iPhone 5 Due for Release in September-October Timeframe?

iphone 4s boxJapanese blog Mac Otakara today reports that it has learned from a "reliable" source that Apple is targeting another September or October release for the iPhone this year, continuing a shift away from the mid-year launches seen prior to 2011 and yielding an approximately 12-month upgrade cycle for the iPhone 4S. The report also claims that Apple intends for the later timeframe to be part of Apple's long-term plans for iPhone launches.

According to Asian reliable source, next iPhone will be released in September or October , and this cycle seems to be kept for years.

MacRumors has similarly heard from a representative of a supplier known to provide parts for the iPhone that Apple's ordering plans are pointing toward a launch of new hardware in the September.

A third source also claimed to iMore last week that Apple is targeting an October launch for an LTE-enabled iPhone 5, with that source also apparently having accurately named March 7 as the date of Apple's iPad 3 media event. Apple has yet to officially announce that iPad 3 event, but the date has been confirmed as accurate by the well-connected Jim Dalrymple at The Loop.

The claims of a September or October launch for the iPhone 5 directly contradict several previous rumors that had claimed Apple would be releasing the iPhone this summer, presumably at its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. That event that may be held during the week of June 11-15 this year, meaning that a product launch in the weeks after such an introduction would result in a very short lifecycle of only eight months for the iPhone 4S. Consequently, many have believed that Apple will indeed hold off on the iPhone 5 launch until later in the year as it did in 2011.

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Top Rated Comments

Cheebo Avatar
177 months ago
New iPad's in the Spring
New Mac's and new Mac OS in the Summer (great for new students buying new computers before fall classes)
New iPhones and new iOS in the Fall. (great for christmas holidays)


Simple and makes sense. They got their formula all worked out and I see no reason to mess with it in the near future.
Score: 65 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kyjaotkb Avatar
177 months ago
Hold on, beloved 3GS...
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lareson Avatar
177 months ago
Yaaaawn...You wanna see the new iphone? Look at your iPhone 4S and imagine it with slightly yet outdated specs.

Wait, the iPhone 4S had slightly outdated specs?

MacRumors content image

Huh, must mean the iPhone 6 will have even lower specs. :rolleyes:
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macse30 Avatar
177 months ago
Siri, Remind me to replace you in October.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
its93rc Avatar
177 months ago
I am so sick of these "Macotakara" rumors. At this point it's just guessing and speculation from anyone.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrmjenkins Avatar
177 months ago
MacRumors content image
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)