Update: Check out our hands on: iPhone 5 review!

Although widely expected, there was no iPhone 5 in 2011, so it was surely high time for a total revision of the iPhone in 2012. And with an Apple event taking place on September 12, we were expecting to see the iPhone 5 break cover.

And that's exactly what we saw. Read on for links to all the key iPhone 5 stories.

iPhone 5 launch

A few days ago, Apple finally got round to sending journalists an invite to the launch of its new handset, with the iPhone 5 launch officially pegged for September 12 at 10am PT, 1pm ET, 1900 CEST or 1800 (6pm) BST.

And then we finally got the announcement we'd been waiting for...

The iPhone 5 offers a larger screen, 4G connectivity and a slightly tweaked design. The new iPhone - the world's thinnest smartphone (or is it?) at 7.6mm (0.3 inches) - is made entirely of glass and aluminium, something Apple says is "unlike anything we, or anyone in the industry, has made before."

Read Apple announces new iPhone 5 for the full story.

iPhone 5 review

But what is the iPhone 5 actually like to use? It's the the size, design and shape that will win the most admiring glances, while the materials used keep that premium Apple feel. The screen is fantastic and iOS 6 brings with it a wealth of new features.

Check out our hands on: iPhone 5 review for the full details.

iPhone 5 specifications

It's the first Apple phone with 4G, it has a bigger screen than earlier versions and looks pretty much like the leaked versions we saw, and we have the full details and specs in the link below.

• iPhone 5: everything you need to know

iPhone 5 release date

So you want one. When can you get one?

In the US, the iPhone 5 is coming to coming to Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, from $199-$399.

Our story Apple iPhone 5 coming to Verizon, AT&T and Sprint has everything you need to know.

In the UK, we've spoken to EE, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2, Three and Virgin Mobile to get their answers. We do have a £529 outright price, so far.

Check out iPhone 5: when will you get it? for the UK release dates as they come in.

iPhone 5 will have nanoSim

By the way, Apple neglected to mention that the new iPhone 5 will come with a nanoSim during the product announcements on September 12.

The smaller SIM card will be up to 40 per cent smaller than previous designs, (12.3 millimeters x 8.8 millimeters) and enables phones to be even thinner than before.

US to get CDMA and GSM

Apple announced on Wednesday that the new iPhone 5 will ship in either a CMDA or GSM model in the US.

This doesn't affect pricing for the new handsets. Right now prices for the iPhone 5 range from $199 to $399, depending on the data.

As for the UK and Germany, these countries are only getting a single GSM model.

iOS 6

At Apple's WWDC 2012 event in early June we learned a lot more about iOS 6, but there was no hardware (well, apart from new Macs). But now we have an iOS 6 release date

iPhone 5's redesigned EarPods

Apple has finally done away with the round earbuds that never really stayed put in iPhone 5 owners' ears.

Today, the iPhone maker introduced the new and improved EarPods. These new headsets took three years to develop and are designed to fit comfortably in your ear, in addition to delivering better sound quality.