Expect 4.7-Inch iPhone 6S On 2015 Release Date, 5-Inch iPhone 7 On 2016 – Both Bearing LCD Panel

Apple could be planning to further stretch the screen size of its flagship phone, up to 5-inch, but that would be for the iPhone 7 that will roll out in 2016. For this 2015, the iPhone 6S on release date will still sport a 4.7-inch profile.

The two iPhone models, in fact, will use the LTPS LCD technology, according to Apple Insider. The report added that the chance is slim for the tech giant to switch to OLED screen, which is the display panel material for the upcoming Apple Watch.

The same report based its information from a research note provided by investment firm JP Morgan. The paper offered its forecast that LTPS LCD will remain part of the iPhone supply chain this year and well into 2016.

Deal with Japan Display

The JP Morgan report indicated that Apple has a sizeable contribution to the $1.4 billon LCD manufacturing plant that Japan Display will construct this year. The plant is expected to mass produce LTPS-based LCD panels soon, likely delivering the bulk of the panel requirements by Apple for the iPhone assembly in 2016.

JP Morgan revealed too that Japan Display is capable of supplying 100 million units of LCD panels to Apple each year. Specifically, the Japanese firm will deliver 5-inch display panels to Apple’s production site, somehow hinting the screen size of the future iPhone build.

Supporting the perceived Apple decision to stick with LCD panel for its flagship phone is the tech giant’s separate display production agreement with long-time manufacturing collaborator Foxconn. The iPhone maker will pour some $2.6 billion worth of investment to Foxconn’s LCD production sites, presumably to secure the steady stream of supplies needed for the iPhone production, near-term and long-term.

3 iPhones for 2015

Meanwhile, DigiTimes has reported this week that aside for the expected 4.7-inch iPhone 6S and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, a third iPhone model is in the works and will likely debut with the usual line up later this 2015. To be called the iPhone 6C, the device will bring back the 4-inch screen profile that first came out when the iPhone 5 was launched back in 2012.

The 6C model is mostly geared to the emerging markets, the report noted, adding that the build and design will mostly pick up from where the iPhone 5C had left off. To keep the production cost at the minimum, the iPhone 6C shell is mostly plastic. Apple will reportedly price the A8 chip-powered 6C between $400 and $500 to make it attractive enough to budget-conscious buyers.

The iPhone 6C is set to become available with the iPhone 6S release date. That will happen in the last few months of 2015 with late September seen as the earliest possible touchdown moment.

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