We here at Lure of Mac know better than to credit the iPhone rumor mill with believability every single time it churns out a new story, but this one seems legit. Sources within the Asian segment of the Apple chain of suppliers have confirmed the iPhone 6 and iWatch launch in December. It seems they’ll be out just in time for that shopping craze time we lovingly like to refer to as ‘the winter holidays’, but significantly later than initial reports had announced. As a matter of fact, the reason for this apparent confusion is that Apple is actually planning a two stage release of their flagship phone. The 4.7-inch iPhone 6, which everyone and their grandmother seems to be waiting for will hit retailers in the autumn, while the iWatch and 5.5 inch iPhone will follow in December.
Will the iPhone 6 and iWatch launch in December influence holiday shopping?
The winter launch of the two gadgets is unlike Apple by most counts. Usually, the company likes to launch its most popular products before the beginning of the Black Friday shopping spree weekend. However, given the fact that the 5.5 inch iPhone will only go into production in September, it’s likely that Apple is postponing the launch due to supply chain demands. It’s also plausible to assume that the company is aiming for an iPhone 6 and iWatch launch in December with a limited edition status for the two consumer-targeted electronics. This way, they won’t be using up all their hype points for a time of the year when most people are already done shopping for winter holiday presents. At the same time, the company will be making sure that consumers are aware of the gadgets’ presence on the market.
Press alert: Apple might spill the beans in September
According to further rumors, it seems that the first official press event for the upcoming iPhone 6 will be held this September. In early fall, the company is expected to announce the release date of the coming iOS 8. Even more exciting is the possibility that, at this first press conference, Apple will unveil its 4.7-inch display iPhone 6. Then, as most pundits surmise, in October a second press event will follow, with unveilings of the new generation of iPads in tow. This event will also likely be the one during which Apple introduces the world to its larger screen iPhone 6, as well as the iWatch and the OS X Yosemite. Initially, it was believed that October will also see the release date of the larger iPhone and of the iWatch, but, as of this writing, a fall release remains unlikely.
By all accounts, the iWatch will include numerous sensors aimed at tracking various health indicators, such as heart rate, body temperature and more. This, of course, would make it a perfect Christmas gift for the health and fitness conscious. In turn, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 will also come packed with a more powerful A8 processor, as well as a better fingerprint scanner for its signature Touch ID function, plus some form of image stabilization module for the back camera. The rumors say that both the 4.7-inch and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 models will come with a 1704 x 960 pixel resolution, as well as a Sapphire crystal screen. In terms of components, there have been several videos afloat on this topic, since as early as April 2014. Reports at the time said Apple was asking the Chinese authorities for a crackdown on these leaked videos. It is unclear what the phones will come equipped with, in terms of front panel materials.