The conventional wisdom is that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) will release its iPhone 6 in September. The conventional wisdom, however, may be wrong. If so, Apple may hit the market with its new smartphone a month early, giving it a jump on sales in the fourth quarter, often Apple’s largest in terms of revenue.

The Taiwan Economic News wrote about two pieces of information related to Apple’s flagship product:

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

And:

80 million iPhone 6 handsets would be produced this year.

Some would argue that Apple needs to sell more than 80 million units this year to prove the iPhone 6 has a level of innovation to help the company overtake Samsung‘s lead in smartphone sales in many countries. Apple sold 43.7 million iPhones in its most recent reported quarter and 51 million in the quarter before that.

READ MORE: Will the iPad Survive?

While the iPhone 6 will test demand in the United States for a new smartphone from Apple, it is the Chinese market that will be the litmus test. If Apple releases the product in the People’s Republic well before the end of the year, sales through China Mobile Ltd. (NYSE: CHL), the world’s largest wireless provider, could be the path to a large spike in sales. By most measures, Apple’s position in the Chinese smartphone market is either fifth or sixth place.

The role the iPhone 6 plays in Apple’s future cannot be underestimated. The almost universal perception of the company is that its ability to create market-leading, wildly innovative products died with Steve Jobs. It has been left to his senior management team to prove that Apple is still worthy of the perception that it is in the vanguard of consumer electronics.

READ MORE: Is Apple Crazy to Buy Beats?

If the iPhone does come out early, all it really does it move up the date on which Apple’s near-term fate will be determined.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.