Apple’s (AAPL) sixth iPhone — constantly referred to as the “iPhone 5” for lack of a better name — is really starting to take shape now that production is ramping up. A fully assembled next-generation iPhone case was shown off in leaked photos over the weekend, and a subsequent report from iMore cites unnamed sources in placing the debut of Apple’s next smartphone on September 12th alongside the “iPad mini” and a new iPod nano as well. Earlier reports suggested the new iPhone will launch on September 21st, so the timing of an Apple press conference on September 12th certainly makes sense. The launch of Apple’s next iPhone is expected to be the company’s biggest iPhone launch yet by just about every analyst that covers Apple, and the $249-$299 iPad mini is seen as taking a huge bite out of Android tablet vendors’ business when it launches this fall.
UPDATE: All Things D says its sources have confirmed that Apple plans to host an event on or around September 12th, though the site could not confirm the topic of the upcoming press conference.
