Rumor: Apple orders 15 million iPhone 5 units

A new report suggests Apple is in fact ready to launch the iPhone 5 in September.

As is typical with Apple rumors, stories about the next iteration of the popular smartphone have been going back and forth for some time now. There’s been a lot of speculation that a new iPhone is coming out early this fall, but reports have varied on whether or not it will carry the ‘iPhone 5’ name or some variation of ‘iPhone 4.’

Some earlier reports said that the next iPhone would be called something like the iPhone 4S, which would be a similar move to when Apple released the iPhone 3GS as a bridge between the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 4.

Now, however, respected industry follower Digitimes says that Apple has placed an order for 15 million units of a new phone from Taiwan-based manufacturer Pegatron Technology. Digitimes refers to the device as the iPhone 5.

However, it also reports that the phone features no major upgrades or enhancements over the iPhone 4, meaning it may be a rather un-spectacular showing when Apple reveals the new device.

That isn’t to say the iPhone 5 won’t still be the most souped-up version of the iPhone to date. It’s widely expected that the new handset will include an A5 processor – the same kind that comes with the iPad 2 – as well as an improved 8-megapixel camera.

If the September launch date rumors are true, expect the official announcement of the phone to happen, well, in September.