As the iPhone 5 release date draws nearer, we’re going to be hearing a lot more about the iPhone 5 than what we’ve been hearing as of late. We’ll inevitably hear more about the iPhone 5 features, such as, how big the display will be, how much RAM the device will come with and even how many megapixels the camera will come with. But perhaps most important of all of these is just when the new device will actually hit stores. Some new reports suggest that both the pre-order and actual release date may be a lot sooner than we all have been thinking.

According to reports from both news sites and Foxconn employees who have “leaked” information, the iPhone 5 is set to be announced shortly before September 12th, 2012. It is expected, say the sources, that the new iPhone will be available for pre-order on September 12th–which is a Wednesday. Given past iPhone launches, the device will likely ship about 7-9 days after this, which puts it on pace for a September 21st, 2012 release date–which is a Friday. That’s roughly in line with what we’ve previously reported here, but is a few weeks earlier than the iPhone 4S release date of October 14th, 2011.

So what carriers will the iPhone 5 be available on? It will definitely be available for pre-ordering through Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and of course the Apple store. It is expected to be available on other international carriers, and may eventually make its way to T-Mobile–though that’s not 100% confirmed at this point. It’s worth noting that the anticipation for the iPhone 5 is starting to negatively impact iPhone 4S sales, as many stores have cut the price of the device. We expect Apple and the others to knock the iPhone 4S price down to $99 once the iPhone 5 hits stores.

What can you expect from the iPhone 5? Well, for starters, it will feature the brand new iOS 6, so it will be the first iPhone to come with turn-by-turn navigation built in, Facebook integration and a whole lot more. Expect a bigger display, better camera, more durable and sleeker body, and perhaps even a waterproof casing. Read more about the likely features in our iPhone 5 news roundup. JPKU743H2XS3

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