Report: Apple orders 26 million iPhone 5s for second half of 2011

Andrew Couts

Apple is reportedly betting on big demand for its next-generation iPhone. According to well-sourced trade publication DigiTimes, Apple has increased the total number of iPhone units for the third quarter from 50 million to 56 million. The models in the order include: iPhone 3G S, iPhone 4 (GSM and CMDA models) and iPhone 5. More than half — 25.5-26 percent — of those are said to be iPhone 5 units.

The number of iPhone 5 units Apple ordered for the third quarter has actually dropped, however, from about 7 million to 5.5-6 million, the report says. But the company has significantly increased the number of iPhone 5 units for the fourth quarter, from 14 million to more than 20 million, according to DigiTimes’ sources.

The sources says that Apple will ship an estimated 95 million iPhone units during 2011.

Of course all of this information is entirely unconfirmed by Apple. In fact, the iPhone 5 itself is unconfirmed by Apple. We don’t even know if “iPhone 5″ is what the fifth-generation iPhone will be called. If rumors are to be believed, then we could even possibly see two new iPhones this year. If we want to get nitpicky about it, Apple hasn’t even admitted that it has any new phone in the works at all. (But, really, we all known in our hearts that it does.)

Since we’re talking rumors, however, we might as well go all the way. Currently, reports suggest that we will see the new iPhone in either September or October. Late last week a rumor popped up suggesting Apple will hold its annual fall event on September 7, sparking speculation that this would be the day we would finally see the next iPhone. Soon after that report surfaced, however, another website, The Loop, said that Apple has no plans for a September 7 event.

So, who knows what Apple has in store? We all have our guesses. But unless some poor fool forgets their next-gen iPhone in a bar again, we’re just going to have to wait for Apple to throw us some crumbs.

Check out our complete iPhone 5 rumor roundup here.