As expected, Apple has today announced the next generation of their iconic smartphone, the iPhone 5. Most noticeably, the iPhone 5 features a longer 16:9 4″ Retina display, a next generation A6 processor, improved 8MP camera with a “sapphire lens” that measures up to 25% smaller while having improved performance, a new all digital 8-pin dock connector they’re calling “Lightning”, 4G LTE,  and updated two-tone design that comes in both black and white options.

The new iPhone 5 will cost $199 for a 16GB configuration, $299 for a 32GB configuration, and $399 for the 64GB option. Preorders start for the United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore on September 14th, and the device will ship September 21st.

iOS 6, the software that powers the iPhone 5, will be coming to all previous generation iPhone devices on September 19th.

United States carrier support will once again include Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T, as well as a jubilee of smaller, regional carriers.