Apple announced the official iPhone 6S price earlier this month, and we also know how much the new iPhone 6S Plus will cost when it too launches on September 25.
The good news is that while Apple is updating its phones with new specs, the company is charging the same amount of money as past years, at least in the US and UK.
This is, after all, an "S" upgrade, with a refreshed iPhone 7 due in 2016. That doesn't mean the feature improvements will be less dramatic. But it did keep the new iPhone from a price hike, except in Australia.
Here's everything we know about the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S price, following Apple's San Francisco live keynote on September 9 and the iOS 9 launch.
How much will iPhone 6S cost?
The size of the iPhone 6S isn't going to change much, with 0.2mm more thickness, and the same goes for the unlocked price across the board in the US and UK.
It costs $649 in the US and £539 in the UK, and that's the 16GB iPhone 6S price, and it's been like that for some time. It only costs a bit more down under at AU$1,079 in Australia.
From there it'll increase in price for more storage. The iPhone 6S 64GB is $749, £619 and AU$1,229, and the iPhone 6S 128GB maxes out space for $849, £699 and AU$1,379, according to Apple's official store.
iPhone 6S price in the US
The US iPhone 6S price needs a special note. Carriers Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have done away with two-year contracts through its stores, and AT&T wants to do the same. Oddly, through the Apple Stores, the opposite is true. AT&T no longer offers contracts, but Verizon and Sprint still do.
Apple is introducing the same deal with additional perks. Calling it the "iPhone Upgrade Program," and only available in the US, it nets you a new 4.7-inch iPhone every year for $0 down, $32.41 a month. The iPhone 6S Plus is $36.58 per month.
The best parts of the Apple's "iPhone Upgrade Program" are that it comes with AppleCare+ protection and it's unlocked. You do have to turn in the phone in working condition at the end of your 12 months (or wait out the 24 payment spread), and in order to sign up for this, you need to either be out of your AT&T, Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile contract.
Instead of locking-in consumer for 24 months in exchange for a $199 subsidized iPhone and higher monthly plans, Apple and the four US networks are spreading out the true $649 cost of phones with device payment plans. This makes it easier to understand your bill and upgrade to a new device after one year, though right now it's all a bit confusing.
How much will iPhone 6S Plus cost?
The iPhone 6S Plus price follow the same pattern, costing more than the iPhone 6S, but not actually serving consumers a price hike over last year's iPhone 6 Plus.
It has the same 5.5-inch phablet-sized display as before, the 16GB iPhone 6S Plus cost is $749 in the US, £619 in the UK and AU$1,229 which is an increase for Australia.
Upping the internal storage to 64GB brings the cost to $849, £699 $AU$1,379, or for 128GB costs the highest price of an iPhone, $949, £789 and AU$1,529.
Again, the iPhone 6S Plus in the US may or may not be subsidized with a two-year contract depending on your carrier. You can pay the upfront price of $299 for the 16GB model, or go with Apple's monthly payment plan that starts at $36.58 for an unlocked iPhone.
Ordering an iPhone 6S
iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus pre-orders began Saturday, September 12, right at midnight in Apple's home of California. Shipments for the most desirable colors have been pushed back.
Unlike with the Apple Watch, the company allowing fans to line up outside of its stores, but strongly encourage online pre-orders or in-store pickup appointments instead.
That official iPhone 6S release date is Friday, September 25. Expected lines for walk-ins to be hours long, before stores even open. This is going to be an old-fashioned Apple product launch.
In addition to Apple Stores, the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus will be sold in carrier stores and "select Apple Authorized Resellers" like Best Buy, Target and Walmart. But the "iPhone Upgrade Program" can only be purchased in an Apple Store.
Can you buy iPhone 6S unlocked?
Yes and no. An unlocked iPhone 6S will be available through the Apple Store in the UK right away and everywhere else eventually, but the US version at least never has a SIM-free new iPhone available at launch.
Apple's "iPhone Upgrade Program" does tout an unlocked iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, but it does come with strings attached in which you have to turn in the phone after 12 months in order to upgrade, or serve out your 24 month device plan contract.
That makes it problematic for US buyers who want to take their wholly-owned unlocked iPhone 6S to another carrier or go globetrotting by using their new phone overseas on a foreign network.
Apple started offering a fully unlocked iPhone 6 at the top of this year, so it took three and a half months to roll out the a SIM-free iPhone. Your best bet is either to go with the "iPhone Upgrade Program," or buy an iPhone 6S at full retail price through one carrier and wait out the 40 or so days (different for each carrier) required before they unlock your phone.
See the exciting iOS 9 changes coming to your existing iPhone
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Original source: UPDATED: iPhone 6S price: how much will Apple's new iPhone cost?.
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