iPhone 5s Release Date: Apple's Past Practices Point to a Sept. 20 Debut

After the Worldwide Developers Conference passed with no mention of an iPhone5s or iPhone 6, the rumors for a release date began once again. The latest comes from Dave Smith of the International Business Times and you might want listen to this one—it makes quite a bit of sense.

Smith begins his prediction by pointing to the iOS 7 announcement which did occur at WWDC on June 10. Last year Apple announced iOS 6 on June 11 and released the operating system three months later on September 19. Just two days later the company released the iPhone 5.

According to Smith, Apple CEO Tim Cook will not want to tamper with the prosperous formula created by Steve Jobs in 2012. The iOS 7 operating system will become available on Sept. 18—also three months after it’s unveiling in June. (In fact in 2012 and 2013 the iOS release dates come 100 days after the Apple announcement.)

If Cook is following the same formula as Jobs—which was quite a success—iPhone fans and users can expect the iPhone 5s to hit stores on Sept. 20.

Smith also discusses the possible release date of a low-cost iPhone which he is labeling the iPhone 6 (which might be strange to some since it is believed the iPhone 6 will be a new powerhouse phone that won’t debut till 2014.) According to Smith, the low-cost alternative phone will most likely come 1-2 weeks after the iPhone 5—anywhere from Sept. 27 to Oct. 4. Coincidentally, if the Oct. 4 release date were true, it would fall quite close to the two-year anniversary of the Steve Jobs’ passing. To make sure there are no major crowds at stores, writes Smith, Apple would separate the release dates for its two newest iPhones.