Consumers who were hoping to get their hands on the iPhone 6 in September might have to pump the brakes a bit, MacRumors reports.
According to the website's source "with knowledge of an Apple Store meeting," the device will be launched Sept. 16, but will not roll-out until Oct. 14. However, as AppleInsider notes, the Tuesday, Oct. 14 release date is suspect, as Apple traditionally releases its new iPhones on Fridays - not Tuesdays. The month wait is also questionable considering Apple typically releases its new iPhones one week after their launches.
MacRumors' source claims that Apple wanted to push the release of the iPhone 6 up earlier into the week due to high consumer demand and a production ramp-up.
Meanwhile, one of the iPhone 6's hottest rumored features might not be a feature after all, CNET reports.
In a report published Monday, LEDinside analysts from market researcher Trendforce noted that they have not seen enough orders for sapphire glass passing through the supply chains to suggest the device will have a large-scale roll-out in time for the September release anticipated for the 4.7-inch model:
"The sapphire material is still being applied in new generation Apple smartphones camera lenses and fingerprint recognition readers. If the new iPhone keeps up Apple's previous smartphone models hot selling records, sapphire demands will be driven by the smartphone's applications till the end of this year. However, the much anticipated sapphire cover glass remains missing from the picture. Analysis of the iPhone 6 supply chain indicates related component suppliers need to ship products to OEMs for assembly in June 2014 to meet the September launch date. Yet, the research institute did not discover demands for smartphone cover glass. The sapphire glass version new iPhone will be issued in limited volumes this year, mostly because sapphire ingot manufacturers yield rates were lower than forecasts and issues involved in sapphire glass processing."
The analysts did add, however, that it is still possible Apple could opt to release an iPhone with sapphire glass in limited numbers.
It has also been reported that only the 64GB versions could get the sapphire glass.
Specs rumors for the sixth-generation iPhone include an Apple A8, Near Field Communication (NFC) for mobile payments, Touch ID and an improved camera. The same color options offered in the iPhone 5S (Silver, Gold and Space Gray) have also been tipped in a recent alleged leak.
