iPhone 5 release date separately or with the iPad Mini?

Courtesy of CiccareseDesign

John Gruber of Daring Fireball has come up with an interesting theory explaining why Cupertino is likely to hold two events for the release of its upcoming devices.

He believes that this is mainly due to the importance that the company is giving the iPhone 5.

“But the more I think about it, the less sense it makes for the iPhone to even share the stage at the announcement with any other product. The iPhone is too big, too cool, and garners too much attention — and it’s in Apple’s interest to keep that attention undiluted. I’m thinking it makes more sense for Apple to hold two events,” Gruber opined in a post titled “Sharing the Stage.”

“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,” he added.

The Loop’s Jim Dalrymple, known for his “one-word confirmations” of Apple rumors (“Yep”), apparently shared Gruber’s opinion about Apple’s plans.

Dalrymple then linked to Gruber’s post, and added, “Oh that Gruber is a smart fellow.”

An Apple media event is expected to be held on September 12 for the announcement of a new product.

Previous reports stated that the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini were initially thought to be launched on the same day.