So many people waiting on the next iPhone are so frustrated that they have actually moved to Android phones, to enjoy larger screens, 4G LTE speeds and certain other specs like NFC support that is just not yet available in the current generation iPhone’s like the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4. However, it also has to be said that there are thousands and maybe millions more who are keeping their faith in Apple, waiting to upgrade only when the iPhone 5 comes out.
So, when will the iPhone 5 actually come out. Well, it makes for a topic of great debate. As you can see from sites like this, http://www.iphone5reviewed.com/iPhone5releasedate.html, everyone has a pretty strong opinion about the release date of the next iPhone. As of now, we can safely assume that the next iPhone will be released in either June or October of this year, 2012.
Here are some of the factors that might actually decide the fate of the next generation iPhone’s release.
- The iPhone 4S had tremendous success in terms of sales after it was released just ahead of the holiday season in 2011. With that trend working like a charm, Apple might be very tempted to deliberately postpone the release of the next generation iPhone, just before the holiday season in 2012
- Technically, Apple have always allows an iPhone model to sell well for at least 12 months. Since the iPhone 4S was released in October of 2012, 12 months past that date would mean that the iPhone 5 should not be released until October of 2012
- The new iPhone’s release will also depend on the availability of 4G LTE chips. Qualcomm, the manufacturers of the 4G LTE chips have stated that the second generation smaller LTE chips will not be ready until the third quarter of 2012. If that were the case, Apple will have no choice but to wait to release the iPhone 5 as everyone is expecting the iPhone 5 to have 4G LTE chips.
- Apple cannot release an iPhone 5 with current generation LTE chips as the first generation LTE chip is just too big to be accommodated into the iPhone’s rather cramped circuit board
- There have been rumors that have been suggesting that Apple is going to honor the first death anniversary of Steve Jobs, by presenting the iPhone 5 on his death anniversary. If this was the case, the iPhone 5 is definitely coming out only in October of 2012
- There is some speculation that Apple will time the release of the next iPhone to coincide with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S3, a phone that is expected to be its main competitor.
Recently, there were some rumors that the iPhone 5 is indeed going to be released in June, at the yearly WWDC event that will be held in San Francisco. However, the credibility of those rumors have remained seriously questionable as none of them have cited a proper or concrete source.
Industry rumors have also said that the WWDC event will be more about iOS 6 and upgrades that will be made available for the Mac line of computers. Apple themselves have acknowledged the fact that the WWDC is going to be about software and the Mac Book line of products.
Public opinion on the iPhone 5 release date is however very different. Most people want it NOW. iPhone 4 owners are particularly agitated that the iPhone 5 is not yet slated for a release date. As you might know, iPhone 4 contracts went live in June 2010 and those two year contracts will be expiring in about a month’s time. Those phone owners will probably love to jump on an iPhone 5 offer.
Lastly, the release of the iPhone 5 might be staggered in such a way that Sprint gets the iPhone 5 first, followed by AT&T and Verizon, in no particular order. We say that Sprint could possibly get the iPhone 5 first as they must have had some incentive to sign a mammoth $20 Billion deal with Apple, to buy iPhones from them!