The iPhone 6 release date remains on course for the third quarter of 2014 as manufacturing of the device seems approaching the final leg with Apple finalising the list of display panel suppliers for the 4.7-inch model.

The latest reports from Asia, according to Apple Insider, indicated that three players have been short-listed to produce the screen panel that will be used for one of the rumoured two iPhone builds that will hit the market later in the year.

Citing Taiwanese publication UDN as the source of its information, the Apple-focused site nominated LG Display, Japan Display and Innolux as the chosen three that will be responsible for the manufacture of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 screen.

The same screen profile for the smaller 2014 iPhone will render in 1704 x 960 display resolution, BGR said in a related report.

Note that Innolux is relatively a new entry and by joining the elite circle of Apple device manufacturing partners, the Taiwanese firm paved the way for the exit of Samsung and Sharp in the iPhone display supply chain.

But there were indications too that Samsung will stay on as a major supplier for the Retina tablet display panels that will find their way to the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3, which are also set to rollout this 2014.

So with a key manufacturing concern for the iPhone 6 seemingly in order at this point, does it follow that production of the device, specifically for the 4.7-inch edition, is already ongoing or would begin shortly and the commercial debut could happen earlier than expected?

There were earlier reports that claimed Apple has given the green light for manufacturers to volume produce the smaller iPhone. The tech giant allegedly guns for a global rollout that will initiate either in late August or early September.

However, a succeeding report pointed to the mid-part of September as the likely market debut for the iPhone 6. The schedule is thought to be backed by an internal Apple memo that restricts leave applications of Apple Store personnel from the third week of September, lasting into the final days of the same month.

The document was interpreted as Apple's preparation for its first big event this 2014 - the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 unboxing.

There was no mention of launch time for the bigger 5.5-inch iPhone though the first iOS phablet is said to materialise between September and December 2014, that is if the basket of rumours and numerous analysts' predictions are to be believed.

Regardless, the first iPhone 6 release date, which is for the 4.7-inch build, this 2014 is forecasted to reflect a major body makeover and feature bumps ups from the iPhone 5S - the upgrades bannered by a slimmer and lighter casing, a powerful 64-bit A8 processing chip and the killer features-filled iOS 8.