iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 Release Date: Upcoming Announcement For New Device Hinted At iOS 7 Release Schedule, $99 Budget Phone Idea Scrapped By Apple

The iOS 7 release has been more than a week now and it showed a complete overhaul in the software design of the iPhone and iPad. Now rumors swirl that the updated software's official release this fall will coincide with the announcement of the iPhone 6.

Many speculate that plans to release the iPhone 5S or the budget phone has been scrapped by the Cupertino tech giant.

According to a report by the International Business Times, Apple will skip the low cost iPhone 5S, rumored to retail at $99, to make way for the launch of the iPhone 6.

The iPhone 6 will feature a 4.8 inch screen display and will be the upgraded version of the iPhone 5, contrary to the rumored “budget phone” iPhone 5S.

Speaking with CNET, Glen Yeung of Citi Research said that he expects the handsets to be released with the 4.8 inch screen size early 2014. He claims that the much-rumored iPhone 5S “has been delayed by two to four weeks,” and will most probably be discontinued by Apple.

Yeung said that he is uncertain if Apple can meet a September launch, which could be the reason why they dropped the iPhone 5S release.

Other reports have also backed-up the claim that Apple dropped the iPhone 5S model, breaking the tradition of launching “Plan B” phones.

Will Stabley of Stabley Times said that there are justifiable reasons that indicate Apple may break the tradition this year.

Five years ago in 2008, Apple dumped its rubber and metal iPhone and went to the plastic 3G iPhone. The company applied the same design again the third year.

Apple fans took that as an indication that the upcoming upgraded design, or the iPhone 4, was behind schedule.

Bloggers and industry insiders who follow the company closely note that the release of the iPhone 4S was due to the delayed development and production of the iPhone 5.

Stabley said that Apple has been trying to get rid of the S schedule for years as they aim to release phones with higher upgrades, leading him to believe that the Cupertino tech giant will release the iPhone 6 this year instead of an iPhone 5S.

Lately, however, a series of leaked iPhone 5S from Taiwan shows that the model may still be going into production. And it is reported to have the same screen size as the current iPhone 5.

French site Nowhereelse published the photos, as did Chinese-microblogging site Weibo.

Rumors point that the seventh iteration of the device will include a Retina or IGZO screen display, A7 quad core chip processor, iOS 7, 128GB internal storage, 13 mega-pixel camera, and longer battery life, according to the Business Times.

The lack of NFC support for the latest iPhone model, iPhone 5, was one of the biggest criticisms directed at Apple.

The Plan B phone iPhone 5S was said to have a plastic casing, 4-inch screen display, dual core processor and 8-megapixel camera, according to reports.

Many thought that the release schedule for the phones will be announced at Apple CEO Tim Cook’s keynote speech at WWDC 2013, Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference. Until the end of his speech, no iPhone 5S or iPhone 6-related announcements were made.

Its absence was in line with an earlier announcement from Tim Cook that Apple will not launch new products before the end of the year.

After the release of iOS 7 and the schedule, which it’ll be available (this fall), many say that it confirms rumors that a fall launch date is imminent for a new iPhone model.

In keeping with tradition, Apple does not comment or discuss any new launches until the day when the tech press and consumers actually see the product.