It seems that the 5.5-inch Apple iPhone 6 "will it, won’t it" saga is set to continue. Apple is widely expected to continue the development of the iPhone by introducing a new 4.7-inch model as well as a larger 5.5-inch "phablet" variant which will appeal those individuals who love a larger display. The question surrounding the release isn’t whether or not the purported larger device exists, but whether Apple and its supply chain partners are able to flawlessly manufacture the parts necessary for the device in the required quantities. According to Ming-Chi Kuo – a well respected industry analyst from KGI Securities – the larger in-cell touchscreen panel and the redesigned metal casing that forms the exterior of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 are proving to be problematic, meaning that a launch could be pushed back to 2015.
Ming-Chi Kuo has a fairly well respected historical record when it comes to predicting the future moves of the Cupertino based company. In an internal note released on Sunday, Kuo has speculated that Apple’s 4.7-inch device is still on course to hit the shelves this fall. However, the same note goes on to suggest that the new manufacturing process that governs the production of the in-cell technology required for the larger device has already hit a show-stopping bottleneck. In addition to that issue Kuo is also reporting that the metal casing of the device is suffering from "color unevenness", which is exaggerated on the larger 5.5-inch frame.
If the manufacturing issues prove to be accurate then the production of the larger model device could be a lot more problematic than Apple had first imagined or bargained for. It’s said that the issue surrounding the production of the larger display focuses on a touch sensitivity problem that relates directly to the edges of the 5.5-inch capacitive panel. Attempting to increase the size of the panel to fit in with the vision for the iPhone 6 has resulted in this particular problem arising, meaning that Apple may need to go back to the drawing board. The end result will of course be a delayed launch of the larger device.
It isn’t all doom and gloom for the iPhone 6. KGI Securities still expect Apple to announce and release the 4.7-inch variant of the new device and supplement the range by introducing more affordable iPhone 5s and 5c models. It’s likely that speculation about this one will run until the day that Apple actually presents the device on stage, but let’s keep our fingers crossed for a happy ending.
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