Apple is bent on deploying the best components available for the rumoured 4.8-inch iPhone 6 but all the preparation is keeping the tech giant from rolling out the handset for an earlier release data.

Now, it is more likely that consumers will get a hold on the new iOS device by the start of 2014, new reports suggest.

There are number of reasons for the unintended delay. One is typical of Apple - wanting to perfect its first phablet offering so Apple engineers are vetting every detail to ensure that the planned device is line with the company's philosophy of smooth integration between hardware and software.

Another motivation, according to Gotta Be Mobile, is Apple's intent of finally easing out Samsung from any of its device supply chain. Right until the iPad 4 and the iPhone 5, Apple grudgingly availed of the devices' A6 chip components.

Note the 'grudgingly' because the two firms have become the bitterest of rivals following their close collaboration in the past years.

Wanting to be rid of its foe, Apple is now looking on other players to continue the works on the full A7 chip architecture that is meant to be introduced with the iPhone 6. The shift, however, sets back the original iPhone 6 calendar, which according to earlier blog reports was originally set for a 2013 holiday quarter release.

But with Samsung being eased out, Apple has to swallow some downsides, chief of them is the pushback of its much-awaited entry into the growing and increasingly lucrative phablet market.

Earlier, The Korea Times has reported that two major players have been lined up to supply the A7 chips that Apple will also use on its 2014 gadget releases.

The Korean publication pointed to the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) as possibly the next major Apple partner in chip manufacturing duties. The firm is reportedly tasked to work on the A7 development and the contract apparently extends into the introduction of the A8 chip.

It was also hinted that Intel will come into the picture but only as a minor player.

According to GBM, Apple has already completed a working iPhone 6 prototype, which was desribed as a 4.8-inch smartphone and powered by a quad-core processor, presumably the A7 type.

It has an edge-to-edge screen that ditches the capacitive Home button and in its stead, a virtual Home button was developed.