'iPhone 12' announcement in October, 5G models ship in November claims report

A supply chain report on Wednesday suggest that Apple's "iPhone 12" lineup could launch in October, with 5G models shipping in November.

The release timetable report is derived from sources within Apple's supply chain in China, who claim that the ongoing COVID-19 crisis may have pushed back original plans to launch the "iPhone 12" in September.

Those supply chain sources told Japanese site Mac Otakara that the "iPhone 12" lineup will be announced in the "latter half of October." While 4G LTE models will become available soon after, 5G variants may not launch until November, the sources said.

Mac Otakara doesn't have a perfect track record of information about Apple's specific product details, but its supply chain sources have proven themselves accurate in the past.

Earlier in 2020, well-connected TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that supply chain problems were casting doubt on the idea of a September "iPhone 12" ship date. That prediction was based on delays in Apple's testing and engineering verification phases.

On June 1, Taiwanese outlet DigiTimes reported that production of the upcoming iPhone models was kicking off a bit later than usual in July. Nikkei Asian Review also suggested back in March that Apple was mulling pushing back the launch timeline due to concerns about demand.

Although Apple typically announces and launches new iPhone models in September, a November launch isn't that usual. The iPhone X, for example, was debuted at Apple's keynote in September 2017 but didn't ship until November.

6 Comments

Ofer 268 comments · 8 Years

About 4 years ago

They’ll probably end up having their usual September announcement but actual ship dates will be later.

mike1 3427 comments · 10 Years

I think this is the first I've heard about separate 4G LTE and 5G variants of the same models. Another whole set of SKUs to worry about.

3-4 colors

3 storage size options each

Are there still different models depending on the carrier???

Different models for different regions worldwide

Now double all that because of 5G/No 5G variants

That's an awful lot of SKUs

anome 1545 comments · 16 Years

mike1 said:

I think this is the first I've heard about separate 4G LTE and 5G variants of the same models. Another whole set of SKUs to worry about.

3-4 colors
3 storage size options each
Are there still different models depending on the carrier???
Different models for different regions worldwide
Now double all that because of 5G/No 5G variants

That's an awful lot of SKUs

More interestingly, how does this square up with the iPhone Model Numbers that were leaked last month? There were 9 of them?

If there are separate 5G and LTE models, I expect the Pro will be 5G and the non-Pro (Amateur?) will be LTE only. That might sort out the number of SKUs leaked.

Still, as with everything iPhone, can't count it as fact until Tim is holding it on stage (even if only metaphorically). Although if he isn't holding it on stage by the end of September, I guess we can agree the announcement won't be before October.

Japhey 1772 comments · 6 Years

mike1 said:

I think this is the first I've heard about separate 4G LTE and 5G variants of the same models. Another whole set of SKUs to worry about.

3-4 colors
3 storage size options each
Are there still different models depending on the carrier???
Different models for different regions worldwide
Now double all that because of 5G/No 5G variants

That's an awful lot of SKUs

Great. Just when we thought there couldn’t be anything else to worry about, now we have extra SKU’s to keep us up at night? Oh wait, I forgot... absolutely no body on earth is worried about extra SKU’s, why are you? I think the poor little trillion dollar company will survive the challenge.

PickUrPoison 302 comments · 7 Years

mike1 said:

I think this is the first I've heard about separate 4G LTE and 5G variants of the same models. Another whole set of SKUs to worry about.

3-4 colors
3 storage size options each
Are there still different models depending on the carrier???
Different models for different regions worldwide
Now double all that because of 5G/No 5G variants

That's an awful lot of SKUs

I’m sure Apple appreciates your “concern” 🙄