iPhone 6 release date may come sooner as Apple will offer new trade-in programs starting August 30, according to reports.

Apple-centric Website MacRumors cited sources that employees of various Apple store are being trained for the new trade-in program where iPhone users can exchange their old iPhones for the new iPhone.

Last June, Bloomberg reported that the Cupertino-based tech giant was working with recycling company Brightstar so that trade-in iPhones can be refurbished and be sold to emerging markets worldwide.

The new iPhone upgrade program will commence by the end of August and BrightStar will facilitate the operation of the trade-in program.

The new program will offer gift cards to customers for the new, on-contract and in-store activated iPhones. The value of each gift card will be based on the condition of the iPhone that the customer is trading in.

Hardware damage, buttons and screen display are some of the considerations in assessing the value of smartphones.

The trade-in program will be launched in the United States and international markets will follow suit and will cover iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 5. Customers with devices to have no value can also bring their gadgets to the Apple Store for recycling.

iPhone 6 release date is expected to happen on September 10. The device may have a worldwide release on September 20.

The full-fledged iPhone 6 will come with new features such as larger screen display; A7 quad core chip paired with 3GB RAM; Near Field Communication; 13MP back camera; up to 128GB internal storage and longer battery life. A gold iPhone is also expected to come this fall.

A cheaper iPhone dubbed as iPhone 5C is rumoured to come next month. The cheaper iPhone may boast 4-inch screen display, a dual core processor and an 8MP back camera and a cheaper plastic or polycarbonate casing. The handset is speculated to arrive in fun colours like the fifth generation of iPod Touch.

However, Apple still has to confirm the iPhone 6 release date and its specs and features.