Those “S” years are when Apple adds some of its most useful features. Siri? Touch ID? Both valuable additions to the iPhone platform that have since grown in importance. This year we get 3D Touch, a potentially awesome way to interact with iPhones. The thing is, a device’s worth isn’t just tied up in one feature: It’s about how all those moving parts work together. That’s why the new 6s and 6s Plus (starting at R549 and R699, respectively, for 16GB models) are such great phones. The combination of much-improved hardware and some polished software makes this year’s release far more than just a modest refresh.

BUT, where can you get the iPhone 6s and/or 6s Plus first as it launches this morning? All service providers offer the handsets in Rose Gold, Space Gray, Silver and Gold. 

Vodacom

Tried and tested and just-announced most reputable mobile network operator in SA, Vodacom’s online portal can get your device delivered on the same day (given that you’re in Johannesburg and place your order before 12pm) or within 24hrs to major cities. We’re in based in Welkom and Bloemfontein and the handful of times we had to order something from Vodacom, it would arrive a day later. That aside, Vodacom has listed the iPhone 6s (16GB) for R549 pm x24 on their Smart S contract while the 64GB variant goes for 799 and the 128GB for R899. Its brother the iPhone 6s Plus retails for R699 (16GB), R799 (64GB) and R899 (128GB). 

MTN

The yellow guys from Randburg hosted us for a iPhone 6s launch party at their innovation center overnight. Don’t worry, I showered before I came here. So it fitting that they’d be one of the first few to make it available on launch. Pricing on their website is listed to start at R349 pm x36 on their Minute 100 contract for the 16GB 6s while their 6s Plus starts at R399 pmx36. Online purchases are available. 

Telkom 

Centurion was the last service provider to confirm having the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus available online and in their stores from this morning. Pre-orders on their website kicked off earlier this week and soon customers will be holding their in hand. Telkom was kind enough to reveal their contract pricing which starts at R559 for the iPhone 6s (16GB) up to R1899 for the 6s Plus on their unlimited plan. 

Cell C

We’re just being ambitious  

And, while plenty of users jumped on board when the iPhone got a bump to 5.5 inches with the 6 Plus, Apple isn’t going to try and entice anyone with another screen size bump — the 6s Plus’ major upgrades are on the inside. Of which your friends won’t really be able to notice should you wish to upgrade.

Should, say, your friend’s lesser knowledge about iPhones not be a problem here are a few notable differences on the iPhone 6s Plus as announced last night:

The new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus will be built from a new, custom aluminium alloy, and will be available in silver, gold, space grey, and rose gold.

As expected, they will have Force Touch, which can detect where you’re pressing on the screen and how hard. The 6S will have the same 4.7 inch display screen as the iPhone 6, and the 6S Plus will retain its 5.5 inch screen.

The upgraded iPhones both have a new A9 chip built in, 70 percent faster than the A8 at CPU tasks, and 90 percent faster with graphics.

ou’ll also see a new 12-megapixel rear iSight camera, capable of shooting video in 4K, and a 5 megapixel front-facing camera with Retina Flash that’s supposedly 3x brighter than regular flash.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus start September 12th, in the states, and general availability will follow on September 25th. The latest version of iOS, however, is coming sooner than that: iOS 9 will be released in a little under a week, on September 16th.

At the time of publish, no local operator nor the official Apple distributor had confirmed the release and pricing of the new devices.