Apple’s 6 month refresh cycle is here to stay, if rumors today out of China are to be believed. A Chinese business newspaper Commercial Times report this morning (via Digitimes) suggests that Apple may already be working on the iPhone 5S and a new iPad (5th generation iPad or iPad mini 2 with Retina) for a release in the first half of 2013. Digitimes suggests the initial production run for the iPhone 5S will be 50,000 to 100,000 units in December, with Apple testing an accelerated certification process for parts and materials in the 5S in light of production shortages plaguing the iPhone 5.
The iPad refresh, if it exists, will likely be for the iPad mini. According to Commercial Times, the reason for such a quick refresh on the iPad line was because “the display resolution of its latest version of iPad has come out lower than expected,” a criticism often hurled at the iPad mini’s 1,024 x 768 resolution.
Finally, a second report from the China Times (via Business Insider) indicate that Apple’s iTV project could finally come to light in early 2013 as well. Little information was provided on the iTV product, though an early 2013 release lines up with infamous Apple analyst Gene Munster’s expects iTV to launch in the first half of 2013 as well.
Of course, all is rumor at this point, and our wallets sincerely hope that Apple isn’t turning to 6 month refresh cycles on its iPhone, iPad, and (soon) iTV line of devices. If these devices are real, we should learn more about them in early 2013.
[via Business Insider (1), (2), Digitimes, China Times]