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All About the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus Hardware & Software

By Sam Costello Sam Costello Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 29, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

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Expand Jump to a Section Important New Features Software Hardware Previous Models Apple has a well-established pattern with the iPhone: the first model of the series number introduces major changes, the second generation adds an "S" to its name and refines the original model with mostly subtle (but still significant) improvements. The company's been following that pattern since the iPhone 3G was replaced by the 3GS, and it hasn't changed course with the 6 series. 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. Want to protect the important data stored on your iPhone 6S? Check out How to Backup iPhone 6S to Your Computer or the Cloud.

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 6S iPhone 6S Plus Inches 4.7 5.5 Pixels 1334 x 750 1920 x 1080 Cameras 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 iPhone 6S iPhone 6S Plus Talk time 14 24 Internet time (4G/Wi-Fi) 11/10 12/12 Audio time 50 80 Video time 13 14 Standby time 10 16 all times in hours Sensors AccelerometerGyroscopeBarometerTouch IDAmbient light sensorProximity sensor3D Touch screenTaptic Engine for feedback Colors SilverGoldRose GoldSpace Gray US Phone Carriers AT&TSprintT-MobileVerizon Size and Weight iPhone 6S iPhone 6S Plus Size 5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 inches 6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 inches Weight 5.04 ounces 6.77 ounces Capacity 16 GB32 GB64 GB128 GB Introduced: Sept. 9, 2015
Discontinued: 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Where to Download iPhone Manuals for Every Model How Much Video Can You Record on an iPhone? What is the Newest iPhone? (2022) Can You Expand iPhone Memory? The History of the iPod Touch What Do All the Buttons on the iPhone 6 Series Do? How to Use the iPhone Camera How to Use 3D Touch on Apple Devices Everything You Need to Know About the iPod Touch iPhone 5 Features: Hardware and Software The History of iOS, from Version 1.0 to 16.0 iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 13 Pro: Which Phone is Right for You? Compare Every iPhone Model Ever Made The Differences Between the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus What Is the iPad Air and How Does it Compare? Pixel 6 & 6a: News, Price, Release Date, and Specs Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies