Apple has apparently started shipping a batch of its new iPhones to the U.S. ahead of its big Sept. 10 event.

The company has just sent out invites to a Sept. 10 press event at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., where it is widely expected to unveil its new iPhones. Moreover, Apple also sent out invites to a separate event on Sept. 11 in Beijing, China.

The next-generation iPhone, purportedly called the iPhone 5S, and the much-rumored low-cost iPhone, dubbed the iPhone 5C, are expected to make their debut at said events, alongside the brand new iOS 7 operating system.

Ahead of the big event, however, Apple seems to have already started shipping the new hardware into the U.S. The news comes from Apple-centric site MacRumors. Citing reliable sources, the publication claims that Apple has begun shipments of iPhone units in the U.S. for distribution among the carrier partners, retail stores and its own retail channels.

"MacRumors has learned from a reliable source that the company has already begun shipments of at least some of the new hardware into the United States," reports the Apple-centric site.

The new iPhones are expected to make their debut on Sept. 10 and go on sale 10 days later on Friday, Sept. 20. Apple has traditionally launched its iPhones commercially on a Friday, giving interested buyers and new owners a full weekend to check out the new smartphone.

This is not the first time reports surface claiming that Apple has started shipments of its new hardware. A Chinese blog called C Technology previously posted on Weibo that Apple had shipped nearly 1.2 million iPhone 5C units to the U.S. The site also shared several leaks and photos of the purported iPhone 5C and its packaging.

Considering that Apple has yet to confirm its iPhone plans, however, it is advisable to take all such news with a grain of salt. Sept. 10 is less than one week away, which means that it will all become official soon enough. Until then, the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C remain in the rumor state.