iPhone 5 Already in Production, Out in September; iPad Mini to Follow Soon

Computer renderings of one industrial designer's vision of the iPhone 5 -- based on leaked images from tech blogs -- were good enough to fool several tech blogs. (Martin Hajek)

The Apple rumor mill churns once again. The highly anticipated iPhone 5 has gone into production and is set to be launched this fall, followed by a thinner and light iPad Mini.

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The Apple iPhone 5 has gone into production in Shanghai, according to a report in DigiTimes magazine and will launch in September. Citing industry sources in Taiwan, the website said contract manufacturer Pegatron has begin building the new phone in a factory in eastern China. Pegatron is one of several manufacturing giants that make consumer electronics for Apple, along with Foxconn Technology and others.

Meanwhile, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, says the "iPad Mini" will be launched soon after the iPhone 5, according to BGR.

"IPhone 5 to debut in September," Ming-Chi wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday. "But due to in-cell touch panel and casing yield rate limits, ability to offset older models' shipments decrease will be moderate."

 "Though shipments of iPad mini's components will start in August, the new iPad line will end production, ready for transition to a modified new iPad line. As such, component shipments will drop in August as iPad mini's components shipments growth will be offset," Kuo wrote.

Although these are all reports and Apple itself has not yet released any official announcements - and probably won't until the actual product rollout - a new study shows there is already an "unprecedented demand" for the iPhone 5.

Related: Apple iPad Mini On Route: Smaller, Cheaper [PHOTO]

"Overall smartphone sales should spike to an all-time high this fall -- and of course Apple is going to be the number one beneficiary," noted Dr. Paul Carton, 451's vice president of research. "But besides Apple, and to a lesser degree Samsung, no other manufacturer is likely to benefit from this coming wave of demand."

The survey of over 4,500 North American buyers showed a strong uptick in consumers likely to buy Apple's latest: 31 percent, as compared to 21 percent in October.