iPhone 6s and 6s Plus (2015): Live Photos and 3D Touch

IPHONE MODEL ARCHIVE · 2015

The 6s generation added new ways to capture a moment and interact with the screen. It illustrates how a familiar phone can gain a different feel without a dramatic change in outline.

iPhone 6s. Product photograph: Apple; pictured finishes may include later additions.

iPhone 6s Plus. Product photograph: Apple; pictured finishes may include later additions.

Introduced 2015-09-09. Filed under the original announcement date. Retrospective guide prepared in November 2026.

The generation at a glance

Apple introduced iPhone 6s and 6s Plus on 9 September 2015. Headline additions included 3D Touch, Live Photos, the A9 chip and a 12 MP rear camera with 4K video recording. Rose gold joined the finish choices.

A photograph with a little time around it

A still image records one instant. A small amount of motion around that instant can preserve an expression or gesture that the selected frame misses. That is a useful way to explain Live Photos without confusing it with an ordinary video clip. Pressure-based interaction tells another story: an extra gesture can reveal a shortcut, but a feature is only useful when someone knows it exists and remembers to use it.

Which version is which?

Choose between the 6s and 6s Plus by considering their 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch sizes. Do not confuse either with the earlier 6 family. For an archive, the S model is the relevant one for the launch of Live Photos and 3D Touch. Storage and colour alone cannot establish which generation a particular handset belongs to.

What to check before choosing one

If you want to demonstrate 3D Touch, test it on the actual phone rather than assuming a replacement display preserves every original behaviour. Check sample stills and video as well as the camera preview. For a collection, explain the interaction and capture changes next to the device: the body alone does not tell the whole story.

For a used handset, inspect the exact device rather than relying on stock photographs. Ask to see the cameras, charging and controls working. Check storage, battery condition and whether the previous owner has removed their account. Compare any repair quotation with the total purchase price. For daily use, verify the software and services you need on that model before buying.