The iPhone 6S is a lot like the iPhone 6 that preceded it but makes a number of key under-the-hood improvements that should take what’s already the best smartphone on the market and make it even better. The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus are virtually identical except for screen size, weight, and battery life. All the key features are available on both phones.
Important New Features of the iPhone 6S
Key changes introduced on the iPhone 6S include:
3D Touch support: The 6S’s screen supports 3D Touch, a feature introduced on the Apple Watch that allows the device to behave differently based on whether the screen is tapped or pressed for a longer period of time Improved cameras: Both cameras on the 6S are substantially improved over the 6. The back camera jumps from 8 megapixels to 12 and can now shoot video at 4K HD resolution. The user-facing camera goes from 1.2 megapixels to 5 and can use the screen of the iPhone as a flash. Also supported are Live Photos, an animated photo that can be activated using 3D Touch Better internals: The phone is built around Apple’s A9 processor and M9 motion coprocessor (the 6 series used the A8 and M8), and sports new chips for speedier connections to cellular and Wi-Fi networks.
iPhone 6S & 6S Plus Software Features
3D Touch support built into iOS and apps Live Photos Support for all existing iPhone features like FaceTime, Siri, GPS, AirPlay, App Store, Apple Pay, etc.
iPhone 6S Hardware Features
Improved cameras, as detailed above Improved internals, as detailed above 3D Touch support, as detailed above 2nd generation Touch ID fingerprint reader Taptic Engine, a force-feedback, haptics system that provides vibration as feedback for various interface actions on the phone Support for existing iPhone hardware features like GPS, the Lightning connector, photo and video capture, etc.
Screen
iPhone 6SBack camera: 12 megapixels, digital zoom up 5xUser-facing camera: 5 megapixelsiPhone 6S PlusBack camera: 12-megapixels, digital zoom to 5xUser-facing camera: 7 megapixels
Panoramic photos: up to 63 megapixel Video: 4K HD at 30 frames/second; 1080p at 120 frames/second slo-mo; 720p at 240 frames/second super slow-mo Battery Life Sensors
AccelerometerGyroscopeBarometerTouch IDAmbient light sensorProximity sensor3D Touch screenTaptic Engine for feedback
Colors
SilverGoldRose GoldSpace Gray
US Phone Carriers
AT&TSprintT-MobileVerizon
Size and Weight
16 GB32 GB64 GB128 GB
Introduced: Sept. 9, 2015Discontinued: Sept. 12, 2018
Previous Models
In past years when Apple has released new iPhones, it has kept the previous models around at lower prices. The same is true this year (all prices assume two-year phone contracts):
The iPhone 6 Plus will be available in 16GB and 64GB models for $199 and $299 The iPhone 6 will also offer 16GB and 64GB models for $99 and $199 The iPhone 5S will remain in a 16GB and 32GB version for free and $49.
