You remember 2015. It was the year of "Hotline Bling," the peak of the "Millennial Pink" craze, and the moment Apple decided a phone shouldn't just be silver or gray. When the iPhone 6s Plus Rose Gold hit the shelves, it wasn't just another gadget. It was a cultural reset. People weren't just buying a smartphone; they were buying a statement piece that somehow bridged the gap between high-end jewelry and pocket-sized computers.
Honestly, it’s wild to think that over a decade later, we’re still talking about a device with a physical home button. But there’s a reason this specific model lingers in our collective memory.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Rose Gold Finish
People called it "pink." Apple insisted it was "Rose Gold." In reality, it was a copper-heavy alloy look that changed depending on the light. In a dim room, it looked like a sophisticated, muted salmon. Under the sun? It shimmered like a Cartier Trinity ring.
It actually sparked a massive debate. Remember "Bros Gold"? Suddenly, the internet was flooded with guys defending their choice to carry a pinkish phone. It was the first time a color choice for a piece of tech felt like it was challenging gender norms. Apple knew exactly what they were doing. By targeting the "aspirational" market—specifically in China where gold was already a massive seller—they turned a hardware iterative year (the "S" year) into a fashion event.
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The finish was applied to 7000 series aluminum. This wasn't just for aesthetics. After the "Bendgate" drama of the previous year's iPhone 6 Plus, Apple needed something tougher. This was aerospace-grade stuff. Zinc was the secret ingredient. It made the phone slightly heavier—192 grams to be exact—but it meant you couldn't accidentally turn your phone into a boomerang in your back pocket.
The 6s Plus Rose Gold: A Hardware Powerhouse in Disguise
While everyone was obsessing over the color, the internals were actually a massive leap forward. If you were holding a iPhone 6s Plus Rose Gold back then, you were holding the first iPhone capable of 4K video. That was huge.
- The A9 Chip: It was a beast. Even today, if you find one in a drawer, it’ll probably boot up faster than you’d expect.
- 3D Touch: This was supposed to be the "next big thing." You’d press the screen harder to "Peek" into an email or "Pop" into a photo. It’s gone now, replaced by Haptic Touch, but there was something tactile and mechanical about it that felt like the future.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): Only the "Plus" model got this for video. It made those shaky concert videos actually watchable.
The camera jumped to 12 megapixels. For the first time, selfies got the "Retina Flash" treatment, where the whole screen would light up to act as a ring light. It sounds basic now, but in 2015, it was the secret to the perfect Instagram post.
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Why It’s Becoming a "Vintage" Icon
As of late 2024, Apple officially moved the 6s Plus to the "obsolete" list. That sounds harsh. Basically, it means Apple stores won't fix them anymore because they don't make the parts. But on the secondary market in 2026, these things are becoming weirdly collectible.
You can find a 32GB model in "Good" condition for about $68 on sites like Back Market. But collectors are looking for the 128GB versions in that specific Rose Gold finish. It’s the "OG" of the color. Every pink phone that came after—the Rose Gold 7, the Gold XS, the Pink 13—they all owe their existence to this one device.
Can You Actually Use One Today?
Technically, yes. Practically? It’s tough.
The phone is stuck on iOS 15.8.3. Most modern apps like TikTok or the latest banking apps are starting to require iOS 16 or 17. You’ll run into "This app is not compatible with your device" more often than not. However, for a "distraction-free" phone or a dedicated music player, it’s still gold. Plus, it has something no modern iPhone has: a headphone jack.
There’s a certain nostalgia in plugging in a pair of wired EarPods and feeling that mechanical click. No dongles. No Bluetooth pairing headaches. Just 3.5mm of pure 2015 bliss.
The Battery Reality
If you’re pulling one out of a drawer, the battery is probably shot. Lithium-ion batteries don't like sitting empty for years. They swell. They lose capacity. If you’re serious about using a iPhone 6s Plus Rose Gold as a backup device, you’re going to need a $20 replacement kit from iFixit.
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Actionable Insights for Owners and Collectors
If you still have one of these sitting in a nightstand, don't just throw it in the trash. It's an e-waste nightmare and a missed opportunity.
- Check the Battery Health: If it’s below 80%, it will throttle the CPU. A quick DIY swap can make the phone feel twice as fast.
- Use it as a "Dumb" Phone: Delete the social media apps. Use it for calls, texts, and local music storage. It’s a great way to do a digital detox without losing the ability to call an Uber (via the web browser).
- Archive the Photos: If you have old Live Photos on there, remember that the 6s Plus was the first to support them. Make sure they’re synced to iCloud or backed up to a PC before the hardware eventually gives up.
- Value for Collectors: Keep the original box if you have it. In the world of vintage tech, the "Rose Gold" 6s Plus is considered the definitive color of that era.
The iPhone 6s Plus Rose Gold was the moment technology stopped trying to look like a tool and started trying to look like jewelry. It was the peak of the "S" year cycle and a reminder of a time when a new color was enough to make people stand in line for hours. Even if it can't run the latest AI-heavy apps of 2026, its place in the design hall of fame is pretty much secure.