With Apple looking likely to follow the launch pattern they set in 2011 with the iPhone 4S, users can expect to see an announcement and launch of the sixth-generation iPhone around October time. As the expected release date draws closer, the inevitable speculation and conjecture about the possible aesthetics of the device have started to surface.
In a report released this morning, The Wall Street Journal have cited information provided from a "source familiar with the situation", stating that Apple have placed orders with their Asian-based suppliers for displays that are larger than ones used in all previous iterations of the iPhone. The original iPhone, launched in 2007, and all models since have featured the same 3.5-inch (diagonal) display, but if the latest hear-say is to be believed then that could all change with the next iPhone.
With a number of manufacturers involved in the smartphone marketplace introducing Android devices that feature large, crystal clear displays, it would seem that Apple’s hand has almost been forced when it comes to the diagonal screen size of their next iPhone. The ordered displays are rumored to be around the 4-inches mark, meaning that the Cupertino company hasn’t opted for the extreme end of the scale and instead chosen to increase the size on a smaller scale. The Wall Street Journal is also reporting that Apple intend to procure their displays from LG Display, Japan Display Inc. and Sharp.
If the reports of the large screen real estate do prove to be accurate, then it is worth considering that this is actually an evolutionary upgrade rather than an attempt to appease consumers who are in favor of large displays. Nobuo Kurahashi, a Securities Analyst for Mizuho Investors believes that the iPhone still leads the way in an ever changing smartphone market and a change in screen size doesn’t necessarily mean the company is affected by the competition:
The smartphone market has become diverse, but the iPhone still sets the agenda. If Apple ever released a lower-priced iPhone, that would be more of a sign that the changing market environment is beginning to affect the company.
With the iPhone being considered by some as an iconic product in the smartphone industry, the inclusion of a large display is unlikely to be the catalyst for any large-scale aesthetic changes.
You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.