Apple May Hold Separate Events to Unveil ‘iPhone 5′ And iPad Mini

It has been widely speculated that Apple will unveil the hotly anticipated next generation iPhone at a media event on September 11, followed by the release on September 21.

It has also been speculated that Apple will also unveil the smaller and cheaper iPad mini, the next generation iPod touch and possibly an iPod nano at the event.

But John Gruber of Daring Fireball who has good track record with Apple related rumors believes that Apple is unlikely to launch both the next generation iPhone, popularly referred to as 'iPhone 5' and the iPad mini at the event. He feels that the iPhone is the most important product in Apple's product line and it may not want to dilute the buzz around the iPhone 5 launch, by launching the iPad mini. He writes:

I’m thinking it makes more sense for Apple to hold two events. First, an iPhone event, focused solely on the new iPhone and iOS 6. Then, the iPhone ships nine days later, and there’s another wave of iPhone-focused attention as the reviews come out. Then, in the first or second week of October, Apple holds its traditional “music event”, exactly along the lines of the events at which they’ve been debuting new iPods for the last decade.

Jim Dalrymple - another well known Apple blogger, who has an immaculate track record when it comes to Apple related rumors seems to agree with Gruber's analysis with this cryptic comment:

Oh that Gruber is a smart fellow.

Some reports have claimed that iPad mini will be unveiled at a special event in November and released just in time for the holiday season.

We've also heard that Apple is ramping up iPad mini production in September, which suggests that the iPad mini could be launched in October or November.