Apple’s shiny new iPhones officially launched in Australia today with all major telcos offering a range of new plans. If you’re contemplating a new phone contract and have your heart set on the iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, this complete breakdown will help you to make the right decision.
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Product recap
The iPhone 6s is a 4.7-inch smartphone with Retina display powered by an Apple A9 Processor. The iPhone 6s Plus is more or less the same phone except it has a 5.5-inch display instead. Both phones run on Apple’s latest mobile operating system, iOS 9 which you can read all about here.
The big new feature this time around is 3D Touch. This is an advanced form of touch control that recognises the force of gestures. In other words, you’ll be able to do more with your fingers and get things done faster. Apple has included a haptic feedback engine so you know how hard to tap for different commands.
There’s also a new Touch ID sensor and a beefier 12-mexapixel camera that can shoot 4K video. Another intriguing addition is the Live Photos shooting option that creates animated loops of your photos (the effect is reminscent of the moving newspaper photos in the Harry Potter movies). The the new models come in silver, gold, space grey and a new fourth colour: rose gold.
You can read more about both devices — and see how they stack up against the competition — over at Gizmodo.
Buying Outright
If you’re not currently on a mobile phone contract and have a wad of spare cash handy, buying the iPhone 6s/6s Plus outright will save you more money in the long run. This will allow you to sign up for a cheaper prepaid plan which you can leave at any time.
The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus come in a range of capacities starting at 16GB. Here are the current RRPs, although you might be able to find a slightly cheaper price by shopping around online.
| Size | iPhone 6s | iPhone 6s Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 16GB | $1079 | $1229 |
| 64GB | $1299 | $1379 |
| 128GB | $1379 | $1529 |
Personally, we’d advise against buying the entry-level model. A 16GB phone with no expandable memory is pretty useless in this day in age. As you can see from the above table, forking out an extra $220 will net you an additional 48GB of inbuilt storage.
Now let’s take a look at the deals each major telco is offering. (Optus, Telstra, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone.) Each plan includes the monthly fee, handset charge (if applicable) and the minimum total cost over the length of the contract. We’ve also listed the data allowances and how much call credit is included.
Optus
Optus’ starting price for the iPhone 6s on a 24-month contract is $70 per month. Optus’s starting price for the larger iPhone 6s Plus on a 24-month contract is $79 per month.
Optus plans include between 150 minutes and 500 minutes of free international calls to more than 30 countries. (Austria, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America and Vietnam.)
Here’s a breakdown of what you get with each plan. (All plans include unlimited calls and text, unless specified.)
iPhone 6s 16GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $30 | 24 months | $1680 | 500MB |
| $60 | $19 | 24 months | $1,896 | 3GB |
| $80 | $0 | 24 months | $1920 | 6GB (+ 2GB bonus) |
| $100 | $0 | 24 months | $2400 | 10GB (+ 2GB bonus) |
| $135 | $0 | 24 months | $3240 | 16GB (+ 4GB bonus) |
iPhone 6s 64GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $36 | 24 months | $1824 | 500MB |
| $60 | $26 | 24 months | $2064 | 3GB |
| $80 | $11 | 24 months | $2184 | 6GB (+ 2GB bonus) |
| $100 | $5 | 24 months | $2520 | 10GB (+ 2GB bonus) |
| $135 | $0 | 24 months | $3240 | 16GB (+ 4GB bonus) |
iPhone 6s 128GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $42 | 24 months | $1968 | 500MB |
| $60 | $33 | 24 months | $2232 | 3GB |
| $80 | $21 | 24 months | $2424 | 6GB (+ 2GB bonus) |
| $100 | $10 | 24 months | $2640 | 10GB (+ 2GB bonus) |
| $135 | $6 | 24 months | $3384 | 16GB (+ 4GB bonus) |
iPhone 6s Plus 16GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $39 | 24 months | $1896 | 500MB |
| $60 | $28 | 24 months | $2112 | 3GB |
| $80 | $14 | 24 months | $2256 | 6GB (+ 2GB bonus) |
| $100 | $8 | 24 months | $2592 | 10GB (+ 2GB bonus) |
| $135 | $0 | 24 months | $3240 | 16GB (+ 4GB bonus) |
iPhone 6s Plus 64GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $45 | 24 months | $2040 | 500MB |
| $60 | $34 | 24 months | $2256 | 3GB |
| $80 | $20 | 24 months | $2400 | 6GB (+ 2GB bonus) |
| $100 | $15 | 24 months | $2760 | 10GB (+ 2GB bonus) |
| $135 | $7 | 24 months | $3408 | 16GB (+ 4GB bonus) |
iPhone 6s Plus 128GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $51 | 24 months | $2184 | 500MB |
| $60 | $40 | 24 months | $2400 | 3GB |
| $80 | $27 | 24 months | $2568 | 6GB (+ 2GB bonus) |
| $100 | $22 | 24 months | $2928 | 10GB (+ 2GB bonus) |
| $135 | $14 | 24 months | $3576 | 16GB (+ 4GB bonus) |
Our pick: It’s hard to go past the $80 monthly plan here. When you add in the handset repayments, it’s only slightly more expensive than the $60 plan and comes with an additional 5GB of data.
Telstra
Telstra’s starting price for the iPhone 6s on a 24-month contract is $87 per month. Telstra’s starting price for the larger iPhone 6s Plus on a 24-month contract is $95 per month.
Telstra’s top-end plans come with $150 of free international calls per month. Normal fees apply for all other plans. Here’s a breakdown of what you get with each plan. (All plans include unlimited calls and text, unless specified.)
iPhone 6s 16GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $55 | $32 | 24 months | $2088 | 1GB | ($550 calls) |
| $70 | $22 | 24 months | $2208 | 2.5GB | ($1000 calls) |
| $95 | $4 | 24 months | $2376 | 7GB | |
| $135 | $0 | 24 months | $3240 | 15GB |
iPhone 6s 64GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $55 | $40 | 24 months | $2280 | 1GB | ($550 calls) |
| $70 | $32 | 24 months | $2448 | 2.5GB | ($1000 calls) |
| $95 | $17 | 24 months | $2688 | 7GB | |
| $135 | $12 | 24 months | $3528 | 15GB |
iPhone 6s 128GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $55 | $47 | 24 months | $2448 | 1GB | ($550 calls) |
| $70 | $39 | 24 months | $2616 | 2.5GB | ($1000 calls) |
| $95 | $27 | 24 months | $2928 | 7GB | |
| $135 | $22 | 24 months | $3768 | 15GB |
iPhone 6s Plus 16GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $55 | $40 | 24 months | $2280 | 1GB | ($550 calls) |
| $70 | $32 | 24 months | $2448 | 2.5GB | ($1000 calls) |
| $95 | $23 | 24 months | $2832 | 7GB | |
| $135 | $15 | 24 months | $3240 | 15GB |
iPhone 6s Plus 64GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $55 | $47 | 24 months | $2448 | 1GB | ($550 calls) |
| $70 | $39 | 24 months | $2616 | 2.5GB | ($1000 calls) |
| $95 | $30 | 24 months | $3000 | 7GB | |
| $135 | $22 | 24 months | $3768 | 15GB |
iPhone 6s Plus 128GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $55 | $57 | 24 months | $2688 | 1GB | ($550 calls) |
| $70 | $48 | 24 months | $2832 | 2.5GB | ($1000 calls) |
| $95 | $40 | 24 months | $3240 | 7GB | |
| $135 | $30 | 24 months | $3960 | 15GB |
Our pick: None of Telstra’s offerings are particularly great value (especially if you need to make international calls.) If you’re a fan of the telco or live in an area with limited choice, the $95 option probably provides the best bang-for-buck.
Vodafone
Vodafone’s starting price for the iPhone 6s on a 24-month contract is $79 per month. Its starting price for the larger iPhone 6s Plus on a 24-month contract is $87 per month.
All Vodafone iPhone plans come with infinite national calls and text. You can also get infinite international calls to 10 select countries. (China, India, UK, NZ, USA, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and South Korea.)
Here’s a breakdown of what you get with each plan.
iPhone 6s 16GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $39 | 24 months | $1896 | 500MB (+ 500MB bonus) |
| $60 | $22 | 24 months | $1968 | 3GB |
| $80 | $9 | 24 months | $2136 | 6GB (+2GB bonus) |
| $100 | $3 | 24 months | $2472 | 10GB (+2GB bonus) |
| $130 | $0 | 24 months | $3120 | 15GB (+5GB bonus) |
iPhone 6s 64GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $47 | 24 months | $2088 | 500MB (+ 500MB bonus) |
| $60 | $30 | 24 months | $2160 | 3GB |
| $80 | $15 | 24 months | $2280 | 6GB (+2GB bonus) |
| $100 | $8 | 24 months | $2592 | 10GB (+2GB bonus) |
| $130 | $0 | 24 months | $3120 | 15GB (+5GB bonus) |
iPhone 6s 128GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $53 | 24 months | $2232 | 500MB (+ 500MB bonus) |
| $60 | $36 | 24 months | $2304 | 3GB |
| $80 | $23 | 24 months | $2472 | 6GB (+2GB bonus) |
| $100 | $15 | 24 months | $2760 | 10GB (+2GB bonus) |
| $130 | $4 | 24 months | $3216 | 15GB (+5GB bonus) |
iPhone 6s Plus 16GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $47 | 24 months | $2088 | 500MB (+ 500MB bonus) |
| $60 | $33 | 24 months | $2232 | 3GB |
| $80 | $17 | 24 months | $2328 | 6GB (+2GB bonus) |
| $100 | $10 | 24 months | $2640 | 10GB (+2GB bonus) |
| $130 | $0 | 24 months | $3120 | 15GB (+5GB bonus) |
iPhone 6s Plus 64GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $53 | 24 months | $2232 | 500MB (+ 500MB bonus) |
| $60 | $38 | 24 months | $2472 | 3GB |
| $80 | $23 | 24 months | $2328 | 6GB (+2GB bonus) |
| $100 | $15 | 24 months | $2760 | 10GB (+2GB bonus) |
| $130 | $4 | 24 months | $3216 | 15GB (+5GB bonus) |
iPhone 6s Plus 128GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $58 | 24 months | $2352 | 500MB (+ 500MB bonus) |
| $60 | $49 | 24 months | $2616 | 3GB |
| $80 | $30 | 24 months | $2640 | 6GB (+2GB bonus) |
| $100 | $21 | 24 months | $2904 | 10GB (+2GB bonus) |
| $130 | $10 | 24 months | $3360 | 15GB (+5GB bonus) |
Our pick: Like the other telco’s on this list, Vodafone plans start to get attractive around the $80-per-month mark. This will net you a cool 8GB of data per month. Also worth noting is that the $130 plan does not require handset repayments for either the 16GB or 64GB model — so if you’re cashed up, be sure to get the 64GB option.
Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile’s starting price for the iPhone 6s on a 24-month contract is $61 per month. Its starting price for the larger iPhone 6s Plus on a 24-month contract is $67 per month. Virgin Mobile’s plans do not provide a free international call allowance.
Here’s a breakdown of what you get with each plan. (All plans include unlimited calls and text, unless specified.)
iPhone 6s 16GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30 | $37 | 24 months | $1608 | 300MB | ($300 call/text credit) |
| $40 | $36 | 24 months | $1824 | 1GB | ($450 call/text credit) |
| $50 | $30 | 24 months | $1920 | 2GB | ($500 call/text credit) |
| $60 | $26 | 24 months | $2064 | 4GB | |
| $70 | $20 | 24 months | $2160 | 6GB | |
| $80 | $11 | 24 months | $2184 | 9GB | |
| $100 | $4/td> | 24 months | $2496 | 13GB |
iPhone 6s 64GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30 | $37 | 24 months | $1608 | 300MB | ($300 call/text credit) |
| $40 | $36 | 24 months | $1824 | 1GB | ($450 call/text credit) |
| $50 | $30 | 24 months | $1920 | 2GB | ($500 call/text credit) |
| $60 | $26 | 24 months | $2064 | 4GB | |
| $70 | $20 | 24 months | $2160 | 6GB | |
| $80 | $11 | 24 months | $2184 | 9GB | |
| $100 | $4 | 24 months | $2496 | 13GB |
iPhone 6s 128GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30 | $43 | 24 months | $1752 | 300MB | ($300 call/text credit) |
| $40 | $42 | 24 months | $1968 | 1GB | ($450 call/text credit) |
| $50 | $36 | 24 months | $2064 | 2GB | ($500 call/text credit) |
| $60 | $33 | 24 months | $2232 | 4GB | |
| $70 | $26 | 24 months | $2304 | 6GB | |
| $80 | $19 | 24 months | $2376 | 9GB | |
| $100 | $13 | 24 months | $2712 | 13GB |
iPhone 6s Plus 16GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30 | $37 | 24 months | $1608 | 300MB | ($300 call/text credit) |
| $40 | $37 | 24 months | $1848 | 1GB | ($450 call/text credit) |
| $50 | $29 | 24 months | $1896 | 2GB | ($500 call/text credit) |
| $60 | $28 | 24 months | $2112 | 4GB | |
| $70 | $19 | 24 months | $2136 | 6GB | |
| $80 | $13 | 24 months | $2232 | 9GB | |
| $100 | $8 | 24 months | $2592 | 13GB |
iPhone 6s Plus 64GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30 | $43 | 24 months | $1752 | 300MB | ($300 call/text credit) |
| $40 | $45 | 24 months | $2040 | 1GB | ($450 call/text credit) |
| $50 | $36 | 24 months | $2064 | 2GB | ($500 call/text credit) |
| $60 | $34 | 24 months | $2256 | 4GB | |
| $70 | $26 | 24 months | $2304 | 6GB | |
| $80 | $19 | 24 months | $2376 | 9GB | |
| $100 | $14 | 24 months | $2736 | 13GB |
iPhone 6s Plus 128GB
| Monthly | Handset | Term | Min total | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30 | $49 | 24 months | $1896 | 300MB | ($300 call/text credit) |
| $40 | $51 | 24 months | $2184 | 1GB | ($450 call/text credit) |
| $50 | $42 | 24 months | $2208 | 2GB | ($500 call/text credit) |
| $60 | $40 | 24 months | $2400 | 4GB | |
| $70 | $32 | 24 months | $2448 | 6GB | |
| $80 | $25 | 24 months | $2520 | 9GB | |
| $100 | $20 | 24 months | $2880 | 13GB |
Our pick: Virgin provides more plan choices than the other telcos, but at least half of these don’t offer enough data to be worth it. For our money, the $80 plan is probably best: it costs just $3 more per month than the next cheapest plan, but provides 3GB of extra data per month. Not too shabby.
Comments
6 responses to “Planhacker: Every iPhone 6s And 6s Plus Plan From Australia’s Major Telcos”
Thank you for the handy comparison. 🙂
Telstra is certainly expensive but IMO it’s worth pointing out that you get 2 years of Apple Music (worth $11.99/mo), a bonus 500MB per month when you activate it (http://tel.st/500mb), and New Phone Feeling (which is now a once-off $149 upgrade fee than a monthly)
I am so disappointed that Telstra are the only carrier that gives reliable service at my house as their prices are bordering on scandalous compared to the rest of the carriers. $11 more per month for a 6s 64gb than Optus AND with 3.5GB LESS data. Vodafone only $6 month cheaper but had 5.5GB more for similar call levels. Ridiculous.
I dunno if the others do it, but IIRC Vodaphone piggybacks off Tesltra’s network.
If you’re looking for value, the Optus $80 is the pick of the bunch. Unlimited calls, 8gb data. Even includes some international calls. Once you subtract the cost of the iPhone 6s 64gb, you’re effectively only paying ~$39.8/month. They are by no means Telstras equals but the new 700mhz 4G network is pretty good.
Telstra’s pricing is a bit ludicrous. You’re looking at an extra $21/month for similar allowances. Effectively that means you’d be paying over 50% more for the phone service component. No thanks.
great info Jager Bomb and timely. Not sure why they still do a 16gb model. Looking forward to when we can start seeing 12 month plans, 24 months is hard to lock into when technology changes so rapidly.
P.s – Bourbon Street misses you!