Rumor: Apple working on 4.7", 5.6" iPhones for release in Q3 2014
The latest sketchy report out of the Far East claims Apple is working on two jumbo-sized iPhone models this year, and even goes as far as to claim that executives at the company may not refer to a larger, more premium 5.6-inch model with the existing "iPhone" brand.
The alleged details were published this week by Taiwan's Economic Daily News, and highlighted by Macotakara. Some of the rumors align with previous claims, specifically that Apple is looking to use a sapphire glass cover for its next-generation "iPhone 6," though the latest report claims that those changes may be exclusively for the new 5.6-inch model.
The latest claims out of Taipei suggest that Apple's new 4.7-inch iPhone model will continue to sport Corning Gorilla Glass, like previous handsets from the company. But a new 5.6-inch device will have a sapphire glass screen, and will not be named an "iPhone," the report suggested.
While advanced reports on hardware specifications do sometimes prove accurate, branding of such devices is not the kind of information that makes its way down Apple's supply chain. As such, while Apple could be working on a 5.6-inch iOS-based device, exactly what it will be named is almost assuredly unknown by suppliers.
Wednesday's report claims that Apple's 5.6-inch "non-iPhone" is an "experimental" device that will feature sapphire glass from GT Advanced Technologies. Apple inked a $578 million deal with the supplier in late 2013.
It's claimed that Apple's so-called "iPhone 6" will be released in the third quarter of 2014. Availability of the new 5.6-inch device is expected to be limited because of its use of sapphire glass.
The claims are somewhat similar to another report that appeared a week ago, claiming Apple is working on "iPhone 6" models with display sizes of 5.5 inches and 4.7 inches. The South China Morning Post cited "industry insiders" who alleged to have seen "prototypes" of the upcoming devices, though that report claimed both handsets will feature scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass.
Apple's current iPhone lineup.
Casting serious doubt upon that report, however, was a claim that the new handsets would feature a pixel density of 441 pixels-per-inch. That number is off by eight pixels, if Apple were to maintain the 16:9 screen aspect ratio currently found on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5.
Apple's current flagship device, the iPhone 5s, sports a 4-inch screen packing in 326 pixels-per-inch into its Retina display. Prior to the iPhone 5, Apple's smartphones sported smaller 3.5-inch screens.
Multiple rumors have suggested that Apple is looking to yet again increase the size of the iPhone's display this year, following a market trend toward devices with larger screens. To date, the most credible rumors have pegged a new iPhone display at under 5 inches, citing Apple's desire to continue to allow one-handed use of its handsets.
The alleged details were published this week by Taiwan's Economic Daily News, and highlighted by Macotakara. Some of the rumors align with previous claims, specifically that Apple is looking to use a sapphire glass cover for its next-generation "iPhone 6," though the latest report claims that those changes may be exclusively for the new 5.6-inch model.
The latest claims out of Taipei suggest that Apple's new 4.7-inch iPhone model will continue to sport Corning Gorilla Glass, like previous handsets from the company. But a new 5.6-inch device will have a sapphire glass screen, and will not be named an "iPhone," the report suggested.
While advanced reports on hardware specifications do sometimes prove accurate, branding of such devices is not the kind of information that makes its way down Apple's supply chain. As such, while Apple could be working on a 5.6-inch iOS-based device, exactly what it will be named is almost assuredly unknown by suppliers.
Wednesday's report claims that Apple's 5.6-inch "non-iPhone" is an "experimental" device that will feature sapphire glass from GT Advanced Technologies. Apple inked a $578 million deal with the supplier in late 2013.
It's claimed that Apple's so-called "iPhone 6" will be released in the third quarter of 2014. Availability of the new 5.6-inch device is expected to be limited because of its use of sapphire glass.
The claims are somewhat similar to another report that appeared a week ago, claiming Apple is working on "iPhone 6" models with display sizes of 5.5 inches and 4.7 inches. The South China Morning Post cited "industry insiders" who alleged to have seen "prototypes" of the upcoming devices, though that report claimed both handsets will feature scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass.
Apple's current iPhone lineup.
Casting serious doubt upon that report, however, was a claim that the new handsets would feature a pixel density of 441 pixels-per-inch. That number is off by eight pixels, if Apple were to maintain the 16:9 screen aspect ratio currently found on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5.
Apple's current flagship device, the iPhone 5s, sports a 4-inch screen packing in 326 pixels-per-inch into its Retina display. Prior to the iPhone 5, Apple's smartphones sported smaller 3.5-inch screens.
Multiple rumors have suggested that Apple is looking to yet again increase the size of the iPhone's display this year, following a market trend toward devices with larger screens. To date, the most credible rumors have pegged a new iPhone display at under 5 inches, citing Apple's desire to continue to allow one-handed use of its handsets.
Comments
Remember when everybody bragged about how small their cell phone was?
5.6' is not a one-handed device anymore, and thus not an iPhone. It would be an iPad nano.
4.7" for a one-handed device, I understand.
5.6' is not a one-handed device anymore, and thus not an iPhone. It would be an iPad nano.
Neat comment ! iPad Nano !
Come on now. Wake up! This is not quite April Fools Day yet.
And the report forgot to mention it will be 64-bit + parity, 16 GP registers, Hardware Multiply/Divide, Floating point, all with an optional Selector Channel and Multiplexer bus. And there is also an option for the ASR-33 via the new Bluetooth slow speed interface,
/s
Same old same old....
Also, my sketchy Far East sources say the 5.6' will be called the iGalaxy.
I hope this is true - I'll definitely pick up one of the 5.6" models if it is.
Hmmmm.... what if the one with so called "non-iphone" branding was in fact the new iPod Touch?!?!
You need a new tv ?
I wish apple was still competing in this game, but every other company is now offering more for less, and unfortunately a fingerprint scanner and a pretty iOS don't hide it's shortcomings. Don't get me wrong, I love Apple and I am rooting for them, but right now I'm a little disappointed. Hopefully they wow this fall.
Remember when everybody bragged about how small their cell phone was?
We still do. The 3.5 inch screen is the only one that can be easily used with one hand by pretty much everybody.
If the bezels are smaller, than it is now, I will definitely pick up the 5.6' model. This will replace my current Galaxy Note 3 (which I think is the best smart phone on the market at the moment). A BIG screen iPhone will dominate the market without doubt.
How about iFab for the 5.6" name if they don't use iPhone. The fabulous Apple phablet. Some geeks might associate the word fab with fabrication but 99% of the world associates it with fabulous. And no I am not being serious. As much as I want a larger iPhone even I am becoming somewhat bored with all these same rumors with a minor tweak to make it seem different.
On a more serious note though....16:9 might be better suited for some movies but for for surfing, email, texts, games, and pretty much everything else 4:3 of the iPad is a better choice. The 16:9 aspect of the 4" iPhone also to help maintain one handed use. But once they go much larger I don't think Apple would try and claim this is a one handed phone so it is not inconceivable that they go with 16:10 or even 4:3 like the iPad because one handed use would not be emphasized.
We still do. The 3.5 inch screen is the only one that can be easily used with one hand by pretty much everybody.
I'd have to agree. At 3.5" it was truly 'easy' to use the whole display with your thumb on one hand.
The question becomes, how important of a tradeoff that is for making a device with a bigger screen, and thus easier to see.
The 4" phone is still easy to use with one hand, but you can't ignore that its not AS easy to reach the top corners of the display as it used to be. But, ok, we've acknowledged that. Would I go back to the 3.5"? No. Too many other positive gains with the 4". So, I'm ready to see the new gains that come with 4.7" display, and prepared to accept the further tradeoffs of one-handed usage.
I do NOT believe, however, that anything over 4.8" would be an acceptable tradeoff.