iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus and iPhone 6C release date rumors and features: this year will see three new iPhone models

(REUTERS)

A new rumor has surfaced claiming that Apple will be releasing three new iPhone models in 2015, including a brand new "C" class model, as against earlier expectations of only two new "S" models being launched this year.

Following the release of the iPhone 6 towards the end of 2014, Apple was widely expected to follow up with the launch of the next generation iPhone 7 about 12 months later. The company was also expected to update both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus with the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, and release the iPhone 7 in September this year, by which time the iPhone 6 would complete the one-year-cycle.

But media reports suggested that Apple was planning to reduce its smartphone update cycle by half this year, which means that it could launch two new phones in 2015. According to earlier media reports, the company planned to first release the iPhone 6s and possibly the iPhone 6S Plus with a bigger screen and a pre-installed Apple SIM (universal SIM card), thus pushing forward the launch of the iPhone 7 launch to next year.

Meanwhile, other rumors had indicated that Apple would launch three handsets in September, the iPhone 6s, the iPhone 6S Plus with a bigger screen and a mini 4-inch version. The latest rumors are in line with the earlier speculation and reveal that Apple plans to release three new iPhone models later this year — an iPhone 6s, an iPhone 6s Plus and a 4-inch iPhone 6c. Apple is expected to retain the current 4.7 and 5.5-inch panels in the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus and both the models are unlikely to see any significant hardware improvements, except that the iPhone 6s could get the new iOS 9 operating system.

According to the latest speculations, Apple will source the display panel for the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 6c from Japan Display and LG Display, while the screen for all the three models will be manufactured by Sharp. The display for all the three models will be made of Corning's Gorilla Glass and not sapphire crystal glass, as rumored earlier, and will also support Apple's new Force Touch technology. The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will reportedly ship with Apple's Samsung-made A9 processor, while the iPhone 6c will be powered by the current A8 chip.

If the latest rumor is true, then Apple's "budget" model, the next-generation 4-inch iPhone 6c, could satisfy a lot of customers who want the latest hardware, but do not wish to pay for big-screened devices like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

 

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