iPhone 6 to come month earlier

Apple will unveil the next incarnation of its popular iPhone series in August -- a month earlier than industry watchers were generally expecting.

A 11.9cm screen version of the iPhone 6 will reach stores in August, media reports said Monday, without specifying which markets would receive the phone first.

A 13.9cm or 14.2cm model will be released in September, the reports said, as the iPhone 5 series was previously.

People involved in the supply chain had earlier confirmed that there would be a 11.9cm version of the iPhone 6 and a 13.9cm version.Together, 80 million iPhone 6 handsets would be produced this year.

Industry watchers have said increasing the iPhone's screen size would help Apple regain market share from competitors such as Samsung, who they say have responded to consumer desire for more screen size.

(Agencies)