iPhone 7 Release Date Rumors: Apple May planning a September 2015 release for the iPhone 7

If rumors are to be believed, Apple is planning a September 2015 release for the iPhone 7.

Reliable company sources said that Apple is planning to release two phones every year, up from one, to keep up with its rival Samsung. Breaking tradition, Apple is expected to offer iPhone 6s, an upgrade to iPhone 6, in spring and the iPhone 7 during September.

"The iPhone 7 release date is coming sooner than expected, and the iPhone 6S is coming even sooner - according to a source we have in the supply chain who now tells us that Apple is looking at a condensed six month release timetable going forward in order to not only keep up with the more frequent releases from Samsung but also to provide a boost to iPhone sales when the iWatch launches in the spring," Stabley Times reported.

According to Daily Mail, Apple may package iPhone 6s and Apple Watch together, to improve sales of the devices. The move would also help Apple benefit from frequent upgrades that carriers offer their consumers. In the past, upgrades were possible every 18 months or so, which suited Apple's earlier strategy of launching one device every year.

The 'S' version of iPhones were usually released every other year, with minor design changes, which prompted many users to wait for the higher version of devices and iOS. This time however, iPhone 6's response has prompted Apple to change track and consider releasing a major redesign every year.

The iPhone 7 is expected to be a game changer in many ways, not the least of which is the much-hyped Sapphire screen that iPhone 6 was rumored to feature before its release, IB Times reported. Sapphire is among the toughest materials on the planet. A host of security features including facial recognition is rumored to be part of iPhone 7's armory.

Other eye-popping features talked about include a chassis made of liquor metal, whopping 256 GB internal memory and an A8 quad-core with a 4 MP front camera.