iPhone 6s released: handset ripped apart then dropped, as full teardown confirms small battery and heavier display

The phone has only been available for a few hours, and it’s already in bits

A photo from iFixit's teardown of the iPhone 6s (iFixit)

Apple’s brand new iPhone 6s has already been torn to bits, with experts noting that the battery has shrunk slightly to make way for components needed for the phone’s new features.

The battery is physically slightly smaller, the teardown has confirmed, as well as holding slightly less power. But Apple says that the phone will stay charged for the exact same amount of time, likely the result of more efficient components including a new processor.

The smaller battery looks like it has been added to make space for the new Taptic Engine, a special vibration motor that Apple has added to the new handset. That can be seen in the unboxing itself, taking up a decent amount of space at the bottom of the battery.

It may also have been to allow space for the thicker and heavier screen. At 60 grams, it’s 15 grams heavier than the one in the 6 — likely because of the addition of extra sensors so that the phone can sense pressure, powering its 3D Touch headline feature.

Despite those additions, the phone is almost exactly the same size. It has picked up a little extra bulk, and is slightly heavier, but is still small enough that most cases made for the iPhone 6 will still fit.

iFixit gave the new phone a repairability score of 7 out of 10. The display can pop off easily to repair the screen and the battery is easy to get at, it said, but the Touch ID is harder to get at and the phone still uses its own screws that need a special screwdriver to remove — but they do come in rose gold, to match the new iPhone.

The phones have also already been dropped on the floor to see how they survive. Apple says that the glass in its new screen is the strongest in the industry, and the 6s Plus has survived a 10-foot drop test.

Some that have received their new phones have also posted unboxing videos, showing the phone’s packaging. It appears to be mostly similar to the iPhone 6’s — a long box almost the same size as the phone, inside which the handset itself sits in a cradle at the top.