The iPhone 6 release date is now forecasted to happen on August 2014 as Apple reportedly plans a major production shift, opting to automatically manufacture the battery packs to come with the next iPhone.

Fresh reports from Taiwan have indicated that the tech giant is tapping robots to produce the batteries for the 2014 iPhone model. Main purpose of the jump, according to DigiTimes, is "to reduce manpower demand," for a segment of the iPhone 6 manufacturing activities.

The move is also cost-effective for the tech giant in light of the rising labour cost in China, added the same report.

Amidst the change of plan, delays are not expected to impact on Apple's production and release calendar for the iPhone 5S successor as the decision is not entirely unprecedented.

"Apple has already automated its Mac Pro and iMac production lines. Other than materials and final assembly, manpower is not required for the rest of the manufacturing," DigiTimes noted on its report.

It appears, however, that a June 2014 launch for the next iPhone will not materialise, if UBS analyst Steve Milunovich is to be believed. Milunovich, according to Business Insider, is looking to August as the earliest unwrapping date for the iPhone 6.

The analyst insisted too that it's quite remote for Apple to go beyond 5-inch in unboxing its 2014 flagship. The safe bet, according to him, is a 4.7-inch screen profile, adding that a phablet-size iPhone will have to wait a latter for unveiling.

And in the event that an iPhablet will come out later in the year, it will have a 5.5-inch screen but the same resolution as that of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and therefore will relatively lower pixel screen density.

The same model, Milunovich said, is largely experimental, "which would help app developers."

The UBS research note is based on latest information provided by unnamed supply chain sources, MacRumors said in a report.

The latest reading, nonetheless, fits with other analysts' projections that Apple has set the next iPhone debut fall of 2014 or September. If the intro is indeed planned for August then the actual availability of the device should in the immediate weeks to follow or anytime in September.

On release date, the iPhone 6 is rumoured to show off a 64-bit A8 chip, an extra-tough Liquidmetal casing with added durability thanks to a sapphire coating, a lighter form-factor due to slimmer frame and an all-screen front panel with the bezels pushed far to the device's four edges.