This Week’s Apple Rumors, Ranked From Dumbest to Most Plausible

Next gen Retina display MacBook Pros are rumored to be delayed until October. Photo: Peter McCollough/Wired
Each week, there are dozens of Apple rumors, reports, and patent filings that hint at what’s coming out of Cupertino next. Some are legit, but most are totally bogus. We parse the week’s rumors for you, ranking them in order from “utterly ridiculous” to “Duh, of course.” First up…
VERY DOUBTFUL: Apple discontinuing iPhone 5 in favor of iPhone 5S, cheap version
Korean ETnews.com (via MacRumors) reports that Apple is going to ditch iPhone 5 production this fall, instead pouring its efforts into the iPhone 5S and a purported cheaper plastic model.
While it would make sense for Apple to ditch the iPhone 4 and 4S in order to move to an exclusively Lightning dock connector product line, it would surprise me if the company completely abandoned production of the iPhone 5 given their current tiered lineup of iPhone models. Apple is seeing a lot of success with the free (on contract) iPhone 4 among price-conscious consumers.
ASK AGAIN LATER: Apple to ship Haswell-powered Retina MacBook Pros in October rather than September
Apple’s next iteration of MacBook Pros may not ship until October, according to a report from the China Times
(via AppleInsider). Part of the reason is yield problems with the Retina display models, something that’s been an issue with its high resolution displays from the beginning.
It’s possible that Apple could introduce new MacBook Pros at an event in September, but not have them ship until October. When Apple unveiled its latest iMacs, the 21.5-inch model didn’t begin shipping until November and the 27-inch began shipping in December.
SIGNS POINT TO YES: Apple’s Q4 guidance implies iPhone launch by late September
Apple provided financial guidance for its upcoming quarter during its earnings call on Tuesday. Based on Apple’s proposed revenues, financial analyst Walter Piecyk of BTIG’s thinks Apple will be debuting its new iPhone (and other products) before September 28. It certainly makes sense.
Tim Cook has said, on more than one occasion, that Apple has some “really great stuff coming in the fall” and in 2014. Last year, the iPhone 5 was released in late September. While Apple could feasibly debut its new fall products in October, these signs make it seem like September is far more likely. (But, as we mentioned above, some products could be introduced in September but not ship until October or later.)
WITHOUT A DOUBT: Apple testing iPhones and iPads with larger screen sizes
Doesn’t this go without saying? Apple is constantly testing devices with different form factors and different screen sizes. Before the iPad debuted in 2009, Apple was rumored to be testing a tablet in three different sizes. The company has since decided that a smaller 8-inch tablet is a welcome addition to its iPad lineup. And of course, Apple did decide that a 4-inch iPhone was more optimal in today’s smartphone environment than the 3.5-inch size of the iPhone 4S and its predecessors.
Whether or not larger iPhones or iPads ever actually surface, I would be incredibly surprised if Apple hasn’t seriously toyed with the idea.

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