It seems to be the season for sketchy rumors, with Taiwan’s Industrial & Commercial Times (cited by EMSOne) claiming that the 4.7-inch version of the iPhone 6 will enter mass-production in July, suggesting the usual September/October launch date, while the 5.5-inch model will only do so in September, suggesting that it would go on sale close to the holidays.
It’s not the first rumor to this effect, with Reuters having suggested earlier this month that the 5.5-inch model would be released later in the year, saying that production difficulties with the larger screen were the reason, but with scant details from either report it’s difficult to ascribe too much credibility to the claim.
Consistent reports that Apple plans both a 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch version of the iPhone 6 each have been backed by internal slides from Apple. The phone is expected to be released running iOS 8 with a focus on health and fitness.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
New iPhone gets bigger and fatter while the new OS has a fitness focus. Go figure.
Heh
haha, the iphone really has a thing going
I’m not sure how there are production issues with the screen??? They are displays with even less resolution and a lower PPI than anything the competition is already shipping. Why would there be issues in producing lower grade displays? I guess maybe since all the other displays the same factories are producing are all the same standard resolution and these are custom since Apple always (at the dismay of many of us) uses odd non-content standard resolutions…?
Michael,
What makes you think Apple is going to underwhelm with low dpi screens?
If they are truly going all in on 4.7 or even 5.5, they may very we’ll have one brand new resolution that stretches across both. The larger one having slightly lower dpi than the smaller, but the same overall clarity and effect as held the appropriate distance from the eyes.
And with a brand new resolution, devs can once again compete for customers attention with “who can update first and best” for the new iPhone(s).
I agree that the resolutions and aspect ratios Apple uses in the iPhone is ridiculous. The only reason I could see production issues, however, is if they are producing much higher resolution screens in order to maintain or increase the PPI. The PPI is lacking pretty significantly right now in comparison to several other phones.
Is it visually a problem? At all?
I don’t necessarily think so, but Apple tends to boast about having the best hardware so it would be nice if they actually could back that up.
There are considerations other than an LCD panel itself. The in-cell touch sensor, cover glass (sapphire layer?) and bonding process could also cause issues.
Another grain of salt rumor. Well, clearly, by Apple’s own admission, they need to do something to win back sales, and most people I see without iPhones have larger screen Android phones. This would need to indicate that people are wanting phones with larger screens. Not Note 3 size, but larger than the current iPhone. I myself have a Galaxy S4, and I consider this a perfect size. The screen is large enough, but no so big that it looks ridiculous when you hold it up to your face for a call.
I love the Note 3 but it might be a little big, but the S4/S5 might be a little too small on real estate since I’ve grown accustomed to so much screen. I’d say something between the S4/S5 and the Note 3 would be perfect. Everytime I look at my iPhone 4S I’m shocked at how small that was, and the 5/5S aren’t much different.
>>larger screen
Because that’s the only option on the market.
Hope that is true. Love apple, but finally gave up on it and shifted from iPhone 5 in middle of contract to Samsung Note 3 for larger screen size. I spent more that $ 900+ last year on iTunes purchases and not having a larger screen size Apple phone to consume my spend is frustrating at very least. Android has come a long way, is producing beautiful apps + thanks to Google Play Music app + new Android gear: Glass/Watch switch from IOS to Android is becoming less painful. So between iPad and a Android phone I have found a balance that meets my needs. If Apple comes with 5.5 inch I will probably switch back but not so sure. Google is moving fast with onslaught of nice products e.g. Moto360 is watch that looks traditional enough that I can buy. Gotta love competition. Good luck Apple.
The iphone concept from yesterday just can get out of my head. I hope the final design comes close.
Hmm, witch one to get?
It would make for a great “One more thing…” Then again so would the wearable
It doesn’t make financial sense for Apple to not release both size phones a few months a part. For starters, those who bought an iPhone 5 and skipped the 5S will be upgrade eligible in September. Those upgrades are what drive initial sales of the new devices. If they put out a larger phone just a few months later people will still buy it but not like they would in September.
If there are delays, I could see them more than likely just pushing it off completely until the following September.
But in all honesty, I highly doubt well even have that issue, as I’m sure this is all just nonsense, both iPhones will surely be out in September.
Couple of hypotheticals here; what if the 5.5″ model is an iPod. I wouldn’t mind if they made a phablet out if the iPod touch. But also, what if the iPod touch gained an option to buy a wifi only or wifi + lte model. Crazier yet…what if they made a third version of that model, that had was wifi+lte+voice (a la an iPhone). Idk…just a half cocked ramble. Thought for food.
Honestly i would seriously consider whether or not I needed a “phone” anymore if I had a 5″ iPhablet with LTE.
I’ve been ready to “ditch my phone” for awhile. I had a short experiment of about 4 months where I ran my iPad SIM card in my iPhone 4. Before Google purchased Gizmo5, it worked fairly reliably as a VOIP phone. Paid $20-30 or whatever it was at the time, to run data only and used the VOIP client. Of all the things I use my iPhone for, the Phone is pretty low on the list.
This all reminds me that when iPhone first came out, I thought it was an interesting name choice. It was a music player, phone, and web browser in one. Why name it after only “one-third” of its intended use. In my simple brain, it could have simply been called iPod. Because, really that’s what it is.The call the original iPod iPod Classic, so it could have worked.
whoa, I never thought of it this way before. That’ll be a great idea, I won’t have to carry an Android as a secondary device
It makes perfect sense to make the iPod touch larger. It makes zero sense to make the iPhone larger.
Ya that’s the pretty much the basis of my though process. I think a larger iPod touch (esp with LTE) could do quite well and shut some people up about phablets. Not that Apple should ever be making things just to shut people up. That’s just an extra benefit. And we know that carriers would LOVE to subsidize another iOS device for people.
And Apple would further muddy the screen res waters by releasing
2 DIFFERENT SIZE PHONES IN THE SAME YEAR why, exactly?!?
I call humbug on this one.
2 different sizes, with 2 identical resolutions. Just like iPad Air and iPad mini. The smaller one has a higher pixel density by default, not affecting usage in anyway.
The end result will likely be a new resolution for devs to program for. Which has happened every two years of iPhone, and this year will be no different.
It’s not a terrible thing. Apple will scale up apps in some way to make everything compatible, but the apps that look the best will be the ones updated. It gives hungry developers a new competitive advantage every time this happens….the apps updated first and best (by committed developers) will get the most attention from Apple and users.
It’s a great way to actually reinvigorate things every few years.
There’s nothing wrong with releasing two different phone sizes. We have three iPad sizes, and many different Mac sizes. People like being able to choose. When Steve Jobs came back to apple they had so many different products in the works. And he came back and said, two macs.
jakedohm said:
“We have three iPad sizes”
We do? 7.9″, 9.7″, and what is the third size?
@ dcj001 I believe he means 3 resolutions. Could you not infer what he meant?
@PMZanetti Not to mention the scaleable app development Apple has been pushing since…iOS 6? They’ve been planing for a larger variety of resolutions for awhile.
whoa, I never thought of it this way before. That’ll be a great idea, I won’t have to carry an Android as a secondary device
This lines up with a lot of other rumors we’ve been hearing.
Yeah, nope.
I see the discussion is about displays.. These iphone renderings are cool but the lock switch is supposed to move perpendicular to the height of the iphone.. so that iphone users do not switch the lock rotation / silent key accidentally while keeping / removing from pocket.
The height of your iPhone is to damn high… Cuz it can be used as one of these… http://creativebits.org/sites/default/files/7aa70f618efa1a5a9082c9c08640f275.jpg
this is why i like my samesung not . what apple is pushing samsung already doing