iPhone 5 Release Date: September 12 Debut Rumored (Why It Makes Good Sense)

By Anu Passary | Aug 02, 2012 10:04 AM EDT

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Apple lovers take out your little black books and get scribbling for a date with - not destiny - but the most talked about phone ever - the iPhone 5. Get ready for Silicon Valley's red-letter day, which according to tech blog iMore is September 21, as iPhone 5 makes its much-awaited debut.

According to iMore's Rene Ritchie "iMore has heard that Apple is planning to debut the new iPhone at a special event on Wednesday, September 12, 2012, with the release date to follow 9 days later on Friday, September 21. This information comes from sources who have proven accurate in the past."

The day Apple's fabled iPhone 5 is unveiled to world draws nearer as aficionados, consumers, and tech investors wait with bated breath. The device is expected to sport the rumored features: a 4-inch screen, taller and slimmer phone body, 4G LTE connectivity, and a smaller dock connector.

Additionally, according to the report, the new iPhone - dubbed the iPhone 5 - isn't the only announcement slated for the September 12 event. The rumored 7.85-inch iPad mini and the new iPod nano will be in iPhone 5's august company.

"We haven't heard a release date for the iPad mini yet, but it could be the same as the iPhone 5. It seems likely the new iPod touch will make an appearance on September 12 as well, though we haven't heard any specific information about that yet either," Ritchie said.

iMore has a fantastic track record when it comes to playing soothsayer. Fans will remember that, in the past, the tech blog had correctly predicted iPad 3's announcement and release date.

The September 12 debut gets more authenticity with Maynard Um, analyst with Wells Fargo, highlighting that Apple increased its component prepayments by $1.15 billion. The jump was a clear indication that a new product was in the anvil.

In a report, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also asserted that Apple would release its iPhone 5 and iPad Mini in September. Kuo forecasts that the Cupertino giant would "be tweaking the internals of the current full-size iPad around the same time, making changes to address thermal issues and reduce costs."

The imminent launch will give a fillip to the Apple portfolio, helping it retain its mantle of the most valuable tech company in the world. With plenty riding on the anticipated products, the September launch makes ample business sense for Apple. Firstly, the date would mean that Apple can fend off unwanted comparison and competition from rivals. Microsoft intends on launching a gamut of products this October, which include its Window 8 OS, the Surface tablet, and the expected Windows Phone 8.

The September launch would also give Apple a window to establish its market presence earlier. Apple is currently locking horns with Samsung for dominion in the $219.1 billion smartphone market. Samsung's Galaxy S3 is giving formidable competition and many pundits tout it as the "iPhone killer". Moreover, Apple can cash-in on the holiday season and new school year rush, which are guaranteed to up its sales.

Brian White, analyst with Topeka Capital Markets, avers that "With the iPhone 5 launch on the horizon and other potential new products in the coming quarters, we believe Apple's stock is prepared for the next major leg up that could propel Apple to our $1,111 price target over the next year,"

It is increasingly becoming difficult to sieve the floating Apple assumptions from the possibilities. What's more, with the expected fall launch nearing and countless leaks leaving a trail, the road to Silicon Valley seems dappled with speculations galore. It remains to be seen if September 21 is the proverbial red herring after all!