Sapphire Glass Panels Limited to High-End iPhone 6 Models, Analyst Says [u]

The rumoured sapphire glass cover will be limited to high-end smartphones and iWatches, analysts say. Since Apple inked the deal with GT Advanced the grape-vine was brimming with information about the sapphire glass protecting the iPhone 6’s touch display. The leaks went as far to show a stress test video, demonstrating the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 sapphire glass subjected to torture tests.

But don’t bet on the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 having sapphire glass-at least not for the moment. Or perhaps just don’t expect the entry level model to feature that nearly unbreakable sapphire glass, analysts, speaking with the Korean and Taipei media say (via MacRumors).

So, what do these analysts say? Well, according to JP Morgan, the sapphire cover will be restricted to high-end iPhones, possibly the 128GB, due to the limited supply. JP Morgan believes the volume will be about 10 million covers through this year, but doesn’t specify which iPhone models, it says either the 4.7-inch or the 5.5-inch ones.

Now, that’s an interesting position of the analyst to take, given that the initial reports said that Apple has purchased enough sapphire glass furnaces to manufacture up to 200 million displays for the next generation iPhone.

Also let me remind you that there were similar claims about the iWatch as well: only the high-end 1.8-inch version will sport sapphire glass cover. Interesting…

Update: We’ve contacted PTT Research Analyst Matt Margolis, who doesn’t seem to share the aforementioned position: 

GT Advanced can supply upwards of 60 million sapphire screens in 2014, which aligns closely with various reports that Apple will sell 60 million plus iPhone 6 units in 2014.

GT Advanced has over 2,600 furnaces installed inside the Mesa, AZ sapphire plant and will likely be able to produce over 200 million sapphire screens once all of GT’s 3,000 sapphire furnaces are fully operational by the end of 2014.

Apple’s inclusion of sapphire in the iPhone 6 goes beyond just scratch resistance and durable.  Sapphire unique dielectric properties will enhance touch sensitivity and improve the overall user’s “hands on” experience.