Apple Suppliers Making 4.7″ iPhone 6 Displays in May, 5.5″ Delayed: Reuters

Reuters is reporting Apple supply chain sources are set to begin production on 4.7-inch iPhone 6 displays, set to begin as early as May. A larger 5.5-inch model is said to be delayed, with the latter expected to launch this fall:

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.

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.

Sources say both larger iPhone 6 screens will use in-cell touch panel technology to allow for thinner screens than currently used in the iPhone 5/5S, which consist of standard touch panel films. 

However, only the 4.7-inch iPhone display will start mass production as problems with in-cell production for the larger 5.5-inch size have caused delays, which are seen to push back production for several months. The larger 5.5-inch screen is rumoured to possibly use a film sensor instead of in-cell technology, say sources.

The first supplier to start production as early as May will be Japan Display at its flagship plant east of Tokyo in Mobara, while other suppliers Sharp and LG Display are said to start production later around June.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard reports of larger iPhone 6 screens in 4.7 and 5.5 inches from Reuters, as they reported the same thing last summer, with sources saying “Trial production was originally planned to start in June, but the mixing of colours is taking longer than expected as Apple has very high and idealistic standards,” at the time.

Also, last week Nikkei reported the same sizes, with expectations of a September launch. Purported leaked schematics of these two larger sizes have already been ‘leaked’, and even turned into real life 3D concepts.