iPhone 6 Sapphire Display Limited to 5.5" Model as LG Struggles with iWatch Display Power Draw?

With conflicting opinions about whether Apple and partner GT Advanced Technologies will have enough sapphire crystal production ramped up for both rumored iPhone 6 models and the iWatch, Taiwan's Economic Daily News is now weighing in [Google Translate, via G 4 Games] with its own claims that only the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 model will include a sapphire display due to production limitations.

According to the report, the smaller 4.7-inch model will continue to use Corning's Gorilla Glass and represent the bulk of shipments for the new iPhone. From G 4 Games:

The source also claims that the 4.7 inch iPhone 6 will hit the market with Gorilla Glass in tow. The main screen suppliers allegedly are LGD and JDI, and in anticipation of the handset’s success, the company expects to ship 60 million units (we assume that by the end of 2014). [...]

As far as the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 goes, it will allegedly be built in limited quantities due to low sapphire yield, leading to a limited supply in 2014, therefore contradicting a recent report which claimed that Apple will have enough sapphire for both iPhone 6 models AND the iWatch.

iphone6
The report also addresses Apple's rumored iWatch, claiming that LG Display has been struggling to meet Apple's demand of nearly zero energy use in standby mode for the device's display. From G 4 Games:

Reportedly, Apple has constantly pushed back the gadget’s release date because the device failed, in the past, to meet the company’s expectations. One of Apple goals with the iWatch is for the smartwatch’s display to draw almost no power when in standby, but this has proven to be a big challenge. And speaking of the display, the device will reportedly feature an OLED screen (between 1.3 and 1.6-inches in size) which will be supplied exclusively by LG Display, just as it’s been reported back in January 2014.

Sources for the report reiterate previous claims that Quanta will be handling the bulk of iWatch production, although Inventec will reportedly also be helping out.

According to today's report, the iPhone 6 and the iWatch will be introduced at the end of the third quarter, roughly in line with rumors and Apple's recent iPhone launch history putting this year's introductions in the September-October timeframe.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18

18 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2

Wednesday November 13, 2024 2:09 am PST by
Apple is set to release iOS 18.2 next month, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. There are a handful of new non-AI related feature controls incoming as well....
M4 MacBook Pros Thumb

M4 MacBook Pro Uses Quantum Dot Display Technology

Thursday November 14, 2024 4:19 pm PST by
The M4 MacBook Pro models feature quantum dot display technology, according to display analyst Ross Young. Apple used a quantum dot film instead of a red KSF phosphor film, a change that provides more vibrant, accurate color results. Young says that Apple has opted for KSF for prior MacBook Pro models because it doesn't use toxic element cadmium (typical for quantum dot) and is more...
AirPods Crackling Feature

Apple Customers Sue Over Unfixed AirPods Pro Crackling Issue

Wednesday November 13, 2024 11:01 am PST by
A trio of Apple customers this month filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, accusing the Cupertino company of violating California consumer protection laws and false advertising for continuing to sell AirPods Pro models that had ongoing issues with crackling or static sounds. A few months after the AirPods Pro came out in October 2019, buyers began to complain about crackling, rattling, ...
google gemini

Google Releases Standalone Gemini AI App for iPhone

Thursday November 14, 2024 2:54 am PST by
Google has launched its dedicated Gemini artificial intelligence app for iPhone users, expanding beyond the previous limited integration within the main Google app. The standalone app offers enhanced functionality, including support for Gemini Live and iOS-specific features like Dynamic Island integration. The new app allows iPhone users to interact with Google's AI through text or voice...
maxresdefault

M4 Max MacBook Pro: Real-World Usage Tests

Wednesday November 13, 2024 11:59 am PST by
Apple last week replaced the M3 Max MacBook Pro with the new M4 Max MacBook Pro, and we picked up one of the new high-end MacBook Pro machines to see how it compares to the prior model with both benchmarks and real-world tests. We tested an M4 Max with a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and 48GB RAM against an M3 Max MacBook Pro with similar specs. The two machines look similar, but the display on...
iphone passcode green

iOS 18 Security Feature Causes iPhone to Reboot After Three Days of Inactivity

Thursday November 14, 2024 2:19 pm PST by
With iOS 18, Apple introduced a feature that causes the iPhone to reboot every three days, security researchers have confirmed (via TechCrunch). In a demo video, security researcher Jiska Classen proved that an iPhone left untouched for 72 hours will automatically restart, and Graykey manufacturer also Magnet Forensics wrote a blog post about the feature. After a reboot, an iPhone is more...

Top Rated Comments

roland.g Avatar
136 months ago
The other day Apple had plenty of sapphire in production and now they don't. Analysts don't know. We'll know when we actually know.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thisisdallas Avatar
136 months ago
So first, Apple doesn't have the 5.5" model ready
Next, they have both ready
After that, they have plenty of glass
Now, they've got only enough glass for the 5.5" model.


I'm just going to go out on a limb and say that both models with feature the sapphire glass and everything will be right on schedule. Honestly my guess is probably as good as these analyst guesses at this point.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nepalisherpa Avatar
136 months ago
Well, 5.5" it is then, for me!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ballis Avatar
136 months ago
still getting the smallest phone. hardly think saphire will make that much of a difference anyways
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cambookpro Avatar
136 months ago
Taiwan's Economic Daily News Track Record

iTV Launch in Q1-2 2014 with 55" and 60" models (https://www.macrumors.com/2013/08/16/apple-said-to-be-working-with-foxconn-corning-and-innolux-on-itv-for-2014-launch/)

No retina iPad mini until 2014 (https://www.macrumors.com/2013/07/12/more-claims-of-no-retina-ipad-mini-until-early-2014/)

'Experimental' iPhone without branding (safe to say this won't happen) (https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1708494&highlight=economic+daily+news)

iPad 3 on Steve Jobs' birthday (https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1296009&highlight=economic+daily+news)

iPhone nano in June 2009, but not to the USA (https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=633509&highlight=economic+daily+news)

7" iPad to launch by Christmas 2010 (https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=995401)

iPad 3 in 2011 with 2560x1920 display (https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1169944)


Verdict: Not great ;) I'd take this with a pinch of salt.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
darkslide29 Avatar
136 months ago
Please stop using that mockup. That's not what the phone is going to look like. Use something like this instead:

Image (http://i1.wp.com/www.thetechstorm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/epic520_1_4544_e05ac3ec87759d0b178d0d18b8bb3fb3.jpg?resize=640%2C427)

lol, I like the mockup at the top of the article better. :o
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)