Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus arrived around back in September 2014, so it's no surprise that Apple watchers are looking ahead and wondering what Apple's smartphone plans for this year might be. Here, we round up all of the rumours about the iPhone 6's successor, dubbed iPhone 6S, including release date rumours, specs and new features. In this article, we're focusing on the next-generation of iPhone, that is, the 4.7in iPhone 6 that launched in September 2014. If you're looking for rumours about the next generation of Apple's 5.5in iPhone, the iPhone 6 Plus, see our iPhone 7 rumour round-up (sure it might be called iPhone 6s Plus but we think that's a bit of a mouthfull!). We've also got information about the rumoured 4in iPhone 6c here. If you're after information about the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, visit our iPhone 6 review and iPhone 6 Plus review. See also: iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus. You can also read our full first look review of the Apple Watch, and our Apple Watch Release Date story, including UK pricing for the Apple Watch. Also, find out what's in store for the year: Apple predictions 2015 Updated 24 April: Reports say iPhone 6S could be made with Apple Watch aluminium, Force Touch technology may be limited to iPhone 6S Plus only, new company aquisition hints at slimmer, better camera and no new 4in iPhone until 2016. iPhone 6S rumours: Force Touch display Force Touch features may soon arrive on the iPhone, according to Taiwanese site TechNews (translation). On 9 March during its Spring Forward event, Apple unveiled a new MacBook, and with it comes the brand-new Force Trackpad, which uses the same Force Touch technology as the Apple Watch, and rumour has it that technology might come to the iPhone 6S's touchscreen. That would mean new gestures, and that's actually more exciting than it sounds. The Force Touch screen on the iPhone 6S would mean that the smartphone could differentiate between taps and presses, and would enable a whole new level of interaction. The Force Touch technology could be exclusive to Apple's larger iPhone, though. According to Economic Daily News, Taiwanese manufacturer TPK will be the supplier of the Force Touch sensors for the iPhone 6S Plus, but the iPhone 6S won't sport the technology. The iPhone 6 already lacks the optical image stabilisation found in the iPhone 6 Plus, so it's certainly possible that the newer model will have more advanced features than the 4.7in iPhone, too. iPhone 6S rumours: iPhone 6S to be made with Apple Watch aluminium? According to Taiwan's Economic Daily News, the iPhone 6S could be made with 7000 series aluminium, which is the same metal that's already being used in the Apple Watch Sport. It's designed to be durable and resistant to scratches but also light, at one-third of the density of steel. iPhone 6S rumours: Touch ID improvements The Touch ID fingerprint sensor currently resides beneath the Home button, but a patent filed by Apple and published by the US Patent and Trademark Office in February 2015 hints that the company is interested in making a Touch ID sensor that's built-in to the display. That sensor could detect the user's fingerprint anywhere on the display, or even identify multiple fingers at once or even the whole palm to further enhance security. This isn't the first time a patent detailing such technology has emerged. Find out more in our complete guide to Apple's patent portfolio. Failing that (it could be a bit of a big jump for the next generation of iPhone, particularly if Apple wants to bring Force Touch to the display too) the Touch ID fingerprint sensor itself could be improved in the next iPhone. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, says he expects the Touch ID module to be upgraded, with reduced reading errors for more reliable Apple Pay. iPhone 6S rumours: Is Apple skipping iPhone 6S & going straight to iPhone 7? The latest reports to hit the web claim that the iPhone 6S may never launch. KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-respected analyst with a proven track record of predicting Apple launches in the past, claims that the iPhone that launches this September might have such significant new features that Apple skips the iPhone 6S and goes straight for the iPhone 7. One of the significant new features Kuo expects to see on the new iPhone is a Force Touch display, although he expects that it'll be different to the technology used in the Apple Watch and new MacBook. Instead of actually detecting how much pressure you apply with your fingers, the iPhone's Force Touch display will determine how much pressure you're applying by measuring the contact area of your finger. Read more about Force Touch rumours below. Kuo believes Apple will launch a 4.7in iPhone and a 5.5in iPhone this year but that a 4in iPhone isn't likely. iPhone 6S release date rumours: When is the iPhone 6S coming out? The most likely release date for the iPhone 6S is September 2015, which would follow Apple's iPhone release schedule history. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were released in September 2014, the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in September 2013, the iPhone 5 in September 2012 and the iPhone 4S in October 2011. However, some reports say that Apple will choose to begin releasing new smartphones twice a year, to keep up with the ever growing and improving competition from rivals such as Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony and more. In fact, one rumour (albeit a particularly shaky one), suggests that the iPhone 6S could arrive in spring 2015 alongside the Apple Watch, which will be released on 24 April. However, Apple's Spring Forward event came and went on 9 March with no mention of a new iPhone to join the Apple Watch, so we think it's highly unlikely. In fact, the chance of an early launch of the iPhoen 6s is slim based on reports that it won't be going into production until June. Production of the iPhone 6s is said to be starting in June, according to IHS Technology’s China director Kevin King. King claimed, according to reports, that that supply chain sources have hinted that production will begin in June. However, since reports appeared making this claim the source linked to appears to have disappeared. There's no real rush for the iPhone 6s, apparently the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are proving incredibly popular, so popular in fact that Apple’s expected to sell a ton more iPhone 6 models before it sells the iPhone 6s, according to an analyst. Citi analyst Jim Suva is expecting Apple to beat estimations when it announces its financial results at the end of April. Read: Apple Home Kit release date iPhone 6S rumours: What new features will the iPhone 6S have? Rumours about the next generation of iPhones have started to pick up pace now that we've reached April, but we can expect to see them tumbling in daily as 2015 continues. We've collected all of the speculation we've seen so far about the iPhone 6S's specs, features and design below. iPhone 6S rumours: Design & display, rose-gold finish We're expecting Apple to stick with the 4.7in display for the iPhone 6's successor, as it's a display size that seems to have gone down well with fans so far. We also don't think that the overall design of the iPhone 6S will be much different to the iPhone 6. Apple tends to keep the same external design for its iPhones for two generations, so expect the same slim, light and rounded design that's sported by the iPhone 6 to be present when the iPhone 6S arrives. The latest rumours to come from The Wall Street Journal about the design of the iPhone 6S suggest that, in addition to Silver, Gold and Space Grey, you'll also be able to buy a new Pink model. It's not going to be bright pink like the iPhone 5C, but rather a rose gold colour like the colour of one of the Apple Watch Editions. We can
