For the past seven years, if I wanted to see Apple announce a new iPhone, I would mark the second week of September on my calendar. This year, however, that seems increasingly unlikely. Apple is dealing with the effects of the global coronavirus pandemic, and as a result the iPhone 12 launch may be delayed.

The latest information that the September launch of the iPhone 12 may be delayed comes from Apple leaker Jon Prosser. In a video focusing primarily on the latest leaks regarding Apple Glasses, Prosser includes an aside that Apple is "talking internally about doing that (iPhone 12) event in October." (Skip to the 8:49 mark of the video to hear for yourself.)

Several sources, including Prosser himself, have raised the possibility that the iPhone 12 could be delayed from its usual September release; in April, the Wall Street Journal reported that the coronavirus outbreak had caused manufacturing disruptions in Asia, where the iPhone is assembled The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple postponed the production launch of new models by one month because of the coronavirus outbreak, which caused manufacturing disruptions in Asia, where iPhones are assembled.

Also in April, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted that the iPhone 12 Pro Max may ship later than the other three iPhone 12 models Apple is reportedly preparing. Postponing the launch event would allow Apple to avoid the staggered rollout of different iPhone models, as happened with the 2018 iPhone XR and 2017 iPhone X.

Prosser also said that a later iPhone 12 launch event could allow more reporters and analysts to attend in person, assuming restrictions on large gatherings due to the COVID-19 virus are relaxed by October. Many handset makers were forced to announce their devices online this spring, and even Apple only announced the launch of the iPhone SE in a press release last month.

If Apple waits until October to launch the iPhone 12, it would be the first time since the iPhone 4s that a flagship iPhone did not debut in early September. Apple announced the 4s on October 4, 2011.

In other iPhone 12 leaks today, a photo purportedly showing off the iPhone 12's logic board is making the rounds on Twitter. It's not much - "The board doesn't offer us many visual clues," MacRumors noted when it spotted the tweet - but it gives us something to look at between now and October, when the iPhone 12 event might actually take place gives.