CNET tracks all the iPhone 5 rumors -- from the likely to the crazy -- that we've heard so far in 2011 and 2012.
The latest iPhone 5 rumors
After unveiling a marginally improved iPhone 4S in 2011 instead of a radically different iPhone 5, Apple has returned to its development labs to cook up (no pun intended) the next iteration of its popular phone. In 2012, we're fairly certain that the real iPhone 5 will roll out of Apple's gates and that the device should be a bigger leap forward than the 4S was.
That's why after taking some time off at the end of last year, we've resurrected CNET's iPhone 5 rumor roundup to cover the new tidbits from 2012. So join us again in watching the rumor mill churn. We'll add to it until we get the real thing; please let us know if we've left any gossip out.
July 27, 2012
The NFC idea is getting tossed around again
Though the evidence is more substantial than your run-in-the-mill press "insider," a patent application from Apple itself, revealed an NFC chip imbedded into several Apple products, including an iPhone. The patent is entitled "System and Method For Simplified Control of Electronic Devices," and illustrates the use of NFC acting as a remote control for televisions, standalone cameras, and DVRs.
Maybe that smaller dock really is true
An iPhone manufacturing case in China posted its newest iPhone 5 case, and threw in a picture of the supposed device too. Not only do we see that it's a little taller than the current model, but a side shot of the handset's bottom reveals a shorter pin connector. This further corroborates already existing rumors that the dock is going to shrink.
July 24, 2012
Apple ambiguously hints a 'fall refresh' during earnings call
During Apple's third-quarter earnings conference call, CEO Tim Cook vaguely responded to an analyst's question about a "fall product transition." Cook said that "there's an incredible anticipation out there for a future product" and that based on what Apple has delivered in the past, this amount of speculation is "reasonable." All right Cook, we get it. Mum's the word.
July 23, 2012
A smaller dock, once again
Reuters reported that the new iPhone's Dock connector port will indeed be smaller. Its current 30-pin port is expected to shrink down to a 19-pin connector. This will give more room on the bottom of the device for a headphone jack, which for now rests on the top of the iPhone.
July 22, 2012
Production has started in Shanghai
According to a Taipei-based report, the manufacturing company, Pegatron, has already started building the new iPhone. Based in Taiwan, the company has begun production in its Shanghai factory. It is also expected to produce the new version of the iPad, reported Digitimes.
July 19, 2012
Wait for the fourth quarter
During the company's quarterly conference call, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo hinted at possible timing for the next iPhone with a vague reference that the carrier expects to launch a major phone in the fourth quarter.
July 18, 2012
More new cases
Possible new iPhone cases are showing up from Chinese sources. One comes complete with a rectangular cutout on the bottom, presumably where Apple's reportedly tweaked dock connector will be.
July 17, 2012
It'll have a thinner screen
The Wall Street Journal reports that the new iPhone's display will incorporate "in-cell technology." Already manufactured by LCD screen makers including Sharp, LG Display, and Japan Display, in-cell technology enables a screen's touch sensors and LCD be consolidated into one single layer. This would result in a thinner screen and a cheaper production price.
July 16, 2012
A stockpile of SIMs
The Financial Times reports that wireless carriers in Europe are stockpiling nano-SIM chips in anticipation of Apple including the new technology in the next iteration of the iPhone. Smaller than regular SIM cards, they could allow Apple to include a bigger battery in its next handset. The company started using nano-SIMs in 2010 in the first iPad.
July 15, 2012
Taller phone with a center camera
The Taiwan-based blog Apple.pro posts photos of an alleged iPhone frame that is as wide as the iPhone 4S, but taller. That would allow for a 4-inch display with an aspect ratio of 16:9.
It's already in production
Production of the next iPhone has already begun, a Japanese-language Apple blog claims. Macotakara blog cites listings for iPhone 5 cases on a Chinese site as proof of its claim and it says the back of the new iPhone has both glass and aluminum.
iPhone rumors discussed and debunked
July 12, 2012
Preorders now accepted
Reuters reports that sellers on Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao are taking preorders for the iPhone 5 for between 1,000 yuan ($160) and 6,999 yuan ($1,100). Reuters also says that sellers are listing the device's specifications and showing mockup images in order to entice buyers.
July 10, 2012
New engineering samples
Tech site GottaBeMobile offers photos and speculation about a new iPhone and a smaller iPad of "a trusted source inside the Apple supply chain." Though the iPhone mockup is nothing more than milled aluminum, the noteworthy changes are a taller screen and what appears to be a hole for a microphone between where the rear camera and LED flash have been on the iPhone 4 and 4S.
July 5, 2012
A quad-core A6 chip
The not-always-reliable DigiTimes says that Apple's next-generation iPhone will be powered by a quad-core ARM processor based on Samsung's Exynos 4 architecture.
June 28, 2012
It's probably going to be a huge success
In a report to investors, J.P. Morgan analyst, Mark Moskowitz, said that the next iPhone will dominate 2013. With its "hardware enhancements and software-driven services," Moskowitz believes Apple's newest phone will be the industry lead and will show strong sales.
June 25, 2012
It'll have NFC capabilities
The coding from two iPhone 5 prototypes may hint at Near Field Communication capabilities, according to 9to5Mac. NFC chips have already been featured in Android devices for Google Wallet and Android Beam, so this may mean that Apple is joining the mobile payments industry. This will coincide nicely with its launch of Passbook, an iOS 6 feature that lets users store electronic versions of receipts, tickets, and other merchant information.
June 21, 2012
It's a world phone
In addition to having a new design and a slightly larger screen, the next iPhone will support global LTE networks, making it a true world phone. And by keeping support for 3G networks, Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu says that Apple will be able to support the Chinese market.
June 20, 2012
A smaller dock connector
TechCrunch reports that three independent manufacturers have affirmed that the next iPhone will have a smaller 19-pin port. According to earlier rumors, this type of connector is supposedly going to make its way into all of Apple's future mobile devices. While the 30-pin connector is what the iPhone maker has been using for years, a smaller port will create more space in the internal structure of the device.
June 18, 2012
After WWDC 2012, more rumors spread about a bigger iPhone
Now that software developers are getting their hands on iOS 6, more hints about the new iPhone are emerging. Most notably, of a new Auto Layout feature that lets developers set parameters for certain UI elements. According to one developer that TechCrunch spoke to, Auto Layout is a necessity for Apple before it can launch devices with different resolutions -- implying that perhaps the next generation may have a different resolution than the last.
June 14, 2012
You may be able to swap out the camera lens
In a move that sounds nothing like Apple, a published patent application suggests that the new iPhone's back panel would be removable, allowing users to switch out the camera lens. This is highly unusual, since Apple has always shipped its handsets completely sealed.
June 7, 2012
The new generation will be gray, metal, and sleek all over
After several reported rumors about the iPhone's new look, a worker from a parts reseller company called ETrade Supply has now provided a video. Though its authenticity is still up in the air, at face value, the video shows the iPhone 5 sporting a taller and thinner build, a relocated headphone jack (it's at the bottom instead of the top), a smaller dock connecter, and an aluminum back plate.
June 6, 2012
It may have a 16:9 aspect ratio and HD front-facing camera
People who use the iPhone's front-facing camera for vanity shots and Web chatting, rejoice. Mingchi Kuo, an analyst from KGI, believes the new iPhone will sport a 4.08-inch screen, a 16:9 aspect ratio, and a high-def front-facing camera. In his report, Kuo also says he believes the rear-facing camera will still retain its 8-megapixel spec, but its maximum aperture will jump from 2.4 to 2.2.
June 4, 2012
iPhone 5 may launch in September
In addition to the iPad Mini, an analyst from Topeka Capital Markets said that the iPhone 5 will likely launch in September. According to AppleInsider, the analyst, Brian White, cited sources from inside Apple's supply chain in Taipei.
May 31, 2012
Latest iPhone 5 leak teases more RAM, map tweaks
9to5Mac posts purported details of a development version of the hardware, and iOS 6, the next major version of iOS. Among the details is that the next iPhone will sport 1GB of RAM, up from the 512MB found in the iPhone 4S. Details are less specific about 4G capabilities, and how much faster the processor will be.
That pesky taller iPhone 5 screen pops up on video
Japanese Apple blog Macotakara publishes a visual comparison of the mystery screen part that's been floating around, next to the existing iPhone to show just how much bigger the screen would be. The the two notable changes are that the screen is taller, and that the FaceTime camera has been moved to the very top, center of the device, like on the iPad.
May 29, 2012
Photos of purported iPhone 5 leak onto the Web
A host of new photos have emerged from two sources who claim the devices in the pictures are actually Apple's next-generation iPhone. 9to5Mac posts photos that look like the back plate of a new iPhone model allegedly from a Chinese supplier. Similarly MacRumors published an additional set from repair firm uBreakiFix with the same part.
iPhone 5 likely to launch by Sept. or Oct., says another analyst
RBC analyst Amit Daryanani says Apple's next iPhone is coming in September or October, similar to the time last year when Apple rolled out the iPhone 4S. Daryanani added that the device will sport 4G/LTE technology and be fully redesigned.
Yep, Apple owns iPhone5.com now
Following a successful complaint filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization to gain control of the iPhone5.com domain, Apple is now listed as the owner of the domain.
May 22, 2012
Taller iPod Touch screen parts already spotted in the wild
Macrumors posts photos of white and black front panels, said to belong to Apple's next-generation iPod Touch and sourced from an unnamed supplier. Of note, the area for the screen measures 4.1 inches diagonally as opposed to the 3.5 inches, which has been the same for all four generations of the device. Additionally, the site posts shots of alleged front and rear camera parts, as well as the home button, all said to be headed for the the next iPhone.
May 17, 2012
Is Apple the new owner of iPhone5.com?
Apple is the likely winner in a complaint it filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization to gain control of the iPhone5.com domain. The WIPO concluded an investigation into the domain on Apple's behalf, though the site still doesn't go anywhere.
iPhone 5 launching with 3.95-inch display, more pixels?
Citing sources, Apple blog 9to5Mac says Apple's testing two iPhones with larger displays at its headquarters, one of which will be released. The blog adds that the screen has a 3.95-inch display, which would be up from the iPhone's current 3.5-inch option.
May 16, 2012
More rumors pop up about that 4-inch screen
Looks like that 4-inch screen may be happening after all, now that the more reliable Wall Street Journal's the one reporting it. According to one of the paper's sources, Apple has been tapping for larger screens from its suppliers (which include LG, Sharp, and Japan Display) to compete with Android devices.
May 4, 2012
iPhone touch-panel shipments on the decline
Citing unnamed sources, Digitimes says shipments of touch panels will be down 15 percent to 20 percent compared to the first quarter as Apple prepares to transition to its next handset.
May 3, 2012
iPhone 5 launching with 4-inch screen, new Dock connector?
Apple's next iPhone will have a 4-inch screen and a thinner, taller body according to iLounge. Citing an unnamed source, the site said Apple's next iPhone will be 10mm taller, and 2mm thinner than the iPhone 4/4S. The handset is also said to be getting a new dock connector that's considerably smaller and "closer to a pill shape."
May 1, 2012
Alleged iPhone 5 SIM card tray surfaces
The next iPhone may not be all that different from current versions if an allegedly leaked part is to be believed. Spare parts site SW-BOX.com posts photos and details of a SIM card tray it says belongs to the next iPhone. The part is nearly identical to the one offered in the iPhone 4 and 4S with very minor cosmetic differences.
April 26, 2012
Apple, HTC planning fall launches on Verizon's network, report says
Boy Genius Report says it has insider knowledge of Verizon's summer and fall smartphone roadmap. The outlet said that the iPhone is once again slated for a fall release.
April 25, 2012
Sprint confirms unlimited data plan for next iPhone
If the next iteration of the iPhone arrives with LTE, Sprint will continue to offer a no-strings unlimited plan, CEO Dan Hesse told CNET. "I'm not anticipating the unlimited plan would change by that point," Hesse said in an interview. "That's our distinctive differentiator."
April 19, 2012
It'll be released in October due to supply issues
There have been many guesses about when the device will come out, but based on research, Piper Jaffray, an investment banking firm, says that the iPhone is likely due out in October. This is because the company speculated to be making the iPhone's LTE 28-nanometer chip, Qualcomm, is having supply shortages and is struggling to keep up with demand.
April 18, 2012
It'll be made of liquid, Liquidmetal that is
The rumor that Apple is ditching the iPhone's glass has surfaced again. This time from a Korean new site, ETnews, which reported that the iPhone 5 may be made out of Liquidmetal. In late 2010, Apple acquired a license for Liquidmetal, but has only used it for the iPhone's SIM ejector tool.
April 9, 2012
Different chip, different body
Several iPhone rumors from varying media sources suggest that the iPhone will be more robust, both inside and out. Business Insider reported that it'll have a 4-inch screen and a unibody case, and 9to5Mac claims it'll be equipped with an A5X chip.
Foxconn has no idea when it'll come out, now guesses an October debut
Oh, Foxconn, manufacturing as many rumors as it does iPhones. According to the head of HR at its Taiyuan facilities, the iPhone 5 will be released in October, despite the fact that a week ago, a Foxconn hiring recruiter said it'll come out in June. Kotaku translated an article in South Korea's Maeil Business Newspaper that reported this bit of news, and as always, we suggest you take this October estimate with a large ounce of skepticism.
April 2, 2012
It's going to take a lot of labor
In a recorded conversation aired by TV Tokyo, a Foxconn recruiter said that the reason the company needed to hire 18,000 new workers was because the iPhone will be due out in June. This extra manpower further supports the idea of the device's summer release.
March 23, 2012
Perhaps it'll be equipped with a new dock plug
Aside from more LTE rumors (this time coming from iMore), new iPhone 5 rumors are surmising that the upcoming device will come with a new dock plug. This time, it may be smaller to make room for the device's other components.
March 21, 2012
It might get a 4.6-inch screen
For those who have been dissatisfied with the iPhone's usual 3.5-inch screen, Reuters reported that the new iPhone may get a bigger display, as a South Korean media outlet says Apple is putting in orders with suppliers for a 4.6-inch Retina Display. This may allow the company more room to update the chips inside the new iPhone, perhaps adding the A5X, for example.
February 3, 2012
It's still going to be expensive
Citigroup analysts who met with Apple CEO Tim Cook and Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer reported that Apple did not feel the need to make cheaper phones. During the meeting, Oppenheimer suggested that the company will keep making "great products," and believed customers will still be willing to pay for them. Furthermore, the iPhone 5 is rumored to offer both LTE and TD-SCDMA, which is a 3G standard used in China.
February 3
Apple has its sights on June?
As reported by the Chinese newspaper Commercial Times, Apple may be going back to June as its go-to release month. Last time, the iPhone 4 was released in October, but rumor has it that the iPhone 5 may be coming to the Worldwide Developers Conference, which is scheduled for June 10 through the 15.
January 25
It could be the summer
A source at Foxconn leads 9to5Mac to report that Apple is readying an iPhone with a 4-inch (or larger) display for release this summer. Apparently, the new device will retain the shape of the iPhone 4 and 4S, while being longer and wider. The blog also says that Apple has a few sample devices "floating around."
January 3
Or maybe the fall
Analyst Tavis McCourt of Morgan Keegan says that the iPhone 5 will arrive in the fall of this year and that it will be a "significant revenue and earnings growth driver." Keegan doesn't say how the handset will differ; perhaps it could be slimmer or have a metal back.
September 30, 2011
Double the storage?
The same 9to5Mac source who spotted new iPhone models in Apple's retail system says that a 64GB iPhone could also be in the cards. This isn't the first time we've heard talk about a higher-capacity iPhone. In mid-April, Vietnamese site Tinhte posted a video of a white iPhone boasting 64GB of storage--the same site that got ahold of the iPhone 4 ahead of its official announcement.
New iPhone spotted in Apple's inventory
As a follow-up to the September 28 story, both 9to5Mac and SlashGear report that a phone with the code-name N94 has been discovered in Apple's inventory system and is believed to be the iPhone 5. Information on the label also points to it being a dual-mode CDMA/GSM phone.
September 29
iPhone 5 to have bigger screen, HSPA+
A pair of stories from PC Watch in Japan and CNET France resurfaces rumors that the iPhone 5 will offer HSPA+ support, which will allow for theoretical download speeds of up to 21Mbps, and feature a larger (4.2 or 4.3 inches) 960x540-pixel qHD touch screen.
September 28
New iPhones, iPods in Apple's retail system
There is debate over whether Apple will introduce more than one iPhone on October 5, but if 9to5Mac's tipster is right, it will be more than one. According to the source, there are two new iPhone models floating around Apple's retail system, with one possibly being an entry-level 8GB version of the iPhone 4. In addition, three new iPod Touch models were also spotted in the system.
September 27
1GB RAM and voice control?
Through a "reliable source," TUAW says the iPhone 5 will include a whopping 1GB of RAM and a voice-control system known as the Assistant.
September 24
No vacation in October
According to AppleInsider, Apple is telling staffers at its retail stores that they can't go on vacation during the second week of October.
September 23
A defect in iPhone 5 panels?
Taiwan's DigiTimes says Apple supplier Wintek is finding a "delayed bubble" defect in some of the iPhone 5 panels it has produced. According to the publication, though it's unknown what the defect does to the screen, it appears after touch-panel lamination and during assembly.
September 21
Even Al Gore says there will be more than one
At the Discovery Invest Leadership Summit in South Africa, former vice president and Apple board member Al Gore said, "Not to mention the new iPhones coming out next month."
iPhone 5 to debut Oct. 4
All Things Digital predicts that Apple will debut its iPhone 5 on October 4, with new Chief Executive Tim Cook leading the show.
September 20
T-Mobile says no
According to a leaked document, T-Mobile Chief Marketing Officer Cole Brodman told employees that the carrier would not carry the iPhone 5 this year.
September 19
Two iPhones by the end of the year
J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz tells Fortune that he expects Apple to release two new iPhones before the end of the year. One will be a brand-new model with a different appearance, and the other will be a souped-up iPhone 4 model called the "iPhone 4-plus."
September 15
Possible iPhone 5 cases emerge
Accessory maker Case-Mate briefly posts renderings of a line of cases for a new iPhone. They suggest that the forthcoming handset will have a rounded aluminum backing, similar to the iPad 2's design. The images are quickly replaced with a generic notifications page, but Boy Genius Report managed to post them on its Web site.
iPhone 5 on Oct. 15
While chatting with French reporters at a business conference, France Telecom CEO Stephane Richard said the iPhone 5 will debut on October 15.
September 12
Vodafone spills the beans
U.K. carrier Vodafone briefly lists the iPhone 5 on its Web site in both 16GB and 32GB editions and in black and white.
September 9
A Sprint iPhone by October 15
A leaked Sprint memo informs the carrier's employees of a vacation blackout from September 30 through October 15 due to the "possibility" of a major phone launch.
Sprint iPhone with unlimited data?
Bloomberg predicts that Sprint will not only have the new iPhone in mid-October, but also that the carrier will offer the handset with an unlimited data plan to "distinguish" it from the AT&T and Verizon models.
September 8
150,000 iPhones a day
Taiwan's DigiTimes cites anonymous industry sources to report that China's Foxconn Electronics, which has manufactured iPhones in the past, is currently producing 150,000 iPhone 5 units a day.
Sprint and the iPhone 5
Beatweek says that Sprint is installing network repeaters at Apple retail stores to ensure that potential iPhone 5 buyers can find a strong signal for testing the device on the carrier's cellular network.
September 4
Battle of the Best Buy leaks
Boy Genius Report says a leaked internal document from the retailer puts the iPhone 5 launch date at sometime during the first week in October, with preorders beginning as early as the first full week of September. Sprint, too, will get the device, according to the BGR story. But wait--This Is My Next has its own leaked Best Buy info: a mysterious "Apple fixture Installation" at an unnamed Best Buy location suggests an October 21 debut for the gadget, according to the blog.
September 2
Thinner, longer, wider
Tech enthusiast site M.I.C. Gadget claims that new iPhone cases being sold by online vendor Alibaba and other Chinese retailers show a slimmer design for the next version of the handset. Not only will it be as thin as an iPod Touch, but also the mute switch is moved to the other side, the overall design is wider and longer, and it will have tapered edges.
August 31
New antenna
Accessory maker Ideal Case posts a photo of what it says is the new antenna design for the iPhone 4S/iPhone 5. Exactly what those differences are, however, is unclear and the photos were posted without a back story.
August 29
Same-size display
DigiTimes rebuts earlier rumors that the iPhone 5 will have a 4-inch display. Instead, DigiTimes says that the new handset will keep the current touch-screen size of 3.5 inches, or will grow slightly larger to 3.7 inches. Apple will, however, adopt a design with a thinner bezel for the display panel, which would make it appear larger.
August 24
T-Mobile, too
Citing "a contact within T-Mobile," Apple-tracking blog MacTrast says the U.S. carrier will be getting a version of the iPhone 5 that will run on the company's 3G network sometime in "early to mid-October."
August 23
Sprint gets its turn
According to The Wall Street Journal, Sprint will start selling the iPhone 5 alongside Verizon Wireless and AT&T in mid-October.
Apple's TV commercials
AppleInsider says that Apple has begun production on television advertisements to promote the iPhone 5 that will run the first week of October.
August 22
A dual-mode iPhone 5
A source tells TechCrunch that at least one variant of the the iPhone 5 will be a world phone with support for both CDMA and GSM networks.
No flash on front camera
Though previous rumors indicated that the iPhone 5 will have a front-facing LED flash, 9to5mac cites a leak in the parts distribution chain that suggests otherwise.
August 19
AT&T expects a busy October
According to Boy Genius Report, the next iPhone will launch in early October. The blog says an AT&T vice president has reportedly warned employees to "expect things to get really, really busy in the next 35 to 50 days, so prepare your teams accordingly."
August 17
An October 7 release
9To5Mac says that Apple is considering an October 7 release for the iPhone 5 with preorders starting September 30. If that date is correct, the company would hold an unveiling event in early September.
Carriers testing LTE iPhones
Boy Genius Report says that at least one carrier is testing an iPhone with support for LTE networks.
August 16
LTE in Apple stores
Citing an anonymous source, Engadget reports that LTE equipment is being installed at a major Apple store. The equipment supports the 700MHz band of spectrum, which could be used by AT&T or T-Mobile.
August 12
iPhone 5 mockups
Apple news and rumor site MacRumors commissioned CiccareseDesign to create mockups of the iPhone 5 based on the original leaked case designs. The renderings show a sleek handset with a 4-inch display and elongated Home button.
Apple prepping iPhone reveal for September 7 event?
According to Japanese Web site Kodawarisan, Apple is planning a media event for September 7 where it will unveil its new iPod lineup and perhaps the iPhone 5. But before you clear all appointments for September 7, another report by AppleNApps says the company will hold a separate event for the occasion, where Apple will not only introduce the iPhone 5 but also a cloud-based iPhone.
August 4
China Telecom to get two new iPhones?
A report by China-based Sohu.com says Apple and China Telecom have reached a "preliminary agreement" to start selling the iPhone before the end of October. And it's not just any iPhone, it's rumored to be the iPhone 5 alongside a "simplified" iPhone 4.
August 3
10 million handsets in September
DigiTimes says that Pegatron will produce 10 million iPhone 5 units. According to an unnamed source, the handsets will ship to Apple in September, which would pave the way for a release any time after that.
August 2
iPhone 5 out for testing
The Guardian (U.K.) reports that wireless carriers have received highly secure boxes containing iPhone 5s that the operators are using to test network compatibility.
August 1
No vacations for you
Gizmodo cites an e-mail allegedly from an AT&T employee, which says that the carrier is denying any vacations requested during the last two weeks of September "due to an event blackout." According to the employee, the only other times vacations were denied in the past were during iPhone release periods.
Or maybe in October
Going the other direction, a story on AllThingsD quotes a source "with knowledge of the plans" who says, "I don't know why AT&T's calling for all hands on deck those weeks, but it's not for an iPhone launch." Instead, the source says that the next iPhone will come in October.
July 28
A white iPhone 4S
In a rather convoluted tale, MacRumors highlighted a forum post from Vietnamese site Tinhte that claims to have a new version of the iPhone 4. Differences between the new version and the current handset are few, but Tinhte says it's a bit faster, it weighs less, and it has a plastic shell instead of glass.
4 million iPhones in September
China Times reports that Apple will produce 4 million new iPhones for release in the second week of September.
July 27
A new case for a new design
U.K. blog Mobile Fun receives new iPhone case designs from two manufacturers. They point to a major redesign that includes a larger screen and home button, and a curved back.
July 26
AT&T and Apple get to work
MacRumors reports that Apple is bringing back former employees to work part-time between August 15 and September 15. Though that time period coincides with the back-to-school season, it also falls within the long-rumored early September iPhone release window. Also, according to Boy Genius Report, AT&T is preparing its employees for more foot traffic at its stores in September. A source told the blog that the carrier has asked its managers and employees to finish any current training as soon as possible.
July 13
Now hiring for an August iPhone
After some clever detective work, CNET UK finds a job posting repeated throughout the United Kingdom that asks for "Apple iPhone Sales Specialists" to work in Apple retail stores. The temporary positions would last from mid-August through the end of October and would be for what the recruiter describes as "an exciting project."
July 6
Suppliers get their orders
Anonymous sources tell The Wall Street Journal that Apple has asked suppliers to build 25 million units of its next iPhone by August for a third-quarter launch.
July 5
15 million in September
DigiTimes reports that Apple has placed an order for 15 million iPhone 5s for a September release.
July 1
Both an iPhone 4 and an iPad 3
DigiTimes says that suppliers are gearing up to help Apple produce millions of units of both an iPhone 5 and an iPad 3 for an October release.
June 29
A modest update
BMO Capital analyst Keith Bachman claims in a note to investors that Apple will introduce just an iPhone 4S model in September. The iPhone 4S would include only modest feature upgrades and the design would be unchanged.
June 27
Two new iPhones to come
Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore predicts that Apple will introduce two iPhones later this year. The first will be a full next-generation handset (most likely an iPhone 5), while the second will be a revamped iPhone 4 (probably called an iPhone 4S) that Apple will target to customers on prepaid cell phone plans.
A third-quarter release
Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty said that Apple will start "aggressively" making the next iPhone in August and launch the handset late in the third quarter of this year. Huberty made the remarks after a trip to Taiwan where she presumably met with Apple suppliers.
June 24
A brighter flash
DigiTimes says the iPhone 5 will have a dual-LED flash.
June 22
Again, in September
Bloomberg reports that the new iPhone will have a faster A5 processor, an 8-megapixel camera, and support for iOS 5. The new handset will sport a design similar to the iPhone 4's and will be released in September to coincide with iOS 5's debut. On a related note, Bloomberg's source also repeats a rumor that Apple is developing a cheaper iPhone for developing countries.
June 21
An iPhone 5 in full September
The Boy Genius Report predicts that Apple will announce the fully revamped iPhone 5 in early August with a release date later in the month. If true, that timing would bend from tradition, given that Apple usually holds an iPod-themed event in September.
A 'tear drop' design
Photos of a brand-new tapered or "tear drop" design also resurface that day.
May 23
A curved display
DigiTimes suggests that the iPhone 5 will have a curved glass screen like the Samsung Nexus S' "Contour" design. DigiTimes also says that Apple has bought 200 or 300 glass-cutting machines to be used by glassmakers.
May 19
A global iPhone for Verizon
While speaking at the Reuters Global Technology Summit, Verizon Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo says that Big Red will carry the next iPhone and that it will "operate in as many countries as AT&T's global iPhone." Shammo's comments also suggest that the device won't have LTE.
May 18
An iPhone 4S
DigiTimes chimes in on the iPhone 4S side with a report that Apple will release an upgraded, but not redesigned, handset in September.
May 13
Small changes, but on all carriers
Jefferies & Co. analyst Peter Misek says the next iPhone will show only incremental changes and will lack support for 4G LTE networks. Besides a few cosmetic tweaks, he predicts better cameras, an A5 dual-core processor, and support for HSPA+ networks. Though he says the new device could land at all four major U.S. carriers beginning in September, Misek likens the upgrade to what we saw from the iPhone 3G to the 3GS.
April 19
A5 processor and a bigger camera
Concord Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the device will get an A5 processor and a much-improved 8-megapixel rear camera and that it will be released in October or November.
A September release
Reuters follows a different track with a report that Apple will begin production of the phone in July for a September release.
April 13
Suppliers still in the dark
DigiTimes writes that part suppliers in Taiwan still don't know Apple's needs for the handset. What's more, the outlet also says that production of iPhone 4 displays is still going strong.
April 11
Trouble with suppliers
AppleInsider quotes an Avian Securities note to investors, which suggests that production will start in September. According to the note, the latest information is "consistent with other findings the organization has heard in recent months." What's more, another rumor mentions that Apple is taking its time finding enough parts suppliers.
April 7
A bigger display, part four
A new Apple patent application depicts a screen that's built into the area surrounding the traditional touch screen. This could free up space on the main display, and open up new directions for developers.
March 28
An October release
A Japanese blog reports that because Apple is behind schedule on securing parts, the iPhone 5 launch could be pushed to October. The blog also says the company is deciding whether to change the back of the iPhone from glass to metal.
March 22
NFC, larger display, and a new antenna
China Times claims the iPhone 5 will have a slightly larger screen, a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip, an A5 processor, and a tweaked antenna design to address attenuation. The release date is only set as "later this year."
NFC confirmed
The same day, The New York Times confirms that future iPhones will have an NFC chip.
March 14
No NFC
The Independent says that NFC won't make it into the new phone. Instead, the newspaper says, Apple plans to introduce its own mobile payment system next year.
March 11
A bigger display, part three
Reseller iDealsChina posts a "mold engineering" drawing that vendors use to develop iPhone accessories. The drawing shows a handset with an iPhone 4-like design but with a larger display.
March 9
A5 processor, part two
In a deep dive of the new iOS 4.3 code, Apple developers found signs that Apple may add an A5 dual-core processor in the next iPhone version. That would put the handset on par with the iPad 2's processing power.
March 7
Looking like the iPad
Design is the focus of this rumor, which suggests that Apple will ditch the glass backing on the iPhone 4 for a metal backing, revamp the antenna, and add tapered ends. The end result will be something like the iPad.
February 28
A bigger display, part two
iDealsChina posts a photo of an iPhone 5 front bezel that shows a larger display.
February 15
A5 processor
The A5 chip rumor is raised again when DigiTimes reports that Apple is outsourcing the production of the processor, which will be based on the ARM Cortex A9 design.
February 14
A bigger display
Speculation builds that the new handset will offer a 4-inch, "edge-to-edge" display. The reports suggest that the move would be a direct response to the display design of many Android devices.
Slide-out keyboard
We also hear that the iPhone 5 could offer a slide-out keyboard or that it could just offer longer battery life and a better camera.
January 14
No home button
An anonymous Apple source told the Boy Genius Report that both the iPad 2 and the next-generation iPhone would lose their home buttons in favor of gesture-based commands that would be part of iOS 4.3.
Editors' note: This roundup was originally published June 24, 2011, and is updated regularly.
