If you are familiar with Apple’s release cycles, this should come as no surprise. However, if you aren’t, and are hoping for something physically different in the next iPhone, prepare to be disheartened. The iPhone 6s, coming this fall, will look almost identical to the current iPhone 6.
These images, reportedly from Apple’s supply chain in China, come to us courtesy of 9to5mac’s Mark Gurman and they show the first clear images of the metal housing and the internal components of the iPhone 6s. As 9to5mac are understandably refusing to divulge where and how they obtained these images form, the veracity of their claims remains unproven, for now. That said, Gurman has proven to be very reliable on his Apple reportings so far and that – coupled to what we know of Apple’s bi-annual refresh cycle – means we have little reason to doubt these images.
So, what about the iPhone itself?
According to the images, the design will remain the same; rounded edges, slim body, and the hate-it-or-love-it antenna lines. Other than that, the shell shows the same button arrangement, speaker location and headphone jack. The cutout for the camera and LED flash is also in the same spot, though it’s hard to say if the camera will still protrude when an update hits later this year. Much like the 5s upgrade, Apple won’t be making any major changes to the external design of the 6s. If there are differences, they are either too minor to see or haven’t been implemented yet.
But, even though the external design is unchanged, there is a different internal mounting structure. Compared to the iPhone, the chassis shown in today’s photos sports modified logic board pegs and different positioning for other mounting points, a sign of updated components. While mere speculation, the rearranged internals could support rumored device additions, including Force Touch pressure sensing technology borrowed from Apple Watch. A report last week claimed manufacturers are already conducting initial production runs on next-gen iPhone models with integrated Force Touch displays.
Also reported to debut on the iPhone 6s are a 12MP rear shooter, more onboard RAM, a material change to 7000 series aluminum and a new rose gold color option. It was also said that a dual-lens camera setup would be employed, though the chassis seen today suggests otherwise.
The iPhone 6S and its bigger sibling, the iPhone 6S Plus, will likely be revealed later this year in or around September of 2015.
See more images and the full story at 9to5mac
