Apple released the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus only a few months ago, but the iPhone 7 rumor mill is already on the roll releasing every tidbit of speculation on the next generation of Apple smartphones. 

Previous reports stated that Apple will stick to its usual release date and will introduce the iPhone 7 in September 2015 following previous iPhone releases. However, some reports claim that Apple will begin launching two sets of iPhones each year in order to keep up with the tough competition in the market. 

According to the grapevine without solid foundation, Apple will hold iPhone launch events in spring and autumn of 2015. This is similar to the releases of Apple's rivals like Samsung and Sony. If this turns out to be true, then there is a remote possibility that Apple will release a line of phones with mid-range specs and features like those of the iPhone 5C in spring, and full-fledged iPhones would be released in autumn. 

Another speculation is that Apple will copy Samsung's formula and launch a regular smartphone in spring and a phablet in autumn. Apple's first entry in the phablet category, the iPhone 6 Plus, was released alongside the iPhone 6. 

Meanwhile, there are predictions that the iPhone 7 will sport a sapphire screen display with the aid of its long-time business partner Foxconn. The latter is reported to invest $2.6 billion in building a sapphire plant in Taiwan meant for the production of iPhone's screen display. The tech giant is already using sapphire glass covering, which is tougher than Gorilla Glass, on its wearable device, the Apple Watch. 

Apple initially backed GT Advanced Technologies' Arizona plant to manufacture the sapphire displays. However, GT Advanced Technologies filed bankruptcy and was unable to meet Apple's demands. Thus, Foxconn is taking over in order not to derail Apple's plans and timeline.