Apple launches iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus: "Most advanced phones in the world"

Following the monumental success of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple has now revealed the much-rumoured successors, the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus.

The iPhone 6S has a 4.7in Retina screen, while the iPhone 6S Plus sports a 5.5in Retina screen. The new iPhones also sport "7000 series aluminium, ion-strengthened glass".

BIlled as Apple's "most advanced smartphones", the phones feature a new "3D Touch" control method, which will recognise how long you press the screen, enabling new ways to control and navigate the iPhone.

MORE: iPhone 6S hands-on review

Force gestures, known as "Peek and Pop", are enabled by varying how hard you press the screen, with a light press allowing you to preview content and deeper presses actually opening the content, for example.

Apple promises "distinct tactile feedback" from sensors in the backlight of the display, with this haptic feedback again in line with the strength of your touch and adaptable on each handset.

"Quick Actions" gives you shortcuts to your most used apps, too.

Elsewhere there's a new third-generation 64-bit A9 chip, which promises a big jump in processor performance - 90% faster when it comes to graphics performance (GPU), 70% faster CPU performance. Fitting, as games were given top-billing in the iPhone launch event, fitting in nicely with the focus on games for the new Apple TV box.

The M9 motion coprocessor is embedded into the new A9 chip on board, promising to support more features running at the same time without guzzling your power, while Apple also mentioned a new "Hey Siri" feature, promising enhanced voice assistance.

The Touch ID sensor has been updated, too, the 2nd-gen processor promising to be twice as fast as the original.

There's finally an update to the iPhone camera, thanks to an all-new 12-megapixel iSight camera, which delivers 50% more pixels than the iPhone 6. And there's a new 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera with a new Retina Flash to boost the brightness (for selfies...).

The new iPhones can shoot 4K video, too - though it doesn't strictly have the pixels to display it and the new Apple TV box can't support 4K either.

"Live Photos" is another new camera feature, turning your still photos into short videos, extending your still images into GIF-like videos with sound. And you can send these to your Apple Watch, too.

LTE Advanced promises to be twice as fast for cellular connections, while Apple claims to have made the WiFi connection twice as fast, too.

A little dig at Android phones came in the shape of a "Move to iOS" app, which aims to make it easier for Android users to jump across to iOS and Apple.

A new Apple iPhone Upgrade program was also announced, promising a new iPhone every year for a cost of $32/month, an intriguing new way to sign-up to the iPhone ecosystem.

The new phones will be available in gold, silver, space grey and the new rose gold metallic finishes.

The iPhone 6s will be available in the UK for a suggested retail price of £539 for the 16GB model, £619 for the 64GB model and £699 for the 128GB model.

The iPhone 6s Plus will be be priced at £619 for the 16GB model, £699 for the 64GB model and £789 for the 128GB model.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus start on Saturday 12th September, with the new iPhones going on sale on Friday 25th September.

MORE: Apple launches iPad Pro with 12.9in screen

Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff and The Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).

Latest in Smartphones
iPhone 16e in black and white on a white background
iPhone 16e vs Sony Xperia 10 VI: what are the differences?
A blue iPhone 16 pictured next to a white iPhone 16e
The iPhone 16e's downgrades are in all the right places if, like me, movies on the move are your priority
iPhone 16e on white background
Apple officially unveils the affordable iPhone 16e complete with an OLED display and Dolby Atmos support
A blue iPhone 16 pictured next to a white iPhone 16e
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: what's the difference, and which one should you buy?
Apple
iPhone SE 4: release date rumours, screen speculation, design hearsay and more
Apple
A new iPhone SE could be launching next week
Latest in News
Musical Fidelity B1xi
Musical Fidelity's new stereo amplifier houses HDMI ARC and a built-in phono stage
A close-up of the FiiO FT7 headphones' earcups.
FiiO's FT7 flagship headphones take the fight to pricier rivals
A grey WiiM Vibelink Amp on a wooden cabinet between two bookshelf speakers.
The WiiM Vibelink Amp is WiiM's first integrated amp with no streaming elements
Q Acoustics 3050i
Save £650 on this five-star Q Acoustics 5.1 home cinema setup
Optoma Photon Go on white background
Optoma's new on-the-go projector is set to be one of the cheaper USTs on the market
Marantz Cinema 30 AVR
Our Award-winning reference Marantz AVR is still selling at its best price ever