The iPhone 6 release date is tipped to happen real soon, as early as July 2014 since production of the handset's powerhouse A8 processing chip has reportedly commenced with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) getting the bulk of the deal.

Reports filed by Agence France Press (AFP) for The Economic Times indicate that the 64-bit A8 CPU for the 2014 iPhone model is now in the production stage and Apple has awarded the majority of its chip requirements to the Taiwan-based TSMC.

AFP cited local publication The Commercial Times as source of its information.

The same report also noted that Samsung is hardly involved in the ongoing microchip production activities, hinting that the South Korean tech titan is gradually exiting the iOS device supply chain. Such possibility has been previously implied by Apple in earlier statements.

Yet the more important details contained in the AFP report is the bold projection from The Commercial Times, which stated that the iPhone 6 "will likely have a 4.7-inch screen." The same forecast is in line with popular sentiments from multiple analysts that the device to replace the iPhone 5S will go bigger than 4-inch.

Likewise, the same screen dimension fits with the assertions made by popular Apple analyst Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities. Kuo has insisted in his series of notes to investors that Apple will not go beyond 5-inch in the iPhone 6.

The reason for this, Kuo explained, is the tech giant's vision of providing a large-screen iPhone that still adheres to one-hand navigation.

The same report from Taiwan also set a Q3 2014 rollout for the next iPhone, which in theory would see the device to hit store shelves in the initial months after June. That would place the iPhone 6 release date on July of the same year, at the earliest.

Or September as the latest ETA, pretty much replicating the release calendar employed by Apple with the iPhone 5S in 2013.

So far, the only confirmed specs and features of the iPhone 6 are its A8 chip, which is an improvement of the 64-bit A7 CPU that powers the 5S, and enhanced Touch ID that will work in tandem with mobile payment and sapphire material.

The latter is rumoured to serve as the iPhone 6 glass cover or as the material that will fully-coat the handset's casing. Or both.

Other likely specs and features that the iPhone 6 will banner on release are the following: a Liquidmetal-protected body, wireless charging with built-in solar panel, a large self-healing display panel, 5G Wi-Fi and a dynamic user interface that is integrated with the iOS 8.