iPhone 6s spotted in Apple factory as mass production begins

Apple iPhone 6s components have been spotted at a manufacturing facility as the new smartphone enters mass production ahead of an expected September launch.

Leaked online, these photographs give us a first look at the front of the new iPhone, which is just about identical to the iPhone 6 that went on sale nearly a year ago. The images are joined by claims that the new handset has entered mass production, suggesting it is on track to appear in September, as has become Apple tradition.

Published by French Apple news website Nowhereelse.fr (translated), the images all but confirm previous claims that the iPhone 6s will not differ aesthetically to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus currently on sale. This means the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will have 4.7in and 5.5in screens respectively.

The leaker has said that these components are currently being produced and are ready to be shipped to Apple's assembly lines, where the iPhone 6s will be put together and boxed up ready to go on sale in a couple of months' time.

As with most previous 's' upgrades, all changes will be on the side. A screen display using the Force Touch technology featured in the Apple Watch and the latest MacBook range is widely rumoured to be coming to the iPhone 6s. This will let the phone recognise how firmly a user is pressing on the screen and provide them with haptic feedback accordingly. This feature is likely to be used by game and application developers to add a new dimension to their software.

A more powerful processor, improved Touch ID and an uprated camera are also expected to appear inside the iPhone 6s, and the minimum storage option might finally jump from 16GB to 32GB. A new rose-gold colour option is also expected to match the Apple Watch Edition of the same colour.

Based on previous years, we expect the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus to be announced by Apple on 8 September, and to go on sale 10 days later. For everything we know about the new iPhone so far, head to our iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 guide.