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RUMOR: Apple to release iPhone 5 this October rather than June

Monday, March 28, 2011 · 3:04 pm · 26 Comments

“Rather than issue a new fifth-generation iPhone this summer as usual, Apple may instead release an iPhone 5 this October or even later, slipping into the company’s 2012 fiscal year,” Katie Marsal reports for AppleInsider. “Citing sources in the Chinese supply chain, Macotakara.jp reported Monday (via Google Translate) that Apple is not yet ordering components for its fifth-generation iPhone.”

“Monday’s report indicated that Apple plans to ship the new iPhone in the ‘first half’ of fiscal 2012,” Marsal reports. “However, it is unlikely that Apple would wait until calendar 2012 to release the iPhone 5 and miss out on the strong holiday buying season.”

Marsal reports, “The report said that Apple, for now, is focused on acquiring new customers for its CDMA handset, which launched in February on the Verizon network in the U.S. The CDMA iPhone 4 uses a different wireless radio than the original GSM-based model, and opens opportunities for new carrier partners for Apple.”

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Comment Feed

26 Comments

Doug

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 3:11 pm · Reply

As someone still limping along on an iPhone 3G (yes 3G, not 3GS), this would not be welcome news.
- Brian
  
  Monday, March 28, 2011 - 3:52 pm · Reply
  
  If you’re limping along on the 3G you should just upgrade now to the iPhone 4. You’re obviously out of contract. The 4 is a HUGE improvement in the 3G.
  
  If you then decide you must have the iPhone 5 whenever it ships you can surely sell your still very new iPhone 4 to subsidize the ETF on the iPhone 4.
- AK
  
  Monday, March 28, 2011 - 4:23 pm · Reply
  
  Me too!!! On 3G… And I have an app selling on the app store…
Swing Geezer

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 3:12 pm · Reply

I’m inclined to support MDN in this analysis.
DogGonetoo

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 3:21 pm · Reply

Rumors are all over the place at the moment. A lot of FUD going around.
Still I would be bummed if I had to wait till Sept for the new iPhone. My wife (she broke her iP3) and daughter (new first iPhone) ended up with new iPhone4 but I will have to wait until the new version comes out.
Having to slum it with a 3GS will be annoying.
I would think Apple would try to keep to the yearly update schedule. The timing is great since the initial rush is finished before holiday season and stocks can be ramped by for Christmas. Launching in Sept means both are occurring at the same time.
Including the new A5 processor and graphics should provide enough incentive for the new model. Hopefully the iPad 2 demand won’t limit availability for the iPhone 5.
- Cleetus
  
  Monday, March 28, 2011 - 3:55 pm · Reply
  
  This is exactly the reason why Apple NEEDS to mix up their launch date for the iPhone…so people don’t put off purchases for half a year (or longer) to wait for the “next best thing”. If you need it…buy it now! If you don’t…then wait…patiently!
  - doggonetoo
    
    Monday, March 28, 2011 - 10:46 pm · Reply
    
    Cleetus – there are 3 types of Apple consumers
    1. The first adopters who get every new device
    2. The regular Apple fan who buys Apple hardware when they can.
    3. The standard consumer who buys products when they are mainstream.
    
    I’m part of 2). I buy Apple products when I can afford it. I will often wait when I think it is a good deal. For example when the iPod came out I waited until the price went down and storage went up. That took 2 years and I got the 3G iPod.
    Same deal for the MacMini, AppleTV 2, several laptops. Also I waited for the iPhone 3GS because it gave me the storage (32GB), GPS, speed and screen quality I wanted for the price I could afford.
    So I know about patience – believe me.
    
    Now please read the third paragraph in my original comment. Apple get a great sale through in June by releasing the iPhone then. It doesn’t disrupt ramp up for Xmas and they get significant press coverage at a slow time for sales.
    If the hardware is ready (A5 chip and graphics) then it makes sense to keep to the usual schedule. Most iPhone buyers do not follow Apple news close enough to know a new phone is on the way. Apple still sold many phones before the iPhone 4 was released. Apple did not comment on much hold off in sales for the earlier quarter.
bluemax

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 3:24 pm · Reply

I have bought every new iPhone since 2G and I agree with MDN .I can wait for 5G .4G is perfection at present
- quiviran
  
  Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 5:55 pm · Reply
  
  And it will remain so, until Apple reveals the new features of the iPhone 5 we never knew we were going to need.
midwestmac

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 3:27 pm · Reply

Just a rumor, but it would make sense on two levels:

1) It would give Apple a chance to unify its GSM/CDMA/LTE iPhone lineup (and without alienating customers like me that just bought our first CDMA iPhone).

2) It would allow Thunderbolt to mature a bit more and become the first device that has astounding upload/download speeds.
Ijosh

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 3:30 pm · Reply

Its ok for me if it comes with 4g LTE technology. Have the iphone 5 without 4g is not good for me.
Brisco

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 3:34 pm · Reply

Also makes sense in terms of releasing the white iPhone 4 this spring – a two-month window wouldn’t have made much sense.
jtcdesigns

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 3:42 pm · Reply

So we basically have one group of ANALysts who are trying to push AAPL stocks down (aka with this article) and then the other ones who are trying to boost it back up(see other articles boasting about AAPL recently)
Cleetus

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 3:56 pm · Reply

Commenting on MDN sure sucks now! Was much better before the “upgrade!”
cascadians

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 3:59 pm · Reply

Japan is out of commission. Will affect parts availability until another place can supply. Nuclear situation getting exponentially worse.
Manbearpig

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 4:04 pm · Reply

Agree with MDN’s take, as usual. I hope Apple takes the time and perfects the NFC stuff. No rush though.
Bizlaw

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 4:04 pm · Reply

The reasoning makes no sense whatsoever. Apple is concentrating on acquiring customers for its CDMA iPhone rather than designing and developing the iPhone 5? There’s not really much different between the phones that would cause a significant delay in design/production.

Plus, the CDMA iPhone 4 is designed and released. That doesn’t affect design for the iPhone 5, unless the CDMA iPhone 4 took resources away from iPhone 5 development (not likely).

Just a bunch of FUD. Could be misinformation by Apple to keep people from probing too hard for iPhone 5 specs, spy shots, etc. though.
Stuart

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 4:05 pm · Reply

Actually, a cold call from Optus yesterday, checking on the quality of their network coverage in my suburb, said that they hope to have improved their network in time for the iPhone 5 in July 2011.
- skylark
  
  Monday, March 28, 2011 - 4:12 pm · Reply
  
  And what suburb would that be Stuart.
  - Stuart
    
    Monday, March 28, 2011 - 6:45 pm · Reply
    
    That would be New Farm. Signal quality in this inner city suburb, particularly in the lower half Merthyr locality, is atrocious!
TowerTone

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 4:42 pm · Reply

Well, thanks a lot, Apple!
NOW what am I supposed to get my daughter for her birthday in August?
Troll

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 5:00 pm · Reply

I also agree that this is FUD. They said the same things about iPad 2 not launching in Q1 and in fact it did. Where are all those FUDsters now that said the iPad2 would be delayed?

As for iOS5? Some people are saying thats delayed because they wont chat about it until June. Oh really? Why does apple need to chat about it when it doesnt usually come out until the next gen iphone comes out. AS in every year the new version doesnt come out until the new version of iPhone. So with that they can announce the new iPhone 5 right along with new iOS.
Oliver

Monday, March 28, 2011 - 8:10 pm · Reply

I imagine they don’t want to go into an announcement without securing enough screens out of japan.
Petey

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 2:42 am · Reply

October is fine with me.

If they start making them now then there will be enough for everyone!
Oceansized

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 4:50 pm · Reply

I’m not sure if anyone has ever noticed this.. But Apple has always released iPhones at the end of June (minus iPhone 1.5)… iPods in Sept. iPads now in March…

Ever notice that there is a new iPhone coming out halfway through the 12 month cycle, or one coming later?? Does nobody actually pay attention to consistency??

Where was the October iPhone 5 last year? The iPad 2 in November 2010? The smaller iPad? The smaller iPHone? etc. etc. etc.???

Rumors are generally unsubstantiated. Cycles are consistent.
Kelton shields

Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 11:11 pm · Reply

according to a friend of mine who told me that she sat next to an apple tech guy on an airplane he happened to have the iphone 5 and he said its coming out october 17th