The iPhone 6 release date has been up for debate since, well, last year when people thought Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) would skip the iPhone 5S and launch the iPhone 6 as well. Now we have a new report from Nikkei which suggests that the handset will indeed launch in September, just as those expecting Apple to follow the same timeline have been saying. The same report suggests, once again, that the handset will be available in two different sizes, both of which are bigger than the iPhone 5S.
iPhone 6 release date in September, not June
Many sources have been spreading rumors that the iPhone 6 will come out as early as June. However, if this new report is to be believed, that isn’t the case at all. The website bases its projections on reports from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s supply chain.
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The sources state that mass productions for the iPhone 6’s LCD panels could begin in the June quarter at Sharp’s plant in Kameyama, as well as Japan Display’s factory in Mobara and a number of other facilities. LG Electronics is also expected to supply LCD displays for the handset, although the website does not say when that company could begin mass producing the displays.
iPhone 6 expected to come in two sizes
This same report echoes rumors we have heard from other sources which state that the iPhone 6 will likely be available in both 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch versions. Of course both of those sizes would be bigger than the iPhone 5S, which is currently only available in a 4-inch size. It’s pretty much a given that the handset must be a larger size, so if Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) doesn’t deliver, needless to say, it will be a major disappointment.
Nikkei also reports that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) suppliers have started making fingerprint sensors and “chips for liquid-crystal drivers” for the iPhone 6. In addition, the website says that the resolution of the handset’s display will likely be “significantly higher” than that of the current iPhone model.
iPhone 6 batteries reported as being on order
Of course this report from Nikkei doesn’t really contain anything we haven’t heard before. We’ve heard that the iPhone 6’s resolution would be quite a bit higher than previous models and about the two sizes of screen.
We also heard this week that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) had reportedly placed orders for batteries for the iPhone 6. Interestingly enough, the report about the batteries came from DigiTimes, which also said this week that Apple was switching to robots to manufacture its iPhone batteries. There was no mention of robot’s in today’s battery rumor.
However, if both reports are true, then it would appear that they line up together. Also it’s worth noting that Nikkei does have a track record of correctly pre-reporting release dates of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s products in the past. The website did say that the iPhone 5S and 5C would launch on Sept. 20 before Apple actually announced the date.