Right after speculation of a “delayed” iPad 2 launch in June, Business Insider reports FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger said in a note to investors that the next-generation iPhone might not be ready until September:

For the iPhone 5, we continue to hear that a July launch is unlikely, with various casing suppliers and touch suppliers still ramping up, with some chip vendors not having yet received firm iPhone 5 orders, and with other sockets like the image sensor (most likely going to Omnivision exclusively, but with some potential for Sony to split that socket) still in flux. Given these factors, we think a September launch is more likely.

These reports of analysts claiming delayed launches of various Apple products keep on sounding very inconsistent to us. How come Apple is experiencing all these production issues in 2011? What about iPad 3 in September rumors, white iPhone 5? We think these reports are based on nothing but pure speculation – we really hope so.

Apple usually announces a new model of the iPhone at the WWDC in June, releasing it a few weeks later. A September launch would also possibly delay the iPod / iPod touch regular updates. A number of reports in the past indicated the new iPhone (dubbed iPhone 5) was on track for a summer / June release, featuring a new Apple A5 processor, NFC capabilities and a slightly bigger screen (this one not very likely to happen).

Here’s an idea: what of this September launch analysts have reported is about a smaller iPhone, and not the iPhone5? The New York Times wouldn’t agree.