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iPhone 6s report: Same as iPhone 6 on the outside, faster LTE chip inside

Leaks about Apple's next handset are starting to flow and as you'd expect an "iPhone 6s" would likely look like the current model. Faster broadband inside is just one potential update.
Written by Kevin Tofel, Contributor

When Apple debuts its next iPhone, presumably the iPhone 6s, few will likely be surprised by the changes. The company's typical approach is to offer a slightly revised handset model every other year.

Still, we're now into July so the iPhone 6s leaks and reports are starting to flow a few months before Apple is expected to launch new phones.

Citing his typically solid sources, Mark Gurman has started sharing details at 9to5 Mac on what the iPhone 6s will look like.

iphone6s-case.jpg
Credit: 9to5 Mac

Don't expect many visual changes, Gurman notes from the pictures of a reported iPhone 6s chassis: Look for the same design and similar size as the current model. Rumors of the Force Touch display are still in play, which could make the handset slightly thicker depending on how Apple implements the haptic touch capabilities.

Inside the iPhone 6S, however, will be a key difference that should double the handset's LTE speeds. Gurman's sources suggest an upgrade to the Qualcomm modem that will boost the phone from from a Category 4 to a Category 6 LTE device. That would mean instead of a 150 Mbps theoretical download speed, the iPhone 6s would top out at 300 Mbps in a best case scenario.

The change wouldn't be surprising to me and frankly, it's actually just catching up to the capabilities of other currently available smartphones. The Korean variant of last year's Samsung Galaxy S5, for example, shipped with a Category 6 LTE modem.

But Apple isn't known for pushing all of the limits when it comes to smartphones. Instead, the company focuses highly on key features that help the iPhone stand out from the crowd: Camera performance, consistency and the overall user experience.

Gurman notes that he'll have more details to share on the upcoming iPhone 6s later this week. I'd expect those to revolve around the handset's camera sensor, a slightly larger battery thanks to space savings inside the phone and details on the phone's processor and memory.

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