“Apple for the first time started shipping sapphire from its new plant in Arizona to its suppliers in China ahead of ramping up the operation with more furnaces capable of supplying larger quantities,” Jordan Kahn reports for 9to5Mac.
“The news comes from UBS Research’s Q1 preview on GT Advanced Technologies, the company that Apple has partnered with to open a sapphire plant producing the material expected to replace Corning’s Gorilla Glass on the next-generation iPhone display,” Kahn reports. “We previously reported that, based on research into shipping documents, we expected Apple and GT-Advanced were developing sapphire crystal display covers— not sapphire for the home button and camera used in current models— for a next-generation iPhone. ”
“In its report, UBS noted ‘GT’s sales of sapphire to this partner in China last month was priced about 25% lower than sapphire sold by Apple’s other sapphire suppliers for covering the home button and the camera,'” Kahn reports. “It estimated GT Advanced could set its guidance for 2014 at $600M-$800M with approximately 80% sales from sapphire to Apple and partners.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Bill” for the heads up.]
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GT Advanced Technologies spikes on sapphire deal with Apple – November 5, 2013
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Sapphire sounds like wonderful material. However let’s keep an open mind and have relaxed expectations.
This is Sapphire Chrystal Display for the iPhone, 1.0. If there are a high number of cracks, scratches, etc. So be it, but I don’t want to hear a bunch of whining. Give Apple a chance to perfect this design and if by the iPhone 6S/7 it’s still a problem, then whine all you like. 🙂
A high number of cracks and scratches is acceptable for a flagship phone made by Apple? Sorry, you can’t just slap a “beta” tag on an iPhone. If you haven’t noticed, Apple tries to perfect its products before release, which is why we haven’t seen an iWatch yet.
Yes, but there are several examples of innovations that didn’t start well out the gate. I am just holding my breath and saying keep an open mind.
Yes there are examples but you’re not supposed to mention that. Apple, just like other companies, isn’t batting 1000%. But they do try harder. Funny how you received negative votes from fanboys here. No good deed goes unrewarded
My comments were preemptive, anti-flack. Yes I get negative votes, because I speak my mind. I don’t have to be right, a jerk, anti/pro Apple. However I have been an Apple fan since I first became aware of them, back in 1982. My first ever computer was an Apple //e, which I suggest qualifies me as much as anyone else. My heart bled in 1985 at Job’s ouster, but I wasn’t ever angry at Apple, just the leadership. 🙂