Next-generation iPhone coming in September?

By Thomas Ricker posted Apr 20th 2011 12:55AM Ok, so you won't be getting an iPhone refresh this summer. But according to a trio of sources speaking to Reuters, the next-generation iPhone should be shipping in September -- as we've heard before -- with production starting in July. One source said that the iPhone will feature a faster processor, naturally, and look largely similar to the iPhone 4. If true then prepare to see it unveiled at Apple's fall event, usually held in early September.

MacRumors: iPhone 5 to Start Production in September?

Monday April 11, 2011 12:22 PM EST; Category: iPhone
Written by Arnold Kim

BusinessInsider relays an analyst report from Avian Securities which claims that the iPhone 5 won't start production until September and that this suggests that next generation iPhone won't make it to the market until the end of the year or even early next. Supporting out comments over the last month, conversations with yet another key component supplier indicates that production for iPhone-5 will begin in September. This is consistent with Avian findings in the supply chain in recent months and we believe the consensus view is moving towards this scenario.

Avian cites "key component suppliers" as the source of the information. They also revive the possibility of a cheaper/lower cost iPhone also in the works, but no new details.

While some may tire of the on-again/off-again nature of these rumors, the information from Avian is consistent with previous claims that no new iPhone hardware would be coming in June as well as claims that due to part production timelines, the iPhone 5 won't be shipping until Fiscal 2012 (after September 2011).

Rumor: iPhone 5 to land in September

In a research note, analyst Craig Berger of FBR Capital markets makes the bold claim that the iPhone 5 will not launch until September, a timing that overlaps with Apple's annual iPod refresh. Berger writes,

"we think a September launch is more likely, off from Apple's traditional iPhone launch schedule, but giving the firm more time to enhance its next-generation instant communications on the phone."

To back up this claim, Berger cites reports from Asian parts suppliers that are still ramping up their production of casings and touch panels for the iPhone 5. According to Berger, some chip vendors still have not received orders from Apple, and other component suppliers, such as those for the image sensor, have not been determined. Combined, these various reports paint a picture of a device that may not be ready for a large volume launch within four to five months.
Keep in mind that this information is based upon one analyst's interpretation of information obtained from his market sources. While analysts are sometimes correct with their predictions, they are often wrong. A survey of earnings predictions shows that independent financial bloggers are often better than professional analysts at predicting Apple's quarterly financial earnings.
To further cast doubt on this September launch, the Loop chimed in with its rebuttal that claims this rumor and the iPad rumor from earlier today are false. The take home message here is to regard this report with a grain of salt and assume the June iPhone 5 launch is a go until we receive additional evidence that suggests otherwise.

No Fifth-Generation iPhone Launch Until September?

Tuesday February 22, 2011 09:53 AM EST; Category: iPhone
Written by Eric Slivka

Following close on the heels of analyst claims that Apple made last-minute design changes to the second-generation iPad that will see the device not launch until June, Business Insider now reports that FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger is similarly predicting that the fifth-generation iPhone may not make an appearance until September. Berger writes, "For the iPhone 5, we continue to hear that a July launch is unlikely, with various casing suppliers and touch suppliers still ramping up, with some chip vendors not having yet received firm iPhone 5 orders, and with other sockets like the image sensor (most likely going to Omnivision exclusively, but with some potential for Sony to split that socket) still in flux. Given these factors, we think a September launch is more likely, off from Apple's traditional iPhone launch schedule, but giving the firm more time to enhance its next-generation instant communications on the phone."

Apple has released new iPhone models nearly like clockwork each year in June or July since the device's debut in 2007. Consequently, a September launch for the next-generation model would be a significant deviation from that trend, which Apple executives have acknowledged is part of an annual cycle of product releases.

One thing that is different during this year's cycle is mid-year product introductions, with the iPhone 4 making its way to Verizon earlier this month, and potentially offering a way for Apple to milk more life out of the device. But at least for the time being, that effect would only apply in the United States, as the CDMA device has not yet launched in other markets and many countries do not even offer significant CDMA-based networks on which the device could run. In a similar vein, Apple has said that it will be releasing the white iPhone 4 sometime this "spring", which could provide another boost to the line, although Apple has of course already delayed the device's launch several times and some observers are skeptical that it will ever see a release.

Still, we tend to take most research analyst claims with a grain of salt, as they tend to be wrong more often than right. But they do occasionally offer up accurate information from Apple's supply chain, and thus it bears watching to see if more independent claims of this nature begin to surface.