Apple’s foray into the phablet market could be delayed.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has provided reliable information about Apple’s up-coming products, reported that the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 model could be delayed till 2015.
Kuo notes that Apple has some production problems on the 4.7-inch model with the new in-cell touch panel and color unevenness on the phone’s metal casing, and the problems are much worse on the 5.5-inch variant.
Because the new in-cell touch panels have touch sensitivity issues, the bigger the phone’s display, the more touch sensitivity will be affected along the phone’s display edges.
Another issue involves the new scratch-resistant sapphire front panel. Kuo points out that the sapphire front panel will not “easy pass the drop test near term,” and this will add on to the projected delays.
Thus, Kuo projects that in the “most conservative scenario,” Apple will release the phablet model in 2015, and in the most optimistic case, it could launch after mid-November, which is a later launch than any Apple iPhone products in the past few years.
The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is still on course for a rumored September 19th release.
Specs wise, the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 should have a 1334 x 750 Retina display at 326 pixels per inch, and the 5.5-inch model will have a 1920 x 1080 screen at 401 ppi, according to Kuo.
Both phones should pack an A8 processor, run iOS8, come with 1GB of RAM, and possess an 8 megapixel rear camera that can function better in low light conditions.
The phones are also expected to be about 6.5 to 7mm thick, and have a narrower bezel by 10 to 20 percent.
-
The rumors come as Apple is teaming up with former nemesis IBM in an attempt to sell more iPhones and iPads to corporate customers and government agencies.
The partnership announced Tuesday calls for the two technology companies to work together on about 100 different mobile applications designed for a wide range of industries.
The applications, expected to be released this fall, will feature some of data-crunching tools that IBM Corp. sells to companies trying to get a better grasp on their main markets while scouring for new money-making opportunities.
IBM is also pledging to provide better security to reassure companies concerned about hackers stealing vital information off the mobile devices of employees doing less of their work on desktop and laptop computers.
Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook said his company is turning to help from IBM because it doesn’t understand the needs of corporate customers as well as it does consumers. IBM CEO Ginni Rometty said the alliance will help her company by widening the audience for its technological tools, providing bigger returns on the roughly $24 billion that IBM has invested in data analytics.
“It’s a watershed partnership that brings together the best of Apple and the best of IBM,” Cook said Tuesday during an interview at Apple’s Cupertino, California headquarters. Underscoring the importance of the alliance, Rometty flew from IBM’s Armonk, New York headquarters to join Cook for the announcement.
“This is about two powerhouses unleashing the power of mobility for (businesses),” Rometty said. “This is going to remake professions and industries.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
