'iPhone 6s' Display and Logic Board Shown Booting to Gear Screen

We've already seen a number of part leaks from the upcoming "iPhone 6s", and a source has now provided MacRumors with several photos and videos showing how those parts can be combined to build a partially functioning iPhone. Specifically, the new photos and videos reveal an iPhone 6s logic board and display assembly paired with a number of iPhone 6 components such as the rear shell and battery to create a device that starts up enough to be able to display a screen showing a gear icon.

iphone_6s_boot_gear
The video shows the device booted to the gear screen and then opened, showing the various iPhone 6s and 6 components laid out and connected inside the rear shell. Several components such as the rear camera are missing, but there are enough parts present to deliver data to the iPhone 6s display.


One heavily rumored feature for the iPhone 6s is support for Force Touch, allowing the device to sense how hard the user is pressing on the display and activate differential controls depending on how much pressure is being applied. While the partially booting phone does not prove Force Touch support is present, there are some definite differences from the iPhone 6 such as the shielding on the rear of the display being glued in place rather than screwed in.

iphone_6s_gear_open
In addition to the iPhone 6s built from parts, we've also received photos of an iPhone 6s logic board showing some details of the device's main components. Previous leaks have shown the logic board to contain Qualcomm's MDM9635M LTE baseband modem to support faster LTE with increased power efficiency, and our own photos have now confirmed the iPhone 6s will also include Qualcomm's WTR3925 radio frequency transceiver chip to pair with the new modem for enhanced cellular network performance.

wtr3925_iphone_6s

iPhone 6s logic board (top) with zoom of RF transceiver section (bottom left) showing WTR3925 boxed in red and compared to corresponding portion of iPhone 6 logic board (bottom right) with WTR1625L boxed in blue and companion WFR1620 boxed in yellow

The new chip is fabricated on a smaller and more power efficient 28-nm process, down from the 65-nm process used for the WTR1625L chip found in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Also of note, the new WTR3925 eliminates the need for a separate companion chip (WFR1620 on the iPhone 6) for carrier aggregation, which combines separate spectrums into a single faster connection to increase data speeds and network capacity. By combining the functions of two chips into one on the iPhone 6s, power efficiency and performance are improved while taking up less space on the logic board.

Perhaps the most anticipated part from the iPhone 6s from a technical perspective is the A9 chip that serves as the heart of the device. Unfortunately, the logic board we received pictures of appears to be a pre-production unit that is missing some details including the A9 stamp itself and markings that would reveal how much RAM is included in the package.

iphone_6s_6_chips

Main chips and SIM slots for iPhone 6 (left, via iFixit) and iPhone 6s (right)

We can see, however, that that the A9 package is roughly 10 percent larger in area than the A8 package found in the iPhone 6. The reason for the increased size isn't confirmed, but it's possible Apple has moved some additional functionality into the main chip to increase efficiency and save overall space.

The introduction of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus is expected to occur in just two weeks at a media event reportedly planned for Wednesday, September 9. The event is also expected to feature several other announcements including a revamped Apple TV set-top box with support for Siri control and third-party apps.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...

Top Rated Comments

Alex Moran Avatar
129 months ago
I hope it is OLED. As much of a hater that I am against Samsung. The S6 display is brilliant
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
k1121j Avatar
129 months ago
i love these controlled leaks ;)
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ouimetnick Avatar
129 months ago
Less than a month to go. Looking forward to the event. Hope they provide an English translator this time around.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KdParker Avatar
129 months ago
I hope it is OLED. As much of a hater that I am against Samsung. The S6 display is brilliant
lol...its not.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TWSS37 Avatar
129 months ago
Force touch is just long press anyw-*ducks*
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
129 months ago
Is it just me, or does the chassis look black?

Update: Oh, it's only the light in the first pic. In the video it's clearly space gray.
Will Apple change the color of Space Gray again? The iPhone 6 was too light for my taste. Not really gray but silver.
The most recent design (5th and 6th generation) of the iPod touch has gone through three different dark chassis:



Each color was termed "Space Gray," and the 2013-2014 shade matches the iPhone 6. I think we can expect the 2015 iPhone to receive the 2015 Space Gray change.

Attachment Image
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)