Apple to Ship Both Low Cost and High End iPhone in September Says Supplier / Release Date Rumors, Features

Rumor has it Apple will be releasing two new iPhones this September. Along with the normal iPhone upgrade [most likely the iPhone 5S] will ship alongside a low-cost version of the phone.

Sources close to the matter claim Apple asked assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. to be responsible for shipping the two models next month.

Though Apple has declined to comment on this year's iPhone launch, we know that ever since 2011, the Cupertino-based company has chosen to unveil the new iPhone in the fall.

AllThingsD, a news site owned by News Corp recently reported Apple was planning to launch event September 10. The report did not confirm which iPhone would be unveiled. Apple could choose to launch both the high-end and low-cost phone the same day or stick to only one device.

Tech giant and Apple's biggest competitor, Samsung, is expected to have a launch event September 4, where they're rumored to be releasing the new Galaxy Note tablet [most likely the Note 3]. Along with the new large-screen phone, Samsung is also expected to launch a smartwatch called Galaxy Gear, sources say.

To help combat recent struggles with Samsung, Apple's rumored low-cost iPhone is expected to help boost the company's sales in new markets like India and China. The low-cost version would most likely feature a nonmetal case and come in a variety of colors. Reports say gold could even be one of the color options.

According to KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is expected to ship more than 5.2 million units of the high-end iPhone [5S?] and close to 8.5 million cheaper versions in Q3 2013. If Ming-Chi Kuo's estimations are correct, Apple could ship more than 55 million iPhones before the year is over.