Did Apple bite more than it could chew?A recent report claimed that the highly rumored iPhone 6 sapphire display may cost as high as $280. As soon as Apple started shipping Sapphire to it’s manufacturing units in China a weibo user came up with the cost calculations that suggests that iPhone 6 Sapphire display may double the price of upcoming big screen iPhone.
It is rumored that the upcoming iPhone 6 will sport 5.5 inch display screen and the calculations of the cost of display are based on the rumored screen size. If the estimate of screen price of iPhone 6 sapphire display is right than it is a big jump from the iPhone 5s Retina display that cost around $44 to make.
The report suggest that if iPhone 6 is going to have Sapphire display screen than the total cost of iPhone 6 in China would be around $1285. It is noticeable that iPhone 5s that cost $650 in US has a much higher price point $850 in China. So while the alleged price rise in iPhone 6 would be much obvious for China it could be the same for US users.
This report also suggests that Apple could spare the sapphire display for its exclusive 64 GB models which concede with an analysis by Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities.
In another revelation on upcoming iPhone the Weibo users say that following last year’s trend Apple will release 2 iPhones this year as well. It says that a 4.7 inch iPhone will be launched alongside the 5.5 inch big screen iPhone which is due in September 2014. It is noticeable that Apple already uses Sapphire in its hardware in tiny amount like parts in camera and chip integration.
Apple acquired Sapphire manufacturing unit operated by GT advanced in Arizona last year but since is own Sapphire unit is not into full motion as of now it has to buy the precious stone from other suppliers for its current devices.
