Apple's iPhone 9 will likely launch in the next five days, report says

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Apple certainly won't have any sort of physical launch event for the rumored iPhone 9. But there's pretty good indication that the phone is coming — and soon.

9to5Mac has received a photo from a tipster at Best Buy, showing a case for a "new iPhone 4.7-inch, 2020," which fits the description of the rumored new phone, which will probably be called either iPhone 9 or iPhone SE 2. The case won't go up for sale until April 5, which is six days away, making it probable that the new iPhone will launch in that period.

Given that previous rumors pegged the iPhone 9's launch at late March, it's actually quite possible that Apple will announce the phone today, with availability starting next Sunday.

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We've seen mixed reports on the iPhone 9's launch, with some claiming the device will be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, while others said the launch is still on for late March.

The iPhone 9 or SE 2 will likely be a 4.7-inch phone with Touch ID and an A13 processor, with a design very similar to the iPhone 8. There's also word that Apple may launch a bigger, "plus" version of the phone, which would be similar to the iPhone 8 Plus. The rumored starting price for the iPhone 9 is $399.

COVID-19 — the disease caused by coronavirus — has so far killed more than 33,000 and infected more than 697,000 people. The outbreak has been worsening in the U.S. in recent weeks, with more than 160,700 confirmed cases and 3,004 deaths.