iPhone 6S Rumors: 32GB Storage May Return To Apple Inc.'s Smartphone

Apple’s next smartphone could be getting bigger -- just not physically. According to market research firm TrendForce, the so-called iPhone 6S may see its base storage double from 16GB to 32GB.

This would kill off the 16GB iPhone tier, leaving customers with 32GB, 64GB and 128GB options to choose from. The 32GB model had been an option for previous iPhone generations, but with the iPhone 6, Apple replaced it with the 64GB iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Memory for the iPhone could also see a jump from 1GB to 2GB, as indicated by a research note released by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Other features that may also find their way into the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus include a 12MP camera, Force Touch technology and an A9 chip, the successor to the A8 in the current smartphone. First introduced in the Apple Watch, Force Touch enables a touch screen or trackpad to detect the difference between a light tap and a hard press, opening the possibility for new touch gestures and controls. Apple may also use carbon fiber and other materials to strengthen the case of its aluminum iPhone, making the casing thinner at the same time, according to patent filings published by the U.S. patent office.

TrendForce expects iPhone production to start in June, with a release in the third quarter. To be clear, Apple hasn’t officially announced a new iPhone. But if it follows the trend of previous launches, the iPhone 6S may be unveiled in September, with sales starting two weeks later.