IPHONE 6S : BUILD FOR SUCESS

Bigger, Apple assured us last year, is better. In September 2014 the company made its first ever foray into the phablet-sized end of the smartphone sector with the release of the iPhone 6 and the even bigger iPhone 6 Plus, which swiftly sold millions of units and generated record-breaking financial results.

Replicating such an achievement is no mean feat, and was touched upon by Apple chief executive Tim Cook and he paced around the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium’s stage in San Francisco in early September when he asked: “How do you follow a success like this?”

The solution presented by Cook and team comes in the shape of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, the latest handsets in Apple’s fallow ‘s’ generation, meaning updates come more in the way of software improvements than a radical overhaul of its appearance. But has Apple done enough to keep the iPhone on top ahead of its release on September 25?

Click here for the iPhone 6s Plus review: plus-sized beauty

Design

It is a truth universally acknowledged that if Apple does one thing better than anyone else, it’s design a good-looking phone. Over the past few years, designer Jony Ive and his team have honed the iPhone into a sleek aluminium and glass beast that perhaps only the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge comes close to in the aesthetic stakes.

So that’s why if the iPhone 6s looks familiar, it’s because it looks almost identical to last year’s 6, from the unibody design, volume buttons, on/off switch positioning, still-protruding camera lens and headphone jack on the left of its underside. Its display is the same size at 4.7-inches diagonally, but there are a series of subtle differences, namely in the use of new materials.
The 6s is constructed from a new 7000 Series aluminium; an alloy Apple is eager to remind us is used in the aerospace industry. This is the material currently used in the Apple Watch Sport models, which the company claims is 60 per cent stronger than standard alloys. Apple is understandably keen to avoid a repeat of last year’s #Bendgate accusations and a more durable, resistant body can only be a good thing.
This translates to a number of subtle changes to its dimensions, from 138.1mm x 67mm x 6.9mm to 138.3mm x 67.1mm x 7.1mm, and an increase in weight from 129g to 143g. Physically, this doesn’t mean much - held comfortably in the palm of the hand, the 6s still feels slim and lightweight, but it does mean Apple is prevented from trotting out its ‘thinnest/lightest iPhone ever’ schtick.
The more pedantic among you may still be irritated by the fact the Apple logo still acts as a fingerprint magnet due to its highly polished surface, but it’s still preferable to having to wipe down the entire back as you have to do with other shinier rival models.

Rose gold

One of the main talking points around the new handsets is the introduction of the new rose gold colour, slotting in neatly next to the gold, space grey (tested here) and silver shades established by last year’s lineup.
Apple first started experimenting with rose gold with the introduction of the 18-carat rose gold Apple Watch Edition, the cheapest version of which retails for £8,000. Following in the footsteps of such a luxurious benchmark, the decision to extend the colour to the iPhone has been interpreted as a flagrant appeal to the burgeoning demand for the handsets within China - a market Apple considers so lucrative, Tim Cook made the rare move of speaking out to reassure investors amid fears over Apple’s performance within China’s volatile markets last month.

Apple’s rose gold is a funny kind of shade - its tendency to reflect or absorb light depending on the lighting conditions when photographed means it can appear anything from an icy mauve to a muddy golden brown in pictures. In reality it’s a warm, pinky copper colour, and is guaranteed to sell shedloads.

Display

Like the aluminium, the 6s’ display glass has also benefited from reinforcement, and is now the most durable in the smartphone industry, Apple claims, thanks to a dual ion-exchange in the manufacturing process. Again, this will make it more prone to survive the odd drop and scuff.
As for the display itself, it’s the same 1334 x 750 resolution laid down by the 6, with the same 326 pixels-per-inch. Text is sharp, colour reproduction is accurate and contrast ratio is excellent, but if you’ve been using the 6 for the past year, there’s disappointingly nothing to really offer you by way of improvement.

Camera

With the 6s Apple has decided to upgrade the rear-facing camera for the first time since the iPhone 4s’ release in 2011, when it leapt from 5MP to 8MP. There it has stayed for four long years, until now. To call the new 12MP iSight rear-facing camera (capable of shooting 4K video for the first time) a welcome advancement is an understatement - it is a necessity.
Apple have always opted out of trying to out-pixel the competition, with many rival devices offering more than double the megapixel power (Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge +’s 16MP, Sony’s Xperia Z5’s 23MP, HTC’s One M9’s 20.7MP) claiming that adding pixels tends to degrade image quality. Debate rages over quite how accurate this kind of statement is, but there’s no denying that Apple desperately needed to up its camera game to remain a true contender.
The good news is that it’s much better than its predecessor. Thanks to the iSight sensor’s 50 per cent more pixels, its autofocus is now faster and more accurate, according to senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller, resulting in less accidental blur and noise. The front-facing camera has also been boosted from 1.2MP to 5MP for those all-important selfies.

Live Photos

New feature Live Photos creates brief animations by taking a second-and-a-half’s worth of low resolution images before and after the core 12MP photograph, resulting in a moving image and a short burst of sound.
This was perhaps best showcased in the 6s’ pre-set stylised Siamese fighting fish wallpaper in the keynote presentation, in which the fish’s fins ripple back and forth across the display. Other pre-loaded wallpapers include plumes of purple and blue, white and orange or blue and green smoke, if fish aren’t your thing.

IPHONE 6S REVIEW

        iPHONE 6S FEATURES AND SPECIFICATION :

Just as we expected, Apple announced the next versions of its best-selling smartphones, the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, at its annual launch event in San Francisco. Also as we expected, the iPhone 6S looks identical to last year's 4.7-inch iPhone 6, reserving its most important changes for the hardware interior.
The biggest, and most noticeable change to this year's set of phones is "3D Touch," a pressure-sensitive display technology that lets you push in to do new things on your phone. After getting a chance to check out the new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus briefly at Apple's San Francisco event, these were our impressions.

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The iPhone 6S feels nearly identical to its predecessor. James Martin/CNET

However, significant updates to the iPhone 6S' camera technology, a new form of pressure-sensitive navigation called 3D Touch, and a faster processor all combine to keep the next-generation phone looking competitive enough to counter other top-tier handsets as we approach the year-end holiday rush.

Aerospace-grade aluminum and sturdier glass

Apple says that its phone may look the same as last year's model, but its iPhone 6S duo has achieved more inner strength. This time it uses a different grade of aluminum for its chassis, one that's also used in the aerospace industry. They call it Series 7,000, and it's the same aluminum alloy Apple puts into its Apple Watch Sport. The company clearly hopes this reinforced material will help deflect against future "Bendgate" backlashes, where some customers complained that their 5.5-inch iPhone 6S phones "bent" after being sat on.
Apparently, a new type of chemically strengthened glass also tops the iPhone 6S, though the company hasn't confirmed if this is cover material from Corning's Gorilla Glass line or not.

Brand new 'force' touch: Subtle but effective

Apple has included a variation of Force Touch, which you find in different capacities on the Apple Watch and on some Mac trackpads. Called 3D Touch here, the iPhone 6S phones will adopt the same pressure-sensitive capability that calls up secondary menus and actions when you press and hold the screen.
Press down and you can pull up context-sensitive menus, switch apps, or examine photos. But it's a subtle riff on what already exists on iPhones: tapping and holding.

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The device features a pressure-sensitive display that adds more functionality to its apps. James Martin/CNET

Another use is to access shortcuts from the home screen for your most frequent actions, say messaging a friend. And if you're in your email inbox, applying fingertip pressure to an element in the message will surface more information, like maybe the flight number on an emailed travel itinerary, for instance. (Apple called this concept "peeking in" during the live demo.)
Pressing harder on an app will likewise generate more options, like viewing all the photos of a contact's Instagram photo stream. In the context of a game, pressing harder could zoom you in to get closer to the action.
We're not sure why Force Touch was rebranded as 3D Touch, and it's not necessarily a clearer term for what it does. But after using it for a bit, it's undoubtedly something you'd want on every smartphone. In a couple of years, it seems like it would become as standard as multitouch. But the way it feels ends up coming across as pretty subtle. Menus gently pop up, photos slowly come alive. The iPhone throbs gently beneath via the Taptic Engine haptics, like on the Apple Watch. Pressing in didn't cause a realistic, hard mechanical "click" in the same way that the new MacBook trackpads do. The implementation seems designed to feel invisible and comfortable, not weirdly magical.

New hardware inside

The biggest news here is the hugely upgraded front and rear cameras and video capability, but there are a few other tidbits here and there as well.

Cameras and video with more megapixels

A 12-megapixel camera is a huge jump for Apple, which has been holding onto its 8-megapixel sensors in its iPhone for years. Autofocus will pick up the pace, according to Apple, and color accuracy is a point of pride.
The 5-megapixel front-facing camera now brings the iPhone 6S on par with a lot of today's competing handsets. Of course, it includes the company's proprietary voice chat feature, FaceTime video. Here's something wildly different, though. Instead of including a dedicated flash for the front-facing camera, which only a few phones do, Apple is using the home screen to light up instead. This is meant to increase the brightness of those selfies even in low-light situations.
A few test selfies taken in the demo rooms looked really good, with crisper, richer color and details than previous iPhones.

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The iPhone now has a 12-megapixel camera that can shoot ultra high-def 4K video. James Martin/CNET

A new feature you'll see in the camera, Live Photos is a default mode that turns stills into a video or GIF, basically, images that move. It's an automatic thing; all you have to do is take the picture like normal. When we took some shots in the crowded demo room, the iPhone seamlessly added Live Photo motion and sound. The Live Photo motion came out more like stop-motion or time lapse, however, than true video. It's also important to note that one Live Photo is about twice the file size as a regular photo. Couple that with the 4K video capabilities (more on that later), and you'll definitely need more storage space to accommodate.
Apple also joins rival phone makers in including 4K video recording, at 3,840x2,160-pixel resolution. You'll be able to take 8-megapixel camera photos while recording at this ultrahigh resolution. (The immediate benefit of shooting 4K video would be watching them later on a 4K TV.)
Just like last year's phones, the iPhone 6S Plus is the only model here with optical image stabilization, which helps correct blur from shaking hands.

Touch ID

The second-generation sensor promises to snap open the phone faster than before. Hopefully fingerprint authentication will also speed up.

Processor

Under the hood, we have an upgraded, proprietary A9 processor that continues Apple's theme of mystery when it comes to exactly what's going on in there. Though it's impossible to appreciate during our quick demo, what we do know is that this is Apple's third-generation 64-bit chip. Apple claims that the A9 is 70 percent faster than last year's A8 when it comes to the usual computing tasks (like opening an app, for example), and 90 percent faster at graphical tasks, like gaming.

Faster LTE, Wi-Fi connections

Apple says it'll have the fastest forms of LTE Advanced, if that's supported where you live, and will also include support for the latest, greatest Wi-Fi networks.

iOS 9 all the way

The two new iPhones will run on iOS 9, mining all of those software enhancements, like a smarter Siri and up to three hours longer battery life, plus a new Low Power Mode. The updated operating system, which is currently in public beta, will arrive for phones on September 16. Meanwhile, read our full rundown of iOS 9 here.

Apple takes wraps off iPhone 6S and iPhone... See full gallery

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Are features like live photos and 3D Touch compelling enough to upgrade? James Martin/CNET

Really, if you bought an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus last year, the most truly compelling upgrade is to the camera, which certainly sounds like a huge jump on paper. The iPhone 6 already takes terrific photos, so there's a lot of promise there for mobile photographers and avid selfie-shooters who can benefit from that front-facing flash. But again, how much better is this camera? Stay tuned.
If you have an older iPhone, such as iPhone 5S or earlier, the iPhone 6S is going to feel fast, fresh and powerful by comparison, and a pretty huge leap up. And for the extra $100 over the 6 models, it'll probably be worth the cost. The new processor speeds are impossible to vet out now, but on paper they're another serious boost...even if existing phones already are plenty fast enough.

But if you use a premium Android phone, will the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus feel exciting enough? Last year's 6 models certainly were. 3D Touch is new, but most of the other features on these new iPhones feel pretty familiar. Google's voice assistant already outperforms the current version of Siri on search accuracy and breadth of things it can do, and that will only expand with the next version of Google's Android software. We'll see how Siri in iOS 9, and always-on Siri in these new phones, stacks up.
As always, we won't know the full story until we review these phones. But there's a reason these iPhones shared the stage with new iPads, the Apple Watch and the Apple TV: on their own, they're not really surprising and exciting. But for those who have been waiting a while to get a new iPhone, these seem like excellent opportunities to upgrade.

iphone 6s

      Apple’s Wednesday, September 9th event is shaping up to be one of the largest in the company’s history. The Cupertino-based company is planning to unveil several major new products on stage, including a pair of new iPhones with revamped internals, a sequel to the Apple TV, a larger version of the iPad Air, a refreshed iPad mini, and new Apple Watch accessories. The company is also likely to discuss at least two of its latest software platforms: iOS 9 and watchOS 2. We’ve reported the lion’s share of what is to come at next week’s event, so this article outlines everything we’re expecting and adds some new details…

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

Design, 7000 Series + Rose Gold:
In line with past “S-upgrades” to iPhone hardware, this year’s iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will retain the same designs as their predecessors, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. There will, however, be a slight increase in thickness on the two phones, but this shouldn’t be noticeable to the human eye nor affect compatibility with most protective cases on the market.
While the design and shape of the phones will remain, the devices will actually be made out of an improved alloy known as 7000 series aluminum. Apple first debuted the metal with the Apple Watch Sport last fall, and the company explains the benefits on its official website:

For Apple Watch, we created a new alloy of 7000 Series aluminum that’s 60 percent stronger than standard alloys. Yet it’s very light. Together with the Ion-X glass covering the display, it makes the Sport collection watches up to 30 percent lighter than our stainless steel models. It’s also exceptionally pure, with a beautifully consistent appearance that’s difficult to achieve with traditional aluminum alloys.

Besides the new casing structure, Apple will differentiate the new device with a new color option: Rose Gold. Some reports have called this new color pink, but our sources continue to stress that the color is “definitely Rose Gold in both name and appearance.” The shades of space gray, white/silver, and gold that Apple currently offers for the 6 line will make their way to the 6s portfolio.

Cameras + 4K Video:
This year’s iPhone upgrade will focus a lot on the cameras. Both the front-facing FaceTime camera and rear-facing iSight sensor are due for significant upgrades. On the front will be a much larger sensor that will record 1080p video and could have up to 5 megapixels of still resolution, based on reports from analysts. This would be a major transition from the current 1.2 megapixel sensor on the current line of iPhones. As Apple always notes, hardware is only one part of the story: the new front-facing camera will see improved software integration with a few new features:

• Support for selfie panoramas
• Support for slow-motion video
• Support for higher-resolution front facing video recording
• A software-based flash feature for lighting up the display when you take a picture in low-light environments

On the rear will be a 12-megapixel shooter that is capable of recording video in ultra-high resolution 4K quality. With the iPhones starting at fairly low capacities (more on that below), the inclusion of 4K video recording could pose a challenge for some users. We believe that Apple could be preparing an upgraded version of its iCloud storage backend in order to allow users to take and upload 4K video rather than storing the entire clip offline to their devices. Given storage limitations, it is likely that 4K will be a switch rather than a default recording option.

Force Touch Screen: 
In addition to upgraded cameras, another major user-facing feature of the iPhone 6S line will be a Force Touch-based display. Sources say that Force Touch on the iPhone is only akin to the MacBook and Apple Watch in name, as the functionality is much more advanced. With that in mind, sources say Apple will likely call the Force Touch technology on the new iPhones by another name. Force Touch allows the iPhone 6s version of iOS 9 to sense different levels of pressure. According to sources, the new phones will be able to determine the difference between a tap, a standard press, and a deep press, adding a third level of sensitivity over the Apple Watch screen and MacBook trackpad.
While Force Touch on the Apple Watch is used to load additional overlay menus over the small 38mm and 42mm casings, and while the MacBook’s trackpad can sense a Force Click, the screen on the iPhones will be primarily used as a shortcut and navigational tool. Here are some examples from our earlier report on Force Touch coming to the new iPhones:

• New to the Force Touch experience, a user can look up a point of interest in the Maps application, and then Force Touch on the destination to immediately begin turn-by-turn directions. Currently, if a user wants to start navigating to a destination, she must search for the point of interest, click the navigation logo on the map view, then click another button to actually start navigating. In this case, the Force Touch gesture will skip two steps.
• In the Music application, a user can Force Touch on a listed track to be presented with some of the most commonly used actions. For instance, if a user deep presses on the listing for a song, a menu will appear to quickly add the song to a playlist or save it for offline listening. This Force Touch gesture would act as a substitute for clicking the actions button on the right side of each track listing in the Music app.
• Another feature in testing, according to one source, are shortcuts that appear after Force Touching an app icon on the Home screen. For example, if a user deep presses on the Phone app icon, he could choose to shortcut directly to the Voicemail tab. This could also apply to deep pressing the News app icon and being taken directly to either the Favorites or For You tabs.
• Some of the Force Touch gestures will come from Apple’s latest MacBooks. For instance, a user can Force Touch a link in Safari to see a preview of that webpage. The gesture also works for deep pressing on an address or contact name to see a preview of a map view or contact card, respectively. Similarly, a user can Force Touch a word to look up its definition.

We also explained the three primary interfaces for Force Touch:

1. No additional user interface as with the subtle integration on the new MacBooks
2. A user interface that appears surrounding the finger where the Force Touch gesture is conducted
3. A shortcut list toward the bottom of the display akin to a typical options list across iOS.

As with the Apple Watch, Force Touch on the iPhones will be tied to a haptic feedback engine to provide physical feedback to an iPhone user. We are told the consistency of the feedback is “nice.” As this will be touching your finger rather than wrist, it may feel more reliable than on an Apple Watch as well.
A9 Processor + 2GB of RAM:
Unsurprisingly, the new iPhones will have an updated, “far snappier” chip known as the A9 processor. Also in the cards: 2GB of RAM like with the iPad Air 2. More RAM will mean the ability to run more apps and web pages in the background without sacrificing speed.

Motion Wallpapers:
Another new addition to the iPhones is the presence of motion wallpapers on the lock screen. Like the Motion watch face on the Apple Watch, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus users will be able to customize their new lock screen with animated clips of either bursting paint in many colors of koi fish. We’re told that the new wallpapers look “great,” despite not being lit up by an OLED display.
NFC + Cellular Chips
The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will both feature new NFC chips that likely add a secure element processor, reducing the need for a separate chip. Apple, of course, uses the NFC chip for its Apple Pay mobile payments solution, so a more secure offering is certainly something that will be welcomed by users.

Both new iPhone models will also feature significantly improved cellular data performance. The devices will be capable of delivering up to twice the theoretical LTE download speeds thanks to the new Qualcomm chip. The chip is much more power efficient, as well, according to Qualcomm. Improved power efficiency will lend itself to improving the overall battery life of the iPhone.
Overall, the new iPhones are expected to include a significantly reduced number of chips compared to previous generations. One section of the board that previously had in excess of 10 components has been pared down to 3 main chips, simultaneously cutting the number of parts and increasing the power efficiency of the ones that remain.
Capacities, Prices + Lineup:
Despite the larger file sizes required by 12-megapixel photos and 4K video, the new iPhones will again start off at 16 GB of storage. In fact, the prices and capacities of the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will be identical to the launch offerings of last year’s models. Here’s our breakdown of what to expect from the iPhone lineup on the afternoon of September 9th.
iPhone 6s:

• 16 GB — $199 (on contract)
• 64 GB — $299 (on contract)
• 128 GB — $399 (on contract)

iPhone 6s Plus:

• 16 GB — $299 (on contract)
• 64 GB — $399 (on contract)
• 128 GB — $499 (on contract)

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will stick around at $100 on-contract discounts per capacity, while the iPhone 5s will become Apple’s free on-contract phone. The iPhone 5c, according to sources, will be discontinued while the in-the-works iPhone 6c will not be launched this year.

Apple TV

Design and Ports:
The Apple TV upgrade in 2010 brought a smaller, black puck-like design and that look has been retained with both the 2012 and 2013 refreshes to the device. We’re told that the same aesthetic will continue with the new Apple TV. The new box is said to appear very similar to the current look but will be noticeably thicker, most likely in order to accommodate additional 802.11ac wireless components. The ports on the rear of the device, ranging from power to micro-USB to optical audio to Ethernet, will remain.
Remote Control+ Gaming Pads:
One of the main new features of the Apple TV will be the inclusion of a revamped remote control. The new remote will have the following features, according to sources:

• A larger new design with a built-in touchpad for navigation
• The hardware will still be made from metal, but the casing will be black in color to match the set-top-box
• Larger, tactile buttons to activate Siri and go to the Apple TV’s home screen
• A standard rocker switch for controlling the Apple TV’s volume output
• A built-in microphone for Siri voice input
• Accelerometers for motion control for some parts of the operating system and games
• Replaceable batteries without the need to charge the controller.

In addition to the new bundled remote, the new Apple TV will support third-party Bluetooth controllers for gaming. Apple first brought support for controllers in iOS for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch a couple of years ago, but these accessories have not gained popularity. With a gaming focus on the Apple TV, perhaps these third-party offerings will improve in both functionality and usage.
A8 Chip + No 4K streaming:
Sources confirm that the new Apple TV will be powered by an A8 processor, which is a huge upgrade from the single-core A5 chip in the current Apple TV and an even bigger upgrade from the A4 chip in the preceding hardware. While a new chip with improved video processing capabilities is in the wings, the new Apple TV will lack support for streaming 4K video from both the internet and the next iPhones.
Search: 
On the software side, one of the most anticipated features of the new device is system-wide, universal search based on iOS 9’s new Proactive Spotlight Search technology. Currently, Apple TV users have to search for content app-by-app. With this new Apple TV, there will be a single search field that can look for content across applications. Here is how we explained it in our previous roundup of what to expect from the new Apple TV:

Speaking of search, it sounds like one of the reasons behind making the new Apple TV software directly based on iOS 9 is for its new Proactive search support. In iOS 9, Proactive search brings new, more powerful and accurate system-wide search support. As Jeremy Horwitz also noted in March, one of the biggest omissions from the current Apple TV is system-wide search support. For example, a user cannot search for “James Bond” and see results across the iTunes Store, Netflix, the Crackle app, and the Apple Music library. Apple is said to be planning to fix that with the next-generation Apple TV software, but we are told that the company may wait to integrate the new search features until the Apple TV is populated with third-party applications.

Thanks to the Apple TV now running an iOS 9 core, it is likely that the search functionality will be able to work across apps from the Apple TV App Store. Of course, this will require developers to ensure search compatibility with their apps, but Apple’s apps should work with the universal search feature out of the box. As the Apple TV is an Internet streaming-based device, the search will work beyond content stored/cached for offline playback.

Siri + Interface:
While the internal hardware and functionality of the Apple TV will see a revamp, we believe that the new operating system’s design will more closely match a fresh coat of paint. In terms of features, Siri will be the main navigational tool for the new Apple TV. A source has told us that most of the operating system will be controlled by Siri and that the voice assistant will be pegged as the premier feature of the new Apple TV. Thanks to the microphone in the new physical remote, it will be much easier to search for content using the voice-based Siri system. For example, users will likely be able to search for a James Bond movie by saying “Search for Goldfinger,” or begin playback of an Apple Music playlist by saying “Play my Party Mix.”
The redesigned interface will be more similar to that of iOS. The overall interface will be similar to that of the current scrolling list of large icons, but with a refreshed and more modern look akin to iOS 9. The new Apple TV will also feature an App Store. Third-party applications support plus a full Software Development Kit for the Apple TV will be two tentpoles of the new device. This means that developers will be able to build apps for Apple TV just like they would the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Pricing, Capacities + October Launch:
The new Apple TV will cost more than the current $69 model, starting at $149, according to trusted sources. The current cheaper version will stick around, however, and gain the future cable replacement service. We’re told that Apple has developed a pair of capacities for the new Apple TV: 8GB and 16GB. If Apple does indeed launch both capacities, the $149 model will include 8GB of storage and the 16GB option will cost $199. If Apple chooses to launch solely the $149 model, they’ll up the memory to the full 16GB. This would double the current 8GB of storage available for media caching in the current Apple TV. However, the new model is capable of playing games and storing apps, so Apple will likely push for users to keep more space free.

iPad Pro

Design and Name:
The long-rumored 12.9-inch iPad has been referred to as the iPad Pro in many claims, and sources have now confirmed that iPad Pro will be the actual marketing name of the device. Codenamed J99 and J98 internally, the new models will feature a larger, 2732 x 2048 display that is encased in a thin bezel similar to the designs of both the iPad mini and iPad Air. Said a source, “it literally looks like a big iPad.” The device will have a similar aluminum back with curved edges, a FaceTime camera on the front, and an iSight camera on the rear. We can’t imagine why people would casually use a camera on a nearly-13-inch tablet, but perhaps it will be useful for App Store apps, video recording in professional settings, and for FaceTime.
Force Touch + Stylus:
Sources confirm that the iPad Pro will include a Force Touch based screen, similar to the one on the new iPhones, in addition to a stylus accessory. We’re told that the stylus, which will be bundled with the iPad Pro in box, will “not look like a traditional” one. The stylus will open up the door to enhanced drawing and design apps on the new iPad, and the integration with the Force Touch screen will allow the stylus and the iPad Pro to work differently based on the levels of pressure applied by the stylus to the iPad’s display. Additionally styluses will be sold separately.
Cases and Keyboard Accessories:
We are told that the iPad Pro will gain the usual suite of iPad accessories from Apple: Smart Covers and Smart Cases in the normal array of both colors and materials (polyurethane and leather). These will likely be priced a little bit higher than their smaller counterparts for the iPad mini and iPad Air due to the additional materials. We’re also told that the iPad Pro has been designed with wider support for Bluetooth keyboard, and it appears that Apple is also preparing a keyboard accessory of its own.

Speakers and Ports:
As can be seen in our schematics above, the iPad Pro will make use of its larger space to house stereo-style speakers: two on the top and a pair on the bottom. The top will feature a headphone jack as well, while the bottom will have a standard Lightning connector. The side will include the standard volume rocker panel. There have been rumors of additional USB-C ports on this device, but perhaps those were added in a revision to the device and are not shown in our few-month-old render above. Nonetheless, in the age of wireless networking, additional ports are likely unnecessary. After all, even the OS X-based MacBook is a single port machine.
iOS 9.1:
The iPad Pro will ship alongside iOS 9.1, the first milestone upgrade to iOS 9. The new OS is expected to include special improvements for the larger display, such as optimized versions of Split-Screen apps, Picture-in-Picture video playback, Notification Center, and Siri. Apple has also been working on a new multi-user mode for a future version of the iPad operating system, but it is unclear if that addition is ready to go for the iPad Pro this fall.
November Launch:
While the iPad Pro is expected to be introduced at this event, we are told that the product will actually begin shipping in November. Before the launch, Apple will put up the new devices for pre-order on its website. Pre-orders are expected to begin at the end of October. There are a few reasons for the lengthy lead time between the September announcement and November launch: Apple wants to market the device to enterprises, allow developers time to re-work their apps for the larger screen, and produce enough units for the launch.

iPad Mini 4

Design:
Last year the iPad mini was left behind in the update cycle in comparison to the upgraded and thinner iPad Air 2, as it solely gained the Touch ID sensor and in-app Apple Pay from the iPhone. This year, we expect the iPad mini 4 to come with a thinner design that matches the thickness of the iPad Air 2. It will likely be lighter as well thanks to the thinner aluminum casing.
New Cameras and Chips:
The current iPad mini includes last-generation FaceTime and iSight cameras, so it is likely that the HD quality of the front sensor will be upgraded while the rear camera will move from 5 megapixels to 8 megapixels in order to match the latest iPod touch and iPad Air 2. Moving closer to the latest iPhones and the iPad Air 2, it is likely that the new Mini will either incorporate an A8 chip or A9 chip. The current iPad mini includes an A7 processor, which first debuted all the way back in 2013.
Split-Screen Apps:
Thanks to the faster processor, the iPad mini 4 will unlock full Split-Screen apps for the first time on the 7.9-inch Apple tablet. The 9.7-inch iPad Air with the A8X chip will already support those iOS 9 features when they receive the Software Update this fall.