Rumor: Apple to release next-gen iPhone on Friday, September 16th, “iPhone 6SE” name in the running

The latest iPhone 7 rumors are in, complete with reporter and leak enthusiast Evan Blass claiming the next-gen handset will be released the week of September 12th. Blass specifically cited that the new iPhone will hit the shelves on Friday, September 16th.

This would put it a bit earlier than usual, as the previous generation of iPhone was released on September 25th last year, the iPhone 6 debuted on September 19th in 2014 and the 2013 iPhone 5s was September 20th.

With a sooner-than-usual release date for retail availability, this also pushes the expected date for Apple’s media press announcement.

The typical window is a two-week wait between announcement and release. This is not feasible in the 2016 calendar assuming a Friday September 16th release unless the event happened in late August. Assuming Apple wants to stay in the September timeframe, the most likely dates are September 5 or September 6 with pre-orders on that Friday (September 9) with the official launch just a week later. Apple should sent press invites for this event in mid-August which will officially confirm the date.

Blass is well known in the technology community for product leaks, especially regarding Android devices, although his record on Apple leaks is not perfect. He suggested that the 6s, 6s Plus and 6c would launch concurrently in 2015. It transpired the 4-inch iPhone SE would not debut until the following March.

A new report suggest that the iPhone 7 may not be known as the “iPhone 7”. Instead, Chinese supply chain sources have indicated the new handset might be called the “iPhone 6SE”. Given the more iterative changes and similar design, it is not out of the question for Apple to brand the new iPhone as a continuation of the iPhone 6 line.

As always, stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via 9to5Mac, Twitter and Apfelpage