Following yesterday’s rumors that Apple’s fifth-generation iPhone is scheduled to launch later this year, Bloomberg cites two sources “familiar with Apple’s plans” who have confirmed the iPhone 5 will be available this September. The report also offers some juicy details on the iPad 3, and that “iPhone nano” that we keep hearing about.
According to the sources, the iPhone 5 will boast Apple’s dual-core A5 processor which debuted in the iPad 2 earlier this year. The device will also sport an 8-megapixel camera — an improvement on the current 5-megapixel lens featured in the iPhone 4.
These claims reinforce nearly all of the previous reports we’ve seen, however, they do conflict with fresh speculation published yesterday that suggests the new iPhone will be completely redesigned. Instead, they say that the device will be identical to today’s iPhone 4.
As we’d all expect, the new device will be running iOS 5 when it launches, which is reportedly codenamed “Telluride” within the Apple camp.
With regards to the third-generation iPad, the same sources claim that Apple is currently testing a version of the device which includes a “higher resolution screen, similar to the one now used in the iPhone 4.” The resolution is said to be “about one-third higher” than the iPad 2 — which isn’t really the Retina display increase we’ve been hoping for.
When Apple introduced a Retina display to the iPhone 4, it doubled the dimensions we’d seen in previous iPhones. However, technical challenges may prevent the Cupertino company from increasing the iPad’s resolution by such an amount for the third iteration.
The Bloomberg report also revives those rumors surrounding a smaller, cheaper iPhone — claiming Apple is still working on the device:
Apple is also working to finish a cheaper version of the iPhone aimed at attracting customers in developing countries, the people said. This device would use chips and displays of similar quality to today’s iPhone 4, the people said. Apple’s work on a smaller, lower-priced version of the device was discussed by people familiar with the matter in February.
