iPhone 6 Release Date Rumor Breakdown

As we push closer and closer to the fall, we’re starting to hear a whole lot about the upcoming iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 release date. With rumors swirling and whispers starting to get louder, we want to take a close look at what we know so far about the iPhone 6 release date that’s expected to take place in just a few short weeks.

Over the past seven months, we’ve seen tons of iPhone 6 rumors and leaks emerge ahead of Apple’s official announcement. In the beginning, those rumors and leaks were fairly small and focused on just a few of the changes that the company is expected to make on the new iPhone release. However, as time has gone on, iPhone 6 rumors have become louder and louder and at this point, there are a number of details that appear to be all but confirmed ahead of its arrival.

The next iPhone is almost certainly going to be coming with at least one large display, perhaps two. Rumors have settled on a 4.7-inch display and a 5.5-inch display. We’ve also continued to hear about upgrades to the processor (64-bit A8), its camera (8MP-13MP with OIS), its design (thin, metal, Sapphire), and a whole lot more. The iPhone 6 isn’t official but expectations have been set.

Now that consumer expectations have been set, we’re starting to see more consumers get excited about the iPhone 6 release date, a date that’s been rumored alongside the device’s specs for most of the year. And like those specs, the iPhone 6 release date has begun to firm up ahead of the fall.

In the past few weeks alone we’ve seen a number of credible, important iPhone 6 release rumors emerge. We’ve also seen some concrete details emerge as well. For the average person looking into the iPhone 6, digesting these rumors can be extremely difficult. That’s where we come in.

Here, we want to take a look at the latest, most credible iPhone 6 release date details in an effort to paint a clear picture for prospective buyers as we shift from July to August and from August to September.

iPhone 6 Launch Date

Since the beginning of the year, sources have been chiming in with supposed information regarding the iPhone 6 launch date and release date. Here at GBM, we the launch date refers to the actual announcement while the release date refers to the day that the iPhone is released. It makes sense to us and hopefully, it makes sense to you.

iPhone 6 launch date rumors have been flying around for months but only recently have they begun to firm up around a very specific window. All along, iPhone 6 launch rumors have put the device’s announcement inside the months of September and October. We’ve seen the occasional oddity here and there but most would agree that September and October have been the two months that have come up the most.

These fit perfectly with the one date that we do have. At WWDC 2014, Apple announced that it would release the iOS 8 update in the fall. iOS updates always come with new iPhone hardware so an iPhone 6 launch, at least in our eyes, was essentially confirmed for the fall on June 4th. But again, we didn’t have any specifics.

In the past eight weeks, we’ve started to see launch rumors fall into place. A 9to5Mac report on Wednesday outlined a final iOS 8 beta on Monday August 4th and a golden master in late August or early September for carrier testing. If Apple finishes iOS 8 in time, September 12th could make sense for an iPhone 6 launch. However, this report also states the iPhone 6 event will tentatively take place in the second or third week of September.

Tentative or not, it’s pretty clear that Apple is shooting for at least one iPhone announcement in September. Rumors have all pointed to the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 being the device that’s announced in September. The launch for the 5.5-inch model is still uncertain.

A recent report from the Chinese media suggests that while production of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is underway, production on the 5.5-inch model has not started. We’ve repeatedly heard that the 5.5-inch model could perhaps launch later than the 4.7-inch variant. In fact, respected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that he’s not sure if Apple will release the larger model in 2014. He originally said that it would be out before the holidays.

If Apple does announce the larger model this year, it’s likely to come at one of two events. The first, the initial iPhone 6 announcement in September. Or the launch event that Recode says Apple has planned for October. That event appears to be related to the iWatch, OS X Yosemite and quite possibly new iPads, however.

That said, here are the key takeaways:

• September appears to be a lock for at least one iPhone 6 launch date.
• October is possible as well though with Apple’s loaded plate, it’s not a guarantee.
• 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will almost certainly arrive in September alongside iOS 8.

iPhone 6 Release Date

We’ve heard a ton, an absolute ton, about the iPhone 6 release date. And at this point, the best guess for an iPhone 6 release date is in September with multiple reports pointing to September 19th as the most likely date. A new report on when Apple will announce the iPhone 6 also supports this date as a possible release, which would likely mean an iOS 8 release date on September 17th.

Unfortunately, at this time, it’s not clear if Apple will release one or two iPhones in September. Sources at this point simply cannot agree on Apple’s plans for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 release date.

A recent DigiTimes report Apple plans two separate iPhone 6 release dates for the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 to avoid any competition between the two devices.

“The different timetables have been set as Apple does not want to repeat the mistake it made in 2013 when it launched the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c simultaneously.”

As we pointed out, the publication’s claim differs from other reports that suggest the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 will not arrive at the same time due to manufacturing yield issues or other problems preparing for a large screen iPhone 6. And although the iPhone 5c is not as successful as the iPhone 5s, Apple’s sales numbers don’t indicate a mistake in launching the two devices at the same time.

So, there are some parts of the iPhone 6 release that appear to be concrete and others that are still flimsy as we head into August. Here are the key things to takeaway from everything we’ve heard so far:

• Friday’s in late September are smart bets for an iPhone 6 release date.
• The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is likely to arrive in September.
• The 5.5-inch iPhone 6 release, at this point, is up in the air.

iPhone 6 Availability

Last year’s iPhone 5s release was a bit of a debacle. After the initial release, Apple and its customers faced supply shortages that affected all of the company’s iPhone 5s models including the gold iPhone 5s. Fortunately, it would appear that the company learned it lesson from last year.

According to The Wall Street Journal, production of the iPhone 6 will indeed start in July. The publication also suggests that Apple is well prepared for the iPhone 6 release as the company is expected to produce a record number of units ahead of the iPhone 6′s release. We’re talking 70-80 million units. That number is supposedly split between the 4.7-inch and the larger model.

By comparison, Apple ordered somewhere between 50-60 million units for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, split between the two devices. In other words, we may not see the same shortages arrive for the iPhone 6. Of course, demand for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c may not be able touch demand for the iPhone 6 but that remains to be seen.

Keep in mind, these numbers from The Wall Street Journal are higher than numbers from a Taiwanese report from earlier this month. That report said that Apple was planning to produce just below 70 million units. Either way, it looks like Apple is preparing for a massive iPhone 6 release date.

iPhone 6 Pre-Orders

The iPhone 6 isn’t official yet but that hasn’t stopped small shops from firing up iPhone 6 pre-orders early.

Traditionally iPhone preorders arrive a week ahead of the actual release date. Last year’s iPhone 5s did not come with a pre-order so it’s still not clear if Apple is going to offer one for the iPhone 6.

That said, many sellers are already offering to sell an iPhone 6 pre-order for as much as $1,289. The Wall Street Journal reports that over 30 sellers on Alibaba, an online merchant service similar to eBay but with a target of businesses, already offer an iPhone 6 pre-order. These small shops are selling access to the new iPhone before Apple even announced the device and before an official iPhone 6 release date is confirmed.

One shop with a pre-order shows a mock up of the Apple webpage with an iPhone 6 concept on it. This listing claims the iPhone 6 will be in short supply and shows a variety of iPhone 6 concepts on the sales page that offers an iPhone 6 pre-order for $1,289 USD. That’s far more expensive than the price that will accompany the real iPhone 6 later this year. Rumors point to two price points, $199.99 and $299.99 USD.

Other shops list iPhone 6 pre-orders on the new iPhone with a 4.7-inch display for some outlandish prices. One listing claims the iPhone 6 will offer a solar charging display and a 1080P resolution, which current rumors do not back up. Most of these listings are for a 16GB or 32GB iPhone 6 for Hong Kong.

These are the first iPhone 6 pre-orders but they should be avoided. Apple iPhone 6 pre-orders, if they exist, will be announced on stage alongside the device in the fall.