Second report suggests Sept. 15 OLED 'iPhone 8' preorders, but shipments not until October

Enthusiast site Macotakara cited supply chain sources in its claim on Thursday of October shipment for the high-end OLED model. However, the conventional LED models, known colloquially as the "iPhone 7s" series, should be available a week later — on Sept. 22 at retail and to pre-order customers.

It is not clear what the reports are based on. After a summer of claims suggesting that there would be either none of the OLED "iPhone 8" available at launch, or that Apple would delay the launch because of low quantities, recent reports suggest that Apple will have a limited quantity of the device ready to go in September.

A report on Wednesday suggested that historical trends would be adhered to, with preorders of the announced items starting the Friday immediately following the launch event. In 2016, the iPhone 7 was announced on Wednesday, Sept. 7, with preorders starting on Sept. 9. The devices shipped to customers a week later, on Friday, Sept. 16.

As far as naming goes, a pair of conflicting rumors emerged on Sept. 1, suggesting that the next range of iPhones would eschew the "iPhone 7s" branding, and skip straight to the "iPhone 8" name for the entire range. One account claims that the high-end OLED device would be called the "iPhone 8 Edition" and the other the "iPhone X."

Should the "s" cycle be skipped this time around, it would be the first time since the iPhone 3GS was released to replace the iPhone 3G.

Apple is expected to announce the three new iPhones with the high-end OLED model, and two other devices expected at a Sept. 12 press event. Also expected is a refresh of the Apple TV adding 4K video as a playback option, and an LTE-equipped Apple Watch.