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Apple's 'iPhone 12' and new iPads rumored to debut in October, 5G iPhone potentially delayed

Credit: iSpazio

Last updated

Prolific leaker Jon Prosser in a terse tweet on Wednesday said Apple's upcoming "iPhone 12" lineup and a slate of new iPads will debut in October, a timeline seemingly backed up by statements from Qualcomm CFO Akash Palkhiwala.

Prosser's tweet, which reads, "iPhone 12 [] New iPads [] October," suggests Apple is planning to announce or launch a slate of next-generation handsets and tablets a month later than its typical September release window. While new iPhones are widely expected this fall, Apple is also rumored to be readying a 10.8-inch iPad Air and refreshed iPad mini models for sale.

A similar timeline was revealed by Palkhiwala in an interview with Reuters. The executive on Wednesday alluded to a potential October launch for a 5G-capable iPhone.

Commenting on the chipmaker's just-ended third fiscal quarter, Palkhiwala said Qualcomm anticipates lower revenue in the coming quarter due to the delay of a "flagship phone launch." Analysts believe that handset is iPhone.

"We're seeing a partial impact rom the delay of a flagship phone launch," Palkhiwala said. "And so what we've seen is a slight delay that pushes some of the units out from the September quarter to the December quarter for us."

Qualcomm will supply baseband chipsets for 5G iPhone as part of a modem licensing deal and settlement that ended a worldwide legal battle with Apple. The Qualcomm-powered devices will be the Cupertino tech giant's first foray into the 5G arena.

Today's rumblings follow predictions from leaker "iHacktu Pro," who last week claimed Apple plans to hold its annual iPhone event in September. Along with new iPhone and "Apple Watch Series 6" models, the event is rumored to bring word of a refreshed iPad and resurrected AirPower wireless charging device. The leaker further forecast Apple to hold another gathering in October to announce its first Apple silicon Mac, a revamped iPad Pro and "Apple Glass."



6 Comments

red oak 13 Years · 1104 comments

Apple cannot get off Qualcomm hardware soon enough.    This exec is incompetent 

tommikele 12 Years · 599 comments

Right on schedule for the annual claims of delays in the debut and or shipping. While it might be true this year, this is the usual BS. It starts every July or August. Analysts, leakers and "sources." Pathetic.

The tech media needs a new script. This one is tired and boring.

entropys 13 Years · 4316 comments

Unrelated question: how do you prevent videos autoplaying in iOS safari

avon b7 20 Years · 8046 comments

red oak said:
Apple cannot get off Qualcomm hardware soon enough.    This exec is incompetent 

If the delay is real (it looks like it is) and Apple eventually announces a 5G handset with QC's latest modem, the wait will be well worth it. 

QC went on record as saying its latest modem would be available, at the very earliest, by year end.

It would be far worse to release an iPhone in September with QC's current 5G modem and four months later, see other major players ship a much improved version and have Apple stuck with the old one for almost the entirety of 2021.

Of course, the delay could be for other reasons but in that case I doubt QC has anything to do with it. 

Grayeagle 6 Years · 59 comments

I will Not buy a new iPhone until it has 5G - - and the reviewers say it works.