With Apple’s next iPhone, or iPhones, still unofficial devices, analysts and supply chain watchers are still trying to get a feel for what’s coming down the pipe from the Cupertino-based company. A new report is echoing some claims that Apple’s use of sapphire glass in the iPhone 6 may not actually happen after all.
According to a new analyst report from TrendForce, the next iPhone is very unlikely to boast a sapphire glass display. According to the report, downstream component makers would have started shipping sapphire glass display covers to assembly partners in June if Apple planned on meeting their September launch window. The report suggests that that hasn’t happened yet. This would suggest that Apple is being hit with delays, or will be, or that there will be a tightened release of an iPhone with sapphire glass.
Essentially, while some reports suggested that Apple would have enough sapphire glass for both the 4.7- and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 variants, that is reportedly not the case based on this analysis. Moreover, Apple may have to restrict the launch of any iPhone with sapphire glass due to these purported constraints.
The report references falling prices of sapphire ingot, patterned sapphire substrate and substrate. They focus on the fall of the price to 10% quarter-over-quarter, due to demand failing to increase linearly with production capacity.
If that’s not enough, the analysis suggests that any chance of an iWatch with sapphire glass, which has indeed been rumored in the past, is far less likely than even the iPhone 6 with sapphire glass.
It is worth noting that the report does not say whether or not it takes into count the recent opening of a sapphire plant in Arizona, which was announced in late November, 2013. This could very well make some difference, but it is unknown how much it would matter. As it stands, the one thing we can say for sure is that Apple still has a bit of time ahead of them to finalize everything they need to before we get to see a new iPhone.
If the iPhone 6 doesn’t launch with a sapphire glass display , will you skip it?
[via AppleInsider [1] ; TrendForce [2] ]
Links
- ^ AppleInsider (appleinsider.com)
- ^ TrendForce (press.trendforce.com)
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