Skip to main content

Apple said to release final iOS 5 build week of Sept. 23; iPhone 5 due first half of Oct.

Apple iOS 5 Notifications
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A number of rumors are flying around today, which point to the likely release of Apple’s final iOS 5 build on or around September 23 — something we’ve heard in the past. The final iOS 5 build — known in the industry as the “Gold Master” build, or the “golden” build — will then be sent to carriers for testing. If approved (which is likely), then the iPhone 5 will, presumably, follow soon after, probably sometime between Oct. 7 and Oct. 14, which would fit into the time period we’ve been hearing for some while.

The Gold Master build of an iOS is often the same version that is released to the public.

The first bit of this information — that the golden version iOS 5 will be relased sometime during the last week of this month — comes via both BRG and AppleInsider, who have been told by sources to expect the final version of iOS 5 around the 23rd.

Apple reportedly has stacks of already-built iPhone 5 units sitting in China, waiting to be loaded with iOS 5 — something that can’t happen until Apple releases its final version of the mobile OS. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who spke with AppleInsider, it will take apple roughly 10 to 12 days to ship the next-generation iPhone, as well as the new iPod touch, once the devices are loaded with iOS 5. Assuming the week-of-September-23 time frame is correct, that would land the iPhone 5 in stores by no later than mid-October.

Corroborating this information is another AppleInsider report, which says that Apple has informed its AppleCare staff to prepare for an influx of iOS-related questions starting on October 10. Once source told the publication that Apple has instructed AppleCare workers to expect up to eight times as many iOS questions as they are currently fielding.

Since Apple usually releases software first, then new hardware, it’s unlikely that iPhone 5 will arrive on Monday, Oct. 10, but it is possible, based on previous release schedules, that iPhone 5 could arrive later in the week. For example, iOS 4 arrived on Monday, July 21 of last year; iPhone 4 was announced that following Thursday.

To top it all off, Stephane Richard, CEO of French wireless giant Orange, said that the iPhone 5 “will be release on Oct. 15,” which is a Saturday — not a likely day of the week for such a long-awaited release.

Regardless, all signs are consistently pointing to an October release for the iPhone 5 — not just one rumor, all the rumors. Which could, of course, mean nothing. But there seems to us, the avid iPhone 5-rumor-watchers, a certain je ne sais quoi to the time frame that gives this unofficial Apple chatter a hint of truth. Stay tuned.

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Couts
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…
How to turn off the always-on display on the iPhone 15 Pro and 14 Pro
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro showing the screens.

Apple first debuted its always-on display for iPhone with the iPhone 14 Pro, and it returns with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Though many people enjoy the always-on display on their iPhone, others feel that it consumes enough power to affect the battery drain throughout the day. So, eventually, Apple added a way to disable the always-on display if you don't want to use it.

Read more
iOS 17: How to share contacts using Apple’s amazing NameDrop feature
Enabling NameDrop toggle in iOS 17.

iOS 17 is full of cutting-edge iPhone features and optimizations, and we’ve been singing the latest firmware’s praises for a while now. Beyond the typical bug repairs and standard improvements, Apple’s most recent iOS level-up includes a convenient iPhone exclusive called NameDrop. In just seconds, this iPhone-to-iPhone wireless tech lets iPhone A receive a full contact card from iPhone B, simply by placing the two phones next to each other.

You’ll also be able to perform this trick by swapping one (or both) of those iPhones for the Apple Watch Series 7 or newer running watchOS 10.1. It’s not a difficult process, but it involves a little iOS know-how, which is where we come in. We’ve put together this step-by-step explainer for using the NameDrop feature, covering both the iPhone and Apple Watch connectivity methods.

Read more
How to use iOS 17 FaceTime gestures (and what they look like)
Video reactions in macOS Sonoma, with the balloons effect in use.

iOS 17 brought a number of new iPhone features and optimizations to the table, and one of these tweaks adds a few cool layers of entertainment to your FaceTime experience. It’s called FaceTime gestures, and once it’s set up correctly, you’ll be able to send 3D animations to your friends and family during FaceTime video calls. You’ll even be able to trigger the animations with physical gestures!

Getting your phone ready for action doesn’t take much time or effort, but we put this guide together to walk you through the process nonetheless. 
How to make a FaceTime gesture in iOS 17

Read more