Following two earlier rumors this morning that Apple is already testing next-gen iPhone hardware, and that the new iPhone may feature a new design and larger 4″ screen, Kotaku now reports (via MacObserver) that Foxconn’s head of human resources says that the next iPhone will ship in October.
The report is based on an article from South Korea’s Maeil Business Newspaper, which also states that Foxconn hiring a large number of workers to prepare for production of Apple’s next iPhone. The report contradicts a prior rumor, in which a Foxconn reporter claimed the device would be received in June. Considering that this report apparently comes from the head of Foxconn HR, however, I’d consider it to be the more credible of the two.
An October release makes a lot more sense than a June release, in my opinion. A June release would exclude many Apple customers from being able to upgrade to the new device, as they would still be locked in contracts with carriers and would have to pay the full retail price for the device.
Besides that, it seems incredibly unlikely for Apple to replace the iPhone 4S, which has been extremely popular, after being available for less than one year.
Keep in mind that it’s unlikely that Apple would share information about the launch of the next iPhone with anyone, including Foxconn, rumors regarding the next iPhone’s launch date should be considered as nothing more than speculation.
