Apple iPhone 6 Release Rumors: Leaked Promotional Flyer Reveals September Launch Date, Pricing In China

A leaked promotional flyer, claimed to be of Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) upcoming iPhone 6, has reportedly revealed the launch date and pricing details of the next-generation iPhone in China. The new report comes amid growing rumors that Apple will release the new flagship handset sometime in mid-September.

A user of China’s Weibo microblogging service posted an image of the alleged iPhone 6 promotional flyer, showing two models of the device -- one featuring a 4.7-inch screen and the other one with a 5.5-inch screen. According to the flyer, both models of the iPhone 6 will be launched in China on Sept. 19, the date that was reportedly given away by German wireless-network provider Deutsche Telekom in May.

In September 2013, Apple held a separate event to introduce its iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in China, hours after the iPhones were unveiled in the U.S. On Sept. 20, 2013, the company released the iPhone 5s in 10 countries including the U.S., UK, Canada and China. So, it will not be a surprise if Apple follows the same strategy this year.

In addition to the launch date, the leaked flyer also provided details about the new iPhones’ pricing in China. The 4.7-inch version of the device was priced at 5,288 yuan (about $900), while the 5.5-inch version was priced at 6,288 yuan (about $1,000), GSM Insider reported, adding that the huge price gap suggests that there could be significant differences in specs -- other than the screen size -- between the two iPhone 6 models.

GSM Insider also quoted other reports from China claiming that the iPhone 6 has already been sent to Chinese carriers, including China Mobile and China Unicom, and local distributors, to test if the new phone is compatible with the country’s 4G LTE network.

Last week, Taiwan’s Economic Daily News reported that production of the 4.7-inch model of the iPhone 6 will begin during the third week of July, while the 5.5-inch version of the new smartphone is scheduled to enter production in the second week of August.