iPhone 5 Release Date: Best Buy Leak Hints at October Launch

The Apple iPhone 5's release date is growing closer, as the latest reports have revealed that retailer Best Buy is set for an October launch.

A Best Buy source released a document to BGR.com, which shows that the store is anticipating the pre-sales and also that Sprint will be carrying the iPhone 5 at the launch of the new device.

Thanks to a leaked document from a Best Buy source, we have discovered that Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores are anticipating taking preorders for the iPhone 5 starting in the first week of October, the BGR report said.

However, Best Buy did note that Apple product introduction and launch dates are subject to change, BGR reported.

Meanwhile, 9to5mac.com reported that Apple has begun iOS 5 and iCloud training with retail store employees to coincide with the iPhone 5′s unveiling.

The site points out that Apple Stores usually only begin their training of new software in the couple of weeks leading up to a respective product launch (obviously this time around could be different, though).

Apple beginning their iOS 5 training within the last few days could mean a launch sooner than the recently rumored dates of mid-to-late October, according to the report.

Apple hasn't even announced an event to introduce the new product or said there would be a new iPhone at all. In fact, it has not even confirmed if the next iteration of the iPhone will be called iPhone 5. It has not given the slightest hint about the device being anywhere near announcement.

However, there have been numerous reports on its imminent arrival and countless sources from the media and analysts have declared the phone to be real. Until anything concrete comes out, speculation will reign supreme.

According to the new case designs released by technology website MacRumors, the much-anticipated iPhone 5 is expected to have a bigger screen-size compared to iPhone 4's 3.5-inch display.

The report said the iPhone 5 design may have dimensions of 4.33 x 2.36, suggesting a shorter but only slightly wider design. In comparison, the iPhone 4 dimensions are 4.5 x 2.31.

Most of the reports suggest that Apple’s next generation iPhone will have A5 dual-core processor, an edge-to-edge screen, metal back and possibly a higher resolution camera. And the screen size is being disputed at 3.7 or 4-inches.

Here are the rumored features of Apple iPhone 5:

-- A5 processor in the range of 1.2-1.5 GHz

-- Aluminum metal backing of the original iPhone instead of the current glass surface back piece

-- A teardrop design, like the new iPod Touch, with the top being thick and then tapering to a skinnier bottom

-- An improved antenna

-- More RAM, possibly 1GB

-- Better camera (perhaps 8-megapixel) with 1080p video playback and panaromic photo capture capability and an improved dual-LED flash unit

-- Bigger edge-to-edge 3.7- to 4-inch curved glass screen (iPhone 4 has 3.5-inch screen)

-- A SIM-less design

-- 3-4 internal antennas for both GSM and CDMA networks

-- 4G connectivity

-- iOS 5, which will be true multitask capable and come with loads of new features such as News Stand, Reminders, Delta Updates and iMessage

-- Improved speech recognition features

-- Wireless charging capability

-- Better talk-time and standby time

-- Near Field Communication (NFC) technology

-- Panoramic photo capabilities and 1080p Full HD videos

-- Stronger gaming capabilities supported by multi-core A5 processor and Imagination Technologies' PowerVR Series6 mobile graphics processing architecture.