Apple not launching 5.5-inch iPhone this year

Apple may not launch its highly-rumoured 5.5-inch iPhone 6 this year. According to an Apple Insider report citing KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a proven track record of revealing Apple’s future product plans, the release of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 model could be postponed to 2015 due to production issues. The company, however, is expected to unveil only a 4.7-screen version of the iPhone 6 this fall, probably in September.

“Apple is already facing production bottlenecks on the 4.7-inch model related to the new technology for the device’s in-cell touch panel, as well as colour unevenness on the redesigned “iPhone 6″ metal casing. Those problems are said to be even worse with the larger 5.5-inch model,” said the report quoting Kuo.

Both iPhone 6 screens are expected to use in-cell touch panel technology – built into the screen and allowing for thinner construction than with standard touch panel films – that was introduced with the iPhone 5, the sources said.

Industry watchers have said increasing the iPhone’s screen size from 4 inches would help Apple regain market share from competitors such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, who they say have responded to consumer desire for more screen size.