FlightAware Once Again Offers Tool to Track iPhone Pre-Order Shipment Flights

Apple began shipping iPhone 6s and 6s Plus pre-orders on Saturday and now FlightAware, a site that offers live flight tracking, has once again begun offering a tool that allows users to track the flights carrying their iPhones after they receive their tracking number. FlightAware also offered the tool last year.

FlightAware says that users who have their UPS tracking number can use their tool to match their “departure scan” with one of the departure times listed in their tool to determine which flight their iPhone is on. The tool will be updated as FlightAware learns more about Apple’s shipping strategy for the new phones.

Currently, many flights are on their way to Louisville, Kentucky’s Worldport, which is UPS’ worldwide air hub. Additional flights are on the way to Ontario, California.

Those who have not received their UPS tracking numbers can track their packages by reference on UPS’ website. To do so, users have to fill out the “track by reference” form and input the phone number listed on their Apple account, the zip code its shipping to and country. This tactic may only work with pre-orders made through Apple.

The first iPhone 6s and 6s Plus shipments are expected to arrive Friday, September 25. However, sometimes lucky customers receive their phones early due to shipping errors. Apple has ended launch-day pre-orders and in-store reservations for the two new phones and will not offer walk-in sales for them at Apple Stores in Delaware, Hawaii, Alaska, New Hampshire, Oregon, China, Hong Kong and Japan.

MacRumors readers may also want to join in on the dedicated pre-order threads on the forums, where users are sharing tracking information and socializing while waiting for their new iPhones.

Apple Ends Launch Day Online Pre-Orders and In-Store Reservations for iPhone 6s and 6s Plus

With four days to go until the launch of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, Apple is no longer offering launch-day delivery of any iPhone 6s or 6s Plus models ordered online and is no longer allowing customers to make reservations for in-store purchases, including through Apple’s new iPhone Upgrade Program, on Friday.

While shipping estimates for iPhones 6s Plus models in particular quickly slipped to 2-3 weeks or longer following the start of pre-orders on September 12, many iPhone 6s models remained available for launch day delivery until today.

Customers looking to place online pre-orders for iPhone 6s models that had until recently remained available for launch day are now being quoted 1-2 week shipping with delivery in the range of September 29 through October 6 or later.

Apple’s in-store reservation system has been shut down entirely for the remainder of this week and will reopen at 8:00 AM on Saturday, September 26 to allow customers to reserve from each store’s daily shipments of iPhones. Apple does still invite customers without reservations on Friday to attempt to purchase an iPhone, but unreserved supplies will likely be tight and lines long.

iPhone 6s Plus Has Smaller 2750mAh Battery

Apple’s iPhone 6s Plus includes a 2750 mAh battery, according to images shared by Taiwanese site AppleClub [Google Translate]. That means the battery in the iPhone 6s Plus is smaller than the 2915 mAh battery found in the existing iPhone 6 Plus.

We’ve already learned the iPhone 6s has a smaller 1715 mAh battery because it was spotted in a video Apple created to highlight 3D Touch, but there’s been no visual confirmation on the iPhone 6s Plus battery until now.

Ahead of the debut of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, rumors suggested both devices would have smaller batteries, which turned out to be accurate. It appears Apple may have adopted smaller batteries in the new iPhones in order to make room for new internal parts like a dedicated Taptic Engine that enables haptic feedback whenever 3D Touch is used.

Though the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have smaller batteries, overall battery life has not been impacted due to optimizations in the A9 processor in the devices and software improvements. Both devices continue to offer the same battery life as the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus.

Apple’s iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will launch this Friday, September 25. Pre-order customers will begin receiving their devices at that time, and Apple retail stores in first wave launch countries will begin selling the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus at that time.

iPhone 6s Packaging and Rose Gold iPhone Shown Off in New Photos

Ahead of the September 25 launch of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the new devices are beginning to show up in shipping warehouses as Apple prepares to deliver them to pre-order customers around the world. With more people having access to the devices before launch, there are bound to be a few image leaks, and today, some photos of both the outer packaging of the iPhone 6s and the rose gold iPhone have surfaced.

Spanish site iPhoneros [Google Translate] says its photos of the packaging came from a source in China. In one of the images, the packaging for all four iPhone 6s colors is depicted, each with a different siamese fighting fish, matching previous leaked packaging photos. The side of the box has the iPhone 6s name, and there’s an Apple logo at the top.

The Rose Gold iPhone 6s box appears to have an orange fish, while the Silver iPhone 6s has a blue fish. The fish on the Gold iPhone 6s box is blue and gold, while the Space Gray iPhone 6s packaging has a red fish.

Chinese site Feng [Google Translate] has also shared a series of photos depicting both the packaging and the Rose Gold iPhone 6s. Of note on the Rose Gold iPhone is the small “S” on the back of the device, a marker that has not been seen on previous S generation phones. This was clearly depicted in press images of the device taken at the September 9 media event, but may have gone unnoticed by some.

With the S identifier at the back of the phone, it will be easier to distinguish one of the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus devices from the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus.

The fish that are depicted on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus packaging will be available as motion-based wallpapers on the new devices, along with motion wallpapers depicting different colored smoke. The new dynamic wallpapers are exclusive to the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus and are unavailable on older devices.

Apple’s iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will be available beginning on September 25, and some customers who pre-ordered have already begun having their cards charged and are seeing their order statuses shift from “Processing” to “Preparing for shipment.” Earlier this week, order status changes were limited to customers outside of the U.S., but in the last day, even customers in the United States have begun seeing some movement.

Screen Protectors Will Work With iPhone 6s and 6s Plus Despite New 3D Touch Feature

The iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus have a new screen technology called 3D Touch, allowing the devices to support new gestures that are based on pressure, as well as touch. 3D Touch works through capacitive sensors embedded in the backlight of the devices, measuring microscopic changes in the distance between the glass cover of the display and the backlight, combining signals from the touch sensor and the accelerometer to respond to finger pressure.

Because of the way 3D Touch operates, there was some speculation that screen protectors might not work with the new devices, but Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller appears to have confirmed in an email to 3D Techtronics that screen protectors that comply with Apple’s design guidelines will work with 3D Touch. “Yes. screen overlays that follow our guidelines will continue to work with 3D Touch,” Schiller wrote.

Apple’s design guidelines for iPhone cases say any screen overlay must be electrically conductive, must not exceed 0.3mm in thickness, and must not introduce air gaps between the touchscreen.

There are several Apple-approved screen protectors that are available for purchase from the online Apple Store and through Apple’s retail locations, including products from companies like Tech21, Belkin, and 3M. Because the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s plus are similar in size to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, it’s likely these screen protectors will fit Apple’s newest devices, but customers concerned about fit should wait for confirmation from the manufacturers.

Apple’s iPhone 6s and 6s Plus with 3D Touch are currently available for pre-order from Apple’s online store and in Apple retail stores. The two new iPhones will officially launch on September 25.

Second Wave of iPhone 6s Launch May Be Hitting Netherlands and India in October

According to a few sources out of the Dutch telecommunications industry, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will be launching in the Netherlands on October 2, with pre-orders for the release beginning a week earlier on September 25 (via iPhoned) [Google Translate].

The pricing for the new smartphones will be a bit different compared to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, with the 16GB version of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus going for €749 and €849, respectively. That’s €50 more expensive than last year’s models, a statistic which keeps increasing with the addition of storage and choosing the Plus model over the normal version. As iPhoned points out, the most expensive 128GB iPhone 6s Plus model will now be €1,069.

Along with the Netherlands, a report out of India last week suggested that Apple is accelerating the launch of the new iPhones in the country, which will directly face Samsung’s decision to launch the newly announced Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Note5 in the same time window (via The Economic Times). The rumor states that Apple will try to launch the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus by October 10-11, which is about a month ahead of its initial plans for a November launch in India.

If the Apple India team manages to convince its Cupertino headquarters, it will be the fastest ever launch of any Apple product in India since announcement.

“An October launch will give it a significant time to align its marketing campaign well ahead of Diwali unlike last year when it got just a week for the same and also leveraging upon its expanded distribution coverage now as compared to an year ago,” said Tarun Pathak, senior analyst at market tracker Counterpoint Research.

The new iPhones went up for pre-order over the weekend, and will launch next week on September 25 in the first-wave of launch countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, and the United States. Apple previously announced that it has plans for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus to be in over 130 countries by the end of 2015, but hasn’t given any specific names to the locations included in the next launch wave.

Apple Says iPhone 6s and 6s Plus Pre-Orders ‘On Pace’ to Top Last Year’s Record 10 Million Sales on Launch Weekend

Apple has informed the media that iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders are “on pace to beat” last year’s record-breaking 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders sold on launch weekend in September 2014.

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders started on Saturday at 12:01 AM Pacific. While most iPhone 6s Plus and Rose Gold models are now shipping in 2-3 weeks or later, many iPhone 6s models remain available for delivery on September 25.

Apple:

Customer response to iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus has been extremely positive and preorders this weekend were very strong around the world. We are on pace to beat last year’s 10 million unit first-weekend record when the new iPhones go on sale September 25.

As many customers noticed, the online demand for iPhone 6s Plus has been exceptionally strong and exceeded our own forecasts for the preorder period. We are working to catch up as quickly as we can, and we will have iPhone 6s Plus as well as iPhone 6s units available at Apple retail stores when they open next Friday.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders started on a Friday at 12:01 AM Pacific last year, which likely explains why Apple said pre-orders are “on pace” to top last year’s first weekend despite it being Monday. Apple will likely count iPhone 6s and 6s Plus pre-orders through the end of today to account for a full three days of availability.

“Last year, it started on a Thursday night at midnight. This year, because of a late Labor Day, is was Friday night,” tech analyst Walter Piecyk told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” in an interview. “So we don’t know the comp is, whether they have to wait through the end of Monday to find out exactly what the acutal number is going to be.”

Last year, Apple announced that it received a record-breaking 4 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders on the first day alone, and later confirmed that opening weekend sales topped 10 million. A month later, it was reported that iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders topped 20 million in China through carriers and e-commerce site Jingdong Mall.

iPhone Pre-Order Shipping Estimates Begin Slipping to 2-3 Weeks, Led by Rose Gold iPhone 6s Plus

Pre-order supplies of the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus in the United States are starting to dwindle a bit since pre-orders kicked off at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, with several of the new iPhone models now displaying shipping estimates of 2-3 weeks. Models in the new Rose Gold color are the most heavily affected, particularly in the United States.

In the United States, Rose Gold T-Mobile iPhone 6s Plus models in 64 GB and 128 GB capacities slipped to 2-3 weeks very soon after pre-orders began, and more recently the following models have also moved to 2-3 weeks as of 2:00 AM Pacific Time:

– Rose Gold AT&T 64 GB iPhone 6s Plus
– Rose Gold AT&T 128 GB iPhone 6s Plus
– Rose Gold Verizon 64GB iPhone 6s Plus
– Rose Gold Verizon 128 GB iPhone 6s Plus
– Rose Gold T-Mobile 16 GB iPhone 6s Plus
– Rose Gold T-Mobile 64 GB iPhone 6s
– Space Gray T-Mobile 128 GB iPhone 6s Plus

Slipped shipping estimates in Apple’s online stores for other countries such as the UK, Australia, and Germany are a bit more varied, with a few more models in other colors moving to 2-3 weeks, although Rose Gold is again the most common variety to see the later estimates. The UK in particular is seeing extended shipping, as nearly all iPhone 6s Plus models with the exception of a few 16 GB models are now listed at 2-3 weeks.

Customers placing orders for one of these models with 2-3 week estimates could see their deliveries pushed into October considering transit times of several days following shipment.

While pre-order supplies of some models of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are beginning to sell out, it may still be possible to get one of these iPhones on launch day by visiting an Apple retail location on Friday, September 25, depending on stock levels.

The iPhone 6s is available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities in the United States for $199, $299, and $399, respectively, with a two-year contract. Contract-free pricing begins at $649. Apple’s higher-priced iPhone 6 Plus is available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities for $299, $399, and $499, respectively, with a two-year contract. Contract-free pricing on the larger-screened device starts at $749.

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus Now Available for Pre-Order

Apple is now accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus through its online storefront and through the Apple Store app. Pre-orders are available in first wave launch countries including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, the UK, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and Singapore.

All of the major U.S. carriers, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, are accepting pre-orders for the new devices, but online pre-orders are not available from retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

We haven’t heard rumors pointing towards supply constraints for the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus, but it’s best to make an order right away if possible. In past years, iPhone supplies have dwindled significantly following the kickoff of pre-orders, and with last year’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, 6 Plus supplies sold out quickly.

Both the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus come in 16, 64, and 128GB configurations, with four color options: Silver, Space Gray, Gold, and Rose Gold.

iPhone 6s pricing in the U.S. starts at $199 with a two-year carrier contract, with the 64 and 128GB models priced at $299 and $399, respectively. Without a contract, the iPhone 6s in 16/64/128GB is priced at $649/$749/$849.

iPhone 6s Plus pricing in the U.S. starts at $299 with a two-year carrier contract, with the 64 and 128GB models priced at $399 and $499, respectively. Without a contract, the iPhone 6s Plus in 16/64/128GB is priced at $749/$849/$949.

Customers who wish to make a purchase through Apple’s new U.S. iPhone Upgrade Program will need to make an online reservation for an in-store appointment. Reservations are available now.

In-store sales of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will begin on Friday, September 25, which is the official launch day for the new devices.

Apple’s Online Store Down Ahead of iPhone 6s and 6s Plus Pre-Orders

Apple has taken its online storefront down in order to prepare for the launch of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders, which will begin at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time or 3:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, September 12. Pre-orders will be available on Apple’s site, via the Apple Store app, and on several carrier sites.

Ahead of when pre-orders kick off, people planning to make a purchase should check their upgrade eligibility and pricing options on Apple’s website, using the new “Get ready for pre-order” tool.

Apple will accept pre-orders in first wave launch countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, and the United States.

The iPhone 6s is available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities in the United States for $199, $299, and $399, respectively, with a two-year contract. Contract-free pricing begins at $649. Apple’s higher-priced iPhone 6 Plus is available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities for $299, $399, and $499, respectively, with a two-year contract. Contract-free pricing on the larger-screened device starts at $749.

Apple is also offering its own iPhone Upgrade Program in the United States, letting users pay a monthly fee for their iPhone with a trade-in option available after 12 months of payments. Pricing, which includes AppleCare+, starts at $32.41 per month for the entry-level 16GB iPhone 6s and goes up from there. Participating in this program requires an in-store purchase, but Apple is accepting online reservations at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on September 12 for in-store appointments.