Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPhone 6 Will Be Largest Launch Yet [REPORT]

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Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is gearing up to release the iPhone 6 on a massive scale if reports from a Chinese publication are to be believed. Commercial Times (via Digitimes), a trade paper, reported that Foxconn is expected to fulfill an order of around 90 million iPhone 6 units this fiscal.

iPhone 6 sooner than expected

According to an analyst at Citigroup Global Markets, the iPhone 6 would enhance the position of Apple in the smartphone business, where iPhone shipments are expected to surge 23% this year compared to 13% growth in the previous year. Also, the growth rate of global smartphone shipments is expected to slow down to 28% this year compared to 40% in the year ago period.  Smartphone sales in developed markets are expected to increase only by 4%, a decline from 5% in 2013.

If the report of 90 million iPhone 6 is true, then Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) may launch the 2014 iOS smartphones before the expected date. Apple sold a total of 51 million iPhone units in the last quarter of 2013, which is also the same quarter when it launched iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. In 2013, the iPhone maker sold 153.4 million iPhones, as stated by the company in its earnings results.

Presently, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is expected to launch iPhone 6 in September, clubbed with the launch of iWatch and first view of iOS 8. Historically, Apple has always preferred September to launch new iPhones, so most of the reports are seeing a high possibility of phone launch in September of 2014. However, if the report of a massive iPhone 6 launch is true, one might expect an early release of the much-awaited handset from Apple.

Sapphire glass may replace Gorilla glass

In a separate report, it was stated that Apple’s sapphire plant could produce the parts for around 100 million iPhone units this year. The next generation iPhone would probably have a bigger display, which may be protected by Sapphire glass instead of Gorilla glass.

According to the latest reports, TSMC has won the supply orders of a majority of Apple’s A8 chip, the next-generation processor expected to power Apple’s iPhone 6 models and other iOS devices.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is expected to launch iOS 8 in WWDC this June along with a large screen iPhablet to penetrate deeper into the Asian markets and compete against the Galaxy Note 3. Apple is testing the bigger display devices, but it is still not clear if any of them would make an appearance in the upcoming WWDC.

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