Both the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 could make their debut in September, according to DigiTimes.
The Taiwan-based blog, a frequent purveyor of Apple rumors, says several component suppliers in Apple's supply chain are gearing up to start production on these devices very soon. Citing "industry sources," DigiTimes says the iPad 3 and the iPhone 5 will be announced in September and will go on sale in October.
Although there has been buzz that Apple would launch both a smaller iPhone 4S as well as the iPhone 5, DigiTimes claims Apple will only reveal one model of the smartphone this fall. It also alleges that the iPad 3 was recently added to the production schedule. For both the third-gen iPad and the fifth-gen iPhone, Digitimes says Apple will produce "small volumes in August," only to increase production in September and August.
In the report, DigiTimes names a handful of different component suppliers including Foxconn, which handles assembly; Simplo Technologies and Dynapack International Technology, the firms that manufacture batteries; TPK Holding and Wintek, companies in charge of touchscreen panels; Catcher, which handles the chassias; and Largan Precision, which provides the camera.
While it's been widely rumored that Apple will drop the iPhone 5 this fall, there have been conflicting rumors about the timeline of the launch of the iPad 3. If Apple's habit of sticking to an annual product update cycle is any indication, the third-generation tablet won't launch until next spring. But considering Apple has broken that custom with the iPhone, they may do the same for the next iPad.
DigiTimes didn't give any details as to what could be included in the iPhone 5, but it said the iPad 3 will be thinner, lighter, and have an upgraded display.