'iPhone 4S' Coming in September With Sprint and T-Mobile Support?

iphone 4 side shotForbes reports on a new research note from Jeffries & Co. analyst Peter Misek claiming that Apple's next-generation iPhone will be a relatively minor revamp known as the "iPhone 4S" and will debut in September. Misek also claims that Apple will be expanding carrier availability in the U.S. to include Sprint and T-Mobile by the end of the year, with China Mobile also reportedly coming on board.

"According to our industry checks, the device should be called iPhone 4S and include minor cosmetic changes, better cameras, A5 dual-core processor, and HSPA+ support," he writes in a research note.

But he also says that "industry checks indicate Apple will likely announce Sprint, T-Mobile, and China Mobile as new carriers."

The "iPhone 4S" name first gained publicity last month in claims that Apple has been providing select high-level iOS developers with souped-up iPhone 4 devices, with the source citing an unofficial name of "iPhone 4S" for the device.

Misek's report goes on to note that the next-generation iPhone is not likely to bring compatibility with faster LTE 4G networks rolling out in some markets, as the required chipsets from Qualcomm are not yet available in quantity to support the inclusion of the technology.

As for LTE, he says the Qualcomm LTE chipset Apple would have used "is currently not achieving yields sufficient for inclusion in the iPhone 5." He says Apple had hoped to have the LTE chipsets ready, but was planning a version without LTE called iPhone 4S.

The claim regarding a lack of LTE compatibility in the next-generation iPhone fits with earlier reports that the required chipsets won't be available to make their way into handsets until 2012.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says These 7 U.S. States Plan to Offer iPhone Driver's Licenses

Monday February 9, 2026 6:24 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

New MacBook Pros Could Now Arrive in March

Sunday February 8, 2026 6:02 am PST by
New MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips could arrive as soon as Monday, March 2, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the release of new MacBook Pro models is tied to the release of macOS Tahoe 26.3. The launch is said to be slated for as early as the week of March 2. He added that the M4 Pro and M4 Max models on sale today...

Top Rated Comments

IconicM Avatar
192 months ago
No larger screen, no 4G, no 64 GB. :rolleyes: The Samsung Galaxy S 2 is looking sweeter and sweeter.

Tony

Go for it, no one is holding you back...but yourself
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
StuddedLeather Avatar
192 months ago
Am I the only one that's mostly anticipating iOS 5 more than anything else? :o

I honestly don't care (as much) for the physical changes. Bring a better notification system is all I'm asking for. If the speed difference is significant, I'll upgrade as well. I just REALLY hope iOS 5 blows us all away.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
crisito Avatar
192 months ago
I don't buy the "4GS" name. Once they committed to the generation numbering system, the next one pretty much has to be iPhone 5. Otherwise they'd have to go 4GS -> 6, which would be very un-Apple like to skip a number, as it will bring mass confusion amongst the non-techy Apple-ites.

Tony

Did they go from 3GS to iPhone 5? No.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleDroid Avatar
192 months ago
iPhone on Sprint?! I don't have to switch carriers next May just to get an iPhone 5? Oh happy day!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RonHC Avatar
192 months ago
Im ok with that
As long as there is a 64GB Model
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rmwebs Avatar
192 months ago
You know what they should do...just call it....

iPhone.

You know, like:

iPod
iMac
Mac Mini
Apple TV

You dot see anyone calling the latest iPod Nano the iPod Nano 6.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)