10 Reasons to Buy an iPhone 6s Now Rather Than an iPhone 7 Later

Thinking about upgrading to an iPhone 7? Rumors say it might not be the improved iPhone you’re looking for, and an iPhone 6s might be the better choice.

Apple isn’t expected to offer major design changes in the iPhone 7. Instead, the company reportedly will only move the antenna lines and add a second set of speakers. There’s also talk that the Touch ID sensor will be moved up to the display, though that hasn’t been included in any image or video leak purporting to show the iPhone 7 in action. Those hoping for a major design upgrade likely won’t get it in the iPhone 7, making the iPhone 6s even more appealing.

Those seeking a new iPhone must ask themselves whether they’d like a headphone jack. If they do, then choosing the iPhone 6s makes sense. Apple’s iPhone 7 is rumored to be losing the headphone jack to make room for the aforementioned dual-speaker array. For the millions around the world who own corded headphones, that might be an issue.

Apple undoubtedly will unveil a new processor and improved graphics capabilities in the iPhone 7, and there’s even talk it might offer additional RAM and onboard storage. But it’s debatable whether those updates are really worth waiting for. The iPhone 6s can handle any resource-intensive app, and that won’t change over the next year. Even if the iPhone 7 is more powerful, it likely won’t deliver a giant leap in power over the iPhone 6s.

Historically, when Apple has launched a new iPhone, the company eliminates most of the preceding models and offers only low-storage options for those on a budget. The move means customers looking for more storage will need to buy its new (and more expensive) iPhone. Prospective iPhone 6s owners, in other words, won’t be able to choose from all of the same flavors and storage options when the iPhone 7 launches. If the iPhone 6s is already an attractive buy to some customers, it’s better for them to have more options now than fewer in the future.

When the iPhone 7 launches, it might be hard to find. Historically, new iPhones are difficult to preorder unless you’re quick on the mouse, and lines are long across cellular carrier and Apple stores. Sometimes, customers have to wait weeks to get the new handset, depending on demand. The iPhone 6s, however, is available now in all versions and screen sizes. Those who don’t want such a complicated (and, frankly, annoying) buying experience can just get an iPhone 6s now without any trouble.

Apple already has said its upcoming mobile operating system, as well as all of the new features it’s bringing to the platform, will work just fine on the iPhone 6s line. Therefore, those worried about software and compatibility shouldn’t be.

The iPhone 6s works anywhere. In the United States, for instance, it will work on any major carrier, and customers can even buy it unlocked to use it on international networks, if they so choose. While Apple likely will follow the same tack with the iPhone 7, it’s worth noting that the iPhone 6s already comes with the flexibility Apple customers might seek.

There’s little doubt that Apple’s iPhone 7 will come with a better camera than the iPhone 6s. So customers will need to decide how important that really is. After all, the iPhone 6s is no slouch, featuring a 12-megapixel, rear-facing sensor and the ability for users to record video in 4K. The front-facing camera in the iPhone 6s is nothing to write home about, but it’s just fine for selfies and making FaceTime calls. Unless Apple unleashes a major camera update with features no one has seen before, it’s unlikely any iPhone 7 camera upgrade will offer enough to make iPhone 6s customers jealous.

Every rumor, analyst and market researcher suggests that the big iPhone update—the one that everyone has been waiting for—won’t come until 2017. In fact, that device could be the first iPhone to come with an OLED screen and feature an all-glass chassis. It might even feature an entirely new design. If customers need a new iPhone but ultimately want the big update, why not buy the iPhone 6s now and wait until next year to get something special from Apple?

That, of course, brings us to an important consideration: Apple’s Annual Upgrade Program. Under the program, Apple customers can buy a new iPhone and make monthly payments, and each year, they are eligible to upgrade to the latest handset and continue making payments. Customers no longer need to wait for a two-year contract to expire to get a new iPhone, taking the sting out of buying the iPhone 6s this year. After joining the annual upgrade program now, new iPhone 6s owners can simply buy next year’s big update when it’s available.