Affiliate Disclosure
If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read our ethics policy.

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

Credit: iSpazio

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."