iPhone 6s vs. iPhone 5: What We Know So Far

As we march deeper into 2015, we’ve finally begun to see iPhone 6s rumors emerge. Apple’s new iPhone is still mysterious but we have enough to start making some early comparisons. Today, we want to compare iPhone 6s rumors to the iPhone 5. This is our way too early iPhone 6s vs. iPhone 5 comparison.

In the fall of 2012, Apple took the stage and announced the all-new iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 was a huge jump from the iPhone 4s in that it was the first iPhone with a metal design, the first iPhone with a 4-inch Retina Display, the first iPhone with 4G LTE data, and the first iPhone to use the company’s Lightning connector. These features were enough to lure in consumers around the world.

The iPhone 5 is no longer the company’s flagship but many people still use the iPhone 5 as their daily driver. While some people are content, others will be looking to make a change later this year. iPhone 5 users are tracking devices like the iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy S6 and LG G4 but there are also those who are looking into rumored devices, like, the iPhone 6s.

Apple’s iPhone 6s isn’t official but iPhone 6s rumors continue to heat up. As the year’s progressed, we’ve started to hear whispers about the iPhone 6s specs, iPhone 6s design and more. There are still plenty of details that remain shrouded in mystery but we have enough to make an early comparison to the iPhone 5 in an effort to help those of you thinking about upgrading.

This early iPhone 6s vs. iPhone 5 comparison will run down the latest iPhone 6s rumors and show you how they currently compare to a device that many people will think about replacing later this year. Here’s what you need to know as we push into May.

iPhone 6s Release Date

If you are looking to replace the iPhone 5 with something new and that something new is an iPhone 6s or an iPhone 6s Plus, you’re probably going to be waiting awhile.

Before we get to the two iPhone 6s release date rumors that we’ve seen, we’ll tell you what we know about Apple and its iPhone release.

In April, Apple confirmed dates for its annual WWDC developers conference in San Francisco. WWDC 2015 kicks off on June 8th and there, the company will talk to developers (and the public) about the future of iOS and OS X. The company’s announcement did not mention anything about hardware.

While the company has used WWDC to announce iPhones, it has since shifted its iPhone releases into the fall ahead of the holiday season. The company recently produced a record second quarter for iPhone sales so it’s hard to see the company shifting its cycle or rushing a new iPhone out onto shelves. Apple’s WWDC 2015 will likely focus on iOS 9, the iPhone’s operating system, and an iOS 9 beta.

Unsurprisingly, the two iPhone 6s release date rumors we’ve seen match Apple’s usual iPhone release protocol. One rumor comes from the hit-or-miss Digitimes. The publication says that Apple will release an iPhone 6s in the second half of the year. The other comes from the very credible KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who claims that iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus production will start in mid-to-late August ahead of a probable September release.

All signs point to a release that’s months away so if you’re still holding onto your iPhone 5, be prepared to wait until the fall before you have alternatives to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Design

The iPhone 5’s design is premium but it’s also compact. As a reminder, the iPhone 5 features glass and metal and it comes in two colors, white and black. It does not come in gold.

While the iPhone 5s utilizes a similar design, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus introduced a redesign that features an all-aluminum look. Apple’s new iPhones are also much larger than the iPhone 5 thanks to their displays.

If you’re one of those people hoping for a smaller 4-inch iPhone 6s, know that those rumors have stalled and faded away at least for now. Instead, iPhone 6s rumors point to a pair of large iPhone models, an iPhone 6s and an iPhone 6s Plus. Their designs aren’t expected to be dramatically different than the iPhone 6/6 Plus designs but there are rumored to be changes on board.

According to respected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 6s could feature an improved Touch ID fingerprint sensor embedded in its home button:

We think the new iPhone,expected to launch in 3Q15, will be equipped with an upgraded Touch ID module, with which Apple (US) intends to offer a better and safer Apple Pay user experience with reduced reading errors. We therefore raise our 2015F shipments of Touch ID module by 12.4% to 262mn sets, boosted by Apple Pay and new iPhone models.

Today, Kuo came out with a new list of predictions and he once again asserts that Apple will improve Touch ID so that it can heavily promote its Apple Pay feature.

Changes to Touch ID may not be all that Apple improves. According to Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, Apple might use the same custom Series 7000 aluminum alloy that it uses in its Apple Watch Sport. The alloy is designed to be 60% stronger than most aluminum without any additional weight. Apple describes it as being extremely light.

While this publication is unreliable, Kuo claims that Apple will rectify the “Bendgate” problem with different casing materials and some changes to the internal mechanical design.

Like The Wall Street Journal, Kuo believes that Apple is considering a brand new color. In addition to the white, gray and gold color options that come standard with the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6s might include a rose gold option. It’s not clear if this will push the price tag into rose gold Apple Watch Edition territory.

He also believes that Apple will add another microphone near the speaker grille for enhanced voice quality.

Display

The iPhone 5’s 4-inch Retina Display still provides beautiful looking content though it’s now much smaller than Apple’s flagship iPhone models. That’s not expected to change with the iPhone 6s.

Apple’s rumored to have two iPhone 6s models, an iPhone 6s and an iPhone 6s Plus. This makes sense given how well both models have sold. Kuo believes that the display sizes will remain at 4.7-inches and 5.5-inches respectively. In addition to the extra screen real estate, the devices could have some other advantages.

Apple’s new Force Touch technology can determine the action a user wants to perform based on the strength of a tap. Apple built this into the Apple Watch, the new MacBook and the MacBook Pro Retina. One iPhone 6s rumor indicates this will appear on the iPhone 6s display and another suggests it will be exclusive to the iPhone 6s Plus. Kuo’s latest predictions include the addition of Force Touch and it appears that it could be one of its biggest selling points.

The video above highlights Force Touch actions inside OS X and shows how the new hard press works. On the iPhone 6s, the technology could make it easier to use many apps where users want to see information with a hard tap instead of using multiple taps.

While there have been whispers about a new sapphire display, Digitimes claims that Apple will use Gorilla Glass to protect the display from damage. The iPhone 5 is made out of Gorilla Glass but it uses an older version of the technology.

Processor

The iPhone 5 debuted with an A6 processor. It’s a solid CPU but it’s now going on three years old. There’s no doubt that whatever the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus have on board will trump it.

Every year, Apple introduces an improved chip and this year should be no different. In a report outlining a special division within Samsung that will focus on developing displays for Apple, Bloomberg says that Samsung will deliver the new iPhone processor for 2015.

This will likely be the Apple A9 processor which will likely include more power than the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus both of which sport A8 chips. Early reports also indicate Apple will boost the RAM from 1GB to 2GB. Kuo also believes that Apple will add 2GB of RAM to the new iPhone.

Camera

Same goes for the iPhone 5 camera. It’s decent enough but camera technology has come a long way in the two and a half years since its release.

iPhone 6s rumors suggest that one of the device’s biggest features could be its camera. Earlier this year, we heard about iPhone 6s camera upgrades and now we may know more about what Apple could do to deliver better iPhone cameras.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple acquired LinX, an Israeli Camera technology company that develops cameras for smartphones. While there are some cool features that this tech can bring out in the iPhone 6s camera, the really exciting part is that it could dramatically improve the quality of iPhone photos.

LinX previously described the camera technology as enabling better low light performance, faster exposure. It also said that it can deliver the same image quality as a big DSLR camera.

Kuo thinks Apple will shift from its 8MP sensor to a larger 12MP camera sensor.

iOS 9

Apple’s new iOS 9 update is all but confirmed for arrival at WWDC 2015 and it will likely be the software that accompanies the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus to shelves. It should also arrive for the iPhone 5. Apple typically keeps devices updated for 3+ years. Here’s what we know so far about iOS 9.

iOS 9 release rumors have suggested that the update will be focused on improving the stability of the operating system. Many iPhone 5 users have been plagued by a number of bugs since the arrival of iOS 8 back in September.

According to a new leak, Apple is working on a new look for Siri that mirrors the colorful look found on the Apple Watch. The update is also expected to feature a new background that features blue and green as well as a major round of security enhancements.

Apple is known for adding software exclusives to “S” iPhone models so there’s a very good chance that the iPhone 6s will feature something that the iPhone 5 will never get. Something to keep in mind as we march toward Apple’s WWDC 2015 and the arrival of iOS 9.

Wireless Charging

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It would be amazing to finally get wireless charging in the iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus so that charging would no longer require a Lightning cable. There are adapters and cases to add wireless charging to the iPhone, but the real benefit comes from integrated wireless charging. Yes, there is still a need for a cable connected to power, but you would no longer need to plug the iPhone in, just set it on a charging mat on your nightstand, on a coffee table at Starbucks or in a wireless charging dock in your car that can deliver power without the need to fumble with a cable. The wireless charging iPhone 6s feature is all about the convenience of using the iPhone without a cable tethered to it -- and charging remains the only reason you absolutely need a cable with the iPhone.

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