Apple's 5.5" phablet and iPad Air 2 production to start in September, indicating a separate release event

That 5.5" Apple phablet, the iPad Air 2 and next iPad mini? Sorry, those are unlikely to appear on stage together with the iPhone 6, and take any spotlight off the expected biggest handset redesign in the franchise history. Pouring water in the rumor mill that the new large-screen iOS device from Apple will appear at a later date, rather than the rumored September 19 event, is a report from downstream supply chain sources. The insiders claim that Apple has given them marching orders for mass production starting in September, which would likely mean a late October announcement for the iPad Air 2, the new iPad mini 3, just like last year. Eventually, this event will see the 5.5" phablet, too. 

This is consistent with many similar rumors we've heard before, claiming that Apple's phablet production will start later than the iPhone 6's assembly, which should be in full force as we speak. The 5.5" sapphire panel for the alleged thin phablet is said to be pretty expensive, even in mass production, and previous speculation indicated that Apple is prepping to produce only 10 million units of the larger iPhone in total, compared to seven or eight times that amount for the eventual 4.7" iPhone 6.

source: UDN via G4Games