iPhone 5 Release Date, Price, Specs, News & Rumours (Video)

Apple iPhone 5 News & Rumours: Release date, specs, price & features. Read on for all the latest on Apple's next-gen smartphone, constantly updated

Update: Apple fanboys: mark your calendars. Apple has emailed out a string of invitations to the media, inviting them to a special event in San Francisco, California, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, sparking rumours that it plans to unveil a fresh batch of new devices – including the rumoured iPhone 5.

As is often the case, the Cupertino firm has kept things simple.

There’s no mention of the iPhone 5, or its suspected launch mate, the iPad Mini – only the number ‘12’ (for September 12) with the words ‘it’s almost here’ hovering above it - pictured below.

The invite comes as fresh rumours emerge that the new iPhone will sport a larger screen, as well as a revised 19-pin dock connector. This here iPhone 5 rumours post has, over the months, changed to accommodate the ever-raging speculation spat out by the rumour mill. It’s hoped the event will finally put the gossip to an end.

So there we have it folks: on September 12, we could be seeing a new iPhone, as well as a miniature version of the new iPad. The event will be held in San Francisco, although T3 will be present at the UK-leg of the launch in London to bring you all the exclusive news and reviews right here in this very post. Until then, check out the latest iPhone 5 rumours below.

Apple iPhone 5: Release Date

The news above follows reports that Apple is gearing up to launch the iPhone 5 on September 12. AllThingsD believes the Cupertino-based firm could go one step further and release the rumoured iPad Mini during the same event.

Previously, respected Japanese Apple blog Macotakara alleged that it had received word from "Asian sources" who claim that Apple will launch the device in September or October 2012, which would fit with last year’s arrival of the iPhone 4S.

"According to Asian reliable source, next iPhone will be released in September or October, and this cycle seems to be kept for years," read a translated portion of the report.

If the article proves to be accurate, it would mean the company is returning to the 12-month launch cycles we saw for the first four versions of the popular handset device.

Last year's October iPhone 4S launch was the only time Apple has verged from the summer cycle, making users wait 15 months instead of the usual 12 for a new handset.

While the iPhone 4S was more of an evolutionary upgrade, with a faster processor an improved camera and the addition of the Siri voice control app, the iPhone 5 is likely to bring a more revolutionary approach, perhaps with the addition of a 4G LTE internet and a larger screen size.

Watch: iPhone 5 concepts video

Apple iPhone 5: Price

The 16GB iPhone 4S lines up in retailers with a hefty £499 price tag. Prices continue up all the way to £699 for the 64GB edition.

Ahead of the iPhone 4S successor’s announcement, it is believed that the sixth-gen model will simply replace the iPhone 4s in terms of price points and range of models with any 128GB storage option likely to hit the £799 price mark.

Apple iPhone 5: Name

Following the March launch of the new iPad, eports have suggested that Apple is to cease the numbered naming convention of its pocket blowers and move the market leading iPhone range in line with its Mac offerings which see multiple product overhauls occur whilst maintaining the same base name.

“About two weeks ago we got a tip from a reliable source that Apple was going to call the iPhone 5 the new “iPhone,” according to Apple blog 9to5Mac.

“That seemed a little nuts at the time but what a difference a Keynote makes. Apple chopped the suffix off if the iPad as part of a branding makeover that will likely expand.

The report added: “Just like iMac is not called iMac 1,2,3 it looks like Apple won’t be doing the numbering on iOS devices (though it never did with the iPod touch).”

Apple iPhone 5: Display

Update: Apple has reportedly begun manufacturing on its rumoured iPhone 5 handsets. Reports suggest Sony has been working on display components for the Californian company’s next-gen smartphone since February – and will ramp up production on the panels at the end of this month.

According to AppleInsider, the consumer electronics manufacturer is working in conjunction with other firms, such as Toshiba Mobile Display and LG Display Co, to roll out enough panels for the heavily rumoured device, expected to launch later this year.

Stone Wu, a senior analyst at IHS Displaybank, said: “Even for those companies that start mass production in May, they can only reach an average yield of 65 to 70 per cent at present.”

In a recent survey by VoucherCodesPro.co.uk the most asked for feature on the iPhone 5 was a stronger display, with the iPhone 4's screen being notoriously easy to crack users are now hoping that Apple will use a much stronger display.

Although there has been no official word on the iPhone 5’s screen size, rumours suggest growing competition and market pressures will see Apple introduce a new plus 4-inch model.

These rumours have been backed up by a selection of industry analysts that have suggested Apple will be forced into the screen size overhaul as competition from rival handsets, such as the Samsung Galaxy S3, intensify.

Speaking with T3, industry specialist Daniel Ashdown from tech analysis company Juniper Research suggested Apple may opt for a larger screen for the iPhone 5.

He said: "It will be particularly interesting to see what the size of the display will be given that it has not changed thus far since the iPhone was launched with a 3.5-inch screen.

"Competitors have increased their devices to up to 4.3". We would be surprised if they [Apple] didn't break from tradition this time and increase the size of the next model."

Contrary to these claims, other reports have suggested Apple will retain its 3.5-inch iPhone display for future handsets as a larger screen could disturb the iOS platform’s offering of apps.

Source: T3