By Todd Spangler
LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - Apple took the wraps off the much-awaited next models of its iPhone line, announcing the iPhone 6s and 6s plus, which include a new "3D touch" feature and a camera capable of capturing 4K Ultra HD video.
"No product is more about innovation than the iPhone," CEO Tim Cook said at the company's launch event. "We have changed everything about these new iPhones."
The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will ship in the U.S., China and other countries on Sept. 25, with pre-orders starting Saturday, Sept. 12.
The new iPhones' multitouch feature, integrated into iOS 9, that provides new interaction capabilities (like holding down a finger to "peek" at a flight number or date in a calendar) and tactile feedback. The new smartphones come in silver, gold, space gray and rose gold.
According to Apple, third-party developers including Facebook and Instagram, Dropbox and WeChat are creating apps with 3D touch features.
The iPhone 6s models include a new generation of 64-bit A9 processors, which Apple senior VP of marketing Phil Schiller claimed can run tasks up to 90% faster than prior chips.
The smartphones include a 12-megapixel iSight camera, 50% more than pixels previous iPhones, and for the first time will let users record video in up to 4K resolution.
Apple is heavily reliant on the iPhone, first introduced in 2007. Sales of the smartphones account for two-thirds of Apple's revenue.
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