Apple's iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C Planned For September Launch? (AAPL)

Apple AAPL has not yet confirmed when the next iPhone will be released. The company will not say whether or not the high-end model will be accompanied by a low-cost iteration. Nonetheless, there have been claims by analysts that Apple will hold an event on September 10 and release two new iPhones shortly thereafter. According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple has asked Hon Hai Precision HNHPF -- the company behind Foxconn -- to begin shipping a brand-new high-end iPhone in early September. The company has also been asked to ship a low-cost iPhone. Related: Apple Cannot Afford To "Degrade Its Premium Pricing Status" With iPhone 5C ABG Sundal Collier analyst Per Lindberg told Benzinga that the iPhone 5S could provide Apple's first move into fingerprint scanning. "I think [that technology] will take a long time to perfect," Lindberg said of the feature. "I don't think people want it. Part of the reason Apple will probably be supply-constrained [during] the first quarter of the launch…will be the fingerprint scan technology." On Friday, KGI's Mingchi Kuo estimated that the only 5.2 million iPhone 5S units will be shipped during the third quarter. Kuo estimated that 8.4 million iPhone 5C units will arrive during the same period. At that rate, Apple could still beat the sales record set by the iPhone 5, which sold five million units during its first week at retail. Despite the impressive sales at launch, many analysts believe that Apple has been disappointed with the iPhone 5's overall performance at retail. "Apparently, as far as the iPhone 5 is concerned, they are not too happy with how that product has performed in the marketplace," Lindberg told Benzinga. This may be why the iPhone 5S and 5C are rumored to replace the standard iPhone 5 instead of the hugely popular iPhone 4S. If Apple is going to hold an event next month, expect the invitations to appear online within the next week or two. If they don't, that could be a sign that the next-generation iPhone will ship in October. Disclosure: At the time of this writing, Louis Bedigian had no position in the equities mentioned in this report. Louis Bedigian is the Senior Tech Analyst and Features Writer of Benzinga. You can reach him at 248-636-1322 or louis(at)benzingapro(dot)com. Follow him @LouisBedigianBZ