Apple has unveiled the next generation of iPhones, highlighting its Multi-Touch interface, updated camera features including Live Photos, and a new body colour that will make all of the beauty gurus swoon: rose gold.
Available for pre-order this Saturday, both phones feature Retina HD displays made from ion-strengthened glass and 7000 series aluminium (the same alloy used in the aerospace industry, Apple proudly notes) in metallic finishes of gold, silver, space grey and now rose gold.
The phones are powered by the Apple-designed, 64-bit A9 chip and come with a 12-megapixel iSight and 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, as well as faster Touch ID, LTE and Wi-Fi.
“The only thing that has changed with iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus is everything,” says Philip Schiller, Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
“3D Touch lets users interact with iPhone in entirely new and fun ways, and the innovative Live Photos brings your pictures to life. These are the most advanced iPhones ever,” he says.
Key features of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
3D Touch senses pressure to enable new gestures such as ‘Peek and Pop'. To use this feature, press lightly to Peek at a photo, email, web page or other content, and press a little 'deeper' to Pop into the content itself. Click here to see a video of this feature in action.
With Quick Actions, 3D Touch provides shortcuts to the things a user does most, such as sending a message or taking a photo, with a press from the Home screen.
Live Photos is another addition to the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. This feature captures moments in motion by enabling users to press and reveal the moments immediately before and after the shot was taken. You can see how this works in this video.
High-definition video now has support for 4K - with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 that delivers more than eight pixels - and the expansion of optical image stabilisation to video on iPhone 6s Plus, which aids with capturing videos in lower light.
After capturing 4K video, users can edit on a Mac, PC, iPad. With the latest version of iMovie on iPhone, users can edit two simultaneous streams.
Camera advancements include a new 12-megapixel sensor with advanced pixel technology and Apple-designed image signal processor, for truer colours and more detailed photos, as well as a 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera and Retina Flash to take front facing photos in low light.
Advanced Technology is a key enhancement of the new smartphones. A9, Apple's third-generation 64-bit chip powers the phones with reported 70% faster CPU and 90% faster GPU performance than the A8, including gains in energy efficiency for battery life.
The A9 chip and iOS 9 are architected together, and M9, Apple's next-generation motion coprocessor, is embedded into the chip, which allows more features to run at lower power.
With advanced wireless technologies, the phones include faster Wi-Fi and 4G LTE Advanced, as well as support up to 23 4G LTE bands (the most in any smartphone) for better worldwide roaming.
iOS 9, includes software updates that require less space to install and advanced security features, as well as proactive assistance, updated search and improved Siri features. Furthermore, built-in apps such as Notes, Maps and News have been redesigned.
Pricing and availability in New Zealand
iPhone 6s will be available in gold, silver, space grey and the new rose gold metallic finishes for a recommended retail price of NZ$1,199 inc. GST for the 16GB model, NZ$1,399 inc. GST for the 64GB model and NZ$1,599 inc. GST for the 128GB model.
iPhone 6s Plus will be available in gold, silver, space grey and the new rose gold metallic finishes for a recommended retail price of NZ$1,399 inc. GST for the 16GB model, NZ$1,599 inc. GST for the 64GB model and NZ$1,799 inc. GST for the 128GB model.
The new iPhones will be available from apple.com/nz; through Spark, Vodafone, 2degrees and additional carriers; and from selected Apple Authorised Resellers.
The new iPhones will also be available through select carriers and Apple Authorised Resellers with a range of financing plans and payment options.
Both models will be available in New Zealand beginning Friday, September 25, with pre-orders beginning Saturday, September 12.
Apple-designed accessories including leather and silicone cases in a range of colours and Lightning Docks in colour-matched metallic finishes will also be available.