Apple iPhone 5 pre-orders start September 12

Apple will commence taking pre-orders for its next-generation iPhone on September 12, the day the device is expected to be rolled out, said a blog post on iMore. The website had earlier cited inside sources while pegging the launch date at September 12. It had also said that shipments of the device would begin just 9 days later, on September 21.

The post on iMore said that the pre-order for iPhone 5 in the US will start from September 12. On the other hand, it stated, buyers in the international market will be able to book the device in the first week of the following month, most probably from October 5.

Notably, Apple has never taken pre-order for any device so soon after launching it. However, last year, the Cupertino-based tech giant unveiled the iPhone 4S on October 4 and began taking bookings for the device just three days later.

The fifth generation iPhone is expected to feature a thinner and larger screen, smaller dock connector, and repositioned headphone jack and FaceTime camera. There have been many leaked images of the device in the past few months which confirm these rumours

Apple usually hosts iPhone launches during the fall so that products are readily available for sales during the holiday season. Samsung has scheduled an event of its own, Samsung Unpacked, on August 29 when it is expected to showcase the new Galaxy Note 2, just days before the speculated iPhone launch. Sony is also expected to launch a device, said to be the new flagship Xperia TX, on August 29.