iPhone 6s Plus

Poll: what are you most excited about for Apple’s September 9 media event?

Apple has reportedly scheduled a media event for Wednesday, September 9, to announce not just new iPhones but other product refreshes, too. Well-connected John Paczkowski, Managing Editor for BuzzFeed San Francisco, has it on good authority that the press conference will serve as a launchpad for next-generation iPhones and iPads.

Moreover, there's even a brand new Apple TV hardware in tow that should be unveiled during the event. With that in mind, we want to learn what you, our readers, are most excited about for the September 9 event.

iPhone 6s screen assembly revealed in leaked video

With just a few weeks until Apple's rumored September 9 media event, small wonder we're now seeing a bunch of parts for the upcoming 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' smartphones leaking out from Asian supply chain.

European repair firm MacManiack was able to get hold of a fully assembled display component for the iPhone 6s from a supplier and today posted a video of it. This could also be a ploy to steal free publicity on the part of MacManiack so take the report with healthy skepticism.

Apple expected to debut new iPhones, iPads and Apple TV on September 9

Apple is planning an event for Wednesday, September 9 to announce new products, according to BuzzFeed's John Paczkowski. The well-connected reporter is hearing that the company will use the stage to unveil new iPhones, iPads and Apple TV.

In line with previous rumors, Paczkowski says the new iPhones—which the press has been referring to as the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus—will feature pressure-sensitive Force Touch displays, improved camera systems and significantly faster processors.

Mass production of new iPhones slightly delayed, but launch won’t be postponed

With just a few weeks until Apple's assumed fall refresh of its smartphone lineup, revered analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities cautions that Apple appears to have slightly delayed mass production of 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' devices.

The phones should enter volume production later this month, or about one to two weeks later than originally expected, Kuo was quoted as saying by Taiwanese media. Thankfully, the slight delay shouldn't affect Apple's launch plans so expect the new iPhones to drop in mid-September.

This concept video gives us a good idea why Force Touch iPhones will be a big deal

Force Touch parts for Apple's upcoming 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' phones have recently begun shipping in volume.

We even recently got our glimpse into the implementation of a force sensing layer on a leaked iPhone 6s screen. That being said, some people continue to be puzzled as to what benefits, if any, Force Touch would bring to their iPhone experience.

Maximilian Kiener set out to create a nice mockup video which gives us a good idea how pressing an iPhone's screen firmly could be a valuable user interface shortcut.

Could iPhone 6s lose protruding camera after all?

The slightly protruding camera lens on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus that Apple's design tzar Jony Ive likened to “a really very pragmatic optimization” could become a thing of the past after next-generation iPhones arrive next month.

Monday, uSwitch published claimed CAD design renders for upcoming iPhones which were obtained from @OnLeaks. The drawings depict a little thicker next-generation 'iPhone 6s' than the current model, measuring 7.1mm thick versus the current iPhone 6 with a thickness of 6.9mm, without the protruding camera.

However, renderings of an 'iPhone 6s Plus' suggest the phone is 7.8mm thick with the camera protrusion versus the current iPhone 6 Plus that measures 7.1 mm deep. Unless erroneous, the discrepancy might hint that the protruding camera that featured on the iPhone 6 “could be missing from the iPhone 6s but will reappear on the iPhone 6s Plus,” notes the publication.

Again, the 0.5mm camera bulge is present on renderings of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6s, but is nowhere to be found on technical drawings depicting the 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus.

iPhone 6s display assembly with claimed Force Touch sensing layer surfaces

A trio of claimed spyshots were published this weekend by French blog NowhereElse.fr, ostensibly offering a first look at a fully assembled 'iPhone 6s' display with Force Touch technology. At first look, the part appears to be virtually unchanged from the front display assembly on the current iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in shape, size and overall design.

Upon closer inspection, however, some differences become apparent. For instance, you'll notice strange black dots running across the sides of a shielding which some folks say may or may not be related to Force Touch technology.

Force Touch for upcoming iPhones has entered mass production

Both analysts and the rumor-mill agree that a screen which senses force you apply to it should be one of the marquee hardware features of Apple's upcoming 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' smartphones. Plus, it certainly doesn't hurt that Apple thinks Force Touch iPhones will be a huge success.

Force Touch for the upcoming iPhones entered trial production earlier this month and now Apple supplier TPK has reportedly ramped up volume manufacturing of the force sensors, according to a report Friday by DigiTimes.

T-Mobile will let those who buy an iPhone 6 this summer upgrade to upcoming ‘iPhone 6s’ for free

Did you purchase your current iPhone 6 for $15 per month through T-Mobile's JUMP! On Demand trade-in program? If so, you'll be automatically eligible for a free upgrade to Apple's 'iPhone 6s'—or whatever it will be called when it's released this fall.

In addition to permitting its Simple Choice customers to listen to their favorite songs on Apple Music without taking a byte of their monthly 4G LTE data, carrier T-Mobile today announced that iPhone customers participating in said upgrade plan will be able to get their hands on Apple's next-gen handset without paying anything to upgrade or increasing their monthly JUMP! On Demand payment.

Could this be a front panel for iPhone 6s?

According to the rumor-mill, Apple's suppliers have recently begun volume production of key components for the upcoming iPhones, such as an Apple-designed 'A9’ processor and chassis. These parts will be soon, or already are, all over the place in Asia so little wonder we're now starting to see first component leaks.

The leakage kicked off with a claimed rear housing which has seemingly confirmed minuscule changes to the interior and a stronger body. The leaks now continue with a photo of a rumored front panel of the 'iPhone 6s,' published Thursday by French blog NowhereElse.fr.

Apple said to finally ditch 16GB storage tier with upcoming iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

It'd be a move that'd be praised by everyone, and for good reason. Not only is 16GB too small a storage tier for a device with no ability to bolt on additional storage, but in 2015, it's becoming a real problem.

Updates are bigger, apps are bigger and the entry-level iPhone size hasn't changed since 2012's iPhone 5. But now a sketchy rumor, posted yesterday by MIC Gadget, suggests that Apple could at last retire the 16GB storage tier on new iPhones.

If the rumor is true, the baseline edition of an upcoming 'iPhone 6s' refresh will apparently start at thirty-two gigabytes of storage.

KGI predictions: Apple Watch Sport in yellow/rose gold, new iMacs & thinner iPad mini due this fall

Well-connected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a new report to clients ahead of Apple's June quarter earnings report, which is due this coming Tuesday.

The note, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider, provides several predictions regarding Apple's upcoming product refreshes.

For starters, Kuo is expecting new Apple Watch Sport variants in rose and yellow gold color options matching the upcoming 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' colors. He also wrote that new iMac models with upgraded processors could arrive later this year, in addition to a thinner, lighter iPad mini and more.