Apple launches iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus - and reveals prices

Both new iPhones will go on sale in stores on 25 September, with pre-orders available from 12 September.

UK handset prices have been announced (see below), although UK contract price plans have yet to be revealed. We'll let you know as soon as we hear anything and we will update our iPhone comparison tool accordingly.

However if you're thinking about getting your hands on the latest models, remember iPhones aren't MoneySaving. Consider whether you really need one before ordering. If you're an Apple addict and nothing else will do, think about buying an older model as they tend to be much cheaper.

If you must have the latest model, in the usual Apple fashion, both handsets will be available in different price brackets. Pricing remains the same as it was with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus when they launched in 2014:

iPhone 6S prices (including VAT)

• £539 for the 16GB model

• £619 for the 64GB model

• £699 for the 128GB model

iPhone 6S Plus prices (including VAT)

• £619 for the 16GB model

• £699 for the 64GB model

• £789 for the 128GB model

The handsets will both come supplied with Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 9, which will also be available to download for anyone with an iPhone 4S or newer mobile, or iPad 2 or newer tablet, through a free system update from 16 September.

New features of iOS 9 include an improved, 'proactive' Siri and new multitasking features for the iPad.

iPhone 6S and 6S Plus vs iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus have a similar design and the same sized screens as last year's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, though they sport new features under the hood.

The most notable upgrade to the handsets is '3D Touch' – pressure-sensitive displays that allow for more advanced interaction with software on the devices, such as quicker access to in-app features from the home screen.

Both phones come in gold, silver, 'space gray' and, for the first time, 'rose gold'. They also ship with the more powerful A9 chip, and tougher glass for a more scratch-resistant screen. The Touch ID sensor has also been improved, with faster fingerprint recognition.

The iSight camera's resolution has been increased to 12 megapixels, compared to the 8-megapixel camera found on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and now has the ability to record video in 4K resolution.

Furthermore, a new camera function will capture images just before and after you take a photo, to create moving versions of your photo library – a feature Apple has dubbed 'Live Photos'.

The tech giant also announced the iPhone Upgrade Program, which will allow you to pay a fixed monthly fee for the ability to upgrade to the latest iPhone every year. It will initially only be available in the US but will be rolled out in other countries later, though Apple didn't specify when.

See the Apple UK website for a full comparison of the new models.

Revealing details of the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, said: "While they may look familiar, we have changed everything about these new iPhones."

Apple launches latest iPhone models

Selling your old iPhone? Do it soon

If you're thinking of selling your old iPhone to help pay for a new one, data from mobile recycling website SellMyMobile.com shows prices for older handsets could drop after today's announcement, and fall further still once the new models go on sale.

Its figures from this time last year, when the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were announced, show that the trade-in prices of their predecessors, the iPhone 5S and 5C, fell sharply in just a couple of weeks:

• Two days before the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were announced (7 September 2014): The most you'd have got for recycling the iPhone 5S (64GB model) was £455 and for the 5C (32GB model) £357.

• The day of the announcement (9 September 2014): The most you'd have got dropped to £437 for the 5S and £343 for the 5C.

• Three days after the announcement (12 September): The maximum you'd have got decreased rapidly to £393 for the 5S and £308 for the 5C.

• The day the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were available to buy in-store (19 September): The maximum you'd have got for recycling the 5S rose to £399 for the 5S and £311 for the 5C.

• A week after the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus going on sale: The trade-in price of the 5S fell again to £382 – a reduction of 16% from the day of the announcement. The iPhone 5C trade-in price dropped to £294, a reduction of over 17%.

When selling an old mobile, always compare the prices being offered using a mobile phone recycling price comparison service, such as our MobileValuer, to ensure you're getting the best price for your handset.