Less than ten hours before the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus launch in Japan, at least one Apple Store in the country has begun setting up display models for customers to view. The new iPhones will go on sale in Japan at 8:00 AM local time on Friday just a few hours after the smartphones launch in Australia and New Zealand.
MacRumors reader Shawn DaSilva sent us a trio of photos and a video showing Apple retail employees installing the new iPhones at an Apple Store in Omotesando, Tokyo on Thursday evening. The new iPhones are also advertised on a digital banner spanning the length of the store.
Apple is no longer accepting pre-orders or in-store reservations in time for September 25, leaving lining up at an Apple Store as one of the only options to get a new iPhone on launch day. Apple is not allowing walk-in sales in China, Hong Kong, Japan and four tax-free U.S. states: Oregon, Delaware, New Hampshire and Alaska.
If you plan on waiting it out at an Apple Store, it is highly recommended that you reschedule any important plans tomorrow, as it can take several hours before you reach the front of the queue. In some cases, in-store stock of new iPhones may run out completely before you get a chance to buy one.
Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld.
The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld.
Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026.
"I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie.
"Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by Juli Clover
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do.
The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up.
Upgraded Architecture
The next-generation...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
If you plan on waiting it out at an Apple Store ('https://www.geekwebguides.com/how-to/purchase-iphone-6s-launch-day-store/'), it is highly recommended that you reschedule any important plans tomorrow, as it can take several hours before you reach the front of the queue. In some cases, in-store stock of new iPhones may run out completely before you get a chance to buy one.
Amen, Brother...
Last year, I was about 1/3 the way back of a line of 200 at the King Street Store in Charleston, SC. I got there at 2am, and left at noon.
I wouldn't have traded it, though. The experience was fun, the people in line were nice, and the Apple people handed out breakfast.
But for most people there's no real difference between regular and "s" models this year.
I'm getting one for 2 gigs of ram and 7000 Aluminum. Who else cares about that stuff? Just a bunch of geeks like me, who preorder.
4 and 4s had Steve Jobs and Siri. 5 had bigger screen. 5s had touch ID and gold, a very nice shade that many people liked very much. 6 had big screens. What's the compelling feature this year? 3D touch? Most people hardly even know what that's going to be good for. Even geeks like me might turn it off. Maybe better camera will be a compelling feature but I doubt it. Pink is not compelling, period.
That must have been sarcasm, right? :rolleyes: :D , because all the reviews about 3D Touch have been overwhelmingly positive ranging from 'a very welcome addition' to 'a killer feature ('http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/iphone-6s-vs-iphone-6') that will probably show up in other phones sometime in the future'.
As you said, add to that 7000 Alu, the A9/M9 processors, LivePhotos, 2GB Ram, 12 Megapixel camera, 4k video, improved (twice as fast) TouchId, and an additional color choice, there's arguably plenty of reason for people to consider this upgrade.
So people complained when they got rid of lines for the Watch. Now they're complaining that anyone bothers lining up at all for the iPhone.
I'm sure they're not the same people. It's just this is what Apple is up against. Never mind the other half of MacRumors readers who like a little sensibility in their day...
