that it could feature Force Touch which has made its debut on theApple Watch and new MacBook. The technology means the screen can tell between a tap and a press opening up various opportunities. As mentioned at the top of the page, sources say this is confirmed for the new iPhone models.
The possible addition of Force Touch has been confirmed, according to Bloomberg’s sources. The report also states that the new iPhone models will keep the 4.7- and 5.5in screen size options.
There are also reports from the WSJ that the iPhone 6S (possibly only the 6S Plus according to conflicting rumours) will support Force Touch. The source is apparently an Apple supplier, so it’s best to take this with a pinch of salt – Apple often tests technologies using suppliers that never make it into the final product, so this may also be the case with Force Touch.
We thought the cameras would almost certainly be upgraded, although we’re not sure a rumoured 21Mp rear camera is probable and the latest rumours suggest a jump to a 12Mp sensor. The iOS 9 code suggests the front camera will be able to record 1080p video at 60fps, record 240fps slow motion and support a flash.
More likely is a reversible USB connector. We already have the Lightning connector which can be plugged in either way round so we’d put money on Apple doing it at the other end of the cable, too. Also highly possible, practically a given, is that the iPhone 6S will come pre-loaded with iOS 9 which will probably be detailed at Apple’s WWDC which normally takes place in June.
There’s also a rumour suggesting that Apple may decide to use the same series 7000 aluminium that they use for the Apple Watch with the iPhone 6S. The Series 7000 aluminium is 60% stronger than standard aluminium, but keeps its lightweight form factor making it a great candidate for the iPhone 6S.
NFC will once again be present but with an upgraded chip. It’s unclear what this will mean for the iPhone 6S but it looks like it might add a secure element processor, removing the need for a separate chip.
One final rumour suggests that the iPhone 6S might be available in a rose gold colour in addition to the silver, gold and space grey, to match the rose gold Apple Watch Edition. Below is a concept image of a rose gold iPhone 6S by designer Martin Hajek.
This matches up nicely with what Kuo’s information who also says the iPhone will have larger screen and a slightly bigger body – 0.2mm thicker and 0.15mm taller.
iPhone 6S rumours: Did you mean Samsung Galaxy S6?
Google iPhone 6S and you’ll come across a sneaky little jibe from Samsung, which is known for taking stabs at Apple through its marketing. A search for ‘iPhone 6S’ will produce an ad at the very top of Google that reads “Awkard, you obviously mean S6,” linking to none other than Samsung.
Alternative results include “We think you mean S6,” and “The S6 goes all the way to the edge without bending.”
iPhone 6S price: How much will the iPhone 6S cost in the UK?
We don’t have any solid clues that point to the iPhone 6S’s price in the UK yet, but we expect that it’ll be similar to the price of the current iPhone models.
The iPhone 6 starts at £539, while the iPhone 6 Plus starts at £619.
[“source – pcadvisor.co.uk”]
