“Apple Inc suppliers will begin mass producing displays as early as May for the next iPhone, expected to be launched this autumn, with a 4.7-inch screen likely to be produced first while a 5.5-inch version could be delayed, supply chain sources said,” Reiji Murai reports for Reuters. “Japan Display Inc, Sharp Corp and South Korea’s LG Display Co Ltd have all been tapped to make the screens, said the sources, who asked not to be identified. Both iPhone 6 screens will be larger than the 4.0-inch panels on Apple’s existing iPhone 5S and 5C models. Larger iPhones, the subject of months of speculation, would mark yet another incremental tweak to the popular smartphone line and an attempt to catch up to rivals like Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.”
“Both iPhone 6 screens are expected to use in-cell touch panel technology – built into the screen and allowing for thinner construction than with standard touch panel films – that was introduced with the iPhone 5, the sources said,” Murai reports. “But due to difficulties with in-cell production technology for the larger 5.5-inch size, one of the sources said, a decision was made to begin mass production with the 4.7-inch version alone.”
“Production of 5.5-inch screens is expected to start several months later, with the possibility of a shift to a film sensor instead of in-cell technology for that size, the source said,” Murai reports. “Japan Display will be the first supplier to start production, at its flagship plant at Mobara, east of Tokyo, as early as May, the sources said. The others are due to begin output around June.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple currently sources the 4-inch 1136 × 640 (326 ppi) in-cell touch LCD displays for iPhone 5 and 5s from LG Display, Japan Display Inc., and Sharp, which produce the displays under a license to use Apple’s in-cell touch patents. Under the terms of the agreement, these panel makers are not allowed to sell LCD panels of any size using Apple’s in-cell touch patents to other companies.
Rumored product delay surrounding rumored product. Geez!
Most of us want the 4.7 inch model anyway. I don’t know what the hell I’d do with a 5.5 inch smartphone.
You could buy some cargo pants 🙂
As I said before, I don’t want a larger iPhone! I don’t even like the size of my 5S, iPhone 4 was perfect size.
It always irks me to read how Apple has to do X to catch up with so-and-so. I don’t believe Apple cares what other companies do.